676 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



all the collateral branches of this race have descended ; 

 and that all deviations from the original stem have 

 been the result of crosses and improvements during 

 many centuries, by those skilled in breeding a,nd 

 rearing dogs of the chase, and varied in size and 

 strength, according to the particular sport for which 

 they were intended. At the present day, it is well 

 known that the practical breeder, by judicious crosses, 

 can either enlarge or diminish the stature and strength 

 of his pack in the course of three or four generations. 



The following fact affords a striking proof of the 

 wonderful spirit of the staghound in supporting a 

 continuance of exertion. Many years since, a very 

 large and powerful stag was turned out at Whinfield 

 Park, in the county of Westmoreland, and was pur- 

 sued by the hounds till, by fatigue or accident, the 

 whole pack was thrown out, except two staunch 

 and favourite dogs, which continued the chase the 

 greatest part of the day. The stag returned to the 

 park from whence he set out, and, as his last effort, 

 leapt the wall, and immediately expired. One of the 

 hounds pursued him to the wall, but being unable to 

 get over, lay down and almost instantly died ; the 

 other was found dead at a little distance. 



The length of the chase is uncertain ; but, as they 

 were seen at Red-kirk, near Annan, in Dumfriesshire 

 (distant by the post-road forty-six miles), it is conjec- 

 tured that the circuitous and uneven course they might 

 be supposed to take would not be less than one hund^'ed 

 and twenty miles. To commemorate this fact, the 

 horns of the stag, which were the largest ever seen 

 in that part of the country, were placed on a tree of 

 enormous size in the Park (afterwards called '' Hart's- 

 horn Tree "), accompanied with this inscription : — 



*' Hercules kill'd Hart o' Greece ; 

 And Hart o' Greece kill'd Hercules ! " 



