213 THE BLOOD-HOUND. 



The horns have been since removed ; and are novt 

 iit Jiihan's-bowerj in the same county. 



The BhocJ-hound was in great request with our 

 ancestois ; and as he was remarkable for the fine- 

 ness of his scent, he was frequently employed in re- 

 covering game that had escaped wounded from the 

 hunter. He wo aid follow, with great certainty, the 

 footsteps of a man to a considerable distance : and, 

 in barbarous and uncivilized times, when a thief 

 cr murderer had fled, this useful creature would 

 iHice him through the thickest and most secret co- 

 verts ; nor v/ould he cease his pursuit till he had 

 taken tlie felon. I'"'or this reason there was a law in 

 Scotland, that whoever denied entrance to one of 

 those Dogs in pursuit of stolen goods, should be 

 de,em:ed an accessary. 



Blood- hounds were formerly used in certain dis- 

 tricts lying between England and Scotland, which 

 wereTnuch infested by robbers and mAirderers : and 

 a tax was laid on the inhabitants, for keeping and 

 maintaiiiln?^ a certain number cf these animals. Biit 

 as the arm of justice is now extended over every 

 part of the country, and there are no secret recesses 

 v\''here villainy can lie concealed, their services are 

 hecome no longer necessarv. 



Some few of these Dogs are kept in the northern 

 parts of the kingdom, and are used in pursuit of 

 Deer that have been previously wounded ; they are 



* Brice'sCazcttcer.— Be\v. Quatl 319. 



