HOUND (AS. mend, 011G. hunt. Ger. Hand, Goth. bonds: connected with Lat. coni., Gk. Ki)cov, Lyon, 01r. Lill). s.u, Skt. Aron, (log). Broad ly, the term 'hound' distinguishes hunting-dogs, who follow their animal quarry by scent, from the greyhound group. who hunt by sight; and also from the field dogs (q.v.).
Ilounds. then, comprise the bloodhound or sleuth-hound. as he is still called in Scotland, the buck or stag hound. the foxhound, the ot ter-hound, the harrier, the beagle, the basset, and the Great Dane. The origin of all the breeds of hounds is the Talbot, or old Southern hound (Canis sagax of Linn:pus). of which prob ably no true example exists to-day, although a few were preserved well up into the nineteenth century. These clogs were relnarkable for their great size and strength, the depth of the chest, length of ears, and the breadth of the head in the region covering the olfactory nerves: hence their capacity for tracing the 'sleuth,' slot,' or track. Befere the Christian Era the bloodhound or sleuth-hound of Great Britain had become so celebrated for these qualities that, as we know on the authority of Grath's, they were imported into Gaul. Strabo, who flourished somewhat later. confirms this, and (Appian praises their powers of scent and their courage.
Tut: This hound is the nearest to the original Talbot, and for centuries was the hound of the huntsman whose quarry had to be followed by scent. During many centuries he was the principal agent in Europe in bringing the bear• the hoar, and the stag to hay: hut swifter were gradually evolved, and the bloodhound's occupation dwindled to that of employing his extraordinary capacity to maintain a trail, however cro“ed and faint, in tracking human poachers to their hiding-places. Had it not been for this need. the breed would in all probability have entirely disappeared, as. in fact, it nearly had, when in the middle of the nineteenth century a few cnthusia.sts took up the breeding and restored the dog to his rightful position. The stories of carnage following the dog's overtaking man do not apply to the true ble7odhound. 11 hen he has treed or fixed his
man. be gives tongue and takes care that the pursued elects not escape; but he will never lay hold viciously and maliciously. The blood. hound's practical use tee-day is in tracking fugi• tires, refugees, and missing persons; and for this purpose packs 1.1 them are maintained ley many public authorities. Their capacity to do this leorders on the incredible; for, however the foot• steps of the one sought for may be crossed by ethers, in country or street, the nose of this hound, once it has, taken up the trail, will follow it. Bunning water is apparently the only medium that will baffle him. This sense is, of course, natural; but to develop it and bring the dog's use of it into subjection, and make it intelligently u-cfnl, the puppy has to be trained and his powers gradually extended and kept in practice.
The characteristics adopted as the standard by the American Bloodhound Club depict the modern dog. lle should be from 25 to 27 inches high at the shoulder for dogs, and a little less for the other sex; in color, black and tan: the black, ex tend ing to the back, top of neck, and top of head, is, however, always more or less mixed with tan. The tan is a deep rich red; the coat should lie short and hard on the body. but silky on the ears and top of bead. The ears should be long enough to Merin)) each other when drawn down together in front of the dog's nose. The eyes should be hazel. deeply sunk, and with tri angular lids, showing the third eyelid or 'haw.' The ln-ael should lee large in all dimensions ex cept width; the muzzle deep and square: the brows fairly prominent. The skin covering the forehead and cheeks is wrinkled, and the general expression of the whole head is majestic. The meek is long, to enable him to drop the head to the trail without altering his pace. The chest and ribs wide and deep, and the legs straight and muscular; the ankles of full size, and the feet round and eat-like.