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Veterinary Medicine

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A [vCII (W

CONS'IW

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I

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^"^A

arrian on

iSTourfiiing^

THE CYNEGETICUS
THE YOUNGER XENOPHON,
TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK,
WITH

CLASSICAL AND PRACTICAL ANNOTATIONS,

AND A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE

LIFE

AND WRITINGS OF

THE AUTHOR.
TO WHICH
IS

ADDED

AN APPENDIX,
CONTAINING

SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CANES VENATICI OF

CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY.

BY A GRADUATE OF MEDICINE.
?18itttfi

ISmtfnisfjtiirnls

from

tlfte

Antique.

LONDON
J.

BOHN,

17,

HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

MDCCCXXXI.

CTtoo l^unlireli ants Jfitivi CToptcs of tl&ts SliBoi-fe arc l^rintetr.

EX iEDIBUS VALPIANIS.

iurrarj) .^matrur.^

oxm

Ica^r-b^

The fonioT^^fmi'i? W(Dir]k V

yyy

Dat

milii
,

prrt-'teroA

lanqtiani

se.

pacvA, d-edissct
stLa,

Uona

<iineiin

imufttis. qiieiu-

cum.

traderct

illi

CynUiiA, currervdo superabit dixerat

Dill

oinii.es

sim-ul et jaeulun); majiibiis qvLod (ccrms) haieTnus

Ovui Mel<vrn

HIOKi'UL

ANEUM

PREFACE.
Nee
desiuat

unquam
vetustas.

Tecum Graia

loqui teciun

Romana

Claudian,

The

following version

does

not

aim

at

pleasing
the

the

mere

literary

man.

It

was

not undertaken with

ambitious

expectation of being generally acceptable. the coursing public alone

It is

addressed to
;

to

the amateurs of the leash

for

whom
their

the original was written, seventeen centuries ago, by

representative of old, a
for

courser of Nicomedia in Asia

Minor; and

whose amusement and instruction the same

garb.

now assumes an English

The general reader
will

will find little in it to interest

it

him.

He

perhaps consider

altogether unworthy of his notice.

The sportsman, fond of

the inasical confusion

Of hounds and echo

will

in conjunction,

read

it

with indifference, as treating of a branch of rural

;

sport, not congenial to his taste

and wonder that an attempt

should be made to bring under public notice so ancient a

treatise

on a subject of such

partial interest.

But the

courser,

PREFACE.
it is

humbly conceived, the

active patron of the xvvsg KeKrixa),

proud of his greyhounds, that

are as swift

As

breathed stags, aye fleeter than the roe,

will
is

peruse

it

con amore, and find

in

its

pages

much

that

entertaining and practically useful, and that utility enhanced

in the

department of annotation.
literary courser,
will

The
solicits,
is

whose attention

it

more

particularly

reap the additional benefit of the light which

thrown on Arrian's text by the ancient authors of Greece

and

Rome

and be ready to yield

to the translator the

humble

merit of having collected in one point of view the classical

elucidations of the Cynegeticus,' and the pertinent observations

of writers of a later period.

Pro captu

lectoris

habent sua

fata libelli

The

original

manual

is

conversant with coursing, as practised

in the age of

Hadrian and the Antonini, at which period the

:

Celtic

hound was well known, and highly prized

translator have a

but the

annotations of the

more extensive range,

being selected from various Cynegetica in print and manuscript,

from the

first institution

of coursing to the present time."

1.

The

editors of the

Greek

libellus confine their

remarks almost exclusively to

;

critical

annotations on the text.

Indeed Holstein's edition has no notes

Blancard's,

only a few marginal emendations; and Zeune's and Schneider's, very few parallel
passages.
for the 2.

Such

classical

citations, therefore,

as are adduced

by the

translator, are

most part of novel application.

quotations from the Cynegeticus of

The

Xenophon the

elder refer to the chase-

practices and kennel-discipline of Greece, antecedent to the institution of coursing.

VH

I-.

I'

AV

V.

'>

The imperfect poem of

and the
often-cited simile

Gratius, the

Faliscian,

on hunting,

Gratii Falisci

Cyncg. VS.203.

of

his

contemporary Ovid, afford

Ovid, ftictam.
L.
I.

the earhest notice of the canis GaUicus

to ancient Greece.^

vs. 5:{3. ft

for

he was unknown

L. vu. vs.78i,

The

description of a single-handed course

it is

by the poet of the Metamorphoses, as

the

the
it

first

attempt of

kind

by any
its

classic

author,

so

is

unrivalled in the
its

accuracy of
poetry.

technical phraseology, and the beauty of

in

Intermediate

point of time
full

between the vivid

Ovidian sketch, and the

are

and perfect picture of Arrian,

Martial
:

the

faint

outlines

of the epigrammatist

and

subsequent to the Bithynian's, the somewhat doubtful portrait

Martial. L. m. Epig. 47. et L- xiv. Epig. 200.

of the philologist Julius Pollux, presented to the

.

Emperor

Poiiuc.

Ono-

mast. L.v.Prffif.

Commodus

and yet
of the

later,

that of Oppian, the Greek poet Oppian. Cyneg.

of Anazarbus,

reigns

of Severus

and Caracalla.

L.

I.

vs.

401.

1.

This statement
its

is

limited to classical authors alone

if

the Biblical scholar might

it

possibly arraign

accuracy,

made more

general

though

scarce needs qualifi-

cation to suit the doubtful interpretation of the 31

.

Hebrew

test of Proverbs ch. xxx. ver.

No

allusion occurring elsewhere in the sacred volume to dogs of the chase, though

many

to the earlier varieties of

Venation with predatory instruments,

it is

improbable

that the words of

Agur

to his pupils Ithiel

and Ucal should

refer to the

most uncom-

mon

of the canine tribe, the canis Leporarius, Gallicus, or Vertragus.

The HebrewBocnarti

expression, however, for " accinctus lumbis," "girt in the loins," as explained in
the margin of the English version,
is

Hie-

understood by Jewish lexicographers to desig-

nate the greyhound, and

is

so rendered in the English text.

But with the learned

body of
his

Bochart (Prjefat. ad Lectorem

wherein he

corrects a few errors of the

work, and gives

his latest

and most mature opinions on certain Scriptural

difficulties

to

a part of his writings apparently overlooked by

modern annotators,

to the farther

propagation of error) I should rather understand the horse to be the animal alluded

" equura

intelligi

malim, qui non solum expedite, sed et superbe,

et

cum porap^ Ejusdeni

Prse-

quadam

incedit: et

lumbos habet cingula

After
all,

vel

zonk vere succinctos.

Quod an de

'^t.adLectorem.

cane dici possit valde arabigo."

perhaps, no particular animal

may have

been intended by the son of Jakeh.

animal of the frame alluded to
the passage in question
is

"

The term may have

ilia

substricta gerens

"

a general reference to any

The chapter containing Ovid. Metam.

"'

not found in the Sepluagiiit; indeed the Greek version of

the

LXX.

terminates with the 29th chapter.

PREFACE.
In these authors alone do

we

find

any allusion

to the courser's

hound,
Nemesidii. Cyneg. vs. lOG.

till

towards the close of the third century, when he

in

again appears ^^ ^

the

Cynegeticon of Nemesian
"^

who has
his

cleverly struck out in a few lines the elegant

symmetry of

shape, and added thereto some peculiar remarks on the selection, feeding,

and entrance of puppies.

With the scanty por-

traiture of the Carthaginian poet

l':jusd. vs.

we

are brought

down

to the

64.

reigns of Carus, his sons,

*^

Divi fortissima pignora Cari," and

Diocletian

at

which epoch, memorable alike in the annals of

its literature,

the world and

the classical history of the leash

all

may be
hound.
^

said to terminate,

and therewith

notice of the Celtic

We

have no ancient records of the chase- to succeed the

1.

In the 27th oration of Themistius, the eclectic philosopher of Paphlagonia, a

far as

passage occurs, which, as

merely mentioning Celtic dogs by name,

may

be said

to prolong the notice to the fourth century.

The whole passage,

is

as illustrative of

the author's subject, " non loca attendenda sed homines,"

curious and worthy of

Themibtii Orat.
''^^'""

citation

'6<ttis

5e

ayana

Kvvas, tovtco TrpocrdxAes fxlv Krrifia, Kcd KeXrai, koI AaKaivai

<f)i\ov, Kol

aKvXuKfS' SdKvei 5e avrhv Ka\ rh KaffTopiSuv

TiKhv, cus <pv(TLS

rh 'ApKaSiKhv avrh, Kal rh KpTj-

Tuv

6r]pl<i>v

eA.e^x^"' "^^^ iiivas

et

Karh

rijv oSbv eiriffTrofievaiS' ov irapdyf/e-

rat Be ou5e ras olnoi (rKv\aKev6ii<Tas,

KOLi'To.

firjTe

KaWovs

iKeivwv
it

iJ.y}Ti

wkvttjtos \tlthat the

In favour of the greyhound being here cited,

calls the Celtic

may be remarked

Bithynian courser
Ti

dog fieya

KTrifia (cap.

xxxii.) and his shape Ka\6u

distinction of

XPWS
2.

^"d derives

his

name

airh rrjs wKvrriTos, as the characteristic

the race.

See some remarks on the " Canes Scolici " of Symniachus hereafter.
alone, a

The Cynosophiura
centuries.
It is

Greek work " de Cur& Canura," breaks the silence of

to

many

supposed

have been compiled, about the year 1270, by

first

Demetrius of Constantinople, author of the

treatise

" de
is

Re

Accipitraria,"

and

physician to the Emperor Michael PalcEologas.

To what

borrowed from the two

Xenophons, nothing
pathology; indeed
peutics.

is

added of novelty or

interest, save in the

department of canine

it is

almost entirely confined to kennel-management and thera-

No notice
its

is

taken of any variety of dog by name.

The

reader,

who may

wish to consult
pitraria;

medical nostrums, will find the treatise attached to the " Rei Acci-

" Scriptores" of Rigaltius (Lutctia; jidcxii.) and to the " Poeta: \'enatici

of Johnson (Londini MDcxcix.).

PREFACE.
Greek and Latin Cynegetica
barbarian codes of
hivv, '
;

for tliough it

be true that the

Gloss. the Salic, Burg-undian, and German, Spelman.G ' ' ' o pp. 113. et
^^lojs^in voclf

extended their protection to our variety of Canis Venaticus, about the year 500, under the
title

of Veltris and

its

synonyms

and some of the Cynegetical writers appear to have been well

known

in the

dark ages, and so highly valued in the eighth

century, as to be read
classics, in the

among

the higher Greek and

;

Roman

time of Charlemagne

and we believe coursing

and other sports were as

attractive in the field, as the writers

in the schools, (for the court of this

upon such subjects were

pnnce had

its

Veltrani, oincers oi the greyhound-kennel,

still,

qui

voce.

veltres custodiebant,")
this date

instead of any formal treatise of

leash,

upon the pastime of the

we

find for several

centuries, only incidental allusions to the greyhound,

and

his

high repute, principally as distinctive of the gentiUty of his

possessor, until the publication of
*'

The Booke of Hawkyng,

in

Huntyng,
century.

8cc."

by

Dame

Juliana Berners,

the fifteenth

The

didactic discourse of hunting, contained in this volume,

Haslewood's
its
^ -^

commonly known by
of St. Albans,"
*'

territorial appellation ^^

of "

The Book

Prolegomena to BookofSt. Al^^^^s.

may be an

amplified versification of the prosaic

Venery of Mayster John GyfFord and Will Twety, that

were with
tion

Kyng Edward

the Secunde ;" or possibly a compilasister of

and translation by the

Lord Berners, or the " one

Hist. of Engl. Poetry, ^'''- " P- ^'^^

sumtyme

schole mayster of Seynt Albons " from earlier Latin Warton's

:

and French writers

but such authorities are as yet,

believe,
lines,

unknown

to Antiquaries.

Excepting, therefore, the few

before alluded to, in the latest of the Latin Cynegetica, and

the earlier portrait of Oppian, which

consider referable to the

PREFACE.
in question,
it

hound
Bookof
St.

may be

said that
''

we do

not possess in

Al-

pj,jj^t

aj^y full description of

Ix

the propritees of a good Gre-

hounde"

twv

ttoSwv

I5

t^v

xefaA^v,
till

from the time of the

learned Courser of Nicomedia,

of Sopewell.

that of the sporting prioress

Not that

am

ignorant

of the curious early treatise of

in the
la

Gaston Phcebus, the celebrated Comte de Foix, written

middle of the fourteenth century, entitled
Ms. Cotton.
Vesp.
Brit.

" Des Deduitz de

;

Chasse de Bestes Sauvaiges

et des

Oyseaux de Proye

" nor

B.

XII.

Mus.
pt.

of a more rare work in manuscript, CJje ,|Etap^ter Of OBame,

Henry VI.
II.

composed by Edmund Duke of York,

**

Edmund

Langley,

act

II.

Edward

the Third's fifth son," in the latter part of the four;

teenth century
priority to the

and therefore,
St.

in point of date,

claiming a

book of

Albans, as do, of course, the lucu-

brations of the Second

Edward's attendants before mentioned.

field sports
;

But these enchiridia of

lection only a

preceded the Sopewell col-

few years

and

in the
title

Count de Foix's manual,

of " La Chasse du

as given

by Fouilloux under the

is

Roy

Phebus," there
Ms. ut
supra.

nothing on our subject worth noticing.

^

In ^\)Z Ccaf te of ](^ontpng

by Gyfford and Twety, the grey;

hound

is

mentioned only once

all.

and hare-coursing

is

not re-

corded at
Hardyng's
Chronicle.

The unpublished labours

of the

Duke

of York,

" Ed-

monde, hyght of Langley," contain much

original

and valuable

1.

The

CTraftC of IHjOntgng

is

ancient work by

Twety

or Twici
fist

" Le

supposed
art

to

be a version by Gyfford from a more

de Venerie le quel Maistre Guillaiue Twici

Venour
^jj.
,

le

Roy

d'Angleterre

en son temps per aprandre autres."

The greyhound

P
II.

is
J

mentioned

fol.

4. of hlototnj.

" Whaii

aman

hath setuparcherysand greylioundes,

aftir,"

Poeirv V. 221.

and the beesl be founde and passe out the boundys, and myne houndes
2.

&c.

These instructions were written

for

Henry Prince of Wales, afterwards Henry V.

PRRKACE.
information
:

and

it is

to

be regretted that

it

is

not rendered
to the press.

more available to coursers by being committed

With copious

general descriptions of our ancient field-sports,

to the

and animals obnoxious

unites
specific

chase, Cf)e

JltilayjiitCC

Of

&m\t

dehneations of the shape of each variety of

canis venaticus,

employed by British sportsmen of past days,

chace practices of foreign

with

occasional references to the

see."

countries " by yonde the

anti

The chapter

of grcpi^OUnDCjS

of \)tU nature, as cited hereafter in illustration of Arrian,

will

be read with pleasure.

Indeed the Duke's portrait of the

Celtic
its

hound

is

even more minutely accurate and precise than

l^er

Grecian prototype, and

manncrjjS as

they are quaintly

termed, and briefly sketched in the royal Cynegeticus, establish

many
TWV

of the remarks of the younger Xenophonwspj r^g yvwarig

KVVUiV.

Still

Dame

Julyan's compilation being, at least,

the

first

of

the kind that issued from the English press, and the type of our

modern works of Venery, may be viewed

since the revival of letters, to certify

as the earliest attempt,

intelligible canons, the

by

corporeal characteristics of a good greyhound.

ditionary

With

the tra-

dogmata of

Sir Tristrem de Liones,^

who was

the re-

puted
it

'^

begynner of

all

the termes of huntynge and

hawkynge,"
centuries.

incorporates the accumulated knowledge of

many

1.

The " Morte Arthur"'

so that

tells

us, that

" Tristrem laboured ever in bunting and

Scott's Sir

hawking,

we never read

of no gentleman

more that so used himself therein," Instrem.

&c. and in the rich poetry of Spenser, the kniglit informs Sir Calldore,

my

most delight hath always been

To hunt the salvage chace, amongst my peers, Of all that rangeth in the forest green. Of which none is to me unknown, that ever yet was

seen.

8
Script,
iiiiist.

PREFACE.
the

And

Dame

M.

B. auct.

I.

being: ^

no ordinary personage =. J r

**

Illustris foe-

BaieoCent.8.
oidys
graph.
in

niina, corporis et animi dotibus

abundans, ac formse elegantia

&

BioBritan-

gpectabilis

heroica

mulier, in2;eniosa virago" o

>

" a

second

nica, in voce

Caxton, note.

Minerva

in her studies, '

and another Diana

in her diversions"

her contemporaries would doubtless receive a cynegetical treatise

from her

cloister at Sopewell,

with gratitude and admi-

ration.

After the publication of the book of St. Albans, other cynegetica poetical arid prosaic, in various languages, followed in

rapid succession

of which the earliest in

my
;

possession are

from the presses of Aldus and Feyerabendi

but collectively

they afford very scanty instruction on the history and practice

of the leash.
Venaf.
lis

Strozje,

Hercu&c.

The Epicedium of

the Florentine poet, Hercules Stroza, ad;

Francofoit.

dresscd to the Duchess of Ferrara

the hendecasyllables of

1582. Adrian. Cardinal. Venat. Aldus, 1534. Venat. et Aucup. per J. A. Lonicer. iranp"^

Adrian Castellesi, and the quatrains of John ^

with their accompanvina; r J &
expressae,"
^^'^^
^^
*'

Adam

Lonicer,

icones

artificiosissimae

ad vivum

add nothing;

to our stock of information.

And
*'

the

L^d^ii

Se

^y b^

^^^^ of the chaste cynegetical eclogues,

Sarnis

emit' Poem!'"' omnia. Burman-

Viburnus," of Pctrus Lotichius Secundus,

mAmstel.1754.
Qui cithara primus, qui primus carminis
Inter erat vates, Teutonisora, tuos.
arte

1.

The Biographia Britannica

is

amusingly severe in

its

strictures

on the renowned

Mrs. Barnes, and her incongruous occupations in the

Biograph. Brit, note, Caxton,
"'
*

field

and

cloister.

" There

appears such a motley masquerade

such an indistinctness of petticoat and breeches,

to the

such a problem and concorporation of sexes, according

scarcely consider
it,

image that arises out

of the several representations of this 'religious sportswoman or virago, that one can

without thinking Sir Tristram, the old monkish forester, and

'

Juliana, the matron of the nuns, had united to confirm John Cleveland's

Canonical

Hermaphrodite.'

I'RKl-

ACE.
Natal. Comosdc Venatioiie Akli
fii.Venet. i55i.

have in vain examined the four books of " Natalis Comes

for

de Venatione"

more than the name of the canis Celticus

probably to be interpreted of the war-dog of Gaul, rather than

the Vertragus.

The Cvneireticon of Peter Angelio, commonly ^

'

called,

from

Petri Angelii
liarga-i

PoeniaFlo-

his

Tuscan birth-place, Bar^seus, o r

'

'

is

said

to

have been the

ta omnia. rent. 15G8.

labour of twenty years.

It is

a splendid specimen of

modern
lite-

Latinity, in beautiful Virgilian hexameters, to

which the
praise.

rary

courser will award their merited

**

meed of

The

most approved shape of the

canis cursor " is correctly por-

trayed, with a reference to the fabulous tale of the Ovidian

Lselaps.

Nor has the poet disdained

details of breeding,
fifth

to enter

on the minute

and necessary

and kenneling the pack.

devoted to the " blanda

Indeed the whole of his

book

is

canum

soboles

" and the reader will find incorporated in the

instructions therein given, nearly all the arcana of the

Greek

and Latin Cynegetica, excepting these of Arrian's Manual,

which do not appear
to

have been known to the poet of Barga.

He employs
goat
six
;

the greyhound in coursing the fox, wolf, deer, and

but gives no description of hare-coursing in any of the

;

books of his Cynegeticon

nor in the eclogues entitled

" Venatoria," forming

part of the fifth

book of

his

" Carmina."

Had

the manuscript of Arrian's Cynegeticus been

doubtless,

known

to

him, he would,

have entered as fully into hare-

coursing, as he has into every other variety of chase.

Of Conrad Heresbach's compendium

and hunting,
1.
^

of fishing,
''

fowlino-,
I

C. HeresUndiii

Compendium

attached to his larger work

de

Re

Rustica,"

Thercmic-.i' universae.

Should the reader meet with any extracts from the Compendium
to

in the suhse-

quent annotation.s, they are

be received

on

ilie

auiliority of

Conrad Gesner, from

learned wurk
lias

wliose " Historia QiiadrupeJum " they are

J5

selected.

The same

10

PREFACE.
It is

have in vain endeavoured to procure a copy.

work, treating more of animal history, as
venation
cessors
tion,
it
:

a prosaic

am informed,

than of

still

as this abbreviator of the labours of his prede-

was a man of various acquirements, and extensive erudiwould have been

satisfactory to

me
;

to

have examined
at least the first

his

" Compendium Thereuticaj Universse " or

it,

part of
H.
Fracastorii

devoted to the hunting of terrestrial animals.

is

Xhe Alcou of Fracastor

annexed

Alcon, seu de Cura Caiium.

in every ^

one's

hands

; /

being o

to the editions of the

It contains

Poeta Venatici by Johnson and

Kempher,
M. A. BlonHi
de Canibus et Venat. libellus,

nothing on the subject of coursing.

or Biondi,

To Michael Angelo Blondus

the
first

we

are indebted for

hint on clothino; o-i'eyhounds in the field,

and

for other
its

matters connected with the discipline of the kennel and

Joan. Darcii Venusini Canes Francof. 1582.

inmates

and

to

Joannes Darcius, a truly

classic

poet
for

of

Venusium, not unworthy the natal town of Horace,

elegant sketch of a
annotations.
It is

an

hare-course,

cited

in

the

subsequent

singular that the greyhound, indigenous as

Gallia Celtica, should have been so
little

we suppose

him of

noticed by his
to

countrymen

that a variety of chase heretofore peculiar

all
;

Gaul

should have been omitted in almost

of Frenchmen of the olden time

the cynegetical works

and that the same omission

should be chargeable on the moderns,

on

the

" Venerie

Normande"
Venerie" of

of

M. Le

Verrier de la Conterie, the

" Traite de

M.

D'Yauville, and even, to a great extent, on the

to

volume of the Encyclopedic Methodique, which professes

a " Dictionnaire de toutes
les

be

especes de Chasses."
Magnus,
Belisarius,

afforded the few parallel passages adduced from Albertus

Tardif.

and

For

all

others

tlie

translator is himself answerable, having culled

them from

the original sources, and generally from the

most approved

editions.

I'KF,

lACK.

11

Savary of Caen published a Latin poem on hare-hunting Album

in

Diana;,

seven books,

'

entitled

'*

Album

Dianai Leporicidoe, sive

little

1G55.

Venationis Leporinee leges," of some rarity, but of

merit.

He

appears to have

had

an especial dislike to the

canis

Gallicus, anathematizing the ancient Celtic recreation in the

very style

of our

own

Somerville,
his eye

who

in

many

parts of
:

" The Chase" seemingly had

Nam neque
Indicio,

on the poet of Caen

defisi canis irretita coturnix

iusidiis

Alb. Diana; &c.

non

oppressa Laconura
avara voluptas,

H-

Heu leporum

virtus, bievis ilia et

Et quorum iiuuquam cor

est satiabile caedis

!

Nobile venandi nomen meruere

The courser

will scarce

recognize
''

his

favourite

dog

in the

slanderous abstract misnomer of

monstri."

LacedaBmonii pernix violentia

The celebrated works of Jaques du Fouilloux, and

his con- La Chasse du

/>

temporary Jean de Glamorgan, do not treat oi the use of the

greyhound, except merely " in setting back-sets, or receytes
for deare, wolfe, foxe, or

/->(i

Loup.

J. de CI.

such like :" but in " the noble art of

in

Venerie" by Turbervile and Gascoigne,

" the Jewell

Turberviie's B. of H. p. 246.

for

Gentrie," and the compilations of Gervase '

Markham, we
'

find

Countiey Contentments.

much

illustration of the

science and history of the leash in CountrejFarme ^

&c. &c.

Great Britain.^

1.

Innuba, qui pariter coelebs, duo numina cultu

.

,.

Assiduo

colit,

Artemidem junxitque Minervas,

.,

Alb. Diana &c. L_ iv, p^ 52

. ,,

^.

Carus utrique Dese Savary, quern sedula semper

Investigandi leporis tenet ultima cura.
2.

The

date of the greyhound's introduction into these islands

If the

is

with

difficulty

Symmachi Epist. L. ii.

'^

ascertained.

" septem Scoticorum canum oblatio " of Flavian, wherewith he

graced the Quaestor's spectacle of his brother Symraachus at Rome, be really coarse
varieties of the Celtic type, as

supposed by Christopher Wase,

this

hound must have

12

PR El' ACE.
Turbervile, or whoever be the translator of Fouilloux, has

appended an admirable breviary of coursing

\v*.^e'siiiustratioiis

to

" the booke of

hunting:" and

Wase
fruits

notifies of

Gervase Markham, that ''he

experience, as in the whole

of Gratius

r- 74.

hath reported the

of his

own

cycle of husbandry accurately; so in Cynegetiques excellently."

