THE LUECHER. 243 



III— THE LURCHER. 



Although this dog is not used by the fair sportsman in this 

 country, yet he must be recognised as a distinct and well-known 

 cross. From his great speed, combined with his good nose and 

 his silence, he is par excellence the poacher's dog ; but he is very 

 little better than the pure-bred greyhound accustomed to the same 

 kind of work and with the same amount of practice. I have 

 known a great many greyhounds which would never miss a hare 

 if once sighted, or even put on the fresh scent, dropping their 

 noses, and hunting out all the turns of the hare nearly as well as 

 the beagle. Hence it is not to be supposed that the nose of the 

 lurcher is derived from the sheep-dog's side only, for both being 

 good, he may be readily said to owe it to each in due proportions. 

 When the lurcher is bred from the rough Scotch greyhound and 

 the collie, or even the English sheep-dog, he is a very handsome 

 dog, and even more so than either of his progenitors when pure. 

 He is also a most destructive animal, showing speed, sagacity, and 

 nose in an extraordinary degree, from which causes the breed is 

 discouraged, as he would exterminate all the furred game in a 

 very short time. A poacher possessing such an animal seldom 

 keeps him long, every keeper being on the lookout, and putting 

 a charge of shot into him on the first opportunity ; and as these 

 must occur of necessity, the poacher does not often attempt to rear . 

 the dog which would suit him best, but contents himself with one 

 which will not so much attract the notice of those who watch 

 him. 



It is needless to describe the points of the lurcher, further than 

 to remark that he partakes of those of the greyhound in shape, 

 combined with the stouter frame, larger ears, and rougher coat of 

 the sheep-dog, but varying according to the breed of each employed 

 in producing the cross. Formerly these lurchers were invariably 



