60 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DOG. 



In form it is intermediate between the mastiff and the 

 gieyhound, but approximates more closely to the latter than 

 to the former. Its color is usually tan or liver color ; when 

 pied, the purity of the breed is susceptible of doubt ; the 

 coat is extremely fine ; the ears are semi-erect ; when the 

 animal is excited, they are pricked somewhat forward ; 

 the muzzle and tips of the ears are dark ; the tail is fine as 

 a rush. 



The Spanish bloodhound stands from twenty-six to twenty- 

 eight inches in height at the shoulder seldom more, and 

 often less. Columbus, when he invaded America, numbered 

 a staff of twenty bloodhounds as part of his army. More 

 tly, in 1795, a hundred of these fierce dogs were sent 

 to Jamaica from the Havana, to be employed in the Maroon 

 war. Dallas, in his * History of the Maroons," tells us that 

 General Wai pole ordered a review of these dogs and their 

 chasseurs, or k- j MJ principally colored Spaniards, that he 

 rui<r|it observe their conduct; and accordingly proceeded to 

 a place called Seven Rivers, accompanied by Colooe] Skin- 

 ner, who was appointed to conduct the attack. " Notice of 

 his coming having preceded him, a parade of the chasseurs 

 was ordered, and they were taken to a distance from the 

 house, in order to be advanced when the guard alighted. 

 On his arrival, the commissioner, (who had procured the 

 having paid his respects, was desired to parade them. 

 Tin Spaniards soon appeared at the end of a gentle ac- 

 clivity, drawn out in a line, containing upwards of forty 

 men, with their dogs in front, unmuzzled, and held by cotton 

 ropes. On receiving the command, 'Jire,' they discharged 

 th-ir fusees, and advanced as upon a real attack. This was 

 intended to ascertain what effect would be produced on the 

 dogs, if engaged under a fire of the Maroons. The volley 

 was no sooner discharged than the dogs rushed forward with 

 the greatest fury, amidst the shouts of the Spaniards, who 

 were dragged on by them with irresistible force. Some of 

 the dogs, maddened by the shout of attack while held back 

 by the ropes, seized on the stocks of the guns in the hands 

 of their keepers, and tore pieces out of them. Their im- 

 petuosity was so great that they were with difficulty stopped 

 before they reached the general, who found it necessary to 

 get into the chaise from which he had alighted, and if the 

 most strenuous exertions had not been made, they would 

 have seized upon his horses." Some writers on the dog 

 have confounded the Spanish bloodhound with the Cuban 