His chapter on coursing with

perusal; as
is

greyhounds ^

is

well

worthy

also the description of the

" Leporarius" by
I

Dr. Caius

in his

" Libellus de canibus Britannicis." Need

stop to remark the doubtful features of the " canis alter preepete

cursu" of Vaniere's Praedium Rusticum?

belong apparently to the Celtic hound,
Pes

Some

few points

J. Vanierii

illi

gracilis, loiiga iuternoclia

vis

crurum,

Pijed. Rustic.

ArgutuiB caput, et levibus

ig^ea plantis;

Lib. IV.

Demissumque

brevi pectus se colligil alvo.

but his latrancy {" insequitur

rather assign
are too well

claris lepores latratibus")

would

him

to a different kennel.

Works

of a later date

known to need

particular notice.
either in the discipline of
field,

Very few are the improvements,

the courser's kennel, or his practice in the

us by these collective cynegetica
;

transmitted to

and modern ingenuity has

been found here as early as the reign of Theodosius.

Holinshed place him amongst us at an earlier period
:

Indeed Hector Boethius and

nor
is
it

improbable that he
at their

See the Appendix Class

III.

originally

accompanied the Scoto-Celts from the continent of Europe

primary

irruption into Ireland

and Scotland.
in

We

have evidence of his being an inmate of the

Cotton. Mss. Tiber. B. v.

Anglo-Saxon kennels

the days of Elfric,

Duke

of Mercia
his

and manuscriptal

paintings have descended to us of a

Saxon chieftain and

huntsman, attended by a
which

brace of greyhounds, of the date of the 9th century

I

the

earliest representation

have seen of this hound as connected with British field-sports.

1.

Contained

in

his

work

entitled

" Countrey Contentments."

In addition to

which, " The Countrey Farme," by the same author, a compilation from the French,
will be read with

amusement.

HE ACE.
I"

13

added

little

to our

knowledge

in

any department of coursing,

as the reader of the Nicomedian's

ledge.
in

Manual

will readily

acknow-

His remarks on the physical indications of excellence

greyhounds, and of speed and good blood,

derived

from

external shape and character generally,

on the unimportance
by temper,
tractability

of colour,

on

the indications afforded

Sec.

in the field,

mode of feeding.

are perfect as far as they go.

Nor can we improve on

bedding,
(evv^
ixaXQctxr]

his kennel
ocKssivyj),

management,

in feeding,
(rgl^ig too
Slc.

Arriani de \'enalione
c. ix.

xoti

rubbing down,

a-do[j,aTo; iravTos,)

exercising, alternated with confinement,

<=

^^

&c.

As

to

slipping-law, and the

number of hounds
eyyuQsv IttjAusiv

to

be

c.

xv.

slipped at once, his injunctions

fUYiTs

|x)Te

tw

Xuycio,

TrXsioug

SuoTv,

are strictly complied with at present

by

all

fair

sportsmen.
Celts,
it

The
all

appears, had four different ways of coursing,

of which are practised by modern amateurs, according to

their several tastes,

and the nature of the countries

in

which

they follow their sport.

The
Twv xt

superior class of Celtic gentlemen,

rpo^coo-jv,

o<toi

^h

TrXovToZa-iv av-

c.

xix.

employed persons

to look out for hares in their

forms, early in the morning, and to inform

them by a messenleft

ger what success they had met with, before they

themselves.

home

A
the

second

class,

probably less opulent, and not able to afford

all

c.

xx.

expense of hare-finders, mustered

their brother-ama-

teurs,

and beat the ground

in regular array,

abreast of each
;

other.

Both these

parties were
forth

mounted on horseback

but a

third class sallied

really

on

foot,

and these, Arrian says, were

:

workmen

at the sport, auTovpyo) xuvyjyeo-jwv

if

any person

14

PREFACE.
latter

accompanied the

on horseback, he was ordered to keep

up with the greyhounds.

fourth

mode
first

of coursing, some-

times adopted by them, was that of

c.

loosing dogs of scent

XXI.

to find,

and
it

start the

game, and then slipping the greyhounds,

sight.

as soon as

came within

Upon

all

of these different practices the father of the leash

:

has entered most fully in his classical Manual

points

and

if

to these

we add

his sensible

remarks on the entering of puppies,

after whelping, feeding
;

on breeding, management

and naming
be

of young dogs, comparison of sexes, &c.

his merit will

allowed to be commensurate with his antiquity, and his enchiridion not only

the earliest in the annals of the leash, but

altogether the most abundant in valuable information.

It is foreign to

my

purpose and inclination to enter into a

prolix defence of the courser's pursuit, against the objections of

Countrcy Contentments, B. I. c. I.
its

adversaries in the field or closet.

"

would not goe about,"

to elect

in the

words of Gervase Markham, "

and prescribe

what recreation the husbandman should

one pleasure
for I

use, binding all

is

men to
:

God

forbid

my

purpose

merely contrary

know

in

men's recreations, that nature taketh to herselfe

to

an especiall prerogative, and what

another
is

one

is

most pleasant,

to

most offensive

some seeking

to satisfie the mind,

some the body, and some both

in a joynt motion."

We

of the coursing fraternity prefer the " canis Gallicus,"

to our choicest

and "arvum vacuum" of Ovid, as instrumental

diversion

camposque patentes
vs. 48.

C vneg.

Scrutamur, totisque

citi

discurriraus arvis

Et

'

cupimus
lepores

facili

cane suniere praedas

Nos timidos

PREFACE.
but we do not forbid others
imbelles figere damas,
'

I'J

Audacesve lupos, vulpem aut captaie

dolosaii).

For the refined diversion of coursing

tlie

may be

as disagreeable to

fox-hunter,

whose only joy

shall

is

when
Taming
'

The hounds

make

the welkin answer them,

of the

And
as
it

fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth,

is

delightful to the general amateur,

on account of

its

j,jj.^,^

Histor.
p.

chaste, and temperate,

in

and contemplative

quiet.

King James,
Sir

rie"voLni.

his Bao-jXixov Jwgov,

(himself, according to

Theodore a

kinge'sXtiau

Mayerne, " violentissimis ohm venationis

praises

exercitiis deditus,")

God, B.

m,

" the hunting with running houndes,

is

as

the most

honourable and noblest sort thereof," and

supported by the
;

high authority of

Edmund

de Laugley, JDayj^ter Of OBame

^-

"^

^-

adding "

it is

a thievish forme of hunting to shoote with gunnes

is

and bowes, and greyhounde hunting

not so

martiall

a
B.i. c.i7.

game."

But on the other hand.

Sir

Thomas

Elyot, in

"The

Governour," speaking of " those exercises apte to the furniture of a gentylman's personage," and

" not

utterly reproved of

noble autours,
calls

if

they be used with oportunitie and in measure,"

" hunting of the hare with grehoundes a ryght good solace

that be studiouse, or theim to

for

men

whom

nature hathe not

;

geven personage, or courage apte

for the warres

and

also for

gentilwomen, which feare nether sonne nor wynde for appayr-

yng

their

beautie.

And

peradventure they shall be therat

lesse idell, than they shold

be at home in their chaumbers."

to

And

the author of "

The Booke of Hunting," annexed

Tur-

bervile's Falconrie,

concludes his treatise with the following

singular panegyric " concerning coursing with greyhoundes "

''the which
is

doubtlesse a noble pastime, and as meet for

16
nobility

PREFACE.
and gentleman, as any of the other kinds of Venerie
:

before declared

especially the course of the hare, which

is

a
:

sport continually in sight, and

made without any

great travaile

so that recreation
toyle

is
^

therein to be found without unmeasurable

and payne

whereas in hunting with hounds, although

the pastime be great, yet

also exceeding great
:

many
it

times the toyle and paine

is

and then

may

well be called, eyther a

painfull pastime, or a pleasant

payne."

Coursing, more than the other laborious diversions of rural

life,

while

it

ministers to our

moderate sensual enjoyment,

admits also during the intervals of the actual pursuit of hound

and hare, much

rational reflection, opportunities of conversation

It

with our brethren of the leash, and mental improvement.

tends, as

Markham

quaintly expresses himself,

''

to satisfie the

mind and body

in a joynt

motion

;" for in the beautiful

is

poetry

of a living patron of the Celtic dog, there

idleness with the well-read courser
Marmion
trod, to
;

no interval of

In-

^^^

^^^^

between each merry cLase,

intermitted space
fair
:

Canto II.

Passes

tlie

For we have

resource in store,

In Classic and

in

Gothic

lore.

Oooian
eut.
I.

Hali28.

^*

TepvoiXr]

S'

eirerai

Bripri

irXeov rieTrep ISpdis.

vs.

Coursing has ever been held an honuurahle and gentlemanly amusement in Great
Britain, from its earliest annals to the present time.

Nor can

T discover

any authority

for the truth of Vlitius's opinion, as given in his note

on the Veltraha of Gratius.

in Angliii

Venatio Vlitii Novantiqua.

"^^

i'^^'J

Vertragis

suis sagaces posthabeat ille

;

Xenophon: nam hodie

sagaces nobilissirai quique exercent

Vertrago autem leporem conficere, indignum

bene nato parum abest quin habeatur."

Such never was the opinion entertained of

:

" greyhound hunting,"

in

King

JaM)es's phrase
it

indeed the

farther

we go back

into

the history of the leash, the higher

the

lanked in the scale of British field-sports.

See

" Constitutiones Canuti Regis de foresta"

and

Blount's Ancient Tenures pas-

sim, for instances of the high repute in which the courser's hound has ever been held
in

Great Britain.

IMIEFACK.

17
huntini:;
*

But there are those who anathematize

and other rural recreation, either as
barbarism and mental degradation,

and coursing,

sinful,

or indicative of

in the ratio of the pursuit.

Incert.
et

Like Cornelius Agrippa, they view venation in genere as the ^^

worst occupation of the worst of mankind

Philip Stubbes, that
**

and

say with lxxvh,

re- The Anatomie
of Abuses.

Esau was a great hunter, but a

;

probat

Ismael, a great hunter, but a miscreant

Nemrode,
;

a great hunter, but yet a reprobat, and a vessell of wrath

and bid

us, in the poetic

:

badinage of the poet of Cyrene, leave

off coursing

fa Kp6Kas

f)5

\wywovs

oi/pea ^SffKfffdai- t( S4 ksu irpdKes iiSe \ayo}o\

lie^eiay
;

'"

Callimachus, H. Dian. vs. 154.

swearing, with the melancholy Jaques,

we

that

As You Like

It.

Are mere usurpers,

tyrants,

and what's worse,

To

fright the animals,

and

to kill

them up,

In their assign'd and native dwelling-place.

But

if

" some habites and customes of delight" are allow" contentment" of the human

able and indispensable to the

1.

The reader

will be

amused with Simon Latham's epilogue

to the third edition

of his " Faulconry," wherein he combats (for he wrote in ticklish times, 1G58) with
his usual quaintness of style and illustration, the notion of the sinfulness of rural
sports
tion
:

inferring that they

may " be

lawfully and conscientiously used with modera-

by a magistrate

or minister, or

lawyer or student, or any other seriously em-

ployed, which in any function heat their brains, waste their bodies, weaken their
strength, weary their spirits
;

that as a means (and blessing from

their vital

God) by

it

their

decayed strength may be restored,

and revived,

and animal

s|)iiits

quickened, refreshed,

their health preserved,

and they better enabled (as a bow unbended for

shooting) to the discharging of their weighty charges imposed upon them."

18

PREFACE.

mind, and

"men

of exceeding strickt lives and

severity

of

profession " have indulged in rural diversions,

why need we

regard the severe reflections of the sensitive Monsieur Paschal,

or his

more modern

plagiarists
?

why

think that wisdom loves

is

not the courser's sport

or that

man

degraded before the

instinct of

tribunal of sound reason

by estimating aright the

?

any of the creatures around him

or

made

sinful in the

eyes

of his Creator by availing himself of the adapted powers of the

lowliest of the brute race, for
tlie

subjugation of sucli wild

animals as were originally designed by a bountiful Creator for

Cicero de Nat.

the Sustenance and recreation of

incredibilis

man

" Canum vero tam

Deor. L.

ii. c.

63

ad investigandum sagacitas nai'ium, tanta alacritas ad hominum commo-

in venando, quid significat aliud nisi se

ditates esse generatos

"
?

The
RIancliesler

inference in regard to the chases and field sports genesurely just,

rally
i.

is

" that man, by co-operating with such

on the purposes

Rlemoirs V.

animals, employs both his and their faculties

for

which they were partially designed

tending thereby to

complete the bounteous scheme of Providence, the happiness

and well-being of

all its

creatures."

Jul. Caesar. Scaliger.

videtur

dum

EpidorpiL. IV.

Natura parens hunc bomini dedisse ludum,

Sua obire manu

retia, defigere varos,

Hos cum docuit: cum accipitrem

Jucunda canes cum

redire

jussum

leporarios creabat

Nunquum
The
iv.

faciens frustra aliquid carensve fine.

Somerville,

brute creation are man's properly,

Cbace.

13.

Subservient to his will, and for him made.

As

hurtful these he kills, as useful those

;

Preserves

their sole

and arbitrary king.

Should

lie

not

kill,

as erst the Samian sage

Taught unadvised, and Indian Brachiiians now

VU
As
\ainly preach
fill

F.

ACE,

tlie

tocmiiig rav'nous brutes

Might

tlie

scanty space of this terrene,

Incumb'ring

all

the globe.

Mr. Warton, the talented historian of English Poetry, a

bookful Academic, and not a
ju,a9Tf

xvvYiysa-lm,
'

acquits the ^enophon

'

de

Venat.

c. i.

hunter of the charge of barbarism,

*'

and acknowledges that

the pleasures of the chase seem to have been implanted ^ '

;

bv
-^

^ ^"s'* Poetry, V. ii.

^^^**-

nature

and under due regulation,

if

pursued as a matter of

mere

relaxation,

and not of employment, are by no means

life."

incompatible with the modes of polished

The

difference of opinion on the subject of the

chase has
it

arisen entirely from the different lights in which

has been
its

viewed

the one exhibiting

its

rational

use,

the other

intemperate abuse.

" Elle a trouve autant de censeurs outres

parmi
les
le

Encydop^Hie
JMethodique
les

que d'apologistes enthousiastes,

anciens

et

les sur

chasses,

avertissenient.

modernes, parce qu'elle a ete envisagee sous de son

utilite et

double rapport

de ses abus."
eulogists, in the Grecian language, will

Amongst the ancient

be found Aristotle,
Pollux
Justin,
;

Plato,

Xenophon, Polybius, and Julius

Horace, Virgil, Seneca, Pliny,

in the Latin, Cicero,

Symmachus, and

others.
is

To which numerous phalanx

of classic worthies there

no opponent authority, save that

of Sallust
lius

and of more recent days, Petrarch, and Corne-

Agrippa.
citations

Not

to

swell this prefatory matter with too

I

many

from obsolete languages,

to

have referred the

reader,
to,

who may wish

to

know more
in

of the eloges alluded

^

severally

the passages

a note subjoined.

But

1. Aristot.

de Polit. L.

i. c.

v.

Plato de Legibus L. vii.

c.

Xenophon. Cyropad.
c. i. xii.

L.

1. c.

V. L. VIII. c. XII.

Respub. Lacedaem.

in. Cyueget.

xni. Poly-

20

PREFACE.
a word or two

touching the adverse party,

admitted.

may be

here

In appreciating the authority of Sallust's sentiments on the

subject of field-sports, as given in the studied preface of his
Bell. Catal.c.i.

Catihnarian War, "

sidia

Non

fuit
:

consilium socordia atque de-

bonum otium

conterere
officiis

neque vero,

agrum colendo,
;

aut venando, servilibus

intentum, setatem agere

"

we

should remark the ambitious tone of pretended philosophy in

which the introduction

animo,

is

written

" Nostra omnis

vis

in

et corpore sita est.

Animi imperio, corporis

Diis,

servitio

magis utimur ; alteram nobis cum

alteram

cum

belluis

commune

est."

And

that this distinction between mental and

bius

Hist. h.
II.

XXXI.
de

Jul.

Pollux Onomast. L. v. Preefat.

i.

Commodo.

Cicero

de

Nat. D. L.

OflBciis L.
c. ii.

Horat. L.

i.

Epist. xviii. Virgil. iEneid. L. vii. ix.

Seneca de Provid.

Plinii Panegyr. Traj.

D.

Justin. Hist.

Epit. L. xxxvii.

Symmach.
It will

Epist. L. v. Ep. 66.

be readily ceded that the amatory expostulation of Sulpitia to her dear

Clierinthus,

Tiliiilli
'^'*

Eleg. L.

Sed procul abducit venandi devia cura

^*

pereant sylvae, deficiantque canes!

est, quae

Quis furor

mens, densos indagine colles

?

Claudentera teneras ijedere velle nianus

Quidve juvat furtim latebras intrare ferarum,

Candidaque hamatis crura notare rubis?

and the

epistle of

Ausonius

to the ruralist

Theon,

Ausonii Epist.
'v- 39.

Sed

tu parce feris venatibus, et fuge nota

:

Criraina sylvarum

ne

sis

CinyreVa proles,

Accedasque iterum Veneri plorandus Adonis;

are too jocular to place I'ibullus and the poet of

linariau historian.

Bourdeaux on the

side of the Cati-

PUKIACK.

21

corporeal qualities, their projier relation to each other, and the

subordinate character of the latter to that of the former,

ws oUt'

i-ivoperis,

odr' uSeos inXer' ovfiap

Uj)pian.
eut.

llaliV.

L.

vs.

TOcrcroPf offov

Tpamowv,

04,

are kept

up

in the

passage

first

adduced

in

which he merely

means

to

say that he does not wish to spend his time in

;

slothful idleness

and that the rural vocations of agriculture

inferior character,

and hunting, being of a secondary and

more

connected with the body than the mind, are not agreeable to
his taste,

as the business

and occupation of

life,

" setatem

agere."

And we must

allow that the entire and constant

dedication of time to practical agriculture, or rural sports, to

the care of flocks and herds, or the kenneling and coursing of

greyhounds, unvaried by such higher studies and pursuits as

are characteristic of well-educated men,

must be deemed,

in
Arist. Polit. L.

polished
to

life,

rather lowly

employment

approaching too near

the Stagirite
considers

the class

of

occupations, which

sordid and servile, as being exercised

by the corporeal powers

alone

to avoid which, Sallust declares a decided preference

to speculative over bodily activity;

to the

"vita

in literis"

Historia Vita2 et

Mortis.

over the "

he,

vita rusticana " " qu6 mihi rectius videtur, " says
:

"

ingenii

quam

virium opibus gloriam quserere."

Disin the

claiming that union of both, which

we

so

much admire
and
a

Athenian philosopher of the Scilluntian

terpart, the

retreat,
;

his coun-

modern

literary country

gentleman

fair

example

of an individual acting upon the twofold principle on which

Mr. Addison regulated and body, obliged

to

his conduct.

" As a compound of soul

;

a double scheme of duties

and thinking

that he has not fulfilled the business of the day, unless he has

22

PREFACE.
the

employed

one

in

labour and

exercise,

as well as the

other in study and contemplation."

Oppiaii.

T^

Tjs afpylrjv Sv(TTepir4a TTjXe SiwKOi

TheGovernour, B. I. c. XXVI.

<'

It

is

not onely Called

or

Idelnes,"

says Sir

Thomas

Elyot,

" wherin the body

ydelnes
is

mynde

cesseth from laboure, but specially

an omission of al honest exercise."

for the present,

Passing over,
let
Sir
'I'lie

the objections of Petrarch,

us pause for a

moment on

the vituperations of Henricus

T.
I. c.

Ei^'ot's

Cornelius Agrippa.
this

So confessedly crabbed a gentleman as

of

Governour,
XI.

B.

" noble clerke

file

Almayn," can add but

little

weight

to the scanty
in his

of semi-classical oppositionists.

Admitting

dedication to

Furnatius his mental approximation to

the canine qualities of the metamorphosed

H. C. Agrippa
la Uedicat. i). Aug. Furnatio,

Queen of Troy,
ilia

" adeo
yersus

ut cx ipsa indiffnatione ferme

cum Troiana

Hecuba

sum
nil

in

canem, ac nullarum virium sim ad bene dicennisi

dum,

amplius memini

mordere, oblatrare, maledicere,

conviciari," &.C., his verdict cannot be received as that of a

candid and unprejudiced adversary.

with which he
visits
all

The general contempt

the arts and sciences, deprives his

De

Vanit.
&cc.

et
c.

anti-cynegetical calumnies of

much

of their poignancy, and

.
.

Incert.

Lxxvii.

renders his

**

ars crudehs et tota tragica, cujus voluptas est ni

morte et in sanguine,
8cc.

quam

ipsa deberet refugere humanitas,"^

"

scarce worthy of the courser's notice.

1. Tlie plaiiiiive [)oel

of

"The Task," B.

in. has seemingly borrowed from Agrip-

pa's

page the lueniorable crimioation of the hunter's pursuit:

Detested sport, '

r.

s Lowper 'o

'

Tlie

Garden.

That owes
Tliat feeds

its

pleasures to another's pain

upon the sobs and dying

slirieks

Of
2. I

iiannlcss nature, &c.

all

purposely omit

notice

of the

"

V^enatio Amphitheatralis," or

" V.

in

V RE FACE.
Tlio
inocloratc

23

and

occasional recourse to field-diversions,

with the same object that influenced

PHny

in

their pursuit,

arena " of ancient

tian Cicero, '

Rome

of which Tertullian, Augustin, Chrysostoni, and the Chris-

Lactantius, have written with merited reprobation. '

"Cum

viderent

J.

..

Lipsii
7*

Sa-

pietatjs daiiino,

addictum devinctumque populum his ludis

passim invecti in eos, at turnal. Sermon.

in palliation
'-" ' ^*

libidinis, sffivitiajque fontes; et

bene

illi."

Not a word can be advanced

of these brutal outrages of liumanity,

^'1*

Prudentius.

Ampbitheatralis spectacula

tristia

pompas

wherein

man was "

as

butdier'd to

make

Roman

holiday "

"

Homo

occiditnr ad

Childe Harold's
I'l'Sf'^^g^j
*-"

hominis voluplatem."

With

this

monstrous variety ofVenatio, so called kut e|oxV>

to

and recorded

such with horror, we have notliing

do

with

its

abettors under

any

p^fian ad Donatum.

qualified form, the

modern frequenters of the cock-pit

or bear-garden, the heroes

of a bull-bait, and patrons of mercenary pugilists, the rivals of the "municipalis

arens perpetui comites " of Juvenal's days, we have no sentiments

in

common.

We

have hailed with exultation the victory already effectuated, or in course of gradual
achievement, over the ferocious barbarities of the amphitheatre, and the semi-pagan
cruelties of

more modern spectacles

a victory that

is

attempering the pastimes of the

;

English people to the religion and morality of the age

and

we

sincerely deplore tlie

existence of the Bedrpov KWifyiTiK.hu of Dio, under any modification, in any part of the
civilized world.

The Sabbath comes,

a day of blessed rest

this Christian shore
?

Childe Harold's
Pilgrimage,
c.

What
Lo
!

hallows

it

upon

it is
!

sacred to a solemn feast

?

....

Hark

heard you not the forest monarch's roar

snuft's

Crashing the lance, he

the spouting gore

;

Of man and
The
Yells the

steed, o'erthrown beneath his horn

throng'd arena shakes with shouts for more

mad crowd

o'er entrails freshly torn.

Nor

shritiks the

female eye, nor ev'n affects to mourn.

Let Christianity transfuse

its

lenient spirit into

all

our sports, and instead of the

let

amphitheatrical entertainments, and barbarian amusements of infidels,

us have

such as are congenial to the humanity of Christians.

rational recreation, not of brutal gratification
;

Let us be the champions of

sarily the

enemies of

inferior animals

the friends of man, and not unneces spectators our temperate and innocent
in

diversions of the dog's innate faculties and prowess for the seizure of the destined

animals of the chase

"

to see

how God

in all his creatures

works," and witnesses of K. Henry VI.

Pt.
II.

act

II.

5C* 1.

24

PREFACE.
ut animus agitatione

"

motuque corporis

excitetur, "

is

not

reprehensible, nor inconsistent with the due cultivation of the

mind, and the fulfilment of the higher duties of life.

Petr. Lolichii 2di Eclog. I. Sarnis vs 10

jpgg etiam

citliarara

Phoebus quandoque reponit

.

^^ phareiras plectns, et mutat piectra pharetns.

But " there

Wase,

is

an especiall need, " observes Christopher

after

in the preface of his translation of Gratius,

much

just praise

of hunting,

''

to

hold a
is

strict

reine

over our
season,

affections, that this pleasure,

which

allowable in

its

may

not entrench upon other domesticall affaires.

it

We
it

must
its

consider that

wastes

much

time,

and although

have

own

praise, being

an honest recreation and exercise, yet

life.

it is

not of the noblest parts of

There

is

great danger lest

wee

bee transported with

haunting the woods
citizens of

this pastime,
till

and so ourselves grow wild,

are

wee resemble the beasts which

them,

and, by continual conversation with dogs,

to slaughter

become altogether addicted

and carnage, which

For as

is
it

wholly dishonorable, being a servile employment.

is

the

privilege

of man,

who

is

endued with reason, and

" the curious search or conquest of one beast over another, persued by a naturall
instinct of cnmitie
;

" how

Rokeby,
1.

c. iii.

