5oo THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



to the Grand Seneschal of Normandy, Jacque de Breze, who was at that time an important 

 member of her suite. He valued his new dog immensely, and eulogised him in the following 

 words : 



" De son temps le meilleur et le mieux pourchassant." 



Souillard was bred to an Italian Braque which belonged to the king's secretary (Greffier). 

 The first result of this cross was an all-white dog with a fawn mark on his shoulder, which they 

 called Greffier, from the former owner of the bitch. He was so excellent a hunter that few 

 stags could escape him, and from thirteen pups bred from him (who were all as good as he) 

 the once-famous race originated, which were much in vogue in the time of Francis I. 



This- king finding the Greffier rather wanting in size, reinforced it with a fawn hound 

 named Miraud, which was given him by Admiral d'Annbault. Henry II. again crossed it 

 with a white hound called Barraud, given him by the Queen of Scotland, Marie de Guise, 

 mother of Mary Queen of Scots. From these successive crosses the breed was increased 

 in strength and endurance, and became still more valuable in the eyes of its possessors, until 

 Charles IX. designated them the true royal breed. It may be added that they did not admit 

 into the royal packs any but white or fawn-and-white hounds. 



A very good idea of the Chiens Greffiers du Roi may be gathered from the illustration 

 which has already been given of the white Vendeen Hound, who is a near relation of the breed 

 in question. As the points of the two varieties are also so similar, no detailed description of 

 the Greffier is necessary, and we will pass on to the 



Ckien Gris de St. Louis, 



Which is now extinct. It was originally imported by the French king St. Louis from 

 Tartary. The breed was originally held in great estimation, but died out with the pack of 

 Comte de Soissons in the reign of 'Henry IV. 



Cheins Fauves des Dues de Bretagne. 



These dogs are of the same breed as Miraud, who is already alluded to as one of the 

 progenitors of the Greffiers du Roi. They are described as being of medium size, and gifted with 

 better constitutions than the Vendeen Hounds. As with many other breeds of French hounds, 

 the Chiens Fauves des Dues de Bretagne are better on deer than on other game, as, though their 

 staunchness, nose, and gameness are undeniable, they are not thoroughly adapted for hunting 

 in briars and underwood. They are headstrong, and hard to control. In colour they are 

 generally fawn, and the brightest shade is most popular with sportsmen, who do not care for 

 those marked with grey or black. The fawn dogs are the most popular breed in Lorraine, 

 Nivernais, and Charolais, where they are used for hunting deer and boar in the forests. We 

 have been unable to secure an illustration of this breed, but in appearance it resembles a 

 rather short-coated Griffon Vendee. The principal packs of Chiens Fauves de Bretagne are 

 owned by M. le Baron Halva du Fretay, au chateau de Vieux-chatel par Chateaulin (Finistere), 

 M. F. Therot, rue Saint-Pierre a Saint-Brieue (C6tes du Nord) ; and M. le Baron Sibuet, au 

 chateau de Vireux, prs Rocroy (Ardennes). 



Chien St. Hubert. 



This is certainly one of the most famous of all the French varieties of dogs, and its 

 antiquity is beyond a question, as it was a celebrated breed in the eighth century. At this 



