Volume 28, Plate XXXI / Mammalia (Mammals)

Stag-Hound & Blood-Hound

1. The Stag-Hound. The stag-hound is a large, stately animal, nearly equal to the blood-hound, originally slow, sure, and steady, the modern breed handsomer though smaller and faster from crossing with the fox-hound. It has a large short head with wide nose, long broad hanging ears, muscular hams, round small feet, and a rush tail carried high, being invariably white with black and fulvous about the ears and in two or three large spots on the sides or back.
2. The Blood-Hound. The blood-hound, now rare in England but still used on the Continent to follow a wounded beast’s track, stands about twenty-eight inches at the shoulder, with broad full muzzle, large pendulous upper lip, protuberant crown, broad breast, and strong limbs, the original colour a deep tan with large black clouds. Norman limers, accounted the best in France, were usually grey-brown, some quite black with a tan spot over the eyes; the breed runs silent on the scent.