Tlie slow liound

wakes the

fox's lair,
tlie

The grejhound

pressis on

hare;

but not hostile instigators of cauine ferocity to the heartless

maiming and

slaying an
;

unnatural prey

a species of animal
is

conflict

never intended by creative wisdom

and

wherein violence
II.

done

to natural instinct to minister to

abject.'^,

man's unhallowed sport.

C. Agrippa;
\ anitate etc.

1.

Cui

dum nimium

insistunt, ipsi

hunianitate ferae efficiuntur,

morumque

de
c.

prodigios^i pcrversitate, tanquara Acteeon

mutautur in naturam belluarum.

I.XXVII.

PREFACE.
authorized in
tlie field, tlie

25

law of his creation to subdue the beasts of

so to tyrannize over

them
all

is

plainly brutisli."
Cowper's Task,
15. VI.

Ou Noah,
The
The
O'er

and

in

him on

mankind
we hold

charter was conferr'd, by wliicli

flesh of
all

animals

in fee,

and claim
life

we

feed on pow'r of

and death.
it

But read the instrument, and mark Can

well

Th* oppression of a tyrannous controul

find

no warrant there.

Feed then, and yield

sin,

Tlianks for thy food.

Carnivorous, through

Feed on the

slain,

but spare the living brute.

When
mind
the

field

amusements are allowed

to engross the
it

whole of
were, the

om' attention, and in their pursuit to enslave, as

to the
;

body when they become the sgya of life instead of

its its

'TTocpspya,

daily

occupation, instead of the occasional

;

recreation of

leisure hours

they constitute, as Ritters5rjgOjtAav/a,

husius has well observed, a culpable

tend,

and certainly

by devoting the attention exclusively

to inferior objects,
it

to abridge

the intellect of that sustenance which

should

occasionally derive from more refined and important studies.

" Fateor

insitam esse nobis corporis nostri caritatem

fateor Seneca;
XIV.

Epist.

nos hujus gerere tutelam:

non nego indulgendum

illi,

servi-

endum nego."
With such ultra-sportsmen the
nity of sentiment
:

translator has

no commu-

nor will they experience

of reproof than
''

from

common
Petrarcha;

sense

less

severity

Reason" bestows on
Re-

them

in the dialogue with

" Joy"

in

Petrarch's

**

Remedia

med. Utriusque
Fortune, Lib.i.
Dial. 32.

^^^
1.

" In using either of these games observe that moderation," says King James
slip

to

Prince Henry, " that ye

not therewith the houres appointed for your

to

affaires,

P'"'i

haaiXiKhv AcD^- '"

which ye ought ever precisely

keepe

remembering that these games are but

or-

dained for you, in enabling you for your

office, for

the which ye are ordained," &c.

26
Utriusque
Ratio,
miniis Fortunae. "

PREFACE.
''Ad honestum
nihil

idonei,"
acturi,

says

"

sylvas colunt,

non vitam solitariam

sed

cui

non

quam

politicae se ineptos sciunt,

feris,

ac canibus, et
similitudine

volucribus convicturi, quod non facerent, nisi

illis

aliqua juncti essent

qui, si

ex hoc voluptatem quandam, seu

stulti,

solam temporis fugam quserunt, utrinque

forsan evaserint.
Sin,

voti

compotes

nescio

quam, seu
&c.
^

ingenii, seu magnifi-

centise gloriam aucupantur, errant,"

The whole dialogue

is

an admirable rebuke of the licentious

extraordinary genius.
^
**

sporting in the days of this

Hie

amor, haec
altrici

felicitas,

et

hoc totum, quod Creatori Deo, quod

redditis
?

patriae,

quod parentibus, quod amicis

in his vivere,
I
si

Quis

vos

ferat,

ad aliud natos,

modo
I

vivitis,

hoc

agentes?" says " Reason:" and

confess that

am

unable
;

and unwilling
approving, as
Piin. Epist. L.

to

furnish

^'

Joy" with a reply of defence

do, of the joint worship of

Minerva and Diana,

and of

recommended by Tacitus

to his correspondent Pliny, to that of the

IX. 10.

making the health of the body conducive

mind

1.

According to the decisions of judicial astrology in casting

nativities, Julius

J.

Firiiiici

As- Firmicus remarks that the following personages, " equorum

v.
.

nutritores,

accipitrum,

tronomic.

f^ji^Q^mj,^ cseterarumque

avium, quas ad aucupia pertinent, similiter et Molossorum,

Vertagrorum, et qui sunt ad venationes accomodati," being born when the planet

Venus

is

in Aquarius, are incapable of application to

any more laudable pursuit than

hunting and hawking.

2.

The

chasseurs of Agrippa's days, laical and clerical, were equally reprehensible.

this literary Tiraonist tells us, the

From the Thebans,

to the Trojans, not

worst of men, Venation passed

in-

much

better, tind thence to

its

De

Incert.

et
c.

habitants of the earth in

progress

" Tandem haec exercitia

positis
sint, illis
vita, ipsa

Greece and Rome, brutalizing the

in se revera servilia et

Vanit. &c.

mechanica eo usque evecta sunt, ut

nobilitaiis

quibusque liberalibus studiis, hodie prima

dacibus ad summuin gradum perveni-

elementa atque progressus

atur

hodieque ipsa regum et principum

etiam (proh dolor

!)

abbatum,
est," &.c.

episcoporum, cffitcrorunique ccclesia; pra'fectorum

religio, tola

inquam venatio

PREFACE.
*'

27

lit

sua meiiti constet sanitas, " says Christopher

Wase

to

WiHiam Lord
It

Herbert, " et justum corpori accedat robur."

in

must ever be borne

mind that

tlie

iUustrious heroes of

Xenophon's

classic file acquired not their

its

renown by hunting

prowess alone, but by

union with moral and intellectual

twv
xyvJv xa) xvvriys(rlctiv xcii Ik

endowments

ex

tyi 7r</x=As/j rijj

Xenophon. Cyneg.
c. I.

T^j oiWrig 7ra8sia; ttoXu ^tsvsyxovTsg xaroi

t^v upiTrjv

eSccu[jia.<rQrj(rav.

Chiron himself was invested with the privileges and science

of the chase on account of his moral worth, S 3xajoT)jTa

for
Argon.

he was

8ixaoTVo5

KevruvpMv.

And

the numerous disciples of Orph.

V.

37T.

the craft, distinguished in the annals of the world as practical

sportsmen, from Cephalus

and ^sculapius

to

iEneas and

Achilles, left other claims on the notice of posterity than those

attached to their characters as

jOta9r,Tat xwriyearloov.

Xenophon. Cyneg.
c. I.

know
Wisdom's
and

that such

Sonierville,
*-/liace.

The

Transporting pleasures were by heav'n ordain'd

relief,

virtue's great reward.

But

it is

time to cease both praise and reprehension

of the

J.

The

disastrous casualties that have befallen divers of the worshipful but rash

disciples of Chiron and his compeers are recorded in terrorem

by a

Sicilian

amateur of

falconry.

Will the timid courser venture to mount his " smart hack or Zetland

shelty," after reading the following

perdit la vie, pour
fut lire par
la victoire

summary of these
le

fatalities

" Meleager en

La Fauconnerie
J^^^e^sire
,

rapportee sur

sanglier de Calidoine.
ses propres chiens.
le fils

Le

bel

Adonis

thelouche

Arde

un sanglier.

Acteon

fut d6vor6 de

Cephale y tua Aiagona.

luy avoit

sa chere Procris, et Acaste en fut interdict, ayant occis

este

du Roy qui

donne en charge, comme

fut

Brutus pour avoir tue son pere Sylvius par

mesgarde.
courant a
inference

Un Empereur
la

fut

occis par la beste qu'il poursuivoit.

Un Roy
is

en

chasse se cassa le col en tombant de cheval."

et

The legitimacy
de Sicile

of the

drawn by Le Conseiller

Chambellan du

Roy

doubtful
il

" Que

qui craindra ces dangereux effectz qu'il s'adonne a la vollerie, oii

trouvera

sans doubte plus grand plaisir."

as its inferior danger;
peril

The

superior pleasure of the latter

is

as equivocal

and pursued

to excess, I

should think, must share equality of

and of blame.

28
latter I

PREFACE.
have been sparing
*'
;

of the former, perhaps, too hberal.

Symmachus,

the

wordy champion of expiring Paganism,"

checks his friend and correspondent Agorius in boasting too

Sjmmaciii Epist. L. I. E.
^^-

much
canes,

of his

" nodosa

retia vel

pennarum formidines, > '

et sagaces o
;

omnemque rem

venaticam,
scribis,

mehorum

oblitus

"

and

suggests " quare cum

ponere.

memento

facundiae tuae

modum

Rustica sunt et inculta, quae loqueris, ut venator esse

credaris. "

Wherefore,
craft, viz.
'*

being

myself addicted

only to one
in the

branch of the
phrase of our
Sir

that of " greyhound-hunting,"

pedant king,"
^Q nourishe

Thomas More s poems. " Wanhod."

up and fede

'"^ greynounde

to the course

am

fearful of falling into the

error of Agorius,

and becoming
:

obnoxious to the same rebuke.

for

Enough, therefore
recluse,

and now

an example.

Will the bookful

the sedentary and

learned oppositionist qualify the scorn with which he views our

varied course of occupation in the library and the field, if
Symmarhi
Epist. L. V. 6.

we

sliow

him that our opinious and r

practice r

"

liberalia studia

sylvestri voluptate distinguere" are

supported by a renowned

example of antiquity

and direct

his attention to the latter

iter,

and

sequestered part of the hfe " secretum

Xenophon.
Anal). L.
V.

et fallentis

semita

vitae"
.

of the elder Xenophon, in contradiction of the refined

?

antipathies of Sallust

bid him contemplate the

Diana

rival

of Plato

and Thucydides

in his delightful retreat at Scillus,

" under the

protection of the temporal sovereignty of Lacedaemon, and the

spiritual

tutelage

of

diversifying the

more refined

pleasures of his studious hours with the active amusements of the field
to
;

breaking his dogs, training his horses, and attending

of stock
;

the

breed

registering

the observations of his

PUEl'ACE.
personal experience in these healthful pursuits with his

29

own

immortal pen

and affording an example

to scholars in all ages,

that they should not disdain to refresh their vigour, and renew
their

animation, by allowing

the

unharnessed

faculties

to

recreate

themselves freely in

country sports,

and exercise

themselves agreeably in country business."

O would men stay aback frae courts, ' * An please themselves \vi counlra sports,
>

Burns,

" The

.1

Twa Dogs."

It

wad

for

every ane be better,

the cotter
!

The

laird, the tenant, an'

wish

it

were

in our

power

to enrol the
first

name

of the accom-

plished

Athenian among the

;

patrons of our particular

branch of field-sports
son of Gryllus.

but the greyhound was unknown to the

We

may, however, place the honour of the

leash under the early patronage of his celebrated namesake

whose

talents,

as a military chief, were distinguished in the

;

age in which he lived

historian, have

whose works, as a philosopher and

been transmitted with reputation to posterity,

from the literary
of

and continue
world,
to

to attract sufiicient attention in

embolden us

directing

the notice of such

in

our

opponents as

consider

the

courser

a
in

state

of de-

graded existence, to the younger Xenophon,

capacity of a

his twofold

man

of literature,

and a patron of the leash.

And we may
worthy the

conclude from the latter having been considered

coursing was not then
life.

illustration of his pen, that

classed with the

"

servilia officia"

of rural

Before

proceed to the reasons which have induced

t

me

to

lay before the public the following translation,

availing myself of the

cannot

resist

opportunity, which a defence of the

30

PKEFACE.
and highly

courser's pursuit affords, of transcribing a spirited

poetical production of the late

Mr. Barnard, of Brantingham-

thorpe,

breathing the refined sentiments of a gifted scholar

1.

Of Mr. Barnard, who was accustomed

in Horatian language,

to enliven

the sedentary pleasures of his

intellectual pursuits with the active

otF,

and salutary recreation of coursing, and to shake

.
. .

" inhumanee senium

Caracens," in the company of

if I

his

greyhounds, on the wolds of Yorkshire, the reader must pardon me,

the deepest regret.

speak with

He was

indeed, like

Maximus

the friend

and correspondent of

Symmachi
Epist.

Symmachus, "
site

inter sodales

ApoUinis ac Dianre, utriusque sectator," or in the appo-

Lib. IX.

words of Ercole Strozzl,

sylvse scius, et scius artis
Pieriae,

Ep. 28.
Cffisaris

Borgia
Epice-

Ducis dium.

Phoebo
far

et Plioebas gratissimus aeque.

But

alas

gifted as

he was,

beyond the ordinary worshippers of the sylvan goddess,

he hath " begun the travel of eternity,"

Sophoclis Trachin. V. 887.
^4^7]k^

t^v

iravv(na.ry\v

^g-^

'a-Ka(Tu:v.

The

periodical

publications of the

day have given

to the world the mournful

affection hath

tribute of a scholar to his

memory

and when the voice of

sung " the

let it

deathless praise " of a departed sou, that of friendship

may

be silent.

But

not

be supposed that the learning and genius of this accomplished

the inferior and perishable subjects of the
talented

man were

confined to
of his
;

courser's pursuit.

The powers

mind were directed

also to the high

and heavenly
in verse

callings of his profession

and among other subjects, to the commemoration

martyrs of the Protestant Church.

and prose, of the saints and

In the words of the Nutricia of Politiano, he was

indeed

Carm. quinque
illustr.

Felix ingenio, felix cui pectore tantas

t
. . Instaurare vices, cui r las tam

. .

Poetar.

magna capaci
!

p. l<b.

Alternare aniuio, et varias ita nectere curas

His poetical version of the poems of the younger Flaminio, a celebrated Latinist of
the sixteenth century, on which he
tion of

was engaged

till

his fatal illness,

and the publica-

which he fondly anticipated,

will add, I trust, to his

posthumous fame.

Pindar. Pyth. VIII, 131.

ivVhxiyui
^poTwv rh
TipTTv'bv

av^(Taf ovtu

5e KoX irnvii x;"aJ) airoTpoirtf)

yvdiiia aiff^KTix^vov.

(irdfifpoi. Tj

5e'

Tis

ti S' oy tis

CTKias

uvap &vOpwiTOL.

PREFACE.
and ardent courser,
fired

31

at the idea of his favourite sport, his

greyhounds, and his mountain thoughts being Hghtly or disdainfully received in the world's esteem
!

MY
llemember'st
O'er holt or
tliou

CrvEYHOUNDS.
greyhounds true
never flew,
?

my

hill there

From
More

leash or slip there never sprang.

fleet of foot

or sure of fang.

Introd. to Marmion C'ant.

to nie,
!

ii

Oh

dear

is

the

naked wold

Where I move alone in my majesty Thyme and cistus kiss my feet,

And

spread around their incense sweet

As

the originator of the Courser's Stud Book, and the indefatigable compiler of

its

genealogical tables,

(an attempt " multa deducere virg^,"

says, the

to

derive

" by

trees

of pedigrees," as

Dryden

speed and shape of each celebrated descendant, in

the greyhound kennel, from the recorded genealogies and performances of a far-

famed ancestry,

ayaOol 5e iyivovro dia rh (pvvai

e'|

ayaBwv,) the name of Mr. Barnard

;

Platonis

Mene-

must be recorded in the annals of coursing with

lasting gratitude

notwithstanding ^enus.

the prolegomena of a vicarious editor have occasioned the substitution of a second

name on
projector

the title-page of the work, after the unexpected death of the

original

ov yap

oIS' aveefyfjiivas

irvKas

Euripidis

Hip-

"ASov, ^dos T6 Xoicrdiov

fixiiroiv ro'Se.

But

let

us cease this querulous display of individual feeling.

Many

did not

know him
felt

and those who did

his relatives

his

friends

and con-espondents

have

too
is
is

much
not a

already.
fit

And

the preface to so trivial a

work

as a Courser's

Vade-Mecuni
;

occasion for descanting on the high merits of a Christian scholar

nor

lamentation over the dead a suitable prelude to the entertainment of the living.
->
'

KaX x'P
ovS"

V , \ , \ a' J./1 s ^M"' 7"P o" Pf^'^ (pvLTovs opau,

Ejusdem
aa'^C 145G.

vs.

tjfifxa xp^''ei'

Bavao-lixoiciv eK7rfoo7s.

32
The

PREFACE.
laverock, springing from his bed,
o'er

Pours royal greeting

my head

My
And

gallant guards,
in

March

my greyhounds order by my side

;

tried,

every thing that's earthly born,

I scorn
;

Wealth and pride and pomp,

And

chiefly thee
little
!

Who

lift'st

so high thy

horn.

Philosophy

Wilt tbou say that

life is

short,

That wisdom

loves not hunter's sport,

But

virtue's golden fruitage rather

Hopes

in cloister'd cells to gather

tell her,

Gallant greyhounds,

here

Trusty faith, and love sincere

Here do grace and

zeal abide.

And humbly keep

their master's side.

Bid her send whate'er hath sold

Human

hearts

lust,

power, and gold

A
And

cursed train

blush to find, that on the wold

They
Then

bribe in vain.

let

her preach

the

muse and

I
;

Will turn to Gracchus, Gaze, and

Guy

And

give to worth

its

proper place.

Though found

in nature's lowliest race.

And when we
Lo
!

would be great or wise,

;

o'er our

heads are smiling skies

And
Then
I'll

thence we'll draw instruction true,

That worldly wisdom never knew.

let

her argue as she will

wander with

my

greyhounds

still

(Halloo! Halloo!)

And hunt

for

health on the breeze-worn

too.

iiill

And wisdom

But enough
Pindar.

Pyth.

f'V^ S' &(txo^os avaOe/j-fv TrStrai' ixaKptxyopiav

VIII. vs. 40.

Avpa re

Kol cpBeyfxa
fjLi]

Tj na\daK(f,
Kvlffai)-

Kopos

i\6u>i'

PRi'.iAcr..

33

By my

litcrarv IVionds of the leash,

who

will alone

probably
will

condescend to open the

following-

little

treatise,

it

be

expected, after this too prolix defence of active field-amuse-

ments, and too selfish gratification of personal regret, that

should particularly state the reasons which have induced

me

to

devote a few intervals of leisure to the version and illustration

of an ancient courser, dignified by Mr. Gibbon with the
'

title

*=

-^

of

Decline
Fall,
c.

and

Vol. VII.

''

the eloquent and philosophic Arrian."

42.

A
iiri

task so often thrown aside

1
J J leisure sjraver cares denied. ^

Marmion,
troduction

Into

When

^ Canto

IV.

But an objection

in limine

must be

first

answered to a
his

modern reader giving up any of the "horse vacivae" of

library even to the perusal of the cynegetical writers of anti-

quity,

much

less to their collation

as treating forsooth of lowly

animals, in their nature irrational and ferine.

Should any one address

nurse to Phsedra

me

in

the

language of the old

Ti Kvvrjyeaicoi' Koi aol /neXeVrjs

Euripidis Hippolyt. V. 22C.

or of

Menedemus

to

Chremes
est ab re tua otii tibi
nihil quaa

Tantumne

Terentii
?

Heauii.

Aliena ut cures, eaque

ad

te attiuenl

ton. act.

sc.

would reply, that

do not consider these authors as afford-

ing unsuitable mental recreation to any literary gentleman, be

his vocation

what

it

may

nor as rendering him amenable to

of being

the

charge of Dr.

Young

"a

polite

apostate."^ Love

of

Fame,

1.

Many

of the

Greek and Latin

lasii

classics
in the

having been edited by English Divines,

the latter

fell

under the

of

Young

memorable

lines,

Wlien churchmen Scripture

for the Classics (juit,

Polite apostates from God's grace to wit. Sec.

34

PREFACE.

Saint Chrysostom, the most eloquent of the Greek fathers of

the church, was so enamoured of Aristophanes, notwithstand-

ing the mahgnity of his

licentious morals, as
to sleep with

satire,

his occasional obscenities, and

"to wake

with him at his studies, and

him under

his pillow:"

and

it

was never " ob-

jected either to his piety or his preaching, even in those times

of pure zeal and primitive religion."

To

close the ancient

cynegetica against the modern student, merely because the

lowly quadruped, that gives a

name

to

such works, forms a

part of their subject-matter, pregnant in every page with innu-

merable other beauties, unconnected with the poor tyke, but

scattered around him,
Sir

would be

(in

an expressive simile of the "

prohibiting; s r

T. Eiyot's
I-

IheOovemour,
c. XIII.

author of " the Govemour")

like

man

to

come

into a fayre gardein, lest

in gadring

good and holsome

herbes, he

may happen to be

stung with a netle "

" Semblaby

yf a

man doe

rede wanton matter,

myxt with wysdom, he

putteth the worst under fote, and sorteth out the beste."

But the "

the classic

Scriptores Rei VenaticsB " are,

of

all

others on

file,

most chaste and pure of sentiment.

The
is

character bestowed

by Price
:

on

Gratius

in

particular,

applicable to all collectively

their style, their argu;iient Is pleasant, rev'rend, candid, innocent.

Their eminent beauties in poetry and prose, their fine moral

reflections

and

religious aspirations, will bear

comparison with
literature,
little

the brightest productions of Greek and

Roman

and

can only be lightly esteemed, because they are

If a candid

known.

and susceptible reader, competent

after a perusal,

to enjoy their

beauties, shall,

deem

his hours of recreative

PRK
study
of
misj)eiit,
life.
1

I-

A(

r,.

35
1

will

acknowledge that

have

lost

a lew days

my

But

he,

who

pretends to decide their claims to

attention,

must have a mind sensible of the beauties of nature,

to the illustration

and of didactic poetry and prose, devoted

of objects
in

rural

life

and so

far,

think, from

deeming

it

beneath the notice of

man

to

mark

the hand of Providence

among
fixed

the inferior beings of Creation, and to contemplate the

regulations under which they support the

will allow that
it is

economy of the

animal world, he

rather the entertainment

of a correctly-constituted mind to admire the originals in the

natural world,

and

tlie

descriptions of their habits,

to

and the

modes of applying them

mankind
in the
life

the service

and amusement of

works of learned men.

With such sketches

:

of animal

the

cynegetical writers abound

and Oppian,

more
ralist,

especially,

with the poetic pen of a philosophic natu-

deduces from the habits of irrational creatures precepts

in the

worthy of enrolment

code of a moralist.

For leain we might,

if

not too proud to sloop

Cowper's Task,
^^*

To quadruped

instructors,

many

a good

And

useful quality,

and

virtue too.

Rarely exemplified among ourselves.

With such

instructions, too, for rendering animal

powers sub-

servient to the recreation

and support of mankind, the works

of Xenophon, Arrian, and others

tifully stored.

De Re

Venatica are plen-

Let us hear then no more of the unworthiness of these

authors or their subjects
TMV

Sio

hi
I

ju,^

lu^ryepatysiv TruidiKwg t^v Trep)

Aristot.

Part.

de Animal.
^

aTif/,a)Tegcov ^ciwv l7r/(rxevl/iv.

know
it

the study of
to be

them

to be ^-

'

'^'

eminently entertaining, and beheve

equally innocent
studies
are

and instructive.

Our higher and more

2:rave

36
pleasantly' diversified
returns from
Lucian.
Hist,

PREFACE.
by
such intermixture, and the
its

mind

its

lighter to
rolg
TrepJ

more

serious

avocations with
r^youi^ui
t;^i/

renewed vigour.
fjiiTa.

Xoyovg

sa-7rou^ciX.oariv

Trpoa-rjKsiv

T^y TToXXrjv tu)V (rTiouduiOTsgwv uvuyvMcnv avuvon ts

S*voiav,

The amusement derived from the Cynegeticus of Arrian,

terse,

its

elegant language,

and valuable information, has been

it

my

principal inducement to present

;

to the patrons

of the

leash in an English dress

that those

who might

never have

read the original, and might be unwilling,

Beaumont and in Ihe
Kider Brother,
act
II. sc. I.

or, like

Miramont

" the Elder Brother," (who could " speak no Greek," and
''

Fletcher's

held

the sound sufficient to confirm an honest

its

man" without
might have an
author

a knowledge of

sense) unable to peruse

it,

opportunity of becoming acquainted

wth

the

first

who

had treated systematically of coursing.

Christopher

For " those, " says

Gratius,

Wase

in

his

preface

to

" which are

curious artisans, doe not

content themselves that they have

attained to so great perfection in their art, but are extremely

pleased to look back and reflect upon the periods and steps

whereby that
chance

art hath

made

its

graduall progresse
latter,

if

per-

by comparing the former with the

it

even the

present state of
It

may be

advanced."

was
if I

my

wish that the copy should read like an original

failed in this respect, as I fear
is

and
(for

have

and

feel I have,

such an object

attended with far greater difficulties of

attainment than the inexperienced

may

suppose,) the failure

must be

attributed to a fearfulness of assumine; too great a

licence of translation,

and departing too

far

fiom the

letter

of

the original

a fear
lively

of paraphrasing instead of translating

my

author

whose

and

spirited

language indicates a power of

I'ln:

lACE.
ot"

37
liis

description,

and accurate knowledge

subject, to

which

no transUition could do justice, but by as faithful an adherence

as the difterent

idioms of different languages would allow.

