34 HUNTING DIRECTORY. 



The Talbot, 



which she performed in seven minutes and half a second. 

 Madcap was another famous hound belonging to the 

 same gentleman; as also Lounger, who was supposed 

 to be the best fox-hound of his time. " Madcap, at 

 two years old, challenged all England for 500 guineas. 

 Lounger, brother to Madcap, did the same at four years 

 old ; the challenge was accepted, and a bet made for 200 

 guineas, to run Mr. Meynell's Pillager ; the parties were 

 also allowed to start any other hound of Mr. Meynell's, 

 and Lounger was to beat both ; but, upon Lounger being 

 seen at Tattersall's by many of the first sportsmen, his 

 bone and form were so capital that it was thought proper 

 to pay forfeit, which was done by giving Colonel Thorn- 

 ton a pair of gold couples." These, however, are instances 

 merely of extraordinary speed, which is certainly highly 

 necessary in a fox-hound ; yet, there are other qualities, 

 and superior olfactory organs in particular, which ought 

 to be considered as equally indispensable. 



All the ramifications of the hound which we at present 

 possess sprung from one and the same source, namely, 

 the Talbot, or old English blood-hound.* These dogs 

 are noticed by our immortal bard, who represents them 

 as " crook-kneed and dewlapt, like Thessalian bulls." 

 Shakespeare, it is well known, was prosecuted for deer- 



* A very different animal from the blood'bound employed by the Spani- 

 ards in the West Indies, to hunt the runaway negroes. The Spanish 

 blood-hound is a large ferocious animal, with small pointed cars, and very 

 inferior olfactory organs ; so much so indeed, that in all intricate cases 

 they are accompanied by a smaller dog, called a ^nrfer. For a further 

 illustration of this subject, we refer the reader to Dallas's Historij of the 

 Maroon War. 



