THE STAGHOUND. 



279 



olfactories of the animal are blunted, and it is no longer able to follow the comparatively 

 weak scent which is left by the retreating footsteps. 



Both these methods have been successfully employed, but in either case great caution 

 is needed. When the hound suspects that the quarry has taken to the water, it swims 

 backward and forward, testing every inch of the bank on both sides, and applying its 

 nose to every leaf, stick, or frothy scum that comes floating by. 



In this country the Bloodhound is chiefly employed in deer-shooting, aiding the sports- 

 man by singling out some animal, and keeping it ever before him, and by driving it in 

 certain directions, giving to its master an opportunity for a shot from his rifle. Should 

 the deer not fall to the shot, but be only wounded, it dashes off at a greatly increased 

 pace, followed by the Bloodhound, which here displays his qualities. Being guided by 

 the blood-drops that stud the path of the wounded animal, the hound has an easy task 

 in keeping the trail, and by dint of persevering exertions is sure to come up with his 

 prey at last. 



The Bloodhound is generally irascible in temper, and therefore a rather dangerous 

 animal to be meddled with by any one excepting its owner. So fierce is its desire for 

 blood, and so utterly is it excited when it reaches its prey, that it will often keep its 

 master at bay when he approaches, and receive his overtures with such unmistakable 

 indications of anger that he will not venture to approach until his Dog has satisfied its 

 appetite on the carcass of the animal which it has brought to the ground. When fairly 

 on the track of the deer, the Bloodhound utters a peculiar, long, loud, and deep bay, 

 which, if once heard, will never be forgotten. 



The modern Bloodhound is not the same animal as that which was known by the 

 same title in the days of early English history, the breed of which is supposed to be 

 extinct. The ancient Bloodhound was, from all accounts, an animal of extremely irritable 

 temper, and therefore more dangerous as a companion than the modern hound. 



The color of a good Bloodhound ought to be nearly uniform, no white being 

 permitted, except on the tip of the stern. The prevailing tints are a blackish-tan, 

 or a deep fawn. The tail of this Dog is long and sweeping, and by certain ex- 

 pressive wavings and flourishings of that member, the animal indicates its success 

 or failure. 



CLOSELY allied with the bloodhound is the now rare STAGHOUND, a Dog which is 

 supposed to drive its origin from the bloodhound and the greyhound, the latter animal 

 being employed in order to add lightness and speed to the exquisite scent and powerful 

 limbs of the former. Sometimes the foxhound is used to cross with this animal. 



It is a large and powerful Dog, possessed of very great capabilities of scent, and able, 

 like the bloodhound, to hold to the trail on which it is laid, and to distinguish it among 

 the footprints of a crowd. Despite of the infusion of greyhound blood, the Staghound 

 is hardly so swift an animal as might be conjectured from its proportions, and probably 

 on account of its slow pace has fallen into comparative disrepute at the present day. 

 Until the death of George III. the stag-chase was greatly in vogue ; but since that 

 time it has failed to attract the attention of the sporting world, and has gradually yielded 

 to the greater charms of the foxhunt. 



The real old English Staghound is now extremely rare, and is in danger of becoming 

 entirely extinct. The Dog which is now used for the purpose of chasing the stag is 

 simply a very large breed of the foxhound, which, on account of its superior length of 

 limb, is more capable of matching itself against the swift-footed deer than the ordinary 

 hound. These Dogs are very powerful when in a good state of health, and have been 

 known to achieve very wonderful feats of speed and endurance. They have been known 

 to run for a distance of fifty miles in pursuit of a stag ; and one memorable run is 

 recorded, where the stag, and the only two hounds which kept to its trail, were found 

 dead close to each other. The stag had made one powerful effort, had leaped over a 

 park wall, which the Dogs in their wearied state were unable to surmount, and had 

 fallen dead just as it had gained a place of safety. 



It is needful that the Staghound should be a courageous as well as a powerful 

 animal ; for when the stag is brought to bay it becomes a formidable antagonist, dashing 



