HUNTING DIRECTORY. 37 



Or old English Blood-hound. 



Takes a last look, and having seen bim, dies. 



So closed for ever, faithful Argus' eyes. 



Then pity touched the mighty Warrior's soul, 



And down his cheek a tear unbidden stole." — Pope. 



As I have already hinted, there is strong reason to 

 believe the Normans first introduced the Talbot or blood- 

 hound into this kingdom ; and some centuries afterwards 

 they were used on the borders of England and Scotland, 

 Avhich were then much infested by robbers and also by 

 murderers. The dogs were maintained by a tax upon 

 the inhabitants, though individuals were no doubt pri- 

 vately possessed of them. In Scotland, a law existed, 

 that no person should deny entrance to these dogs when 

 in pursuit of stolen goods upon pain of being deemed an 

 accessary. Persons called Moss Troopers were pursued 

 by hounds of this description. These robbers generally 

 retired with their plunder through mosses (morasses), 

 bogs, and sloughs, which were passable only to those 

 acquainted with the various intricate paths by which alone 

 these places could be crossed by a human being. This 

 peculiar pursuit was distinguished by the name of Hot- 

 trod, and the dogs were sometimes called slough-hounds 

 and .s/<??/^^-hounds, as well as blood-hounds. 



" Upon the banks 



Of Tweed, slow winding through the vale, the seat 



O war and rapine once, ere Britons knew 



The sweets of peace, or Anna's dread commands 



To lasting leagues the haughty rivals aw'd. 



There dwelt a pilfering race, well train'd and skill'd 



In all the mysteries of theft, the spoil 



Their only substance, feuds and war their sport: 



