420 With Rod and Gun in New England 



s 



It is a nervous, intelligent animal, plucky to a degree, but lively and 

 full of frolic. It is equally at home in the city and country, and is very 

 companionable and amusing on a ramble. It has been used with the gun 

 in England somewhat, its keen scent and lively action making it no con- 

 temptible field dog in the absence of the trained breeds. 



Among all dogs, very few are better known to history than the blood- 

 hound. Its wonderful faculty of man-tracking has been so elaborated 

 upon by writers that the animal has been popularly credited with almost 

 supernatural powers. There is, however, nothing remarkable in its actions 

 beyond the simple exercise of its natural powers of marvelous scent and 

 pertinacity of purpose, which, however, are unsurpassed by any of its 

 tribe. 



The bloodhound, so far as can be learned, was first described by Dr. 

 Caius, in 1570, who called it the sanguinaria, and the characteristics given 

 in that description coincide almost perfectly with those of the present 

 breed. Other writers in their descriptions of the Talbot dog, sleuthhound 

 and sleuthbitch, tally with that by Dr. Caius in many important points. 



On several occasions such important personages as Bruce and Wallace 

 were trailed by these animals, and had no little difficulty in escaping from 

 them. Barbour gives several accounts of the king's repeated escapes from 

 such pursuits, and the " wily turns " by which he threw the hound off the 

 scent. On one occasion he waded a bow-shot down a brook and climbed 

 a tree which overhung the water, by which stratagem he succeeded in 

 evading the animal. Henry, the minstrel, also states that after a short 

 skirmish at Black-Erne Side in which Wallace was worsted, the English 

 followed up the retreat that he was forced to make with a Border blood- 

 hound. 



At the present time the bloodhound is not used in the chase, its pace 

 being too slow and its nature too savage. Aside from its employment in 

 the pursuit of criminals, for which it is in considerable demand in this 

 country, particularly in the South and West, it is not much sought after ; it 

 probably will never become a popular breed on account of its uncertain 

 temper and great ferocity when aroused. In the standard used in judging 

 English bloodhounds, adopted by the English Bloodhound Club of America, 

 the head and wrinkle is a peculiar feature, and is accordingly estimated at 

 a very high rate. The brows are moderately prominent, and the general 

 expression of the whole head is very grand and majestic. The skin cover- 

 ing the forehead and cheeks is wrinkled in a remarkable manner, unlike 

 that of any other dog. 



The legs must be straight and muscular, and the ankles of full size. 

 The feet should be round and cat-like. Color and coat, either black and 

 tan or tan only, seldom a pure black. There should be little or no white. 

 The coat should be short and hard on the body, but silky on the ears and 