Under

this impression, I

have spared no pains in rendering the

truth

version with fidelity,

essential than

deeming

and

perspicuity

more

embellishment of language.

For

it

has been

well observed

by Mr. Pope

in his

preface to the Iliad, that

to give his

"

it is

the

first

grand duty of an interpreter

author
literal

entire

and unmaimed,"

And

again, "

it

is

certain

no

translation can be just to

an excellent original in a superior

language

but

it is

a great mistake to imagine (as

many have

done) that a rash paraphrase can

defect
;

make amends
to

for this general

which

is

no

less in

danger

lose the spirit of

an

ancient, If there

by deviating

into the

modern manners of
is

expression.

be sometimes a darkness, there

often a light in

antiquity,

which

nothing

better

preserves

than a version

almost
If

literal."

however

this translation should

be deemed too close and

in a little

literal,

and greater freedom of language desired

;

coursing manual
Still if its style

am

willing to plead guilty to the fault.

and manner can neither be defended nor exI trust

cused on the grounds stated,

they will be pardoned,

because they are acknowledged.

Sunt delicta tanien quibus ignovisse velimus.
Horat. de Arte Poetic^, vs. 347.

am

fully sensible that

far

what

have done, might have been

done by others
shipper

better.

For though an occasional wor-

of the
I

classic

Minerva

" parens

....

cultor et

infrequens. "

know

that there are, under the tutelage of

richly

Diana,

many

disciples

who have been more

endowed by

38

PREFACE.

the goddess of wisdom, and are better qualified for this undertaking.
If,

however,

have the good fortune to direct the

to a

attention of the

more learned patrons of the leash

to excite the
its

manual

scarce

known among them, and

which

same degree of

interest in their minds,

first

perusal excited in

my

own;

shall

rest satisfied that the errors

and deficiencies of

this attempt will induce

them

to devote superior

knowledge of
to

the Greek language,

and greater experience in coursing,

decorating the Athenian Sportsman with an

English dress,

more becoming the antiquity of his claim

veniam pro laude peto

to distinction.

Ovid. Trist.
Eleg. VI.

i.

-^^

laudatus abunde,

Non

fastiditus

si tibi,

lector, ero.

Individuals

possessed of great accuracy of knowledge

or

in

Greek

literature,

what Schneider

calls

''

ax^i'/Seia

Graecae

doctrinae, "

united to extensive experience in field-sports,

;

must

necessarily be rare

and

till

such shall undertake an improveit

ment on the present

with the public.
experience in the

version,

may

pass

its

ordeal of utility

Moderate love of the

field

diversion,
I

and moderate

or on the plain,

conceive to be as

indispensable as an acquaintance with the language of the

original text to the translator of a courser's enchiridion, or
Denietrii

he

Con- will not

i.

work

in

it

con amore,

{irgo^tjXov

yup

el [trj

tjj

sgwg

sttI tivi

stantinop. Hie-

racosophii

7:cxga.KoXov^<yst

Trpay/AaTJ, uiJiri^avov tovto xctropQco^rivai,)

nor acquit

himself to the satisfaction of his readers.

To

classic

coursers

would particularly recommend

;

the

perusal and reperusal of the Greek original

for

am

confi-

dent that

it

is

far
;

more worthy of
is

their attention than the

English version

which "

submitted to the correction and

amendment of those worthy and well-knowing gentlemen,"

PRF.rACE.
under the liopc that
criticism, as the
it

39

may

escape the severity of acrimonious

retired

work of a

countryman, with no learned

resources at hand, beyond a library moderately furnished with

classic

authorities,

and writings
I

illustrative of
I

some departall

ments of natural history.

tlie

wish

had been endowed with

qualities essential to a
it is,

more perfect performance.

But
it

such as

"

crave," with an old Chronicler,

part.
I

" that

may

be taken

in

good

wishe

had bene furnished with so

gifts,

perfect instructions,

and so many good

that

might have

pleased
in

all

kindes of men, but that same being so rare a thing

I

any one of the best,

it

beseech thee (gentle reader) not to

looke for

in

me

the meanest."

Difficulty

has occurred in

rendering the ancient technical

terms of a courser's manual, with any degree of elegance, in

modem

tongue

''

ornari res ipsa negat."

This has partly

arisen
Propter egestatem linguae, et rerum novitatem,
Lucret. L. 139.
i. vs.

and partly from the corresponding English terms being debased

into vulgarity
ears.

by an usage

too familiar to be pleasant to polite

Expressions of this kind in Arrian ^re occasioned by the

accuracy which he affects in the most minute particulars connected with the subject of coursing, the shape of Celtic dogs,
the discipline of the kennel and
field,

the breeding of whelps,

&c.
In relation to this and other defects,
it is

requested of

all

my

brethren of the leash, in behalf of the oldest courser

written on their

who has
appear

manly

diversion, that whatever

may

inelegant, dull, or uninteresting in the following little work,

may be

laid to the

account of the translator:

the

errors of

40

PREFACE.
style

whose

and execution ought

not to affect the intrinsic

merits of the Cynegeticus.

Many

classical

quotations have

been introduced
;

in

the

notes to elucidate and enliven the text

some

in their original

language, others in the English tongue.

Where
it

the fomier

appeared more illustrative and expressive,

has been retained.

The

latter

has been occasionally substituted, where the passages

selected conveyed information acceptable to an English courser,

or a version of acknowledged merit faithfully

conveyed the

sense of the original.

And

in a

few instances the original and

translation have been introduced in juxta-position, to enable

the reader to judge of their respective excellencies.

too I have been
''

To

this

moved,"

as

Wase

very nicely observes, by

a wish that the quotations from the dead languages "

may

be

understood

with ease, and the

delight

of

attending to the

elegancies in

them rather doubled than

intermitted,

by adjoyn-

ing a translation in equal consort:"

*'

"wherein," as he adds,

shall

have pleased either those that have an affection to

;

see

our language enriched with the wit of former ages

other
side,

or

on the
rather

even

those
the

men whose
native

inclinations

do

move

to

look

upon

beauties of

every

piece."

The
Piinii
Trajf.

references to antiquity, which have imperceptibly in-

crcased to some extent,

" nee dubitamus multa

for the

esse, quae et
officiis,"

Vespas.

nos praeterierint, homines enim sumus, et occupati

have not been introduced

sake of ostentatious display

of knowledge of Greek and Latin literature, like those

Young's Love of lame, Sat. i.

Wlio, for renown, on scraps of learning dote,

j^^^ ^^^^^^
^j^^^ ^^.^^^

immortal as they quote.

pur.i-

An:.
**

41

but

tliat

the classical courser might be induced

antiques

exquirere fontes,"
T' examine
all,

and bring from

all

away
;

"''' ^

i"^-

Their various treasures as a lawful prey

to

compare the beauties and defects of the several authors who

;

have treated on the same favourite subject

and that the

issue

of the comparison might be the illustration of the Nicomedian

courser.

To

the classic reader (" cui nihil neque non lectum est, Ausomus Sym'
is

macho. Gnphus.

neque non intellectum") no apology

ber of the extracts

necessary for the

num-

made from

writers

who must
:

ever be prized,

while pure and correct taste prevails

and

to the courser,

who

with his academic

gown has

laid

on the shelves of
to be

his library

the authors of Greece and

Rome,

no more disturbed,

hke " the rude forefathers" of the

Each

rustic cemetery.

in his

narrow

cell

for ever laid

and who

" wonders" with Sir John

that
is

Daw

in

" The Silent Ben

Jonson's Epicoene, actii.

Woman,"
men;"

" those
a

fellows have such credit with gentle-

^c. 3.

there

summary power

vested in himself, of re-

ducing the number to the measure of his own taste and

capacity.

Such, however, not having been the

I

fate

of " the
it

Churchill

"The

Author."

crabbed authors" with myself,

difficult

confess that

have found

to

check

my

pen

in

transcribing apposite
early
friends.

and ex-

planatory quotations from these

For in the

language of old Gervase, " the minde being preoccupied and

busied with a vertuous search,
is

ever ready to catch hold of

whatsoever can adorne or

in

illustrate the excellencie

of the thins:

which

it is

imployed."

42
This,
I trust,

PREFACE.
will

be received as an apology

and that the

practical notes interspersed with the classical, will

redeem and

my
give

character as a moderate

amateur

of the

sport,

admission to this translation on the courser's table.

Oppian.
,

Cy-

alnap iywv ipiw

,
6i\p-r)v
,

to, t' i/jLo7s

,

ISov o(pQaKfiol(Xi,
^
,

nee. L. iv. vs.

ayXaooaipov iincrreiXi^y ^vMxotcrtv

,.

Sffffa t"

an

avdpdnrtev 45driv, rolaiv

ra

/ue'|U7jA,

al6\a

TravToiTjs iparris fxvcrTripia

rex^V^-

With the exception

of Somerville,

" who has shown, "

as

Dr. Johnson observes, " by the subjects which his poetry has

adorned, that

it is

practicable to be at once a skilful sportsman

I

and a

man

of letters,"
:

have extracted very

little

from writers

of the last century

but the natural historians, poetic and

prosaic authors of the olden time,

whose works

are not of very

common

occurrence in our libraries, have afforded

much

infor-

mation confirmatory of Arrian's opinions.

These

selections, as

well as those from ancient English authors, incorporated with

this preface,

have been

left

in their original

spelling, so

hap-

Specimens

of

pily expressed

by Mr.

Ellis as

" that

fortuitous combination of

English Poets, Vol. I. p. 11. letters,

which the original transcribers or printers had assigned

to

them."

A
'^

knowledge of what others have written on a subject on

to write appears indispensable.

which we ourselves are about

Although
I

were very
in

much

experienced," says the translator

to conceive a

of Gratius,

"

any

art,

and were apt

therein,

good
a

opinion of
discourse

my own

ability
it,

yet being to publish

concerning

was obliged
in the

to inform myself of

what others had formerly proposed

as
it

same matter,

as far

may

conveniently be attained.

There are some who esteem

glory to be thought to have declined any other heli)s but

PKEIACE,
their

43

own

wit,

which

should charge upon myself as negliself-sufficiency

gence."

Far be such

from

me

am

ever
;

glad to avail myself of the opinions and sentiments of others

and

in so doing, to give the merit of originality to its rightful

owner, and not to a modern plagiarist.

ut arbitror, et
feceris,

" Est enim benignum

fateri

Piin. in Praefat.

V'espas.

plenum ingenui pudoris,

iis,

per quos proScito

non ut plerique ex

quos

attigi,

fecerunt.

enim conferentem autores

me

deprehendisse a juratissimis et

proximis veteres transcriptos ad verbum, neque nominatos," &c.

Forout

of the old fieldis,

all this

asmen

saith, to year
;

^^^'^?^'^'

sembl.oirowls.

^t

Cometh

new com from year

And

out of olde bookis, in good

all this

faith,

Cometh

new

science that

men

lere.

Few

will think

me

sparing of citation

but

if

there be such
''

a one, and well disposed to a brother courser,

si

bonus

est,

Ausonius Symmacho.Griphus.

quae omisi, non oblita mihi, sed prseterita existimet.

Dehinc
his

qualiscunque
reperisset,
si

est,

cogitet

secum,

quam multa de
enim

non

ipse
I

qusesisset.

Sciat

me non omnibus
et

erutis

usum

;"

hope he

will not

add with Ausonius, "

quibusdam

oblatis

abusum."
is

Should curiosity induce any one to inquire who

lator of this treatise, let
it suffice,

the transindi-

that he

is

an humble
to the

vidual of retired habits, too utterly

unknown

world to

expect that any additional interest will

labours

be imparted to his
their author
:

by

the publication of the

name of

that
his ^^
Gardening

he

is

in the

enjoyment of the ease and freedom of a private

language of Sir
his

scene, where, in the felicitous

W.
:"

Temple,

" a man may go

his

own way and

own pace

that

44
pursuits at

PREFACE.

home and abroad

are rationally diversified.

is

" For
neither

honest pleasures," like Brath wait's gentleman, " he

so Stoicall as wholly to

contemne them, nor so Epicureall as too

*'

sensually to affect them."

vale,

There

is

no delight on mountaine,
usefull

coppice, or river, whereof he

makes not an

and

contemplative pleasure ;"

Darcius Venu^^^^^'

At

sylvse gelidique specus,

cava

lustra feravum,

Ruvaque, et arcan^ labentia

Sunt animo

fluraina valle

But
Piin.

his

" hour-beguihng pastime," when not occupied

life,
'^

in

any

Panegjr.

of the more important duties of

si

quando cum

influen-

Trajan. 81.

tibus negotiis paria fecit, instar refectionis," is that of a theoretical

and practical courser

desirous

of acquiring, in the
science

sedentary retirement

of his library,
;

the

of active

enjojmient in the field

and of elucidating the mysteries of

the leash, and the pertinent anecdotes of animal biography, by

collecting in one point of view the scattered glimmerings of
classical antiquity,
relative to

and the

illustrations of
:

more modern days,

an elegant and manly diversion

directing the whole

under the guidance of experience, and the name of the father

of the leash, to the advancement of human recreation.

Terent

Andr

Quod

plerique

omnes

faciunt adolescentuli,

act. I. sc. I. 28.

Ut animum ad

aliquod studium adjungant, aut equos

:

Alere, aut canes ad venandum, aut ad pliilosophos

Horum

ille nihil

egregie praeter csstera

Studebat, et tanien omnia haec mediocriter.

The

translator has his hack, his greyhound,

and his

slipper,

{xvvuyaiyog,) participating of the

unimportant character of their

master, and equally devoid of interest in the eyes of the public.

PREFACE.
All, therefore,

45

are consigned to the

;

same

fate,

and merged

in

one

common

namelessness

spite of the

example of Ilippamon

of old, in the metrical commemoration of his sporting estabhsh-

ment
'AvSpl /xiV
.

'iTTTrct^coi/
.

ovofi ^f,
.

'liriTai
,

Se n6Sapyos,

Apud

Kol Kvvi Aijdapyos,

km

Pollucis Onomasticoii.

depairovTi BaPfjs.

With regard

to the

Appendix,
lamen hasc quoque,
Jeget,

Si quis

si

quis

Captus amore

have only a few remarks to make.

it

To many, though mere

their

sciolists in natural history,

must have appeared, during

that

progress in classical

reading,

much

ignorance of the

varieties of the canine race is

shown by

annotators.

With the

gentlemen

^ societate Jesu,

and others who have favoured us

is

with their expositions of the ancients, there

inclination to generalize both as to the

too great an

names and properties

catuli"
^

of the canine tribe.

The " veloces Spartse

are all

"

levriers,"
is

though there was not, according

to Arrian,

(and

he

supported by Blumenbach,) a greyhound in the whole

:

of ancient Greece

and certainly

as

''

the

babbling echo

1.

These terms are

also misapplied in the

Cynegeticon of the poet of Barga, and in

the

Album

Diana; Leporicidae ofSavarj of Caen.

The

latter,

speaking of Spain and

Italy, says

Non

alit in

leporem catulos

nisi forte

Lacones

Ljb,

j.

p, 5,

Hcsperia, &c.

and of the

Italians

and their chase he writes,

'

Et lepori indicunt solo Laceda^nione belium.

Lib.

i.

p. 6.

46

PREFACE.
in their quick-scented pursuit of the

mocked them"

Laconian

quarry, they could be no

more

entitled to the appellation,

in

than

any sharp-nosed mongrel, bred

modern days, between a

sagacious yelping hound, and a prick-eared shepherd's cur.

Upon
lossi,

the same principle of generalization,

all

truculent

Mo-

C. Custodes, Pecuarii, &c. are by these worthies at once

dismissed as Galhce " dogues," Anglice " mastiffs," without

an attempt to particularize their respective attributes

fare,

in

war-

or the chase, or the

economy of rural

life.

Macbeth,
III. sc. I.

act

Hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels,

spaniels, curs,

Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are cleped

,

All by the

name

of dogs

the valued

file

Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle,

The housekeeper, the hunter, every one

According
to the gift

which bounteous nature

Hath

in

him

closed

whereby he does receive

bill

Particular addition, from the

That

writes

them

all alike.

This confusion of nomenclature might pass at school, but not

longer.

Subsequent experience, and the

reflection of

maturer

years would direct the attention of

many

literary ruralists to

the occasional correction of errors in the canine vocabulary.

Such

at least has

been the case with the writer of these pages

errors,

and he conceives that

manifest to others.

apparent to him, must have been

a misapprehension of some of the

Nor

is

names and
Gratii Cyneg.

qualities of the individuals of this multifarious

genus

(Mille canum patriae, ductique ab origine mores

^***

Cuique su^)

to

be wondered at

in scholiasts

and commentators

when we
and how

consider their monkish habits of indolent seclusion,

unfit

and unwilhng they were

to ascertain

by actual expe-

PHEFACE.
riment, whether

47

PUny was

correct in affirming that

hills as

Minerva
Discourse of a Stale

was as fond of traversing- the

Diana.

" These bookish A New

fellowes," in the words of Sir

John Harrington, "could judge

fair fields

Subject,&c.

of no sports, but within the verge of the Pindus, and Parnassus."

of Helicon,

Their practice in the

scholastic
like

field

was not

commensurate with

their

knowledge.

Very few

carried their note-books,

the learned and indefatigable

difficulties

Vhtius to the covert side, and examined the

rural poetry,
field

of

and obscure allusions to canine

instinct in the
little

of experience.

And

unless they did so, they had

chance of becoming acquainted with the sylvan goddess, who

tells

us in her petition to her

sire,

that she rarely descends

from her mountain haunts into the

cities

of

men

aTrapvhv yap '6T"'ApTefjiLS aarv Kdniffiv.

ovpecriu oiKijcru,

Callimadi.

H.

m
dogs of antiquity are alluded

Uian.

Wherever the
to,

different sporting

or mentioned

by name
to
I

in the Cynegeticus of Arrian, or the

I

classical

works
it,

which

have had occasion to

refer in

illustration of

have endeavoured to clear up some of the

they were

obscurity,
varieties,

in

which
in a

enveloped

by

classifying

and

few cases even individuals, and comparing

This
I

ancient types with modern representatives.

have

at-

tempted more especially

in relation to the ancient British doos,

and the Celtic greyhound (the subject of Arrian's Treatise), as

being of paramount interest to the British courser.
oXov TovTo 6(01 Troir](Tav &vaKTes
,

S> irSiToi,
,

ineocnU
XXV.

Inyll

vs. 78.

6T]piou avdptinroicri fieTe/xfj-evai'

ws

iniixTjOes.

The observations and

extracts

on these points, more

trite

48
probably
tlian

PREFACE.
recondite,
I

have been thrown together

in

an

appendix, which

hope may be found amusing to any

to peruse

literary

sportsman

who may condescend

them.

Ii.\

CHA'JSSE

BEGER.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL

BIOGRAPHICAL
NOTICES.

LA-CHAUSSE

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE

CYNEGETICUS,

WORK ON COURSING.

The

Cynegeticus was originally written by Arrian, in imita-

tion of

Xenophon's Treatise de Venatione,

to

supply the

lacunae of that

work

in the particular to

department of Coursing.
in the

The manuscript seems

have been neglected

it

Vatican

library for several years after

had been

first

discovered, in
:

consequence of
persons

its

bearing the

name

of
it,

Xenophon
not

for the

who

accidentally

met with
title,

being aware of
it,

Arrian's assumption of that

took no pains to examine

under an impression that

elder

it

was the edited Cynegeticus of the

treatise

Xenophon, and not a new and unknown

on a

different

branch of the same subject, by an author of the same

assumed name, a pseudo-Xenophon.

We
edited

are told
it

by Mausacus that Rigaltius intended

to have

with the Scriptores de

first

Re

Accipitraria et de
in

Cura

Canum,

(the

edition of

which he published

1612, with

a forged epistle in Castilian

and Latin from Aquila

Sym-

machus and Theodotion

to a

Ptolemy, King of Egypt,) but the

52

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE
he added a Latin transafterwards
supplied

printers refused tlieir consent, unless

lation;

a desideratum
first

which

was

by

Holstein in the

edition.

Henry Stephens, however, had

previously perused the unpublished treatise, and given to the

world,

in

his

Schediasmata, some

observations on different

passages.
Holstein, the
first

editor,

was a celebrated scholar of his

Sept. Illustr, Vir.

day, and
as
Poem.
Ferdin. Lib. Baron de Furstenberg.

is

commemorated

in the

Poemata

Graia3 Latiffique Minervas

Artibus, Eois notus et Hesperiis.

His edition issued from the Paris press of Sebastian and Gabriel

Cramoisy
it,

in the year 1644.

The Greek

text,

and version

attached to
edition of
rian,
1

were amended by Blancard in his Amsterdam

;

683

which contains also the minor works of Ar-

and the pertinent schediasmata of Henry Stephens above

mentioned.

My library
The

affords

no editions but the above two,

and the accurate reprint of Schneider by the University of

Oxford in 1817.
last is certainly the
I

best edition of the

Cynegeticus of Arrian which

press also published in the

have seen.

The Clarendon

same volume the Cynegeticus of

Opuscula Politica; the same

the elder Xenophon,

and

his

collection of the minor works as Zeune

comprehended

in

one

volume, printed at Leipsic, 1778.

M.

Gail

is

reported to have published a French translation

critical

of the work, with

in

notes and dissertations, at

Paris,

1801

but, notwithstanding repeated applications to

I

the

Parisian booksellers,

have not been able to procure a copy.

Equally unsuccessful have been

the same source Defermat's

my

endeavours to obtain from

version, published

by Hortemels

of Paris, in 1690.

The

latter,

however, in consequence of the

literary character given of its author

by Belin de Ballu,
regret.
It

in

his

prolegomena

to

Oppian,

do not much

accompa-

) 1'

i-

111',

cV

c; F,

T cy
I

53

nied a French version of the two last books of the Cynegctics

of the Cilician poet, which are stated to abound in errors of

translation,

and to be performed in a tedious and barbarous

as a mathematician, but of

style

by Defermat, eminent
Greek

mode-

rate attainment in

literature.
I

The present
any
the

version

was completed before

was aware of
:

prior attempt to translate the Cynegeticus into English

first

notice of which, in the partial labours of Mr. Blane,

I

was derived from Schneider's annotations.

any other

do not believe

to exist in the English language, with the exception

of such fragments of the treatise as

may have been

occasionally

made

to speak English,

on the emergency of a periodical publi;

cation needing an article on Coursing

or a literary sportsman

wishing to enliven his communications by a reference to the

manual, and quoting

it

in his

vernacular tongue.
to the

Mr. Blane's attempt did not extend apparently

treatise.
It is in parts inaccurately executed,

whole

and omits nu;

merous sentences, where he professes

chapters in

to translate

and whole

sequence, where we can see no reason

for omission.

The
sive,

fourth,

and ten following chapters

to the fourteenth incluto the

and the twenty-third and twelve following chapters

inclusive,

thirty-fifth

are

entirely omitted

by

this

capricious

translator.

Since, then, in a

work

consisting of only thirty-five

chapters, he has, without assigning any cause, passed over

twenty-four unnoticed, nearly

coursers,

all

of

them important

to practical

some evincing the kindly

feelings of their author, (as

for instance, the

one containing the affectionate history of his

beloved dog Horme,) and others most honourable to his humanity,

and confirmative of the purity of his

religious faith, opera-

tive in

a heathen breast, (as the two closing chapters, showing,

amidst
of

much fabulous allusion, his unreseiTed acknowledsfment human dependence on divine aid, and the certainty of evil
irreligion

and misfortune being consequent on

gression,) I

and moral trans-

hope a complete translation of this ancient courser's

enchiridion will not be considered an useless undertaking.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF ARRIAN.

Luciani Alexander seuPseudomantis.

'Aj'7//j

'Vw^aiuv iv to7s irpurots, Kol

iraiSeia irap

o\ov rhv

fiiov (xvyyfpdfievos.

Mr. Addison
a black or a
married,
or

has remarked, that " a reader seldom peruses

till

a book with pleasure

fair

he knows whether the writer of

it

be

man, of a mild or a
other

choleric disposition,

bachelor, with

particulars of the like

nature, that conduce very

much

to the right understanding of

an author."

If,

however, the satisfaction of perusing the Cy-

negeticus of Arrian be dependent on a previous acquaintance

with

these

personal
will

particulars of their author,

fear the

modern reader

regret the insufficiency of the following

biographical notice.

Scanty as

it

is,

it

contains
to

all

the infor-

mation

have been able to collect relative

^

the younger

Xenophon.

Flavins Arrianus

"

was a
and

citizen

both of Athens and Rome,

of Grecian extraction,

born probably in the reign of

;

Domitian, at Nicomedia, a celebrated city of Bithynia

according to Photius on the authority of our author's

where,

" Bithy-

Arriani

Cyne-

1.

Arrian invariably calls himself Xenophon

and

his predecessor of the

same
tlie

getic. passim.

name he

designates, for distinction's sake, rhv vd\ai, rhv irpeafivrepov.

rtfi

In

Cynegeticus he refers to him as

s,evo<puvri,
2.

