14<G SCENT, &C. 



ern hounds, exhibits the outward characteristics of superior 

 olfactory nerves in a very obvious and striking manner : by 

 crossing the talbot with something of the greyhound breed, the 

 stag hound was produced : the speed of the talbot was thus in- 

 creased ; but as the head became more compressed, the sense of 

 smell suffered accordingly. The fox- hound is a still farther re- 

 move, and his olfactory organs are inferior to the stag-hound ; 

 and the reason, in fact, why well-bred stag-hounds distinguish 

 the blown or hunted deer from the herd, is intirely owing to 

 their proximity to the talbot; while the fox-hound, by being 



through the streets, without noticing any people there, till he got to the 

 house where the man he sought was, and there found him in an upper 

 room. 



Blood hounds were formerly used in certain districts lying between 

 England and Scotland, which were infested by robbers and murderers; 

 a tax was laid on the inhabitants for maintaining them, and there was 

 a law in Scotland, that whoever denied entrance to one of these dogs in 

 pursuit of stolen goods, should be deemed an accessary. This peculiar 

 property of discovering the nightly spoiler by the unerring accuracy of 

 the dog's smell, Somerville thus beautifully notices : 



-Soon as the morn 



Reveals his wrongs, with gha&tly visage wan 

 The plundered owner stands, and from his lips 

 A thousand thronging curses burst their way : 

 He calls his stout allies, and in a line 

 His faithful hounds he leads, then with a voice 

 That utters loud his rage, attentive cheers ; 

 Soon the sagacious brute, his curling tail 

 Flourished in air, low bending plies around 

 His busy nose, the steaming vapour snuffs 

 Inquisitive, nor leaves one turf untried, 

 Till, conscious of the recent stains, his heart 

 Beats quick; his snuffling nose, his active tail, 

 Attest his joy ; then with deep op'ning mouth 

 That makes the welkin tremble, he proclaims 



