30 



CASSELL'S POPULAR NATURAL HISTORY. 



round, and of moderate size; the In-cast is wide, and the chest deep ; the shoulders thrown Luck : the 

 head is small ; the neck thin ; the back broad ; the tail rather bushy, and well carried. 



The Heetness of some of these dogs is extraordinary. Merkin, a celebrated foxhound, belonging 

 to Colonel Thornton, ran four miles in seven minutes. Formerly, the foxhound was bred rather for 





Tilt FUXHOUMU. 



endurance than great speed, and then the chase would last for several hours. On one occasion, the 

 Duke of Richmond's hounds found the fox at a quarter before eight in the morning, and killed him at 

 ten minutes before six, after a chase of ten hours' hard running. Many of the sportsmen tired three 

 horses each ; eleven couple and a half of the hounds only were in at the death, and several horses died 

 during the chase. 



THE STAGHOUND. 



A FAR-FAMED picture, from the easel of Sir Edwin Landseer, is called " Low Life." It is one of a bull- 

 dog, the pet of some butcher ; and the bulky frame, rude face, eye injured in some tierce combat, and 

 lolling tongue, are all in perfect keeping with the circumstances of such a huge brute. AYe give this 

 in an engraving, with another of " High Life," by the same artist, representing in contrast, which 

 cannot be surpassed, a thorough-bred staghound, in a chamber scene, from days of chivalry. The 

 noble animal is the property of his Royal Highness Prince Albert. 



Her Majesty has a very fine pack of hounds, most of them being fully l'0 inches in height ; 

 have broad short heads, and straight hind legs, and tails more "fiMffcni" than is often seen in 

 the ordinary foxhound. Long, indeed, was stag-hunting a royal pastime. 



When the feast was over, in Branksome Tower, as the minstrel sings 



"The tables were drawn, it was idlers all; 

 Knight, and page, and household squire, 

 Loitered through the lofty hall, 

 Or crowded round the ample fire; 



The staghounds weary with the chase, 

 And urged, in dreams, the forest race, 

 From Teviot-stone to Kskdale moor." 



This breed was the result of a cross between the fleet foxhound and the large old English, or 

 southern breed now almost extinct. The Royal, the Derby, the Englefield, the New Forest, and 

 the Darlington packs of staghounds were formerly celebrated. 



The staghound is generally considered the same, but only a larger variety of the foxhound ; but. 

 though originally descended alike, they are not now bred from the same .strains Indiscriminately. Ah .with 