TpvWov,

rcf

ifiavrou

d/j.wvvfxw,

eKeivep

t^
iu

With

the citizenship of
it is

Rome, bestowed upon him by

the Emperor,

when

Greece, as

supposed, A. D. 124, he assumed the

Roman name

of Flavins;

and

subsequent to his return from the prefecture of Cappadocia, he was probably raised
to the consulate.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF AllUIAN.

nica," a lost

bb

work on the subject of his

native country, he

was

priest of Ceres and Proserpine, to

whom

the city of Nicomedia

was

sacred.

His fondness

for

pohte

literature,

and celebrity

for philosophical

knowledge, acquired him the honour of the

But,
~

twofold

citizensliip.

though a friend and disciple of

Epictetus, and the

,

first

(pt\ocro(pog

ju.ev

^,sTTKrTri^Yjv,
, ;

eij

recorder of his Stoical ^ ' ym

,

Apophthegms
1

in

Aniani Bithynica et Paithica apud Photii Eclogas.

toov

ofJuXYjTwv

jEttjxti^tou,

he appears,

like

the

elder Xenophon,

to

have been much engaged

military affairs

and as
to

Roman

prefect of Cappadocia, in the

reign of Hadrian,
against

have taken an active part in the war

the Alani and Massagetse, a people bred to eternal

warfare
duros atemi Martis Alanos.

Lucan. Pharsal.
L.
VIII.

It

is

related

by Dion Cassius, and the epitomizer Xiphilin,

Pharasmanes having comMedia, (A.D. 136.) had
;

that the Scythian barbarians under

mitted great havock

and
r

spoil in

begun

to threaten
.

Armenia and Cappadocia

n
T

but finding Fla1

Dion. Cassii
Uist.

vms

Arrianus, the prelect ot the latter provmce, better pre- l. lxix.

Roman.

pared for their reception than they had anticipated, they were
induced, partly by the bribes of Vologsesus, and partly through
fear of the governor, to retire
jurisdiction.

from the territory under his

Suidas, on the authority of Heliconius, states that Arrian

dignities, and that he was denominated " the second Xenophon" from the sweet-

was advanced

to the senatorial

and consular

ness of his literary style.

And

Photius also, in his " Eclogae,"

kirmofiai^ov uvtov

speaking of our author's " Parthica" observes,

Sevoi^wvTct

vsor

Sia

8=
slg

to

Ttaihlug

STrtariixov,

aXXa;
:

re

itoXnutas

o-pX^i

e7ra"Tsu5>],

xai

to twv

(jiruToiv avs^ri

Ts\og

and again he

adds, 8^Xov

Is

wg ouSe

pvjTopjx^j <ro<^iaj re xa Suva/xscoj utcsKzIttsto.

I

Like

his

namesake, as

have remarked, he united the

character of a

man

of letters with that of a warrior, dedicating

56

BIOGEAPHICAL NOTICE

a great portion of his time to philosophical and historical research.

But

it is

not

my

intention to enlarge on his literary

character in general, nor to enter in detail into the merits of

his several compositions.

His principal

historical

work,

'*

The Anabasis of Alexander,

after

though composed," says Dr. Robertson, " long

lost its liberty,

Greece had

and

in

an age when genius and

taste

were on
lite-

the decline,
rature."

is

not unworthy the purest times of Attic

his

And

" Indian history

is

one of the most curious

treatises transmitted to us

from antiquity."

The

latter

may be

considered an episode to the former.

It is partly historical

and partly geographical, and

of entertainment.

will

be found to contain a fund

On
time,

the model of the Socratic Xenophon,

he committed to
life-

writing the dictates of Epictetus, during the philosopher's

and published them as his dissertations

subsequently

compiling his Enchiridion or manual

all

brief

compendium of

the principles of his master, and acknowledged to be one

of the most valuable and beautiful pieces of morality extant.

His Periplus of the Euxine, in the form of a

author to the

letter

from

its

Emperor, contains an accurate topographical

survey of the coast of that sea,

Oppian.
eut.
I.

vs.

Hall600.

iraaris
,

yXvKepumpos

afjL(piTpirr]s

KOAirOS,

from the commencement of his voyage at Trapezus, within his

own

prefecture of Cappadocia, to

its

completion at Byzantium
his office of

and was written probably while he held

in the

command

province, a short time before the breaking out of the

1.

Aulus Gellius particularly authenticates his

c. i.)

literary

connexion with Epictetus,

where he alludes (Noct. Attic. L. xix.

digestas,'' &:c.

to the

latter's SfoAe^ejs

" ab Aniano

OF

RR AN.
I

57

war

against the Alani.

Many

learned men, as Ramusius,

lie

Ortelius,

and others, have doubted whether

wrote the Peri-

plus of the Erythrean Sea, which sometimes passes under his

name indeed the late Dean of Westminster says positively " it is not the work of Arrian of Nicomedia :" but his claim to
;

the Circumnavigation of the Euxine has never been disputed.

It

was compiled expressly

for the

Emperor

who, according to

Spartian and Dion Cassius, was particularly attached to geographical research, and had visited in person a large portion of
his

extensive
elder

dominions
is

" orbem
of,
it is

Romanorum
sub
initio,

circumivit."
scientific

Eutropii
VIII.

L.

The

Xenophon

spoken

by our

geographer, in the same relative terms, as in the Cynegeticus,

wg Aeyej
6

Ssvo(pcuv Ixslvoj,

and

fair to infer that

the Periplus

and Cynegeticus are the works of the same individual.

In his Tactics, written, as he states himself, in the 20th year of Arnam Tacuca. ' ^ '
-J

Sub

fine.

the reign of Hadrian, there

this subject,

is

a brief account of former writers on

an army

in general

and a description of the order and arrangement of but in the " Acies contra Alanos," a short
:

and imperfect fragment annexed

tions,^

thereto, the particular instrucfor the

which were delivered by him as general,

march

of the

Roman army

against the northern barbarians, are mi-

nutely given.

Fragments of other
written

historical works,

supposed to have been

indefatigable

by him,

are preserved

patriarch of Constantinople

" The

by the learned and

History of Events subse-

quent to Alexander's Death, in 10 books," " The Parthica, in

17 books," and " Bithynica, in 8 books."

Under the review

left

of the

first

of which works, the Byzantine has

us his opi-

1.

These instructions are

written, as military orders, in

tlie

imperative mood.

'O

5e

riyeiJ-iiv rrjs

vdaris arpartas 'aevo<pup, rh iroXh fieu irph tccv arifieluv twv irf^iKuv
iro(rjj

TiydaBu, iirKpoirdTCi) 6e

ry rd^et,

K. t. A.

Such were some of

tlie

duties

which

he enjoined on himself

as commaader-in-cliief.

58
Photii

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE

Eciogae

^ion of Ariian as an historiographer, and of the style of his

compositions
gog, X. T. X.
:

de Rebus post Alexandr. gestis.

otv^g

ovhvos Twv api(TTa (TUVTU^UfJievcov i<rTOgias Ssure-

Of

the Libellus de Venatione, the treatise on Coursing,

;

have ah'eady made mention

and

shall

merely add, what

is in

some degree pertinent to the subject, that there seems to have

been a strong similarity of taste between Hadrian and our
author.
Eutrcpii

The Emperor,

like his prefect,

was not only

inti-

mately conversant with Greek and Latin hterature, " facundissimus Latino sermone, Grgeco eruditissimus," but also passionately fond of the chase.

While
tells us,

living in his native

town

of Italica in Spain, Spartian

culus,

he bore the

title

of Grge-

and was,

at the

same time,

" venandi usque ad reprehensepulchra

sionem studiosus
constitueret. "

equos

et canes sic amavit, ut eis

To such a height did he carry

this regard, that,

according to Xiphilin, he graced a

monument

to the

memory

of

his beloved hunter Borysthenes, with

his

an inscription written by

own pen

Borysthenes Alanus
Caesareus Veredus, &c.

For
De

all

which unbounded affection

for the brute creation, the

Remediis reader
'
*

may remember, he

incurs

the
et

severity of Petrarch's

xixii.

satire in the dialogue

" de Venatu

Aucupio."

Whether

the similarity of Arrian's rural diversions to those

life,

of Hadrian in early
elevation

co-operated with other causes to his

by so capricious and eccentric a patron, must ever

remain doubtful.

He

is

not mentioned
:

by name
is

in the bio-

graphy of Hadrian by Spartian

where

it

stated, in general

terms only, of this singular Emperor, that he was on terms of

familiar intimacy with Epictetus, Heliodorus,
rians, rhetoricians,

and

all

gramma-

&c.

Of

his acquaintance with the eminent

men

of his capital there can be no doubt, and his roving dispo-

OK AKKIAN.
sition

59

must

Ivave introduced

such to his notice in the colonies

and more distant parts of the empire.

One, therefore, who

his

had been following the same pursuits with himself from

youth upwards, a sportsman, a military
friend of Epictetus,
tactician,

and a joint
Besides,

was not

likely to escape him.

all

we
;"

are assured that he was, on

occasions, sociable in his field

amusements, " venationem semper cum amicis participavit

and therefore we may suppose that the

literary

founder of

Adrianotherae would gladly avail himself of the earliest opportunity of adding to his personal friends

and sporting

associates

the most accomplished writer and courser of his day.

We

know how much

the pleasure of mtercourse

;

is

enhanced by

identity of pursuit

and how strong the hold which innocent

friends,

amusements, shared with congenial

tions
!

have on our

affec-

ov yelp Tis

KiVTpuicri. ^afiiis ayprr! epaTitvrjs

Oppian. Cyneg.
II. vs.

avns iKwv

Xei^eiev, e^^ei 54

fxiv

acnriTO. Seaixd,

32.

As
to

to the period of his life at

which Arrian may be supposed

have written the Cynegeticus, the inference to be drawn

the
first

from the meagre paragraph of autobiography in

chapter, wherein he states his fitness to supply the deficiencies

of the elder Xenophon's work, from having been

viov
sa-TTOV^aKcog, xvvi^ys<ria

u[A(p) toivtoc utto

De

Venat.

c.

xa) (TTpaTrjylav xa) (yoplav,

although

it

establishes the fact of his early predilection for field sports, yet
it

rather militates against the idea of the Cynegeticus havinoat a very early period of the author's life.
it

been written
ever,

How-

be

this as

may,

his patronage of

'*

the long dogs " con;

tinued at the time of his writing this Ubellus

'OpiiYj,

and his beloved

in
his Ejusdem
c. V.

uiKVTaTY},

xa

(TO'pMTOLTYi,

xu)

UgoTuTrj,

was then

possession, living seemingly in the closest intimacy with his

attached and philosophic master, and sharing with Megillus his

society at

home and

abroad, the well-earned recompense in

60

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE
excellence he had manifested in the
;

declining years of the

vigour of his youthful days on the coursing plain

Arrian's

where, in
lip'

own words

of eulogy, TSTrapa-iv

^'S>j

"ttots

AaywoTj

^Xt^

xi5 avTYjpxYicev.^

Antiquity
the younger
to

is

almost silent relative to the personal history of

;

Xenophon

"

and as an autobiographer, he seems

have been desirous that nothing should be known of himself

;

or family

but rather that his personal history should be

darkened under the doubtful celebrity of anonymous authorship, or

fictitious

merged

in the

somewhat arrogant assumption of a

title.

and equivocal

In the conclusion of the 12th

chapter of the 1st book of his History of Alexander's Anabasis,

he says that the number and magnitude of the exploits of the

son of Philip, were his inducement to record them, not deeming
himself altogether unworthy to transmit them to posterity.
Arrian. de

ExXII.

'*

But who
i r-

I
i

am," he continues, " that thus characterise my-

ped.

Alexand.
c.

L.

I.

sell,

and what

my

name, (though
to

lar

from obscure,)

it

concerns

annotat.

loc.

the reader but

family,

little

know.

Neither would an account of

I

my

my

city,

nor such

offices as

have there borne, be of

any use to him.

Be

it

sufficient for

him

to

know, that an

ardent love of literature, in which I have constantly indulged

myself from youth, has been with

me

instead of family con-

nexion, and civic and magisterial honours.

Wherefore

may

perhaps be

little less

worthy of a place among the most cele-

brated authors of Greece, than Alexander

illustrious heroes."

among her most

1.

The

practical courser will not

is

deny

to

Honn6

the merit, which on his lord's

voucher, he

entitled to

few greyhounds, even

in their prime, in

modern days,

could vie with their redoubted prototype and master four hares per diem.
2. In addition to the authors already cited, or referred to, he is also

mentioned by

Arnobius, towards the close of his second book.

It is a truth

worth recording,

that,

from Photius to Saint-Croix and Chaussard,

the

last translator of

Alexander's Anabasis, no writer has impugned his veracity and

honesty as au historian, nor his literary style as a scholar.

OF ARRIAK.
After the brief sketch which
I

61
,

have given of the writings of

strike every

the younger Xenophon,

it

must

one that he was

influenced in the choice of his subjects as an author,

recollection of

by a

what had engaged the

;

literary attention of his

celebrated namesake

and that while writing under the same

personal appellative, he probably proposed to imitate the matter

xa)

and

style of composition of his prototype

uKr^^ws Ssvo^aovTog.

Io-p(^vof

t^v fgaaiv, Phot. Eclog.

ca.

/x.i/*r]T^j cug

Under

this

view of his works

we have

the dissertations of
the

Epictetus from the pen of his most renowned follower,

Bithynian Xenophon, and the Memorabilia of Socrates from

that of the son of Gryllus, the most eminent disciple of the Socratic school
:

the Anabasis of Alexander for that of Cyrus,

with the same distribution of the work into seven books, and
the same
title.

The Hellenica of Xenophon gave

:

birth to the

Parthica

and Bithynica of Arrian

and in imitation of the

left

Essay on Hunting, our pseudo-Xenophon has

Observations on Coursing.

us

his

Upon

their general

similarity of character in active life I

have already remarked, and shall only observe farther, that,

as far as

we can judge from

the scanty personal anecdotes

for

which have survived of the younger,

comparison with those

of the elder philosopher, this similarity appears to have extended

to the frame

and composition of

their minds.

Many

of the

same

excellencies,
;

and respectable weaknesses of character,

the same patient and unerring virtue
feeling

co-existed in both

the
and

same kind and generous

the

same credulous

enthusiastic regard to celestial admonitions

Qioov'

9re*9oj*eyouj repixea-a-i

with a proportionate degree

it

of the purest heathen piety.

of superstitious credulity

If

be stigmatised with the

title

in the priest of Ceres, that

he supposed himself led by divine

inspiration to write the history of a

, ,
.

eojxwf, I

would plead his enthusiastic admiration of

.....*.
man,

ovhv) uXXco avfipwTrcov De Expedit.

Alexandri L.
c.

his hero in vn.

xxx.

62

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE
it is,

palliation of the fond supposition, qualified as

with equal

good

sense
;

and

piety,

in

the concluding sentences of the

Anabasis

where he

states that as so extraordinary a person

as Alexander could not have risen divine interference

his

up
;

in the world without

so,

ovS'

s^m tow

Si-lov

with admiration of

good

qualities,

and reprobation of

his

bad ones,

Avith

strict

regard to truth, and public utility, he professes himself

as he verily believes, under the
first

his historian, writing,

same

divine influence that

gave being to the subject of his

memoir.
Surely such a belief in heavenly interference, exciting
professor to
its

what

is

just

and honourable, and deterring him

from every breach of propriety, as an historian of truth, must

be applauded by every
character
;

fair

and impartial judge of human

so,

and more particularly

when

in the person of

Stoic, unenlightened
it

by any philosophy but that of Epictetus,

innate
rectitude of

could have no other foundation than

mind.

Under the conviction that

Arrian's expectation of posthu-

mous fame has been

realized in general,

and that

my brethren
first

of the leash will award him particular honour as the

of a Courser's Manual,
I

writer
life

conclude this brief sketch of his

and

literary labours

which might have been more

full, if liis

biography by Dion Cassius had come down to us.

As the compiler of
of the

the Stoical philosophy of

" the Phrygian

Slave," the historian of the son of Phihp,^ the hydrographer

Euxine, a military tactician, a warrior-prefect, and a

Jueement sur
les
, .

^*

"^^'^

vanity which

La Mothe Le Vayer

discovers, so glaring in his history, and

Anciens
f^"*

more
^"

particularly in

what he says of liimself

in the

12th chapter of the

first

book of the

toriens,

Anabasis of Alexander, before quoted, and from which Gronovius and Raphelius
.

xc.

p.
satisfactorily

84.

exculpate him, I confess

do not

see.

The

pride of the historian is

not beyond the dignity of his subject.

OF ARRIAN.
classic courser,

63
will

he

lias

left

works behind him which

en-

dure as long as literature

to

itself;

he
in

has done
various

all in his

power

benefit

and

instruct
;

mankind

departments of

human
ment of

learning

has contributed

his mite to the advance-

rational science

and healthful recreation, and proved

himself worthy of the immortality he so fondly anticipated.

I,

-CHAIT

SB

ARRIAN ON COURSING.

oil

ydp roi

ov5' laos 6 ayiiv Xayiai^ koI kvv'l' aAX'

o fikv,

'Sttol

PovKerai,

6e7,

7]

Se

^AAqi) ei^o/iapre?'
7]

Kol 6 fikv i^eKi^as "rhv 5p6fj,ov Kol Sia^pl^as

tV

Kvva terai rov

irpdcru,
'6(tov

5e, et Sta^^i(pdeiri, irXd^erai' koi avajKri (pBdcravTa

ad

/ueroflea' koI

avaXa^e7v,

f^rjVexOT}

rod

Spufiov.

Arrian. de Venat.
;

c.

xvii.

Canis in vacuo leporem

Vidit
et hie

cum

Gallicus arvo

priedam pedibus

petit, ille

salutem

Alter inliJESuro similis,

jam jamque

tenere
;

Sperat, et extento stringit vestigia rostro

Alter in ambiguo

est,
;

an

sit

deprensus, et ipsis

Morsibus eripitur

tangentiaque ora relinquit.

Ovid. Metam. L.

i.

533.

If for sjlvan sports thy

bosom glow.
flying foe.
!

Let thy

fleet

greyhound urge his

With what

delight the rapid course I view

How does my eye the circling race pursue He snaps deceitful air with empty jaws,
The
She
flies,

subtle hare darts swift beneath his paws

he stretches

now with nimble bound

his

Eager he preSses on, but overshoots

ground

She

turns,

he winds, and soon regains the way,

with gory mouth the screaming prey.

Then

tears

Gay's Rural Sports, Canto

ii.

289.

___ Tihi.

-veloces
el. iTL

ratulo,^

reparare memento
WetnMU(.n CyM-g'
F. 20(7-

Semper,
JiKFTISM

paxTos iteribri protend-ei^e ciiras.

MUSEVW

OOR L/F, U S.

ARRIAN ON COURSING.

The
and

advantages that accrue to mankind from limiting, and

Chap.

I.

the regard of the

Gods

for those instructed in

it

by Chiron,

Preface.

their honourable distinction

throughout Greece, have been

Summary
of Xenophon's

related

by Xenophon, the son of Gryllus.

Cynegeticus.

He

has pointed out the simihtude between Cynegetical and

Military science ; ^ and the age, constitution, and frame of mind,^

1. Chiron, the

son of Saturn and the

nymph
;

Philyra,

is

fabled to have received his

knowledge of hunting from Apollo and Diana

disciples,

and

to

have instructed the numerous

recorded by Xenophon in the

first

chapter of his Cynegeticus, in the science

and practice of the chase.

Natalis Comes de V^enatione

Quis primus

tuiit ista viris ?

?

hominumne Deumne
?

Ingeniis inventa

dedit quis conimoda tanta

L.

IV.

Delia Phillyridem primum Chirona fugaces

In sparsos per rura greges, sylvaque vagantes

Armavit, fecitque vias in

commoda

tanta.

2.

For the connexion of the Chase with Military Tactics, see Xenophon de VenaCyropaedia L.
r/

tione c. xii., the latter part of c. xiii.

6r\pav eirtfieKovTai'
'6ti

i.

c. v.

5i^ tovto

SrjfjLOffla

tov

aXriQeffTaTT) SoKeT ai/rrj

c.

fieKtrTj rSiv

nphs rhv

7r6\efx.ov ilvai.

L. VIII.
3.

c. XII.

De

Republic^, Lacedajmon.
c. ii.

iv.

See Xenophon de Venat.

whence the Greek poet

:

of the chase has derived

i.

the manners, dress, and weapons of his hunter

curious reader will be

Oppian. Cyneget.

81.

The

amused with

the illustration of

Xenophon's second chapter; of

on the subject of the
;

Gratius's Cynegeticon, v. 332. and

Oppian

loc. cit. (all treating

hunter's character, &c.) in

Edmund deLangley'sfHagstcr O((!5am0

wherein

(c. xix.

68
Chap.
I.

AERIAN
;

that essentially qualify for entering on the chase

has given
such as are

a description of purse-nets, hayes, and road-nets,

necessary to be prepared

mals that

may be

the mode of entrapped the natural

^

fixing snares for ani-

history of hares,

their food, haunts,

forms, and the method of searching for

them

what

dogs are clever at scenting, and what faulty

their

and how, by
stag, bear,

shape and work, each

are also left

may be

ascertained.

Some few remarks

and

by him on the boar-hunt, the

these animals

lion chases

how

may be taken
to

Omissions
therein.

by cunning and stratagem. The omissions of his work (which do not appear
breed of dogs,
^

me

to

have arisen from negligence, but from ignorance of the Celtic

and the Scythian and African horses,)

I shall

p. 70.)

he tutors the hunter from the age of seven or eight (" for oo craft requireth
lif

al

a niannys

or he be parfite therof, &c.") in all the arcana of kennel

management;

and

particularly enjoins that

he be " wel avised of his speche, and of his termys, and

ever glad to lerne, and that he be no booster ne jangelere," &c.; and so Xenophon,

Xenopbon
de Venat.
c. ii.

iirtdvfiovvTa

rod epyov Koi

ttJv ^wv^i'''E\\rii'a, Trjv 5e riXiKiav k. t. \.

4.

Three

varieties of nets

were employed by Grecian sportsmen, apKies, SiKria, and

ivoSia, corresponding to the

Roman

casses, retia,

and plaga.
;

See Xenophon de V.

Jul. Pollucis

c. II.

The

first

were conical, tunnel-shaped, purse-nets

:

KeKpv<pd\cj> 5e eoj/cotri

Karh rh

Ononiast. L. v. c. IV. 26. 27.

aXOt^"-! f'S olu KaraXiiyovaai

the second, nets or hayes for open places, for encircling

:

coverts, &c.

to tV rots

hixaKols, koI IcroireSois tffrdfxeva

the third, road-nets, for being

placed across roads, and tracKs frequented by animals of chase, to eV toTj 68o7s of
Julius Pollux.
5.

Xenophon

treats of entrapping deer,

&c. de Venat.

c. ix.

of hares, &c.
;

c. v.

and

VI.; of dogs, &c. c. in. iv.

;

and

vii.;

of stag-hunting, &c.
c. xi.
;

c. ix.

of the boar-

chase, c. X.

of the bear and lion chases, &c.

and many of the same subjects

are beautifully described in the Cynegetics of the poet of Anazarbus, and delineated
in

Montfaucon, Tom. in., and in the rare plates of Joannes Stradanus and P. Galle,
title

under the
6.

of

" Venationes Ferarum."

ToD yevovs tuv kvvuiv tov KeXriKov

first

the greyhounds of modern days.

fuerit

Coursing

having been
Minshjei Emendatio in voce Grei-liound.

practised by the inhabitants of Gallia Celtica, the greyhound

was

called Kviiv KiKriKhs, canis Gallicus, (quibus Galli

maxime utuntur, and not GreiGracos).

hound,

q.

Grecian hound, quod primiim

in usu inter
is

splendid

representation of this most elegant of the canine race

con,

engraven by Pere Montfauit

Tom. in.

pi.

50.

f.

5.

from the Arch of Constantino, from whose work

illustrate this treatise.

has

been again copied on stone to

For an account of the Scythian

and African horses, see notes on chap. xxni. and xxiv.

ON COURSING.
endeavour to
fill

69
^

up

being his namesake and fellow-citizen,

Chap.

I.

of similar pursuits with himself, as a sportsman, a general,

and a philosopher
tuated him,

writing

under the same feeling that ac-

when he thought fit to amend the imperfections of Simon's work on horsemanship ^ not out of rivalry with
;

its

author,

but from a conviction that his labours would be

useful to mankind.

In

my

opinion no proof

is

required that
doo:s, '

Xenophon was
this
:

Chap.
.

II.

io;norant of the Celtic

breed of

nations

inhabiting;

that

district

& of Europe were unknown, ^

beyond J

that the
"

Proofs
of

Xenophon

ignorance of
Celtic Dogs.

7. See Biographical Notice of Arrian in tlie prefatory matter.

8.

Xenophon de Re
would esteem

Equestri,

c. i.

gives his reason for uniting his

his predecessor's

own
:

opinions to
his

those of Simon, and filling

friends
his

up the omissions of

work

" because

own

opinions more deserving of confidence from agreeing

KipX
'Iririicfis,

with those of so able an equestrian ;" and moreover he undertakes to supply from his

own

resources, whatever the dedicator of the brazen horse of the Eleusinium at

to notice.

