38 FIRST DIVISION OF THE 



coursing must reckon upon incurring considerable expense ; but, if he 

 loves the sport, he will be amply remunerated by the speed and stoutness 

 of his dogs. 



A question has arisen whether, on the morning of the coursing, any 

 stimulant should be given to the dog. The author of this work would 

 unhesitatingly approve of this practice. He has had abundant experience 

 of the good effect of it ; but the stimulus must be that which, while it pro- 

 duces the desired effect, leaves no exhaustion behind. a 



THE SCOTCH GREYHOUND 



has the same sharpness of muzzle, length of head, lightness of ear, and 

 depth of chest, as the English dog ; but the general frame is stronger and 

 more muscular, the hind quarters more prominent, there is evident increase 

 of size and roughness of coat, and there is also some diminution of speed. 

 If it were not for these points, these dogs might occasionally be taken for 

 each other. In coursing the hare, no north-country dog will stand against 

 the lighter southern, although the southern would be unequal to the 

 labour often required from the Highlander. 



The Scotch greyhound is said perhaps wrongly to be oftenest used 

 by those who look more to the quantity of game than to the fairness and 

 openness of the sport, and in some parts of the country this dog is not per- 

 mitted to be entered for a sweepstakes, because, instead of depending on 

 his speed alone, as does the English greyhound, he has recourse to occa- 

 sional artifices in order to intercept the hare. In sporting language he 

 runs sly, and, therefore, is sometimes excluded. 



THE HIGHLAND GREYHOUND, OR DEER-HOUND, 



is a larger, stronger, and fiercer dog, and may be readily distinguished from 

 the Lowland Scotch greyhound by its pendulous, and, generally, darker 

 ears, and by the length of hair which almost covers his face. Many 

 accounts have been given of the perfection of its scent, and it is said to 

 have followed a wounded deer during two successive days. He is usually 

 two inches taller than the Scotch greyhound. The head is carried par- 

 ticularly high, and gives to the animal a noble appearance. His limbs are 

 exceedingly muscular, his back beautifully arched. The tail is long and 

 curved, but assumes the form of an almost straight line when he is much 

 excited. The only fault which these dogs have is their occasional ill- 

 temper, or even ferocity ; but this does not extend to the owner and his 

 family. 



It appears singular that the English greyhound exhibits so little power 

 of scent ; but this is simply because he has never been taught to use it, or 

 has been cruelly corrected when he has attempted to exercise it. 



Holinshed relates the mischief that followed the stealing of one of these 

 dogs : " Divers of the young Pictesh nobilitye repaired unto Craithlint, 

 King of the Scots, for to hunt and make merie with him ; but, when they 

 should depart homewards, perceiving that the Scotish dogs did far excel 

 theirs, both in fairnesse, swiftnesse, and hardinesse, and also in long stand- 

 ing up and holding out, they got diverse both dogs and bitches of the best 



a For a set of laws for Coursing Matches, see Appendix. 



