164 BRITISH EDIBLE FUNGI. 



where the fungus lies buried some two or three inches 

 beneath the surface, they dig like a terrier at a rat's 

 hole ; and the best of them, if left alone, will disinter 

 the fungus, and carry it to his master. It is not 

 usual, however, to allow the dog to exhaust himself 

 in this way, and the owner forks up the truffle, and 

 gives the dog his usual reward — a piece of bread or 

 cheese ; for this he looks, from long habit, with the 

 keen glance of a Spanish gipsy. The truffle hunter 

 is set up in business when he possesses a good dog ; 

 all he requires besides will be a short staff, about 

 thirty inches long, shod with a strong iron point, and 

 at the other end furnished with a two-fanged iron 

 hook. With this implement he can dig the largest 

 truffle, or draw aside the briers or boughs in copse 

 wood to give his dog free scope to use his nose. He 

 travels usually thirty or forty miles on his hunting 

 expeditions, and with this (to use a business term) 

 inexpensive plant, keeps a wife and children easily. 

 We know personally one blue grizzled dog, of the old 

 truffle breed, which supports a family of ten children. 

 The truffle dog is a delicate animal to rear, and a 

 choice feeder. Being continually propagated from 

 one stock he has become peculiarly susceptible of all 

 dog diseases, and when that fatal year comes round 

 which desolates the kennel in his quarter, many 

 truffle hunters are left destitute of dogs, and conse- 

 quently short of bread ; for they will not believe (as 

 we believe) that any dog with a keen nose and lively 



