NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DOG. 49 



compete with an equally famous dog belonging to the Suther- 

 land chief, and the only one in the country supposed to be 

 any match for him. The approaching contest between these 

 fine animals created great interest ; White-breasted Bran 

 was superior to the whole of Fingal 's other dogs, even to the 

 * surly strength of Luah ;' but the Sutherland dog, known by 

 the full-sounding name of Phorp, was incomparably the best 

 and most powerful dog that ever eyed a deer in his master's 

 forests. 



" When Fingal arrived in the forest with his retinue and 

 dogs, he was saluted with a welcome that may be translated 

 thus 



" With your nine great dogs, 



With your uine smaller game -starting dogs, 



With your nine spears, 



Unwieldy weapons ! 



And with your nin gray, sharp-edged swords, 



Famous were you in the foremost fight* 



"The Sutherland chief also made a conspicuous figure, 

 with his followers, and his dogs and weapons for the chase. 

 Of the two rival dogs, Bran and Phorp, the following descrip- 

 tions have still survived amongst some of the oldest people in 

 Sutherland. Bran is thus represented : 



44 The hind leg like a hook or bent bow, 

 The breast like that of a garron,* 

 The ear like a leaf.' 



" Such w*ould Fingal, the chief of heroes, select from 

 amongst the youth of his hunting-dogs. Phorp was black in 

 color, and his points are thus described : 



" Two yellow feet such as Bran had; 

 Two black eyes ; 

 And a white breast ; 

 A back narrow and fair, 

 As required for hunting ; 

 And two erect ears of a dark brown red.' 



" Towards the close of the day, after some severe runs, 

 which, however, still left the comparative merits of the two 

 dogs a subject of hot dispute, Bran and Phorp were brought 

 front to front, to prove their courage ; and they were no sooner 

 untied, than they sprang at each other, and fought desperately. 

 Phorp seemed about to overcome Bran, when his master, the 



* A stout gelding. 

 5 



