HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 321 



organs, or from the extraordinary moifture that always 

 adheres to its nofe and lips, or perhaps from fome other 

 unknown caufe, it is endued with the molt exquifitc 

 fenfe of fmelling, and can often diflinguifh the fcent an 

 hour after the lighter Beagles have given it up. Their 

 llownefs alfo difpofes them to receive the directions of 

 the huntfman : But as they are able to hunt a cold fcent, 

 they are too apt to make it fo, by their want of fpeed, 

 and tedious exaclinefs. 



Thefe Dogs were once common in every part of this 

 ifland, and were formerly much larger than at prefent. 



The breed, which has been gradually declining, and 

 its fize ftudioufly diminiihed by a mixture of other kinds 

 in order to increafe its fpeed, is now almoft extinct. 



It feems to have been accurately defcribed by Shake- 

 fpeare, in the following lines : — 



" My Hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind, 

 ■* So flew'd, fo fanded ; and their heads are hung 

 *' With ears that fweep away the morning dew ; 

 " Crook knee'd and dewlap'd, like Theffalian bulls; 

 " Slow in purfuit; but match'd in mouth like bells, 

 *' Each under each." — » 



Be fides thefe, there is a variety called the Kibble-Hound^ 

 produced by a mixture of the Beagle and the Old Eng- 

 lilh Hound. 



The BLOOD- HOUND 



was in great requeft with our anceftors ; and as it was 

 remarkable for the firienefs of its fcent, it was frequently 

 employed in recovering game that had efcaped wounded 

 from the hunter. It could follow, with great certainty, 



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