72 



NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DOG. 



THE BLOODHOUND. 



It is probable that the Bloodhound sprung directly from 

 the preceding dog, having originally been merely indi- 

 vidual hounds selected from the pack of Talbots, on account 

 of their superior scent or speed ; or, perhaps, their acci- 

 dentally being dark in color and less noisy of tongue, and 

 from these circumstances less liable to be detected by the 

 felon of whom they were in pursuit. The bloodhound is a 



tall, showy hound ; out, in a state of purity, seldom attains, 

 and certainly never exceeds, twenty-eight inches in height at 

 the shoulder the average height is twenty-six inches for 

 females, and twenty-seven for males. The ears are singu- 

 larly long and pendulous, and should, in a perfect specimen, 

 be within an inch or two of the animal's height, from tip to 

 tip across the head. The great Landseer has immortalized 

 the Bloodhound in many of his superb paintings. Among 

 others, I may name his " Dignity and Impudence," repre- 

 senting a noble Bloodhound looking out from his kennel, in 

 grave and dignified majesty ; while a little wire-haired ter- 

 rier is at his feet, apparently impudently growling at some 

 approaching intruder. Those who have seen the originals 

 of this paining have pronounced " Malvina," a beautiful 



