VARIETIES OF THE DOG. 89 



over grassy fallows, and hard roads, and other places, where the modern 

 high-bred fox-hound would not be able to recognise it. Hence the chace 

 continued for double the duration which it does at present, and hence may 

 be seen the reason why the old English hunter, so celebrated in former 

 days and so great a favourite among sportsmen of the old school, was ena- 

 bled to perform those feats which were exultingly bruited in his praise. 

 The fact is, that the hounds and the horse were well matched. If the 

 latter possessed not the speed of the Meltonian hunter, the hounds were 

 equally slow and stanch. 



THE BLOOD-HOTJND. 



This dog does not materially differ in appearance from the old deer- 

 hound of a larger size, trained to hunt the human being instead of the 

 quadruped. If once put on the track of a supposed robber, he would un- 

 erringly follow him to his retreat, although at the distance of many a mile. 

 Such a breed was necessary when neither the private individual nor the 

 government had other means to detect the offender. Generally speaking, 

 however, the blood-hound of former days would not injure the culprit that 

 did not attempt to escape, but would lie down quietly and give notice by 

 a loud and peculiar howl what kind of prey he had found. Some, how- 

 ever, of a savage disposition, or trained to unnatural ferocity, would tear 

 to pieces the hunted wretch, if timely rescue did not arrive. 



Hounds of every kind, both great and small, may be broken in to follow 

 any particular scent, and especially when they are feelingly convinced that 

 they are not to hunt any other. This is the case with the blood-hound. 

 He is destined to one particular object of pursuit, and a total stranger 

 with regard to every other. 



In the border country between England and Scotland, and until the 

 union of the two kingdoms, these dogs were absolutely necessary for the 

 preservation of property, and the detection of robbery and murder. A tax 

 was levied on the inhabitants for the maintenance of a certain number of 

 blood-hounds. When, however, the civic government had sufficient power 

 to detect and punish crime, this dangerous breed of hounds fell into disuse 

 and was systematically discouraged. It, nevertheless, at the present day, 

 is often bred by the rangers in large forests or parks to track the deer- 

 stealer, but oftener to find the wounded deer. 



The blood-hound is taller and better formed than the deer-hound. It 

 has large and deep ears, the forehead broad and the muzzle narrow. The 

 expression of the countenance is mild and pleasing, when the dog is not 

 excited ; but, when he is following the robber, his ferocity becomes truly 

 alarming. 



The Thrapstone Association lately trained a blood-hound for the detec- 

 tion of sheepstealers. In order to prove the utility of this dog, a person 

 whom he had not seen was ordered to run as far and as fast as his strength 

 would permit. An hour afterwards the hound was brought out. He was 

 placed on the spot whence the man had started. He almost immediately 

 detected the scent and broke away, and, after a chace of an hour and a half, 

 found him concealed in a tree, fifteen miles distant. 



Mr. John Lawrence says, that a servant, discharged by a sporting coun- 

 try gentleman, broke into his stables by night, and cut off the ears and tail 

 of a favourite hunter. As soon as it was discovered, a blood-hound was 



