DEER DOGS OF COLONSAY. 269 



weight, and that roughness which is necessary for the 

 protection of the feet in a rocky mountainous country, 

 was lost. In the cross with the blood-hound no quality 

 was gained but that of smell, while the speed and size were 

 diminished; and with the Pyrenean wolf-dog, though weight 

 was in some cases gained, yet this was of no avail, as speed 

 and courage were both lost. 



All these crosses were found totally unfit for the purpose 

 of deer coursing, as was effectually proved by the late 

 Glengarry, who made many attempts to perpetuate this 

 sport. Of the cross with the blood-hound was Sir Walter 

 Scott's dog, bred and presented to him by Glengarry. 



The finest, I believe, and apparently the purest specimens 

 of the deerhound now to be met with, are those in the posses- 

 sion of Captain M'Neill, the younger, of Colonsay, of which 

 he has in particular two dogs, Buskar and Bran, and two 

 bitches, Runa and Cavack. 



These dogs, though all more or less related to each other, 

 vary somewhat in colour, two being of a pale yellow, and 

 two of a sandy red ; and vary also in the length and quality 

 of the hair. 



There is one peculiarity common to all, viz., that the tips 

 of their ears, eyes, and muzzles, are black, and that in all 

 other parts they are each of one uniform colour, a never- 

 failing accompaniment of purity of breed. 



In their running points they bear a great similarity to a 

 well-bred greyhound ; and, though somewhat coarser, are 

 supposed (from the trials which have been made) to be 

 quite as swift. Their principal difference in shape from 

 the common greyhound consists in a greater height of 

 shoulder, thickness of neck, size of head and muzzle, and 

 coarseness of bone. They are much more sagacious than 

 the common greyhound, and in disposition are more playful 

 and attached, but much bolder and fiercer when roused. 



The following are the dimensions of Buskar,* taken in 

 August, 1836 : 



* The principal dog in Mr. Edwin Landseer's beautiful vignette, opposite 

 to the frontispiece of this work, is taken from a sketch of this celebrated 

 animal, but does not, I think, give the idea of quite so much bone and 

 muscle as belongs to the original. W.S. 



