36 HUNTING DIRECTORY. 



The Talbot, 



pointed. Their countenances were expressive of a solemn 

 sagacity, which rendered them highly interesting and 

 even majestic. Voice very deep and sonorous. In 

 colour they were inclining to what may be called the 

 dark tan, though Somervile seems to think (I believe 

 erroneously) that white was the distinguishing colour of 

 the prime Talbot. 



The stag-hounds, which, about forty years since, were 

 used by George III. manifested a considerable degree 

 of affinity to the Talbot. In many of what are called 

 the southern-hounds, we have a tolerable picture of the 

 Talbot, only that the animal is much smaller. Mr. 

 Charlesworth, who keeps the Black Swan Inn, Shude 

 Hill, Manchester, has, at this time, (1826) a hound, which 

 in height measures twenty-seven inches, and every way 

 answers the description of the Talbot as nearly as pos- 

 sible. 



Something of the Talbot kind was in use amongst the 

 Greeks, as may be gathered from the following descrip- 

 tion of the dog of Ulysses : — 



*« He knew his Lord, he knew, and strove to meet ; 

 In vain he strove to crawl and kiss his feet; 

 Yet all he could, his tail, his ears, his eyes, 

 Salute his Master and confess his joys. 

 O had you seen him vigorous, bold, and young, 

 Swift as a stag, and as a lion strong : 

 Him no fell savage on the plains withstood, 

 None scap'd him bosom 'd in the gloomy wood. 

 His eye how piercing, and his scent how true, 

 To wind the vapour in th« tainted dew. 

 This dog, wliom fate thus granted to behold 

 His Lord, when twenty tedious years had roirri, 



