322 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



the footfteps of a man to a confiderable diftance : And in 

 barbarous and uncivilized times, when the thief or mur- 

 derer had fled, this ufeful creature would trace him 

 through the thickeft and moft fecret coverts ; nor would 

 it ceafe its purfuit till it had taken the felon. For this 

 reafon, there was a law in Scotland, that whoever de- 

 nied entrance to one of thefe Dogs, in purfuit of ftolen 

 goods, mould be deemed an acceflary. 



Blood-Hounds were formerly ufed in certain diftricts 

 lying between England and Scotland, which were much 

 infefted by robbers and murderers ; and a tax was laid 

 upon the inhabitants for keeping and maintaining a cer- 

 tain number of them. But, as the arm of Juflice is now 

 extended over every part of the country, and there are no 

 fecret receffes where villainy may lay concealed, thefe 

 fervices are no longer neceffary. 



In Scotland, it was diftinguiflaed by the name of the 

 Sleuth-Hound. 



Some few of thefe Dogs are ftill kept in the fouthern 

 parts of the kingdom, and are ufed in purfuit of Deer 

 that have been previoully wounded by a (hot to draw 

 blood, the fcent of which enables them to purfue with 

 moft unerring fteadinefs, — They are fometimes employed 

 in difcovering deer-ftealers, whom they infallibly trace 

 by the blood that iflues from the wounds of their victims. 

 —They are alfo faid to be kept in convents, fituated in 

 the lonely and mountainous countries of Switzerland, 

 both as a guard to the facred manfion, as well as to find 

 out the bodies of men that have been unfortunately loft 

 in crofling thofe wild and dreary tracts. 



The Blood-Hound is taller than the Old Englifii 

 Hound, moft beautifully formed, and fuperior to every 

 other kind in activity, fpeed, and fagacity. — They feldom 



