From his superior size and rough coat the Deerhound has a more imposing appearance than his refined brother the Greyhound, and many would place him at the head of the family. He is frequently referred to as the Staghound. It is well to note this, to prevent confusion, as in England the Staghound is a totally different dog, hunting by scent alone, and often simply a large Foxhound. He is also named the Rough Greyhound, and the Northern, or Fleet-hound.

Blome, writing of the various hounds of his time, after describing the deep-mouthed hound, says: "For the Northern, or Fleet-hound, his head and nose ought to be slenderer and longer, his back broad, his belly gaunt, his joynts long, and his ears thicker and shorter - in a word, he is in all parts slighter made, and framed after the mould of a Greyhound." It is, however, uncertain whether Blome here meant to describe the Deerhound, or the light-built and swift Foxhound of the North, which, by comparison with the slow, deep-tongued, Southern hound, approached to the Greyhound form.

In that much-valued work the "Sportsman's Cabinet" no mention is made of the Scotch Deerhound, and the Staghound described and illustrated by Reinagle is a pure modern Foxhound.

Richardson, a well-known authority on dogs, writing nearly sixty years ago, gave it as his opinion that the Irish Wolfhound was the ancestor of the Highland Deerhound, an opinion not by any means well supported; this question, however, is discussed at some length in the chapter on the Irish Wolfhound. Equally open to doubt are the crosses suggested by some as having been resorted to in order to prevent the Deerhound from dying out - and particularly those of the Foxhound and Bloodhound.

In treating of the Deerhound, "Stonehenge," who is usually careful and accurate, says: "On carefully examining the description given by Arrian, no one can doubt that the dog of his day was rough in his coat, and in all respects like the present Scotch dog." On the contrary, Arrian is very clear on this point, showing he was well acquainted with both varieties, for he says: "The hair, whether the dog be of the rough or smooth sort," etc. This is quoted in support of the views of a common origin for all the members of this group. "Idstone" is "inclined to think it is an imported breed"; but he gives no reason for thinking so, and declares it "is one of the oldest breeds we have."

Sir Walter Scott did much to draw attention to the breed, and the description of the Deerhound he puts in the mouth of the Knight of Gilsland has never been equalled, and no article on the breed is complete without it: "A most perfect creature of heaven; of the old Northern breed - deep in the chest, strong in the stern, black colour, and brindled on the breast and legs, not spotted with white, but just shaded into grey - strength to pull down a bull, swiftness to cote an antelope."

Of present-day writers none are better qualified to speak than Mr. G. W. Hickman, who has devoted so many years to the practical study of the race as a breeder and judge, and whose literary tastes have naturally led him to make, in addition, a study of its history.

Mr. Hickman's contribution to the last Edition of this work was one of the most interesting and instructive of the many to be found. It combined the historical and the practical in a manner not always, or indeed often, associated. The time that has elapsed since it was published has brought about some slight modifications and changes for the better in the breed as a whole; but Mr. Hickman's advice and words of warning are as sound and necessary now as they were then. We therefore unhesitatingly reproduce as much of the original article as our more restricted space will allow.

"The thing to be feared in connection with the Scottish Deer-hound is that the breed, as its use gradually dies out in the Highlands, may lose all its character and quality, and thus be theorised into extinction.

Of late years many men have bred solely for size, and trusted to Providence for quality. The outcome of this has been that we have had on the show-bench animals wanting in all the grace, elegance, and symmetry which should characterise the Deerhound; with big, heavy heads, bulging out at the eyes ; with blunt muzzles, nearly as thick at the nose as just in front of the eyes; with big, heavy, drooping ears, often heavily coated and fringed in addition; and with a large but overgrown and weak-looking frame and coarse but doubtful-looking limbs.

I do not say that most of our show dogs have been of this kind, but we have had several notable instances, whose success has been perplexing and disheartening to those who have kept the Deerhound for his proper work, and whose occasional patronage of shows has thus been alienated. This is the more to be regretted, as the use of the Deerhound in his native country is decreasing day by day; and in this fact we come to another of the chief causes which have been prejudicial to the breed, and will be still more so unless care be taken not to lose sight of the purpose for which it was used. As soon as the Deerhound begins to be regarded solely as a show dog, then will the breed be in imminent danger of losing its character; but as long as an animal is bred and used for a practical purpose, so long can reference be made to the product which is found best suited to such requirements.

'Man,' says Darwin, ' closely imitates natural selection'; that is, man in breeding Greyhounds for coursing, Deerhounds for deerstalking, and St. Bernards for use in the snow, selects and breeds from those specimens only which are likely to produce the requisite combination of qualities for his purpose. Thus each product becomes, as far as it can be, a naturally perfect animal for the designed purpose, inasmuch as there is always being applied the infallible criterion of utility and experience to test the results. In each case, mere appearance or outward form has not been the primary consideration with the breeder - the essential qualities are what he aims at; but, finding that those qualities are associated with certain outward characteristics, he is guided by the latter in his selection of breeding specimens. So each breed settles down into a uniform type, and this is maintained by the most rigid of all examiners - experience.