

Natural Hiftory of the Ancients. 45 



prefent day greyhounds are generally fuppofed to 

 be remarkably Jacking in any other virtue than 

 that of fpeed ; all other points in their breeding 

 are neglected to enfure this good quality. The 

 lymmer (from ligo, becaufe held in a learn) is " in 

 fmelling fmgular, and in fwiftenefTe incomparable." 

 It is little ufed in England at prefent, but may be 

 feen in Brittany and on the Continent, where it is 

 a ufeful creature in the mifcellaneous collection of 

 big hounds employed to hunt the wolf and boar. 

 The verfagus, or tumbler, is another dog little 

 known in England now. It was wont to frifk 

 and tumble over and over, and by its antics 

 fafcinated rabbits and the like, until, gradually 

 drawing nearer, it made a rum at them. It 

 furvives in the little dog employed by the few 

 fowlers in the fens which yet exifl, in order to 

 lure the wild-fowl, who have been attracted by 

 the decoy-ducks, further into the " pipe " of the 

 net. " The dogge called the theevifhe dogge " 

 finds its modern exemplification in the " lurcher " 

 of gipfies and poachers. " At the bydding and 

 mandate of his matter it fteereth and leereth 

 abroade in the night, hunting connyes by the ayre 

 which is levened with their faver, and conveyed to 

 the fenfe of fmelling by the meanes of the winde 

 blowing towardes him. During all which fpace of 

 his hunting he will not barcke, lead he mould bee 

 preivdiciall to his owne advantage." 



Fowling dogs are the fetter, the water-fpaniel, 

 and " the dogge called the fifher, in Latine cants 

 pifcator" Dr. Caius here fomewhat unconfcioufly 



