96 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



"Swift-footed Luath " and "White-breasted Bran" are 

 among the names of Ossian's hounds. I am disposed to 

 affirm that the old Irish Wolfhound and the Highland Deer- 

 hound are not only intimately allied in form and nature, but 

 that they are two strains of an identical breed, altered only 

 in size by circumstance and environment. 



Whatever the source of the Highland Deerhound, and at 

 whatever period it became distinct from its now larger Irish 

 relative, it was recognised as a native dog in Scotland in very 

 early times, and it was distinguished as being superior in 

 strength and beauty to the hounds of the Picts. 



From remote days the Scottish nobles cherished their strains 

 of Deerhound, seeking glorious sport in the Highland forests. 

 The red deer belonged by inexorable law to the kings of 

 Scotland, and great drives, which often lasted for several days, 

 were made to round up the herds into given neighbourhoods 

 for the pleasure of the court, as in the reign of Queen Mary. 

 But the organised coursing of deer by courtiers ceased during 

 the Stuart troubles, and was left in the hands of retainers, 

 who thus replenished their chief's larder. 



The revival of deerstalking dates back hardly further than 

 a hundred years. It reached its greatest popularity in the 

 Highlands at the time when the late Queen and Prince Albert 

 were in residence at Balmoral. Solomon, Hector, and Bran 

 were among the Balmoral hounds. Bran was an especially 

 fine animal one of the best of his time, standing over thirty 

 inches in height. 



Two historic feats of strength and endurance illustrate the 

 tenacity of the Deerhound at work. A brace of half-bred 

 dogs, named Percy and Douglas, the property of Mr. Scrope, 

 kept a stag at bay from Saturday night to Monday morning ; 

 and the pure bred Bran by himself pulled down two un- 

 wounded stags, one carrying ten and the other eleven tines. 

 These, of course, are record performances, but they demon- 

 strate the possibilities of the Deerhound when trained to his 

 natural sport. 



