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CHAPTER XXXI. 

 THE DEERHOUND. 



I1Y G. A. GRAHAM, DURSI.EV. 



THE transition from the Irish Wolfhound to the Deerhound is easy and natural, as in the 

 latter we unmistakably have the descendant of the former. The subject is, moreover, the 

 more easily treated of, as we have many excellent specimens of the Deerhound before us. Indeed, 

 the examples of the breed now scattered in considerable profusion throughout the land are far 

 finer dogs than those of which much boast was made forty years ago. 



The earliest records we have of the Deerhound as a distinct breed are, it is believed, given 

 to us by Pennant, who, in his tour in 1769, says : " I saw also at Castle Gordon a true Highland 

 Greyhound, which has become very scarce. It was of a large size, strong, deep-chested, and 

 covered with very long and rough hair. This kind was in great vogue in former days, and 

 used in vast numbers at the magnificent stag-chases by the powerful chieftains." 



Then Macpherson, in his professed translation of Ossian's poems (1773), gives testimony 

 worthless, no doubt, as regards the Irish Wolfhound, but having a decided value when the 

 Deerhound is considered, as it was almost a certainty that he wrote his descriptions from the 

 living animal. The following extracts will be found of interest : " Fingal agreed to hunt 

 in the Forest of Sledale, in company with the Sutherland chief his contemporary, for the purpose 

 of trying the comparative merits of their dogs. Fingal brought his celebrated dog Bran to 

 Sutherland, in order to compete with an equally famous dog belonging to the Sutherland 

 chief, and the only one in the country supposed to be a match for him. The approaching 

 contest between these fine animals created great interest. White-breasted Bran was superior 

 to the whole of Fingal's other dogs, even to the ' surly strength of Luath ; ' but the Sutherland 

 dog known by the full-sounding name of Phorp was incomparably the best and most powerful 

 dog that ever eyed a deer in his master's forests." 



Phorp was black in colour, and his points are thus described : 



" ' Two yellow feet such as Bran had, 

 Two black eyes, 

 And a white breast, 

 A back narrow and fair, 

 As required for hunting, 

 And two erect ears of a dark red-brown.' 



" Towards the close of the day, after some severe runs which, however, still left the 

 comparative merits of the two dogs a subject of hot dispute Bran and Phorp were brought 

 front to front to prove their courage ; and they were no sooner untied than they sprang at 

 each other and fought desperately. Phorp seemed about to overcome Bran, when his master, 

 the Sutherland chief, unwilling that either of them should be killed, called out 'Let each 



