26 Quadrupeds. 
Bloodhounds were formerly used in certain districts 
lying between England and Scotland, which were much 
infested 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 justice is now 
extended over every part of the country, and there are 
no secret recesses where villany may lie concealed, 
these services are no longer necessary. In former times 
these Dogs were used to hunt runaway negroes and 
others in the Spanish West Indies, and many surprising 
anecdotes are told of their wonderful sagacity and power 
of scent. 
In Dallas's " History of the Maroons," an anecdote is 
given of the extent of their accomplishments in this 
way, which seems truly marvellous. A ship, attached 
to a fleet under convoy to England, was manned chiefly 
by Spanish sailors, who, as they passed Cuba, took the 
opportunity of running the vessel on shore, when they 
murdered the officers, and other Englishmen on board, 
and carried off all the available plunder into the moun- 
tains of the interior. The place was wild and unfre- 
quented, and they fully expected to elude all pursuit. 
The moment, however, the news reached Havanna, a 
detachment of twelve chasseurs, with their Dogs, was 
sent off. The result was, that in a few days the whole 
of the murderers were brought in and executed, not a 
man having been injured by the Dogs in the capture. 
The old English Hound, the original stock of this 
island, and used by the ancient Britons in the chase, is 
a most valuable Dog ; though the breed has been gradu- 
ally declining, and the size studiously diminished by a 
mixture of other kinds, in order to increase their speed. 
[t seems to have been accurately described by Shak- 
speare in the following lines : — 
'* My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind, 
So flew'd, so sanded ; and their heads are hung 
With ears that sweep away the morning dew ; 
Crook -kneed and dew -lapped, like Thessalian bulls ; 
Slow in pursuit ; but match'd in mouth like bells 
Each under each." 
