PRESENT BREEDS OF HOUNDS 25 



most powerful scent, and delights most in blood, with a 

 natural inclination to hunt dry-foot." 



Taking this rather prolix description of the Talbot 

 into consideration, it is no very wide stretch of the 

 imagination to suppose the large coarse fox-hound 

 descended from this original with a mixture of the wolf- 

 dog or rough-haired greyhound ; in fact, I should think 

 the very first cross would assuredly be, to all appearance, 

 intents, and purposes, the very dog we call a fox-hound 

 of the larger species. 



When wolves abounded in this country, there were, 

 no doubt, two varieties of dog employed in their destruc- 

 tion, if not more ; the wolf-dog, a large fierce animal, 

 which would run by nose as well as sight, most likely a 

 cross between the blood-hound or mastiff, and greyhound ; 

 and the rough-coated deer-hound, still to be found in 

 Scotland, and among the wild hills of Wales, preserving 

 the original characteristics of great power, speed, and 

 courage ; and from these, in all probability, are descended 

 our present breeds of fox-hounds. That a great variety 

 of hounds existed in the reigns of Elizabeth and James the 

 First may be gathered from the quaint old Markham, who 

 flourished as a good authority in those times, on sporting 

 and veterinary subjects. 



'* If you would have your kennel for sweetnesse of cry, 

 then you must compound it of some large dogges, that 

 have deep solemn mouthes, and are swift in speeding, 

 which must, as it were, beare the base in consort ; then 

 a double number of roaring and loud ringing mouthes, 

 which must beare the counter-tenor ; then some hollow, 

 plaine, sweete mouthes, which must beare the meane or 

 middle part ; and so with these three parts of music, you 

 shall make your cry perfect. And herein you shall 

 Df 