Athens

had omitted
1.

The two

reasons in proof of the elder Xenophon's ignorance of the Celtic breed

:

of swift-footed hounds are quite satisfactory

the one derived from the limited geo-

graphical knowledge of the Greeks, the other from the comparative speed of the hare

and hound,
it

as described in his

manual

which statement

is

just the converse of

what

would have been, had he been acquainted with the genuine greyhound.
2. "AyvuffTU

yap ^v ri

tQvi] t5)s Eupciirrjs.

little

The Greeks,

in the elder

Xenophon's

days, appear to have

known very

of the western countries of Europe, and scarce

any thing even

of Italy itself.

It is true that there were, at that time,

many Grecian
more

colonies westward, and through

them a knowledge of
tlie

the productions of the

north-western interior might have reached

particular

mother-country.

But there was no

:

inducement for the Greek merchants

to penetrate far inland at

and th Celts

had not as yet crossed the Alps, nor even arrived

Mediterranean

any part of the coast of the

any well-known country.

"
this fact.

The very

distance at which the father of

history places the Celts, viz. as

the most remote people in Europe, after the

It is the opinion of

Cy-

Geography of
Herodotus.

netes,"

is

an indication of

Niebuhr that the navigators

Indeed, the

of Greece rarely visited the unexplored coasts of the occidental seas.

interior of

Gaul was unknown even

to

the

Romans

before the time of Julius Cassar.

tract

Although they were masters of Romana Provincia, a

on the sea-coast conti-

guous to Italy, they knew nothing of the multitudinous tribes spread over the country

between the Rhine and the Ocean

their

which

latter

were not thoroughly known, nor

till

manners and natural productions ascertained,

the visit of Augustus Caesar

70
Chap.
II.

ARRIAN
^

except the parts of Italy occupied by the Greeks,

and those

with

whom

they had commercial intercourse by sea.

And

when

probably' the

Romans

first

became acquainted with the

native

hound

of the

interior.
It is

impossible to speak with any degree of certainty of the origin and distribution

of the ancient Celtje, or Galatas, or Galli, as they were variously called by the

Greeks and Romans.

Whether derived from Ashkenez,

the grandson of

Noah

or

from Celtus, Gallus, and Illyricus, sons of Polyphemus; or from Celtes, a king of
Gaul,

matters

not.

Leaving these knotty points of genealogy

to others, let it suffice

that the Celts, at an early period, occupied a large portion of Western Europe.

Herodotus mentions them in Melpomene

KufrjTas olKeovtTi rSiv

s.

49.

ot

iax''-'''^'^ '"'P^^

ri\iov

Suc/ueW

juerct

h rfi

Evpiiirri

and our author

sea, irapa

stales that Celtic legates

came

Expedit. Alex'

to

Alexander from the shores of the Ionian

KeKruv tuv

inl

r^

'loviep kSKkcj)
it

'

'

<fKi(Tfiivwv fjKov.

Extensive as the name must have been at that time,

;

was subse-

quently confined to fewer tribes

and, in the days of Julius Caesar, was appropriated

to the inhabitants of Gallia Celtica, a territory at a later period borrowed a

Cffisar.

between the Loire and Seine, which

the celebrated colony of
;

new denomination from

Lugduj

de Bell, Gall. L. I. c. I.

iium, or Lyons. "Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres

quarum unam incolunt Belgae

aliam Aquitani
I think
it

tertiam, qui ipsorum lingua Celta;, nostrS. Galli appellantur."

its

But

probable that Arrian did not intend to use the term Celtic in

limited

sense, as having reference exclusively to the district of

Cffisar,

Gaul so denominated by So also

but as comprehending also the more southern parts of the country.

Silius Italicus, L. in.

Pyrene celsa

nirabosi verticis arce

Divisos Celtis alte prospectat Iberos.

And Oppian,

in the conclusion of his third Halieutic

'PoSofoTo iraph (nS/xa Orjprfrjjpfs

>

KeATol
Indeed Strabo, L.
Plutarch, in Csesare, in Crasso

i.,

Appian, Bell.

Civil. 2.,

and

others, call the Gauls in general

by the name of Celtae; and the ancient Greek geo-

graphers

knew

of only two nations in Europe besides themselves, the Celtae and the

Scythae, the former in the West, the latter in the North.

3.

The

specific

name

of Grains, or Graecus, by which Linnteus, Ray, and others,

is

have designated the greyhound,

that he was

unfortunate, as
;

it

has led to the erroneous opinion

is

known

to ancient

Greece

whereas

it

satisfactorily

proved by the

younger Xenophon, that his Athenian namesake was not only not acquainted with
the Celtic breed of dogs, but that no dogs of similar qualities were
predecessor,

known

to his

when he

wrote his celebrated treatise on Hunting.

Skinner doubts the

ON rOURSlNG,
that ho

71
Chai>. II.

was unacquainted with any other breed of dogs,

re-

sembhng the
words
:

" whatever hares,"

*

Celtic in point of swiftness,

is evident from these he says, " are caught by dogs,

become

their prey, contrary to the natural

shape of the animal,

or accidentally."

Now,

if

he had been acquainted with the

Celtic breed,

think he would have

;

mark on

the dogs
fail

made the very same re" whatever hares the dogs do not catch at
For assuredly when

speed, they

of catching in contradiction of their shape, or

from some accidental circumstance."

greyhounds are

in

good condition, and of high courage, no

truth of Minshew's assertion, already cited, of the Greeks having

first

employed the

greyhound in the chase;

"quod
I

facile crediderim," says

the former etymologist,

Skinner, Etymo ogicon.

"

si

authorem laudasset."

know

of no authority for such an assertion, and discredit

the fact.

Indeed, the belief of the existence of the courser's hound in ancient Greece
traced to the misconceptions of the gentlemen

may be
others,

" e

Societate Jesu," and

;

who have

favoured us with their expositions of antiquity

and who have

Scholars,

understood every keen-nosed, latrant Spartan to be a genuine greyhound.

ignorant of natural history, and naturahsts ignorant of classical learning, have alike
given currency to the opinion, in opposition to the contrary statement of the text.

Against which the assumption of Savary of Caen,

Graecia pemiciem leporum Lacedsemona pridera

Album

DiansB

Emisit, &c.

LeporiciJae,
p. 5.

and the quaint

tale of

Holinshed can have no weight.

For with

all

due regard
it

to the

laborious Raphael, and his coadjutors in historical research, I think

sistent with probability that his

far

more con(to

Historic of Irelande, p. 8.

" peerlesse hounde " was a Celtic greyhound,

is

whom "

pleasantnesse of

mouth "

incorrectly granted by historic licence,) the

associate of a Celtic Scot, proximately from Ireland, remotely from Celtic Gaul, than

as " fetched so far as out of Graecia from a citie called Molosse, whence the breed of

him

first

came."

4. Contrary to

what you would suppose would be the

result of a contest of speed

between them, on comparing the respective shapes of the two animals.

being made for speed, and not so the dog, the former,
if

The hare
latter, is

caught by the

caught

irapa. ipiffiv ffw^iaTos

thence the inference of Arrian that Xenophon was un-

acquainted with greyhounds,

of the latter are
'iaoL
:

who

are

made

for speed, is a fair deduction.

The words

kotol Tro'Sas Se oh itoWaKis virh

tup kvvZv

5ia jh

t^xos KparetTai'

De

Venatione
*'*

5e

aKiffKovrai, irapa, <pvaiv rod awfiaros,

'6(10161/ iffri

tvxV

^* XP'^M**'"** ov^ev

yap rwv ovrwv

^'

IffOfieyedes TovT<f>

irphs

5p6nov avyKUTai yap iK TOtoirwv,

k, t. A,

72
Chap.
II.

ARRIAN
;

hare can escape them

unless the country present

some obpit to

stacles, either a covert to conceal her, or a

hollow deep

break off the course, or a ditch to favour her escape while out
of sight of the dogs.

To
if

this ignorance, in

my

opinion,

is

to

be attributed the
^

length of his instructions on driving the hare into nets,

and
till

she pass them,

pursuing and recovering her by scent,

completely tired out.
fleet

she be taken, at

last,

But he has no by

where said either

that

dogs altogether supersede the

'^

necessity of a sportsman having nets,

or of his hunting

scent after the hare has escaped them.

scribed only the

Indeed he has deis

mode
^

of hunting which

practised

by the

Carians and Cretans.

5.

See Xenophon de Venat.

c. vi.
if

6. El irapa^pdixot toss &pKvs

she pass by the tunnel or purse -nets without enter-

ing their mouths.

The &pKves

or casses were placed, here and there, in the line of

;

the main hayes, S'lKTva or retia

and as the hare passed along exploring a place of

escape, terrified by the formido above, and the meshes below, (continuous except

where the purse-nets with the running noose, PpSxos or laqueus, were introduced,)
she attempted to pass at the supposed opening, and became by her struggles en-

tangled in the purse, which immediately closed at

its

slip-knot entrance.

Arrian,

perhaps, uses the term &pKvs generically for every variety of net, and not specifically
for tlie tunnel.

See the Venationes Ferarum of Johannes Stradensis and Philippus

Galle, tab. xviii.

7.

" Sic leporem

in laqueos agitant,"

&c.

In the 21st chapter Arrian remarks that greyhounds answer every purpose, and

supersede the use of nets altogether: he there writes tus ayaBas as synonymous to

Tas uKeias

and the
I

latter epithet

being more distinctive of the hounds intended to

be designated,

have so translated the former epithet in the present instance.

fleet.

Any

dog may be good of his kind, but a greyhound alone

8.

Diana having been

particularly

worshipped

in Crete,

on the authority of Ovid's

Ovid. Fast. L. III.

Pallada Cecropia;, Minoia Creta Dianam

Vulcanum

tellus Hypsipilita colit.

we expect

to find the inhabitants addicted to hunting

and such was

their character

DeNatura Ani- according

nial.

to

^lian

Kiiuv Kprjcraa

Koixpi), koI aKjiKi],

koI opeifiacriats a{jVTpo<pos' koI

t)

L,

III.

(xivToi Kol ahroi Kpi)7es ToiovTovs

avTovs irapaSeiKvvcrtVj koI aSet

4"1M'?'

But

it

is

*"''

worthy of notice that although Arrian attributes to Xenophon a description of the

bunting practices alone of the Cretans and Carians, there
is

no mention,

in the

Cyne-

ON couRsiNf;.

73

But such of the

Celts as hunt for the beauty of the

sport,

Chai-. ill.
Celtic Sagacious Ilounus.

and not as a means of Hvehhood, never make use of

nets.

And

yet they have a variety of dog not less clever at hunting

in

on scent than the Carian and Cretan/ but

brutes.
^

shape sorry

In pursuit these give tongue with a clanging howl

like the yelping Carians, but are

more eager, when they catch

for their excessive
Their Qualities.

the scent.

Sometimes, indeed, they gladden so outrageously,

trail,

even on a stale
barking,

that

have rated them

it

alike

on every scent, whether

be of the hare going

to form, or at speed. *

In pursuing and recovering her,

when

geticus of the latter, of these ardent spertsmen or their hounds, save that in his

chapter on boar-hunting

lie

orders Indians, Cretans, Locrians, and Spartans to be

to

taken to the

field, as

fit

pack

contend with such ferocious game,

fi})

ras eVtru-

Xenophon.

de

Xoiffas (picked dogs)

'Iva

eroifwi Zcri woXfUiiv

r^

S-rtpitf.

Arrian's meaning therefore must be that Xenophon's description, such as

it is,

(in

hare-hunting confined to the Cnstorian and Foxite hounds,)

is

applicable to the Ca-

rian and Cretan sporting alone, and can have no reference whatever to the peculiar
practices of the Celtic coursers. the Spartan
possibly,

However,
to

do not believe the difference between

and Cretan or Carian hounds

have been very marked, and Xenophon,

Ejusdem

c.

m.

may have included

the two latter with the former in his general classifica-

tion of Kaa-rSpiai
1.

and aXccneKiSfS.
koI KprjrtKSu.

Tb KapiKhv

The Cretan and Carian hounds were amongst the

powerful, quick-scented, and nimble.

most celebrated of antiquity

For a

full

account of them see the Appendix.

2.

The

Celtic beagle, or Segusian hound, is well

to the description
(txiv

known

to

modern sportsmen,

answering exactly
3.

here given of him.

See the Apjjendix.

AvToi Ixvevovffai

K\ayyfj Koi vKayfxw.

So Oppian,

ttAX' oiroV !fx>'6os o^pe SiTjeploio Tvxr)ffri,

Oppian. Cyn.

i.

Kayxa\a,a, kvv^h re KexapM**'*'^-

4.

TijJ Spoiiaitf)

oh fiuou ^

Tij!

evvai(c.

Holsten has here misapjirehended his author

his usual accuracy,

in the version of the 1st edition.

Xenophon, with

ex(>lains the
i-v

difference of the two scents

fjLoia

to

iikv

ivvata 6 \ayu)s iropeverai i(pt(TTdfifvos, ri 5e 5po;

yp,,,. ^
7.

rdxv.

The former

is

of course a stronger scent than the latter

for the hare

trail
;

goes slowly to her form, often stopping, and saturating the ground with her

but

her pace, when pursued,

is

quickened, and leaves

less

impregnation.

Wase

thinks

74
Chap.
III.

ARRIAN

started, they are not inferior to the Carians or Cretans, save in

the one point of speed.

It is

good

sport, if they kill but a single hare in

the winter

season, so

much

resting-time do they give her in the chase

by being frightened out of her wits at the uproar of the pack, she become an easy prey. tumultuous
unless, indeed,

Name.

These dogs are called Segusians,

a Celtic people, amongst whom,
bred, and held
in repute.

deriving their

name from
first

suppose, they were

But^

all

that can be said about

them has been

anticipated by the elder Xenophon.

For they
of finding,
unless one

manifest nothing different from others in their

or hunting their
Shape, &c.

mode
I

game

having

no

peculiarity,

were inclined to speak of their shape, which

scarce think

worth while, except merely to say, that they are shaggy and
ugly

and such as are most high-bred are most unsightly. So that the comparison of them to mendicants on the highways is popular with the Celts. For their voice is dolorous
;

and

pitiful

and they do not bark on scent of their game, as

if

if

eager and savage, but as

Celtic Swiftfooted Hounds.

plaintively whining after

it.

About these, then,

written.

do not think any thing memorable can be

But the

swift-footed Celtic
;

hounds are called

in the

Vertragi.

Celtic tongue ousgrpuyoi

not deriving their

or

name from any

Spartan dogs

particular nation, like the Cretan, Carian,

Wase's Preface the " accessusque abitusque

to

ferarura " of Gratius

(Cyneg.

v.

242.) has the same

his Translation of Gratius.

n^eaning as these terms of Xenophon.

Blane's translation

is here, as in

almost every

passage of the least dimculty, erroneous.

5. 'E^ouo-tai.

The Segusiani were

inhabitants of Gallia Celtica on the western

trans

Cffisar.DeB.G. side of the Rhone.

L.
I.

" Hi sunt extra provinciam

Rhodanum

prirai."

By

Cicero

5. 10.

they are called Sebusiani (pro P. Quintio).

See C. Venatici Class

II. in the

Appendix.
6.

Xenophon's observations on the mode of hunting of the dogs he has described,

(viz. the Casiorian

and Foxite hounds of Sparta,) have anticipated

See Xenoph. de Venat.
c. iii.

all

that can be

said about these Segusian beagles.

c. iv.

and

c. vi.

The
7.

latter

hounds are not mentioned in the Cynegeticus of the elder Xenophon.

Oviprpayoi

Vertragi, Veltrachaj.

See the etymology of

this Celtic

term ex-

plained in the Appendix, C. Venatici Class III.

the term airh
ttjs ojkuttjtos.

Our author

is

mistaken

in deriving

Its roots are velt

campus, and racha canis.

ON CODRSING.
but,

75
^kxttovoi^

as

some of the Cretans are named

from
tlieir
;

from working

Chap.

III.

hard,

iTajU,aj''

keenness, and mongrels from their being

so these Celts are

compounded of both
swiftness.

named from

their
Their Beauty,

In figure, the most high-bred are a prodigy of

beauty

^'^
;

their

eyes, their

hair,

their colour,
is

and bodily

shape throughout.

Such

brilliancy of gloss

there about the

spottiness of the parti-coloured,

and

in those of uniform colour

tint,

such glistening over the sameness of

delightful spectacle to

as to afford a

most

an amateur of coursing.
Chap. IV.
*

I will

specify the indications of speed and good breeding in

^

greyhounds,
slow ones
In the

and by attention to what points

distinguished from them.

ill-bred

and and^goodBW.
"

may be

first

place, let

them be lengthy from head

to tail

Derived from Shape.

8. Aidwovoi,

So named, according to Pollux, because they not only kept up the

Ononiast. L. v.
^' '*
'*

contest through the day, but slept near their antagonists, and went to work again in

the morning.
9.

" Perdita nee

seree

meminit decedere nocti."

Trdpiinrot of Pollux.
f'""'' ^'^'

Varius.

Apud Macrob.
SaturnaJ.

The

iTafial are

probably the

10.

TV

Se (Seac, Ka.\6v ti
is
!

xPW*

How

characteristic of the avr^p Orjpeuri-

Khs of the text

this burst of admiration of the Vertragus, the fleetest

and most

beautiful of hounds

" Of

all

dogs whatsoever the most noble and princely, strong,

nimble, swift, and valient."

The Countrey Farme. c. xxii.

* Blane omits this and ten succeeding chapters.

1. Ae'|co

5e Kol avrhs,

&c.

"

I too," says Arrian,

"

will relate the indications,"

&c.

for

Xenopbon had

also written on the external character of dogs,

and

it

was

Arrian's iutention not to recapitulate what his predecessor had already discussed, but
to
fill

up the lacunas of his

treatise.

The

variety of hound, however, described by

so,
it

the elder

Xenophon being
for the

different,

and the indications of excellence equally

was necessary
character.
2.

younger Athenian also to enter on the subject of external

MuKpal effTwaav
&c.

airh Kf(pa\ris

eV

oiipdu.

elj/oi /jLcydkas,

Length of body

is insisted

So Xenophon of the Spartans, XPV on by the ancients as an essential

Giatius notes the " longum
Sfixas, as
:

De

Venatione,
<;

'^''

characteristic of

7ei/i'ai(jT7js

in the horse,

cow, and dog.

070
Oppian. Cyneg.
'*

latus" of the

latter,

emd Oppian

his fiTjiceSai/hv
is

Kpanphv

necessary to per-

fection of form.

Such a structure

generally indicative of speed

and as an example

the writer

may

specify a high-bred greyliound in his

own

possession, 5 feet 2 inches

long:

Ocyor

cervis, et agente ninibos

Horat. h.

i.

Ocyor Euro.

Od. xvi.

76
Chap. IV.
for in every variety of dog,

ARKIAN
you
will find,

on

reflection,

no one
;

point so indicative of speed and good breeding as length

and

on the other hand, no such mark of slowness and degeneracy

as shortness.

So that

have even seen dogs with numerous

other faults, that have been, on account of their length, both

swift

and high-couraged.
in other respects equal,

And

farther,

the

larger

dogs,

when

show higher breeding than small

But those
destitute of

ones on the very score of size.

large dogs are bad,

whose limbs are unknit, and

indeed,

symmetry

"*

being

when

so fotmed, worse than small dogs, with an equal

share of other faults attached to them.

External Character
generally.

Your greyhounds should have

heads
;

light

and well-articulated
is

whether hooked

or flat nosed

not of

much

con-

Vlitius, the learned editor of the Poetas Venatici,

mentions that greyhounds were

called in his day, kot'

e|oxV> " '^^ iong dogs," as by modern coursers.

3. Kal ^))v Kol at fiei^ovis

eixpviarepai roov

(rfiiKpuu.

Our most

distinguished

modern greyhounds, as

Millar,

"

facilis

cui

plurima

palma," Snowball, and others, have been large dogs, lengthy, muscular, and low on
the legs
Sir
:

Walter

Who knows not

Is
still

Snowball

he whose race renown'd

?

Scott,

victorious on each coursing ground

SwatFham, Newmarket, and the

Roman Camp,
meaner stamp.

Have seen them

If

victors o'er each

we

qualify the size by the conditions laid

shall

down by

Aristotle in the apfral

is

aiiiixa-

Rhetoric. L,
c. V.

i.

Tos,

we
tJ)

probably hit the mark as to ^eyidos, whose apir^

Kol ^ddos, Kol TrXdros,

defined rh inrepexeiv

KOTO.

fxrjKOS,

tuv koKKwv,

rocrovrcf /jiei^ovt, SxTre nrj fipaSv-

Tfpas
Polluc. Onom. L. V. c. X. .57.

iroielv

ras

Kivrjaets Sia rijv vTrep^oKi\v

4. Pollux has well observed aperal 5e Kvfwv,

(lerpol, /U7j5e avdpixoo'Tui.

anh

fikv aifiaTos, fxeyaKat, /uijSe affvfi-

The
Xenoplion. de Venal, c. iii.

Vertragi, like Xenophon's Spartan Foxites, should not be high on the legs,
at inpr)\al
(J,ev

nor loose-made
SiatpoiTUKTiv

koI ao-u^/xerpot, acrvvraKTa exovaai Tb, auijxara,

^apiws

they labour in their course.

Edmund
and then
is

iMagster at
(ffiamp,
c.

" The good greyhounde," says

neither to
5.

de Langley, " sliuld be of middel asise,

is

XV.

moche neither
of the

to lifel,

he good for

alle beestis,"

&c.
:

fol. 6(j.

The head

greyhound

a remarkable feature in his external character

Oppian.Cyneg.
1.401.

&pKlOV

7j5e

Kap7]vov,

Kuv(pov, fvykrivov, Kva.va\ aTiXfionv onanrai'

Kapxapuf, (KTaStov Ti\i0ui

crrSfJ-a.

ON COURSING.
sequence
:

77
Chai-.

nor does

it

greatly matter whether the parts beneatli

^

iv.

the forehead be protuberant with muscle.

They are alone

nostrils,

bad which are heavy-headed, having thick

blunt instead of a pointed termination.

with a
well-

Such then are

headed hounds.
strikingly bright.

Their eyes should be large, up-raised, clear,

The

best look fiery,

and

flash like lightning,

^

resembling those of leopards, lions, or lynxes.

Next

to these

G.

Xenophon reprobates hook-nosed hounds,

I I

at Se ypviral darofjioi, koI Sia

tovto ov
c.

De

Venat.
c.
i

KOTe'xoycrt T^;' Aa7a).

1

Pollux would have the iieads light and

,

airy, Kov(pat koI ev<bo>

,

in. also

v.

poi

and wlieu speaking on human anatomy, explains the terms ypviral and
ffifiov, (pa'njs

aifial,

eVi Se rov
KaiiTTvKT].

hv

i)S

icTTW

ri

fits

e'w

fieffuv Ko'iKt]' Sxrirfp iirl

rou ypvTrov,

pis

Onomastic. L. v c S7 Onomastic. L,

]\Iany of the features of Pollux's portrait of the C. Venaticus are appro-

"*

*^'

'^''

priate to the Celtic hound.

See Onomast. L.
agree, in

v. c. 37.

The more modern Cynegetica

approved by Arrian
:

all

important points, with the structure

"

greihounde shuld have a longe liede and somdele greet

luce, a

jMawStcr of
aiWC,
fol.

ymakyd

in the

manere of a

good large mouthe and good sesours the on agein

c.

xv.

the other, so that the nether jawes passe not

hem

above, ne that thei above passe not

60.

hem

by nether."

grehounde sholde be
lyke a snake.

Book

of
^''*

Heeded
" Capite

^^^"iri-' 14bo.
et piano capite," Alhertus.

et collo

oblongis,"

says Belisarius

" longo

Markham's
^""'^^y Content. B.I. p. 48.

" He should have

eyes downwards.
7.
'IvcoStj

a fine, long, lean head, with a sharp nose rush-grown, from the '

sinewy.
indiiferent

Xenophon

says, iVwSt)

to.

KarwO^v laiv fUTdlnrwv

but his

namesake
8.

is

on this point.
tiie

Oppiau describes

eyes of lions as

"Onixara

S"

alyXrievTa

Cyneg. lu.
v.

20.

and again,

Ka\ irvphs affrpdirToucriv

air'

ofQaXixSiv afiapvyai

v. 32.

of the leopard or panther,

ofifia (paeivht^,

v. 09.

y\avKi6ucri Kupai 0\e(pdpois virh fj.apnaipovat,

yXavKwuaiv

o/uoD re, Ka\ ivhoQi (poiviaauvTat

:

'

aiOo/Mei'ais '/kcAoi, TrupiAOjUire'es

78
Chap. IV.

ARRIAN
and grim-looking
;

are black eyes, provided they are wide-open

and

last of all,

grey

nor are these to be considered bad, nor

clear,

indicative of

bad dogs, provided they are

and have a

savage look.

