230 COVERT-SIDE SKETCHES. 



chained up, his temper appears to be completely sonred, and he 

 is by no means safe; and, so far as my observation goes, I 

 should say that, although they are generally good-tempered, 

 this is a characteristic of the breed. With respect to the mode 

 of training them, I have invariably found that a little practice 

 is all they require, if judiciously managed. It is astonishing 

 how soon, and with what eagerness, they will pursue the scent 

 of anything in the shape of flesh. Care should be taken, how- 

 ever, not to prolong their lessons too much at the commence- 

 ment ; and the less frequented the scene of operation is at 

 lirst the better, as they are inclined, when young, to be shy of 

 strangers. After they have been induced to stoop readily to 

 the scent of blood, and have gained sufficient confidence to run 

 for a field or two by themselves, the length of the chase may be 

 rapidly increased, and the slightest stain of blood at starting 

 will enable them, if well bred, to carry it on through almost 

 every difficulty. I have always adopted the plan of giving 

 them now and then a small portion of flesh at the end of the 

 run as a reward ; for I am inclined to think, unless this were 

 occasionally done, they would get ' slack ' as the scent became 

 cold. I may just observe that I have found them give very 

 little tongue when running a man by the foot, only occasionally 

 opening v/hen cheered, or when they suddenly come off the 

 ploughed land into a spot where the scent lies well and 

 strong." 



In Idstone's book of the dog, this account of their hunting is 

 very much confirmed, although he treats them more from the 

 dog-show point of view than any other. He says, " Tempers 

 vary in dogs, however, as well as in Christians, and, after 

 diligent inquiry, I am led to think that, as a rule, the blood- 

 hound is amiable, sagacious, faithful, obedient, and docile ; that 

 he might be, in some cases, used as a retriever, or to track and 

 find a child lost in the backwoods or bush of the Australian 

 wilds. And I do not draw this conclusion at hazard, as I know 

 that one owner of the pure breed has frequently hunted his 



