THE DEERHOUND 



Hebe we have as handsome a dog as we need wish to sSe, 

 his general appearance suggesting a rough-coated Greyhound 

 of greater size and substance. Sir Walter Scott's descrip- 

 tion of the Scottish Deerhound might almost stand to-day. 

 He has a considerable history, if one cares to delve into the 

 past, and Holinshed, who wrote in the sixteenth century, 

 tells how the Pictesh uobilitye repaired unto Craithlint, 

 King of the Scots, for to hunt and make merrie with him. 

 Perceiving that the Scottish dogs did far excel theirs both 

 in fairnesse, swiftnesse, and hardinesse, they got diverse 

 both dogs and bitches of the best kind for breed to be given 

 them. Yet being not content they stole one belonging to 

 the king, which led to a shrewde bickering between them, 

 in which many died. 



HIS WORK 



Like snakes in Ireland, the work of the Deerhound does 

 not exist to-day, the modern rifle having quite rendered his 

 services unnecessary. Until comparatively recent times he 

 coursed the deer, or tracked a wounded quarry. 



HIS POINTS 



Head broadest between the ears, tapering thence to the 

 nose ; muzzle pointed ; skull flat, and coated with moder- 

 ately long hair ; ears set on high, and folded back (a 

 prick ear, or one large and coarse, is a bad fault) ; neck 

 long and strong ; shoulders well sloped and clean ; body 

 similar to that of the greyhound, but larger and more 

 powerful ; eyes dark ; coat harsh and wiry, but not 

 woolly. Colour dark blue-grey, lighter grey, or brindle, 

 preference being given to the darker ; yellow and sandy- 

 red, or red-fawn. 