Chap. V.
Episode on
Arrian's dog

For

havc myself bred up a homid whose eyes are the

grey
;

greyest of the

Horme.

sound-iootcd dog,
four hares.

i-iand, m his

swift,

hard-working, courageous,
i

prune, a match, at any tune, for

I

He

" is,

moreover, (for while

am

writing,

he

is

of the lynx,

Cyneg.

iii.

fi\^dpoKTtv

air'

6f6a\fiui' anapvyal

V. 90.

IfxepSiV ffTpdwrovcri,

9.

Xenophon de Venat.
and

c.

in. condemns blink-eyed and grey-eyed hounds as bad

:

and unsightly, otVxpai SpaaBai

ferable to all others
;

but Oppian particularly specifies blue eyes as pre-

have known many azure-eyed dogs of great merit.

The
to

ante,
fol.

ilHagster of c. xv.
CG.

darker the eye, however, the better.

" Her eynne shuld be," according

Langiey, " reed or blak as of a spbauke :"

according to

"

De

full

and

clear,

with long eye-lids,"

Markham.

The reader

of Anacreon will understand the sort of eye

admired in the greyhound, from the

Anacreon. Od. XXIX.

ix4\av ofi/xa yop'yhv

earw

of the 29th
1.

Ode; and

at the
tiiis

same time, perhaps, smile

at the quotation.

The

early part of

chapter, devoted to the portraiture of the author's beloved

Horme,

interrupts his general description of the greyhound's shape, which he again

his personal feelings in

resumes after gratifying

biography
;

an affectionate interlude of canine

ostensibly introduced to prove that a blue-eyed

hound (Kvva

x^-po""^^)

o'Lav -xo-poiKDrarriv)

may

possess

all

the essential excellencies of his race.

2. 1 liave

taken the liberty of changing the sex of this favourite dog, according to
;

the example of Holsten

because I think

it

probable that Arrian

may have used

Xenophun and

the

feminine gender here, and generally through the treatise, not from the animal spoken Stephani Scheof liaving been really of that sex, but from
classic authors to
its

being usual with

other

employ the feminine gender when speaking of the dogs of the chase.

ad

II.

Eustath. H, p. 092.

Indeed,
|j,g

it

has been remarked by Eustathius and others, that such was the custom of

ancient Greek writers, whenever they spoke of any kind of animals collectively.
the feminine gender to dogs gregatitn only, but also indivithis

But Arrian does not apply

dually
:

and the same prevalence of

gender

is also

observable in the Latin poets.

ON rOURSING,
yet alive), most gentle, and kindly-affcctioncd
;
"'

79

and

never

Cut

before had anv dog such regard for

myself, and friend and

fellow-sportsman, Megillus.
in coursin*:;,

he

is

But while
companies

am

at

For when not actually engaged away from one or other of us. home he remains within, by my side, ac"*

never

me on going

abroad,

follows

me

to the

gymnasium,

It

must be confessed, however, that the name Horme (Angl. Rush)

is

more applica-

ble to a bitch than a dog.

3. It is generally believed that
fickle

greyhounds have very weak attachments; and the

II. favour
.

Ciironique de
iroissait,

companions of Charles de Blois and of Richard

.

such an opinion,
place others of
,

and

But

against these well-known examples of canine infidelity,

at the

we may
hound

extraordinary attachment to their lords;

irpaoTttTTj Kol (piXavOpcoTToraTri,

head of which

let

Horme

stand,

the beloved and afiPectionate

of the founder of

note to Johnnes's Transl. V. iv. 657.

the leash

Possem multa canum variorum exempla

referre,

Ni

pigeat stadium parvarum noscere rerum.

Natalis Comes de Venat. L. i.

To

the tales of inviolable attachment recorded by the ro3'al pen of

faire

Edmund Duke

of

York, of " the greiliounde boothe good and

of

Kyng Apollo

of Lyonnys," and
is

JIHagStrr Of

the " wel good and faire greihounde that was Aubries of Mondidert," the reader " "
.

^'

fol.

47

referred for farther examples

nor should he forget the martyr Charles's dying eulogy

.^" 49.

*"

of the Celtic hound.

Vide J. C. Scaliger de
Nobilissimae, sect. 6.
4.

Subtil,

ad Card. Exerc. ccir. the

last of the Historiee

Duse

" Amans dominorum adulatio."

nulla homini
Officii

Cicero de Natur&.

Ueor.

mage prodiga

grati
!

quadrupes, domiuisque

fidelior ipsis

says the kind-hearted poet of

Venusium

and again,
tua nee vestigia

Usque sequetur ovans,

quoquam

J. Darcii

Ve-

nusini Canes.

Deseret, at lateri semper comes

Sistis iter
?

ibit heriii.

sistit

properas

velociils

Euro

Scindit in obliquum campos, &c.

5.

The

following lines from a canine epitaph,

:

" De Mopso

fidissirao

cane," are

not inapposite

Custos assiduus domi forisque

Nostri principis, et comes
fidelis
:

Septem Illust. Vir. Poemata Amst. 1C72.

80
Chap. V.

ARRIAN
I

and, while

am

taking exercise,

sits

down by me.
back
;

On my
whether
I

return he rmis before me, often looking

to see

had turned any where out of the road

catches sight of me,
trotting

and as soon as he

showing symptoms of joy, and again

If
I

on before me.

business, he remains with

am my
if

going out on any government

friend,

and does exactly the

for

same towards him.

ever

He
"^

is

the constant companion of which-

may be

sick

and

he has not seen either of us

only a short time, he jumps up repeatedly by

tion,

way
^

of saluta-

and barks with joy, as a greeting to

first

us.

At meals he
to

pats us
in

with one foot and then with the other,

is to

put us

mind

that he

have his share of food.

He

has also

Equo seu
Seu
tritS,

fuit ire, sive curru,

pedibus vik voluptas.

carior

Hinc me

baud

erat

nee alter

Posthac est

aliis

futurus annis

Me

carus niagis, aut magis peritus

Blandiri domino, &c.

6. 'Evaviovros irpoetcri, Oafitva iiriaTpe(poii.4vr\, k. t. A.

J. Darcii sini

Venu-

si

post terga relinquas,

Canes.

(Nam
Ills

dorainum crebio aspiciens ol)servat euntem)

cursu pensat, viden' ecce repente

moram

A
Vanierii Praed. Rustic. L. IV.

tergo ut vultuque hilaris blanditur amico, &c.

fidas

ad limina custos

Excubias

agit, et

nutus observat heriles

:

Ut quo

jussa vocant velocior advolet

idem agro

Nunc

hilari

congaudet

liero,

nunc

tristior

Assidet.

8.

So Calpumius of the pet stag

sequiturque vocantem
Eclog. VI. 35.

Credulus, et raensa; non improba porrigit era.

9.

The
it

ancients cleansed their hands with the soft crumb of bread after meals, and

threw

to their dogs.

These pieces of bread were called

:

a.TToixayhaXiak

the

jue-

Xiyixara of the Homeric simile

ON

OUUS NG
1

81
Chap. V.

I ever knew in any other own language, whatever he wants. Having been beaten, when a puppy, with a whip, if any one, even at this day, does but mention a whip, he vnll come up to the speaker cowering and begging, " applying his mouth

many
dog

tones of speech

i"^

more than

pointing out, in his

Homer. Odyss.
craivaia, {alel

yhp re (pepu

fiei\'tyfj.ara dvf^ov).

X. 216.

Hence probably Juvenal's " sordes

10. Tlo\v<p6oYyos.

farris

mordere canini."

Hanc

tu si queritur, loqui putabis.

Martial. Issa
Publii.

Sentit tristitiamque gaudiunique.

Did Honne's " verba canina" (Ovid,

guage, as in the memorable case of
laire") in the Hist, de I'Acad.

in Ibin) extend to the imitation of spoken lanLeibnitz's dog, recorded by

?

M.

him (" temoin ocuor are

Royale des Sciences, ann. 1715

<pi\o<l)66yy(iiv (Lkutcittj
?

we

to under-

stand that this most musical of hounds,

(TKvXaKuv, only " gave

Anyta
Epidauria.

tongue," like bis congeners, with various intonations of bark

o|eip vXaKTj x^^Vioi Kvves i(p9eyyoino

for deficiency of

Apollon. Rhod. L. III. 1216.

making up by

intelligence,

and significancy of action,

speech

eiVl Koi eV <TKv\6.Kiff(xiv ix^'Ppof^^t oTcri Kpoviccv

Nonni
siac.

DionyL. XVI.

avSpofiitiv (ppifa

SwKe koI oh

fipoririv irSpe (pwvijv.

Nunc blande
Erectis

assiliebat

hue

et illuc

Ludens, atque avido appetebat ore.

gerius,

Andreas NauCarm, v.

Illustr. Poetar.

modo

cruribus, bipesque

Mense

adstabat herili, heroque ab ipso

Latratu tenero cibum petebat.

11.

'TTiroTTT'^laa'o Xiirapei

The fawning hound The Chace.

B.I.

Salutes thee cow'ring.

Plorantes fugiunt summisso corpore plagas.

Lucretius. L. V. 1071.

82
Chap. V.
to the

ARRIAN
man's as
if to

kiss him,

and jmnping up,

will

hang on
angry

his neck,
threats.^"

and not

let

him go

until

he has appeased

his

Now

really I

do not think that

;

should be ashamed to

write even the

terity, that

name of this dog that it may be left to posXenophon the Athenian had a greyhound called
greatest speed
^*

Horme, of the
Physical
indications

and inteUigence,

^^

and altogether
soft, ^^ so

supremely excellent.

Let the ears of your greyhounds be large and

to appear, from their
size

as

resumed.

and

softness,
if

as if broken.

Such
long,

are best

but

it is

no bad indication
stiff. ^^

they appear erect, pro-

vided they are not small and

The neck should be

Buffon, H. N. Le Chien.

12.

" Plus sensible au souvenir des

les

bienfaits qu'a. celiii des outrages,

les subit, les oublie,

il

ne se

rebute pas par

mauvais traitemens,
;

il

ou ne s'en souvient que

pour s'attacher davantage

loin

de

s'irriter
;

ou de
lui

fuir,

il

leche cette main, instrument

la

de douleur, qui vient de

le

frapper

il

ne

oppose que

plainte, at la

desarme

enfin par la patience et la soumission."

13.

2o(/>ci)TctT7j.

14. 'lepoTciTTj

"holiest;"
its

Plato also has kvuv ffo^ccTdTos.

Encycl. INIetropol., article "Hunting."

It is scarcely

possible to express this epithet in English.

Zeune's Index GrEecitatis gives

translation,

"

pras-

stantissima."

I do not like

Mr. Smedley's

E.

M.

and yet

cannot

suggest a better in

place than that of the version.

coursing friend substitutes

"

perfectly divine."

15.

He now

returns from his beautiful episode on Horra6 to the physical indica-

tions of excellence in greyhounds generally.

The conque
it

of the

ear

is

semi-penease as the

dulous, and yet the greyhound has the power of elevating

less reclaimed varieties of dog.

with as

much

This particular structure gives the appearance, no;

ticed in the text, of the ear being broken

and

also adds to its

seeming magnitude.

16.

The modern

courser prefers the small ears of the Oppianic hound.

Oppian. Cyneg.
I.

jSatcb S*

SirepBtv
v/xivecrffi
:

V. 403.

oSara \evra\4oi(Ti irepiffTiWotvd^

CTfiap. XV.

fol.

and excludes the pricked ear, the " rectae aures " of Fracastor. Albertus recommends " aures acutse retrorsum directae, et parvai :" the Mayster of Game, "the
eerys smal and hie in the maner of a serpent :"
short,

66.

Gervase Markham, " a sharp

ear,

and
is

close-falling :"

but the most correct notion of the ears of a perfect grey-

hound
Nemesian. Cyneget. 113.

imparted in the line

Cuique
of the Carthaginian poet.

nirais

moUes

fluitent in cursibus aures

ON rounsiNG.
round, unci flexible
;

83
forcibly to

'^

^q that
it

it"

you

draw the dogs

its

Chap. V.

backwards by
flexibility

their collars,
softness.

may seem

be broken, from

and

Broad chests are better than narrow.

^^

Let them have shoulders standing wide-apart,

not tied toge-

17.

Seipi) fiifKedav}),

koI ffrfidea v4p6e Kparaiii,

Oppian. Cyneg.
I.

ftipea.

405.

Oa

the necessity of a long neck

is

all

the Cynegetica, ancient and modern, are agreed

but there

a difference of opinion on the formation of the chest.

" The neke,"

iMagstcr of
(JSame.
c.

according to

De

Langley, should be " grete and longe, bowed as a swannes nek."

Belisarius,

xv.

" Pectore acuto," says

hentibus
trahant.
:

"

costis inferiiis longis, et

ita

ad ima paululiim

fol. (56.

tra-

Belisar. Aquiv.

pra;cordiis lateribusque

amplis, ut sine difficultate canes spiritum

Nam

quo

facilior respiratio fuerit, tanto

all

expeditiores ad cursum erunt."

Juliana's portrait is

Aragoneus de Venatione.

Albertus agrees with him in

points of importance.
little

" neckyd

Booke of

lyke a drake :" Markhara's, " a long neck, a

bending, with a loose hanging

Hawkyng, &c.

wezand

a broad breast, straight fore-legs, and side-hollow ribs."

to

Topsel translates from Albertus an invention "

make a greyhound have

a long

neck,"

far too ridiculous to

be extracted.

Indeed, this worthy Bishop of Ratisbon

Hist, of Fourfooted Beasts,

fully merits the character given of

him by
few

Sir

Thos. Brown, " that he hath delivered

St, Botolph's,

&c. 1657.

most

conceits, with strict enquiry into

:"

and the Rector of

Alders-

gate, is a close copyist of all his absurdities.

Vulgar Errors. B.I.

18.

The

following lines complete the accurate portrait of the Cilician poet

Tw

TrpdffOev 54 t' oXi^oripoi irJSe effrwv,

Oppian. Cyneg
1.406.

6pOoTevf7s KdiKwv ravaol doKixnpees jVtoJ,

eupees wnoirXdrai, irXevpuv iiriKapaia rapah,
offcpvfs

ivaapKoi,

fir]

irioves'

avrap uTtiaOe
oiipr).

ffTpKpvij r'

(KTaSiSs re ireKoi So\iX<i<TKios

ToiQi fifv Tavaoiffiv i(poir\l^oivTo ZpSjioun

S6pK0is,

T/5'

i\dcpo 1.(7 IV, deW6-iroBi re A7ai^.

Nemesian

is brief,

but highly illustrative

Elige tunc cursu facilem, facilemque recursu,

Seu Lacedasmonio

nataro, sen rure Molosso,

Sit cruribus altis,

Nemesian. Cyneg. 106.

Non

humili de gente canem.

Sit rigidis,

multamque gerat sub pectore

fine

lato

Costarum, sub

decenter prona, carinam.

Quae sensim

sursijs sicca se colligat alvo,

satis vadis,

Renibus anipla

diductaque coxas,

Cuique nimis molles

fluitent in cursibus aures.

84
Chap. V.
ther, but as loose,

ARRIAN
and
free

from each other, as possible

sides
loins

legs
'^

round, straight, and well-jointed

firm, not fleshy, but

broad, strong and supple upper flanks long, rough hips wide asunderlower flanks hollow

sinewy

loose

tails fine,

with hair, supple,

flexible,

and more haiiy towards the

tip

A Icon.
Onoraasticon. L. V. c. X.

Fiacastorius's canine portrait,

"

Sint armi

lati, sint

jeque pectora lata," &c. are of

doubtful application.

Pollux adds to the perfection of the fore-legs by saying they should be

fj.^

irpoH-

Xovra KaTOL rovs ayKuuas

" not out

:

at the

elbows :" and Xenophon would have the

Spartan dog straight both in the leg and at the elbow.

Belisarius

"

Ilia sint

angusta et compressa

venter exilis,

nam

crassus currentem gravat.

de Venatione.

Crura

alta,

brachia non aeque, ne leporis capturam impediant.

Anteriores pedes, ut

in fele, rotundi potius

quam

longi."

19.

The terms XaySpes and

Keveuves are often confounded as synonymous.

Arrian

and the elder Xenophon use the term Xaydvfs to designate (speaking anatomically)
that part of the lumbar region, behind the last or short ribs,
situate, the

where the kidneys are

lower and posterior

upper and anterior part of the flanks

KeveCoves, the

part of the flanks.

Aristot.

Phyc. vi.

Aristotle observes that the best

iSoi S'

Canes Venatici are well tucked-up

in the flanks,

siognom.

&v Tjy Ka\ ruv kvvwv tovs (piKoBripordrovs (v^wvovs ovras.

Such was the Ovi-

dian Ladon,

Metara. L. in.

Substricta gerens Sicyonius ilia Ladon.

The Mayster
Ci&ap. XV. fol. 66.

of

Game
:

is

here peculiarly illustrative of the

text, fashioning

the

greyhound
greet

to perfection

" her shuldres as a roobuk.

The

for legges streght

and and

ynow and nought

to hie legges, the feet straught

and rounde as a

catte

greet clees, the boone and the joyntes of the chyne greet and hard as the chyne of

an

hart.

Eke

be reson his chynne shuld be a

litel hie, for it is better

than

it

were

flatt,

&c. &c.

the thyes grete

tailles

and squarred as an hare, the houghes

streight

and not

crompyng as of an oxe, a

cattes tayle

makyng

a ryng at eende and not to hie, the to

boonys of the chyne behynd brode of a large pame or more.

greihoundes with longe
ryght swift," &c.

Also ther byne many

Book

of

Hawk-

Fotyd lyke a

catte

yng,&c. 1486.

Tayllyd lyke a

ratte

Syded lyke a teme.

And chynyd

lyke a beme-

finishes the doggerel of the

Sopcweli portrait.

ON CO USING.
11

85
:

haunches sweeping, and firm

to the touch

with

regard to

CllAl

their legs, if the hind ones are longer than the fore, the grey-

hound
hill
;

will
if
it

run best up

hill

if

the fore legs are longest,

flat. "^

down
Since,

but

both are equal, he will run best on a

is

however,

more

difficult

to beat a hare

on an

acclivity,

because she runs best up

class of dogs,

hill,

those are

deemed the

better
^"

whose hind legs are longer than

"^

their fore ones.

Round and

strong feet are decidedly best.

20. EuTTOTTj
loci

well-filleted ?

Fillet,

" musculosior

pars fetnoris sic dicta, quia eo

magni

et validi tendines et nervi insigaes, qui propter iongitudinera, filorum

Skinner Etymolog.

speciem exhibent, occurrunt."

So Markliam

" a

straight square
;

and

flat

back, short and strong

fillets

a broad

space between the hips

clefts."

a strong stern or tail,

and a round

foot,

and good large

Countrey Contentments. B. I. p. 48.

Elsewhere,

lie

sajs

" a long, broad, and square beaine back, with high

sided, with hollow
sickell

round
brest
;

fillets"

" hee must be deepe swine

at the

bended

ribs,

and a
;

full

he

roust

have rush growne limbes before, and

houghs behind

The Countrey Farme. c. xxii.

a fine,

round,

full cat's foot,

with strong cleyes and tough soles, and an even growne long

rat's tail,

round turning

lower end from the leash ward

and hee must bee

full

set

on betweene the buttockes," &c.

21.

The Cynosophium has the same remarks on the

sect. iv. p.

relative length of the fore

and

hind legs ; see

22.

262.

Xpeiii)

Se (T/coireAou fXiP avavreos f/Se irdyoio

Oppian. Cyneg.
IV. V. 425.

(TeieffBai irpoQiovra

nroSwKea (pv\a Xaycowv,

wphs Se Kdravra

crocp'^cn irpofa-qOeirjcriv
/col

iXaivuv.

avrUa yap

ffKv\aK<is re

av4pas aOpricravTes

irphs \6<pov iQvovaiv, ewel ^ciAa yivdiaKovffiv

Htti irdpoSiV taffiv uKt^Srepoi irSSes avToTs.

ToUveKa

prf'iStai.

irTWKeffcn ireXovct KoKuvai,

pffiSiai -irTwKeffffi,

SvadvTees

l'7nre\dr'^(Ti.

And

^lian,

De

Nature Animalium,
:

states the

advantage and disadvantage of

ol \ay(fi

this

shape to the hare

kutSitiv

to

Se avdvTrj /xev koI

v^Xa

apa9iOV(Ti paara'

to yap

roi

Lib. xiii. c. 14.

KwXa fiaKpSrepa
rroSaiv

exoutrt tw;' e/jLirpocrdev, Kal KaraQeovffiv

:

ovk dfioiws, Xinre? 7^^

avTovs Tuv

rh ivavriov

a circumstance well known to every courser,

Dame
Juliana's poetical manual,

and not

forgotten in the " Questions" of

Tell me, maister, (quoth the

man) what dooth

it skill

The Booke of
Hunting, &c.

Why the
Quoth

hare would so faine runne against the

hil 1

Edmund

the maister, for her leggs be shorter before,

Allde. 1586.

And

therfore she desireth to run that

way evermore.

86

ARRIAN

Chap. VI.
imortaace

The colour of greyhounds

^^^^
^^

is

not of any importance;

nor

matter

if

they are perfectly black, red, or white

nor

23. Bad-footed hounds, however high-couraged, are uuable to bear work, accord-

De

Venat. C. HI.

ing to Xenophon, on account of the pain they endure in running,

itoSwv.

Stct

rh &\yos t'

No

cynegelicon omits the essential feature of a well-formed foot; which, in

Illustrations of

Wase's words, should be " round, high-knuckled, and well-clawed, with a dry hard
goal."

Gratius.

Gratii Cyneg.

Effuge qui lata pandit vestigia planta,

Mollis in
officio, siccis

27G.

ego dura lacertis

Crura velim,

et solidos haec in certamina calces.

Fracastorius,

Alcon.

Iina

pedum parva

signent vestigia planta.

De

Venatione,

Tardif explains the cat-like foot, " pedes parvi, digitis duris, et apte conjunctis, ne quid
terrae

aut

luti in

vi^ admittant :" and Savary of Caen,

Album
L.

Dianae
II.

brevemque pedes glomerentur

Parvaque compactis

in

orbem

Leporicidae.

digitis vestigia ferment.

1.

Compare Xenophon de

V^enat. c. iv.

Arrian very rationally combats the no-

tion of a greyhound's excellence being at all

dependent on so variable a distinction

as colour.

Oppian, more credulous on this point, reprobates white and black dogs,

as impatient of heat

and cold, and gives a preference

to

such as are red, russet, or

fawn

Oppian. Cyneg.
'

Kfiuoi S^ eu irdvTfacriv aptarevovcri Kiveffan,

rots "iKeXoi nop^al fidXa drjpecriv

IJ,7iKo<p6vouri
tj

wixi)(rrfj(ri,

KvKOis,

i)

riypecnv

rivefiOiffcrais,

Koi aXuveKeeafft, Ooalal tc iropSaXieffaiv,

oTrSffoi S^jUTjTpt

iravelKeKov elSos exoutrt

ffiT6xpooi' ixaXa

ydp re

Bool Kparepol re ireXovrui.

Sect. IV. p. 262.

The Cynosophium recommends such

adds to
its

as are itapair\T](noi Keovai, irdpZois, xIkois

and

Materia Medica (p. 275.) amongst other ridiculous nostrums, a formula by

to black

which the colour of the hair may be changed from white

credat Judceus!

In accordance with the general prejudice which bestowed superior virtue on particoloured, (for such was Xenophon's opinion,)

Pan

confers on the

Goddess of the

Chase pie-bald and mottled hounds

ON COURSING.
is

87

a simple, uniform colour to be suspected as ferine.

The

Chap. VI.

colours, such as they are, should be bright

hair,

and pure

and the
should

whether the dog be of the rough or smooth

sort,

rlv

S'
-

& yevfirjTiis Svo ixtv Kvvas

sv
/ ,

t^jUktu ir7]yovs,

H.

in Dian.
VS. UO,

s. rpeis oe irop ovaTiovs, tva o aio\ov.

'

'/>

Pollux would mis; a

/

little

variety of colour, e/cacrTy jrapa^ue^iX^w ti kc^ kripas

Onomast. L. v.
C. XI.

Xprfas.

The modern Cynegetica

models
:

are as fickle

and capricious

as to colour as their ancient

color est deterrimus albo,

Nee
Aut

placeat niveis maculis signatus et atris

longis niraium
villls,

Nat. Conies de Venat.

fuscove colore

according to the canine canons of Natalia

Comes

whereas Savary gives the prefesupereminet albus ;" and

praise those of one
is

rence to a white hound, " nunc est

in pretio et reliquos

Album

Dianre,
^'

supported by Fouilloux and his copyist Turbervile,

who

homo-

geneous colour
St.

white,

fallow, dun,

and black

the latter being the valued breed of

Hubert, (les chiens courans,) " qui estoit veneur avec S. Eustache, dont est a

l^ Venerie de
Fouilloux. p. 4.

conjecturer, que les bons veneurs les ensuyvront en Paradis avec la grace de Dieu,"

" Of
evel.

alle

manere of greihoundes there byn," says

is

De

Langley, " both good and

Natheless the best hewe

rede falow with a blak moselle."

ffisnic. c.

jIHapStcr of xv.

