. The popular natural history . Zoology. FOXHOUND.—(Canis familtaris.) who were much more common when the offence was visited with capital punishment, were frequently detected by the dehcate nose of the Bloodhound, which would, when once laid on the scent, follow it up with unerrmg precision, unravelling the single trail from among a hundred crossing footsteps, and only to be bafifled by water or blood. The Bloodhound is gene- rally irascible in temper, and therefore a rather dan- gerous animal to be med- dled with by any one ex- cepting its owner. So fierce is its desire for blood, and so utt
. The popular natural history . Zoology. FOXHOUND.—(Canis familtaris.) who were much more common when the offence was visited with capital punishment, were frequently detected by the dehcate nose of the Bloodhound, which would, when once laid on the scent, follow it up with unerrmg precision, unravelling the single trail from among a hundred crossing footsteps, and only to be bafifled by water or blood. The Bloodhound is gene- rally irascible in temper, and therefore a rather dan- gerous animal to be med- dled with by any one ex- cepting its owner. So fierce is its desire for blood, and so utterly is it excited when it reaches its prey, that it will often keep its master at bay when he approaches, and receive his overtures with such unmistakable in- dications of anger that he will not venture to approach until his Dog has satisfied its appetite on the carcase of the animal which it has brought to the ground. When fairly on the track of the deer, the Bloodhound utters a peculiar, long, loud, and deep bay, which, if once heard, will never be forgotten. The colour of a good Bloodhound ought to be nearly uniform, no white being permitted, except on the tip of the tail. The prevailing tints are a blackish tan, or a deep fawn. The tail of this Dog is long sweeping. Of all the Dogs which are knc wn by the common title of " hound," the Fox- hound is the best known. It is supposed that the modern Foxhound derives its origin from the old English hound, and its va- rious points of perfection from judicious crosses with other breeds. For example, inorder to increase its speed the greyhound is made to take part in its pedigree, and the greyhound having already some admixture of the bull-dog blood, there is an infusion of stubbornness as well as of mere speed. According to the latest authorities, the best average height for Foxhounds is from twenty-one to twenty-five inches, the female being generally smaller than the male. However the size of the Dog does not ma
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
