354 



HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



A Hound bitch, belonging to the Rivington hunt, 

 near Bolton, pupped four whelps during a hard 

 chase, which she carefully covered in a rush isle, 

 and immediately after joined the pack. Shortly 

 after, she pupped another, \vhich she carried in her 

 mouth during the remainder of a chase of many 

 miles: after which, she returned to the place where 

 she had dropped the four. 



Somerville thus beautifully describes their mode 

 of pursuing the nightly spoiler : 



" Soon the sagacious brute, his curling tail 



" Flourish'd in air, low bending, plies around 



" His busy nose, the steaming vapour snuffs 



" Inquisitive, nor leaves one turf untry'd. 



"Till, conscious of the recent stains, his heart 



" Beats quick; his snuffling nose, his active tail, 



'' Attest his joy-, then with deep-op'ning mouth, 



" That makes the welkin tremble, he proclaims 



" Th' audacious felon : foot by foot he marks 



" His winding way, while all the list'ning crowd 



" Applaud his reas'nings: o'er the wat'ry ford, 



" Dry sandy heaths, and stony barren hills : 



" O'er beaten paths, with men and beasts distain'd. 



" Unerring he pursues, till at the cot 



" Arriv'd, and seizing by his guilty throat 



" The caitiff vile, redeems the captive prey : 



"So exquisitely delicate his sense!" 



