308 BECKFORD-BUCKHOUND. [CH. xvm. 



because, if they are young, a little judicious extra-exertion on your 

 part will add as much to their usefulness as to your own enjoyment. 

 And I do not wish them, or anything you have, or have not, to 

 make you discontented ; I only pray you not to be supine. If you 

 can get no more alluring drink than cold water, reflect on its whole- 

 someness, and enjoy it, if you can, with all the relish of a parched 

 Arab ; but I entreat you not to be contented with a disorderly 

 noise-exciting cur, when a trifling addition to your pains will ensure 

 you an obedient, well- trained animal, one that will procure you 

 twice as many shots as the other. It will, indeed. Believe me, I 

 am not too extravagant in my conception of a perfect dog. You 

 may not consider it worth your while to take the trouble of giving 

 him such an education ; but it seems hardly reasonable to say it 

 could not be imparted. Naturally enough you may distrust my 

 judgment, but you cannot doubt the experience of the reflecting, 

 discriminating Beckford ; and what does he say on the subject of 

 canine education ? 



558. " The many learned dogs and learned horses that so fre- 

 quently appear and astonish the vulgar, sufficiently evince what 

 education is capable of ; and it is to education I must attribute the 

 superior excellence of the buckhound, since I have seen high bred 

 fox-hounds do the same under the same good masters. 



559. "Dogs that are constantly with their masters acquire a 

 wonderful degree of penetration, and much may be done through 

 the medium of their affections. I attribute the extraordinary 

 sagacity of the buckhound to the manner in which he is treated. 

 He is the constant companion of his instructor and benefactor the 

 man whom he was first taught to fear he has since learned to love. 

 Can we wonder that he should be obedient to him ? Oft have we 

 viewed with surprise the hounds and deer amusing themselves 

 familiarly together on the same lawn, living, as it were, in the 

 most friendly intercourse ; and with no less surprise have we heard 

 the keeper give the word, when instantly the very nature of the dog 

 seemed changed ; roused from his peaceful state, he is urged on 

 with a relentless fury, which only death can satisfy the death of 

 the very deer he is encouraged to pursue. The business of the day 

 over, see him follow, careless and contented, his master's steps, to 

 repose on the same lawn where the frightened deer again return, 

 and are a^ain indebted to his courtesy for their wonted pasture. 

 Wonderful proofs of obedience, sagacity, and penetration ! " 



560. If you have at hand St. John's " Tour in Sutherlandshire " 

 (he is the author of that most interesting work, " Wild Sports and 

 Natural History of the Highlands "), pray turn to the part in the 

 second volume, where he describes the old show- woman's learned 

 dog. I would transcribe the whole of the amusing account, were 

 not this little book already swollen to undue proportions but I 

 must quote the concluding observations, as his opinion respecting 

 the aptitude of dogs for instruction so fully coincides with Beckford's. 



561. " The tricks consisted of the usual routine of adding up 

 figures, spelling short words, and finding the first letter of any town 



