Some Poets' Does. 



^>• 



In addition to all these more familiar species and 

 individuals, the poets have many others not so well known 

 to sport or science. Gower has a " wood-hound " that is 

 of a benign character. Rogers, Shelley, and others have 

 a " dog of carnage," and others a " carrion-hound." A 

 "hell-hound" also is to be found occasionally in their 

 kennels— r 



" Behold where Melecan, a dog in fierceness, 

 The savage dog of hell. 

 Darts growling to his prey ; 

 He flies and he returns 

 All covered and all drenched with human gore." 



Superstitions about dogs are very numerous — " females 

 with tormenting spells, consult their dogs as oracles " 

 (Montgomery) — and none more widely spread than that 

 which supposes dogs to be able to see visitors from anoth er 

 world — 



" His noble hound sprang from his lair, 



The midnight rouse to greet, 

 Then, like a timid trembling hare. 



Crouched at his master's feet. 

 Between his legs his drooping tail, 



Like dog of vulgar race, 

 He hid, and with strange piteous wail 



Looked in his master's face " (Joanna Baillie) — 



and that their howling, which is therefore ominous, "making 

 men deem some mischief is at hand," is caused by these 

 supernatural visions. " Ossian's grey dogs are always howl- 

 ing at home ; they see his passing ghost." So in Kirke 

 White, " filled with fear, the howling dogs bespoke unholy 

 spirits near ; " and " disturbed by dreams, with wild affright, 

 the deep-mouthed mastiff bays the troubled night;" in 

 Joanna Baillie's "Ghost of Faden," and in "The Elder 

 Tree," where 



