HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 353 



the thickest and most secret coverts; nor would it 

 cease its pursuit till it had taken the felon. For 

 this reason, there was a law in Scotland, that who- 

 ever denied entrance to one of these Dogs, in pursuit 

 of stolen goods, should be deemed an accessary. 



Blood-Hounds were formerly used in certain dis- 

 tricts, lying between England and Scotland, which 

 were much infested by robbers and murderers ; and 

 a tax was laid upon the inhabitants for keeping 

 and maintaining a certain number of them. But 

 as the arm of justice is now extended over every 

 part of the country, and there are no secret recesses 

 where villainy may lie concealed, these services are 

 no longer necessary. 



In Scotland it was distinguished by the name of 

 the Sleuth- J I oiuul. 



Some few of these Dogs are still kept in the 

 southern part of the kingdom, and are used in pur- 

 suit of Deer that have been previously wounded by 

 a shot to draw blood, the scent of which enables 

 them to pursue with most unerring steadiness. 

 They are sometimes employed in discovering Deer- 

 stealers, whom they infallibly trace by the blood 

 that issues from the wounds of their victims. They 

 are also said to be kept in convents, situated in the 

 lonely and mountainous countries of Switzerland, 

 both as a guard to the sacred mansion, as well as 

 to find out the bodies of men who have been unfor- 

 tunately lost in crossing those wild and dreary 

 tracts. 



The Blood-Hound is taller than the Old English 

 Hound, most beautifully formed, and superior to 

 every other kind in activity, speed, and sagacity. 

 They seldom bark, except in the chase: they are 

 commonly of a reddish or brown colour. 



VOL III. 2 Y 