After citing so many, and such conflicting opinions, I leave the reader to draw his

own ham

conclusion on this most unimportant point

bidding hira remember that Mark-

supports our author, that " colours have (as touching any particular goodnesse)
all

no preheminence one above the other, but are

dogs having been of
all

equal

many good
is

Xhe Countrev and famous Farme. c. xxn.

the several colours

onely the white

esteemed the most

beautifuU and best for the eie, the black and fallow hardest to endure labour, and the

dunne and branded best

for the

poachers and nightmen,

who

delight to have

all

their

pleasures performed in darknesse."

Backed by the compiler of " The Countrey

is

Farme,"

let

him

give to Arrian the weight he

entitled to, as a practical courser.

My own conviction accords

ciatur
:

with that of Tardif,

" ex

colore nihil certi fere pronun-

sajpius

enim

turpi colore canes, pulchrioribus praestant :"

and with the poet

of Caen,

nuUus

virtutibus obstat,

Album Dians,
&c.

Aut prodest

color

hunc habeas quicunque placebit

1 object to
tint the

no dog merely on account of

his colour,

though he

may

rival

in variety of

renowned Triamour's marvellous Peticrewe.

gjj Tristrem Fytte in. 10.

00
Chap. VI.

ARRIAN
fine,

be

close,

and

soft.

"

The

best dogs

are such as are

in point of

large

and well put together, and resemble bitches

;

suppleness
in spirit,

and the best bitches are such as resemble dogs

^

and muscularity of body. any one pays attention

Now

if

to these hints, as to the shape

of greyhounds, they will fully supply him, in

my

opinion, with

the indications of good blood for his kennel, and the opposite

of the reverse.

Chap. VII.
Indications

Nor

will the

temper of greyhounds afford fewer indications

^

from Temper.

of good and bad blood to a careful observer.

in the first place, as are

Such hounds,
and

crabbed to
if

all

persons alike, are not of

to strangers,

a generous breed.

But

you find any cross

2. iT oiv Tov Saffeos "yivovs, efre rod ^i\ov rvxoiev oi Kvvis.

still

These two
is

varieties

exist

but the rough, or wire-haired variety of greyhound

banished from the

fire

kennel of

modem

coursers

for

though

this

^aah yevos
it is

may show some

and

speed

in a short course in

an enclosed country,

always beaten by the

y^iKhu

yivos

over a champaign country, where the duration of the contest defies ignoble competition.

Hist. Natur.
torn.

Buffon derives the wiry hair from commixture with the spaniel, "
certains l^vriers vient
text proves
it

le poil
its

long de

v\

241.

du melange des espagneuls

:"

but

if

such be

origin, the

to

have been of remote antiquity.

alii

De

"
Canibus

Est strigosum genus," says Caius, " in quo

alii

majores sunt,

alii

rainores

alii

Britannicis Libellus. De Quad. Digit.

pilo sessili,

hirto."

And
titles

Ulysses Aldrovandus has left us rude sketches of the

of " C. leporarius hirsutus albus," and
c.

two

varieties

under the

" C.

leporarius

Vivip. L. in.

alter ferruginei coloris."

See also " The Countrey Farme,"

xxii.

Schneider
:

quotes Synesius Laud. Calvit. p. G7. iKeivai ao<pwTaTai rwv kwwv, k. t. X.

passage in his note on the Greek text.
author alludes.
Sect. IV.
p.
It

see the

does not appear to what variety of dog the

3.

So

also the
rj

Cynosophium of Demetrius
&^^ivi.

of Constantinople, KoKhv

rQ

fieyiOei

262.

TOV

ffdofxaros

67]\i\ Trpocr^Keirot

But

do not remember to have seen these

remarks of Arrian on the dog partaking of the bitch's form, and the bitch of the
dog's, in

any of the more ancient Cynegetica of Greece and Rome.

The Byzantine

physician doubtless derived the hint from our author.

1.

Aristotle admits the possibility of distinguishing

;

by outward manifestations the

is

innate qualities and tempers of animals

Aristotelis

such discrimination

the result of parti-

cular experience

twv &\\uv

^coccv ol irepl

eKaffTOf (ni<nriixot'(s (k rrjs iSias Biadtaeus

Physiognom.

Svvavrai Qiupuv, iwrriKoi re

'lirirovs,

Kol

Kwriyhai Kvvas.

ON COUUSING.
good-tempered to their feeder,
than otherwise.
1 once
-

89
Chap. VII.

it

is

rather a favourable sign

knew a greyhound, who was

in

dull

and sullen

at

home,
;

and took no pleasure

any of the persons about him

but,

when

led out hunting,

was beyond measure delighted, and

This

showed, by smiling and fawning at every body that came near

him, that he was vexed at staying at home.
held a good sign.

may be

The

best dogs, however, are those of most attachment to

to

man, and
noise, *

whom

no human countenance

is

strange.

Such,

on the other hand, as are afraid of people, and astounded at

obstreperous, and often excited without
cause,
are

senseless brutes of no pluck.

Like

men

that are timid and

frightened out of their wits, such dogs as these can never be

deemed of generous blood. Those, too, are bad, which, when let loose from couples in a field, do not come back at
the call of their keeper, but gallop away.
^

From

obedi-

ence in the
field.

If

you

call

them

in

2. T(f Se avaTp4<povTi irpo(T<j>i\us.

Oppian would have hounds

friendly to

all

men

alike

"iriroKTi Kparepolcri 5' bixiiBees

aypevrripes

f^eri VT)iriax<^v tcmtiv, fifpSweacri re iraaiv

ijOdStoi (piXioi re, nSvoicri Se dripecriv ixBpoi,

Oppian. Cyneg. i
V.

445.

3.

KpaTiarai Se oi (piXavdpwirSraTat

the

best greyhounds are the

in the

most kindly-

affectioned.

Martial's Lydia was gentle at

home, but savage

wood,

Venatrix sylvis aspera, blanda domi

Epigram.
L.ii.

and

De

Langley's greyhound,

" curtaise and nought to

felle,

wel folowyng his

iMagster of

maister and doyng whatever he

hym commaundeth.

He

shuld be good and kyndly

to alle

amc.
fol.

c.

XV.

66.

and clene, glad and joyful and playeing wel willyng, and goodly
folkes, save to wilde beestis,

maner

upon whom he shuld be

felle spitous

and egre."

4. 'Tirh ^6(pov iKirX-iynovTai.

Start at the starting prey or rustling wind.

Tickell's

Fragment on
Hunting.
5. All these particulars are, for the

most part, matters of education and discipline

Education, however,
is

but are partially dependent on innate disposition.

very iui-

90
Chap. VII.

ARRIAN
;

mildly, they pay no attention to you

if

threateningly, they

keep aloof from

fear.

For when a greyhound has had

about, he ought to
call,^

his gallop,

and has run

but, if the

come back
is

to his keeper, even without a

will
;

showing that he

under command at
let

keeper does not choose to take him up,

him again bound

in as, at
;
'''

away, and again return.

Such dogs are well broken

the voice of their keeper, crouch before him

not from fear,

like

but regard and respect for their feeder, cowering

worshippers
^

the

of the Great King.

still,

It is

no good sign for a

hound

to stand

when

let

out of couples on an open

Xenophon. Memorabil.
L. IV.
c. I.

portant, operating

on a good

subject.

Twv kvvwv, says

Socrates, ruv fiKpyea-TaTCDv,

^iXoirSpuv re

ovcru'v,

Kal iinOiTtKuiv to7s Br^piois, ras ixlv

xpVO'^f^<>>^o-'''0'^'

KaXws

ax^ficras, apiaras
ixa/raioxis

yCyveadat irphs tos 6i}pas, koI

Koi
(laviciidets

avaydyovs 5e yiyvojxivas,

re

Kal SvffireidecrTdTas.

6.

The canes

Gallic! should resemble the Gallic raules of Claudian's epigram,

De Mulabus
Gailicis.
7.

Exuta; laqueis, sub ditione tamen.

TiroKaTaKXivovTai,

jut;

virh Seovs,

aWa <^i,\o(ppovov(ievai,
Cowering low

&c.

Paradise Lost. B. VIII. 351.

With blandishment.

The greyhound's
master or keeper
;

posture is peculiarly graceful,

when

fondly crouching before his

and may be well likened

to the Tairiiv6ry]s (Arr.

Exped. Alex.

L. Spelmau's
Translation of

IV. c. XI.) of the

8.

Persian, performing his salaam to the King of kings.

Ot irpoffKvvovvTis.
iv. c. xi.) it

From what

Callisthenes says to Alexander (Arrian. Exped.

Alexand. L.
the
first

appears that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian empire, was

adoration was paid on earth by his fellow-men
;

Xenophon's
Anabasis.

person to

whom

and

it

was

Note.

continued and enjoined to his successors, as a political homage.

pliments of the modern Greeks are called vpoffKvvrifiaTa.
the irpo(TKvvr]cns, loco citato; and

The ordinary com-

See Arrian's account of

viii. for the first

Xenophon, Cyropaedia, L.
KpoaiKvvei,

occasion

of

it,

irpdadiv 5e VlepcTwv ovSels

Kvpov

9.

The king

of Persia

was

called fieyas fiaatXevs,

according to Suidas, Sia t5

KXeiovi Swdfiet XP^<''^'

6v6ixaTa,
oiov

''"

nepcrjKT?" ro7s 5e

^AAois irpoffeTiBeffav kcu tSiv apxcfieyup

AaKESaijuociwi',

MaKtScJj'on'.

The

title

still

exists

in

" Le Grand

Seigneur."

ON COURSING.
plain, unless

91
^

he happen to be advanced in age,

for it

shows

Chap. VII.

sluggishness.

The most high-bred greyhounds have a prominent brow,

and look proud.
their toes
;

From

gait.

^^

Their tread

is

light,
^^

quick-stepping, on

and they walk sideways,

^^

extending their necks

like horses curvetting.

10.
cliiiin

OuSe rh taraddai Se iv

itiZitf

\v8e7(Tav aya06y.

Constant confinement with

from couples with
fire,

and

collar,

made

the youthful Celtic

hound
not
so,

start

when

taken into the

leged rest
is

field for

sport or exercise

however, the aged, whose privi-

beautifully touched

by our

classic poet of the chase,

:

and

readily yielded

by Arrian

as

no blemish

to his character

Now growTi
And many
Regardless of the
frolic

stiff

with age,

Somervilie.

a painful chase, the wise old hound,

^'

'

pack, attends

His master's side, &c.

11. 'EirtffKuwof

suj)ercilii

ruga, frontis ruga:

very prominent in our highland

breed

irai'

5e

eiri(TKvviov

Karu

eA/cerat ocrffe

KoKimrmv.

Iliad, p

130.

12. "AKpov.

So the Paris and Amsterdam

afiphv, a delicate tread,

editions,
;

quasi

eV &Kpuv
is

hvvxf^v,

Schneider reads
the same.

a light tread

hut the signification

nearly
:

Linnceus's definition corresponds with Arrian's as to the dog's gait

currit, incedit

" oblique

supra

digitos,"

fieTaPaKkova-i tox iT\evpas,

"

tranversis

incedunt lateribus."
13.
Aafiirpweacnv.
c.

Systenia Naturce. Canis.

"

De

equo

altius progrediente,"

Zeune.

See Xen. de

Re

Equestri,

x.

Kv^wwv opQolmv

7r'

ovaaiv au^eV aiipet.

AppoIIon,

Rhod.

Xenophon uses the term

Trpvvo)

yavpiaadai, perhaps, with the same meaning.

artificial

I take Kafi-

(magnifice

me

ostento) to signify the

posture in which the horse is

placed by a skilful rider, with the aid of rein, whip, spur, &c. as described by Xeno-

phon

in the chapter referred to.

To

this graceful attitude of the well-disciplined

war-horse,

we may suppose
:

our author to liken that of the Celtic hound in the

strictest propriety

Now

behold the steed curvet and bound,

with restless hoof the smoking ground.

Gay's
Rural Sports.

And paw

92

ARRIAN

Chap. VIII.

Some
The

greyliouncls

eat

voraciously, others with delicacy.

From

their

feeding.

mode of feeding indicates a dog of better blood than the former. Good dogs are not bad feeders, but fond of
latter

bread or gruel.

This

kind

of farinaceous food
is

is

most

strengthening to them, and there

no

fear of their gorging

themselves too
food quite dry
;

much with
*

it.

prefer,

however, their liking

and

yet,

if it

be moistened with water, and

they

still

relish

it, it is

no

evil.

1. is

The

watchful eye of the Veltrarius

is

required at the time of feeding: indeed

;

it

best for each

hound

to have his separate allotment of food

so difficult is

it

to

check the voracious, and encourage the delicate, when placed

at

the same trough.

Tpo4>^s Se riju Koivuvlav ^Kicrra tVSe'xorTot Kiifes' -n-oWaKis yovv Kol vwep ocrriov dW'^^lian, de JNatura Animal, ^g^j crwapdrTOVcriv uxrirepovv 6 MeveKeais koI 6 Udpis inrep TrjS 'EXeVrjs. L. VII. c. 19. , , 1- , , , X 2. Td KOffiiiov yevvaidTfpov tov aKoa^ov, 1 never knew a very gross-feeding dog to
.

,.

possess any excellence.

3. "ApTCf.

Demetrius devotes a few sections to the subject of feeding, recomto be gradually

flesh,

Cynosophium.
p. 270.

mending " milk

added
it

to bread (the dog's usual diet)

his only nutriment,

when

it is

wished to raise him in

ing.

until

becomes

morning and even-

From

this

he

is

to

be again weaned, by the gradual abstraction of the milk, In the former case, he
is

when we

desire to reduce him.

is to

not to have his liberty; in

the latter, he

be daily exercised.
fat
;

second kind of nutritious food consists of

oatmeal gruel with

and a

third, of

bean

flour, oil,

and
is

fat

bacon."

Wheaten

bread or biscuit, with gruel made from the farina of oats, hounds.

the best nutriment for all

" When you have a perfect and well-shapt greyhound, your next rule is to apply Markhani 's Lountrey Con- yourselfe to the dyetting and ordering of him, for the pleasure to which you keepe j f tentments. B. I. '^^^ bringing him to the uttermost height or strength of winde, you may know p. 49. See also ^^"^ the uttermost goodnesse that is within him, which disorderly and foule keeping will pp. 50. 51.
.

...

conceals, and you lose a jewell, for want of knowledge of the value.

Dyetting then

of greyhounds consisteth in four especiall things, viz.^foode, exercise, ayring, and

kennelling

the

first

nourishing the body, the second the limbes, the third the winde,

and the

last the spirits."

4. "Ajiuvov Se et /col ^-qpa

rp Tpo(p x*'/"""''

Hounds

readily support themselves

with dry oat or wheat meal.

Maza

is
:

variously interpreted

flour

mixed with

oil

and water, and

flour

beat up with milk

Savary Alb. Dianas

Leporicid. L. III. p. 31.

Hordea quotidiana

illis

sint pabula;

avenam

mediam addidens,

sic

spontc resolvitur alvus.

ON COURSING.

93

When

a dog

is

sick, administer the broth of fat

liver

meat

to

Chap. VIII.

him, or having roasted a bullock's

over some hot coals,

broth.
^

and rubbed
This
is

it

abroad, sprinkle

it

like flour into the

good
first

also for puppies to strengthen their limbs,

when

they are
for

weaned from milk.

till

But milk

is

the best food

the
;

support of puppies

the ninth month, and even

longer

and

is

serviceable to the sick and delicate, both as

drink and aliment.

Fasting too

is beneficial to

a sick dog.

''

There
but
it

is

nothing Uke a soft and

is

best for

them

to sleep

warm bed with men

for
:

greyhounds

Chap. ix.
;

as they become

t^^e^K^nd"

In panem coquit

ille,

cavo hie ia robore cald^

Digerit in pultem, lambendaque coena paratur.

Nee durum

sit

sajpe tibi,
illos

qu^ luee quietem

Artemidi debes,

reereare calenti

Jure, minutatim scissis e vilibus extis

Currentem, ilignisve bibant in vasibus undam.

5. Kanoiffri Se iiM^aWfiv

v5a>p,

&c.

Arrian says nothing on the treatment of

canine disease beyond this bint on diet.

6.

The Cynosophium

substitutes the lungs for the liver of a bullock, as nutriment

for puppies,

when deprived

of milk

et

yd\a

fii)

exets.
it

See Cynosoph. p. 271.

should be regulated by the

On

the feeding of puppies Nemesian observes, that

season of the year, atmospherie temperature, &c,

Interdumque eibo Cererem eum

iacte ministra,

Cynegeticua
^*

Fortibus ut suecis teneras eomplere medullas

Fossint, et validas jam tune promittere vires
:

1"1*

hut during the intense heat of

summer

the puppies are to be kept on lighter food,

and then again on meal and whey,

Tunc

rursus miscere sero Cerealia

dona

Ejusdera
''^'

Conveniet, fortemque dari de frugibus escara.

"2.

7. 'AyaOhv Se

/col

t]

aciTia Kanvovcrri.

Arrian probably wrote rp

aarLrla Kafivova-ri

" prodest etiam

lac

quando

cibi fastidio laborat canis."

The remedy suggested by

Cynosoph.
p. 267.

Demetrius of Constantinople

for anorexis,
;

" bad feeding," I should consider more

iav avoptKr^ kvuv, Kdvptav avOpuiriav 5j5ou
'

likely to increase, than cure the disease

94
CilAP. IX.

ARRIAN

thereby affectionately attached

Bedding.

pleased with the contact of the

^

human body, and

If

as fond of their bedfellow as of their feeder.

any

ailing affect the dog, the

man

will perceive

it,

and

will

relieve

him

in the night,
will also

nature.

He

when thirsty, or urged by any call of know how the dog has rested. For if

C^nosoph.
p. JX)A.

1.

short section of the Cynosophiuni is given to kennel

KOifxaffdai

management

icwas

fibril, iivdpdyiraiv

koXSv vpaus yap

e/c

tovtov yivovrai, Kol (piKapOpurrot, Koi

euKoAois KttKovvrai

a practical allurement
who was wont

of canine affection heretofore

ill

more com-

mon

than at present.

Modern refinement would

bear the intimate association

recommended by Arrian and Demetrius, and

his favourite

practised by

James V. of Scotland, with

Bagsche,

Sir

D. Lynd-

To

lap upon the king

claith of gold

is

bed.
it

say's Coraplaynt

With

thoch

were spred.

of Bagsche.

Indeed, we rarely see the high-bred and elegant Celtic hound within the vestibule of

modem

dwelling

though heretofore, in the hall of banquet,

Lay

of the Last

The stag-hounds, weary Lay

stretch'd

of the chase,
floor.

Minstrel.

upon the rushy

And

urged in dreams the forest race

to

From Teviot-stone

Eskdale-moor.

iMagstcr o(
anir.
fol.

Whether
nyght and
to

the

Duke

of York's "cliilde" lay

M;i</i

the hounds, I

know not
:

but

it

c.

xx.

seems that he did, though not with the intention specified by our author
hi

" alway

hi

71.

day I wil that some childe lye or be

in the

kenel with the houndes for

kepe hem from fyghteng," &c.

1

no where find the close cutaneous contact of

in the ancient Cynegetica
;

man and

dog, enjoined in the text,

recommended

but Xenophon advises an intimate acquain:

tance between the parties in the kennel at the hours of feeding, &c.
fed by the huntsman, they

if

the hounds be

become attached

to his

person, rhv SiSovra <n4pyovffiv,

Encyc. Method. &c. (c. vi.)

and so

if

the Veltrarii (" les valets de levriers, qui exercent les levriers,

Les chasses.
p.

et qui les lachent a

la

courre ") superintend the feeding their charge, the attachment

434.

thereby produced

will

render actual cohabitation unnecessary.

Natalis

Comes

Quod

superest, celeris catuli cui credita cura,

de Venatione.

Nutriat illecebris hunc, et sibi jungat amore.

Sic facile et noto

L.I.

domino parere jubenti

Disceret, acceptisque sequi vestigia signis.

ON COURSING.
he has passed a sleepless night,
sleep,
3 "

95
Chap. IX.

or groaned frequently in his

it

or thrown

up any of

his food, *

will not

be safe to

take him out coursing.

will

All these things the dog's bedfellow

be acquainted with.
for

Nothing can be worse than

other
;

dogs to sleep with each

and more
For as
all

especially so, if they touch one another in

bed.

cutaneous irritation

is

removed by a man

sleeping with them, so,

rate

when they

sleep together, they gene-

every sort of foulness of skin by

warmth and
^

close

contact, and are generally full of

mange.

To which cause

2. Ei

yap aypvwfi(Tiev, l^dyeiv evl

dripav

ovk aff<pa\4s.
for the

We

find in the

Hieraco-

sophiuni, undisturbed sleep is

deemed necessary

hawk

the night preceding

flight,

arapaxov vwvov

/x.T6XTW.

3. 'EirjCToleie

the common reading

his

being probably corrupt, I have received the

emendation of Zeune in
4. OuS'

Index

Graecitatis, iiriffrevd^eie.

t Ti airefj.i(Teie
;

tuu

airioou.

Such rejection of food by vomiting

the chase.

is

an indi-

cation of indigestion

and the

latter, of course, of unfitness for

Xenophou
bad feeding
5.
is

forbids

hounds

to

be taken out hunting unless they feed heartily

for

an indication of bad health.

De

Venat.

c. vi. 2.

^wpas

iiiiriirXaffdai.

Mange

is

a chronic inflammation of the skin, consti-

tutional in

some dogs,

in others infectious,

and in a few cases I have known

it

hereditary.

Ancient sportsmen had great dread of mange

in their kennels.

Gratius, the only

one who has entered much into canine pathology amongst the cynegetical writers,

recommends

that the

first

dog affected with mange should he destroyed, to prevent

others from catching so loathsome a disease

radical cure

At

si defornii

lacerum dulcedine corpus

Gratii Cyneg.
' '**'^'

Persequitur scabies, longi via pessima lethi,

In primo accessu

triscis

medicina

sed una

Pemicies rediraenda anima, quas prima sequaci

Sparsa malo est, ne dira trahant contagia vulgi.

If,

however, the disease be of a mild type and slow in

its

progress,

it is

curable, he

says, with an ointment wliich he prescribes, but which I do not introduce here, as

the cutaneous detergents of the scientific Delabere Blaine will be found by the reader
far

more

efficacious.

"Venesection and purgation, as

:

recommended by Savary,

are

most important

auxiliaries to inunction

96
Chap. IX.

ARRIAN
referred the very offensive

must be

and pungent stench on

are confined together.

entering a kennel where

Chap. X.
ing

many hounds
is

Rubbing the whole body

i^Qyj^^i
.

of great service to the grey-

own.
I
j^jj

jggg

^i^g^jj

^Q

^|-^g

horse.

For

it

is

conducive to
his hair soft,

the firmness and strength of his limbs

renders

and skin shining,

and cleanses

it

from

all foulness.

Album Dianas
Leporicidse.

Altera latrantum pestis, commercia quee per

L. VI. p. 79.

Vicina insinuans sese, diffunditur agmen

In totum, tenerosque brevi depascitur artus,

Deforrais scabies, hoc potu ventre soluto,

Victa fugit,

si

vena die

sit

aperta sequenti

Atque malum

bini post intervalla diei,

Toto, quod docuit FuUoxius, unguine cures.

ffiame.

ilHagstcr of c xix.
fol.

De

Langley's instructions to the kennel-man are excellent

"

I wyll

hym

lerue

70.

that onys in the day he voyde the kenel

and make

it al

clene,

and remeve her strawe,

;

and putt agayn

it

ffressh

new

straw, a greet dele and ryght thikke

and ther as he

ieith

the houudes shall lye,

and the place there as

thei shuld lye shuld be

made of tree

a foot hie fro the erthe, and than the strawe should be leide upon, bi cause that the

moystnesse of the erthe shuld not make

bi the
c. xiiT. fol. 56.

hem

niorfound, ne engender other siknesse

which thei myght be the wors

to

for

huntyng," &c.

And
ellis

before,

he says
on

" The skabbe cometh

huntyng, or
ellis

hem whan

thei abiden in her kenel to longe and gon not

is

her

litter

and couche
;

unclene kept, or
is

the strawe is not

remevid and hur water not fressh

and shortly the hound

unclene, I hold, and evel

kept or long waterles, havyn comoniy this maraewe."

1.

The

courser will not

fail

to observe Arrian's intimate

knowledge and experience

this chapter

of his subject.

The minute

instructions

communicated in

on rubbing

and dressing the Celtic bound, "

in cute curand^," prove the great care paid

;

by

ancient coursers to the condition of the skin in running animals

without which,

indeed, no greyhound can compete with an upland champaign hare.

2.

The

effect of friction with the

hand, or hair-cloth, or flesh-brush,

:

is

farther

illustrated

by Nemesian, on grooming the horse

Cyneget. V. 294.

Pulvere quinetiam puras secernere fruges

Cura

sit,

atque toros manibus percurrere equorum,

Gaudeat ut plausu sonipes, laetumque relaxet

Corpus, et altores rapiat per viscera succos.

Id curent famuli, comitumque aniraosa juventus.

3. Ti)v Tpfx jua^Oaf^" ipyd^fTai,

&c.

This

is

partially effected in

modern days

ON
The back and
placing your pressed
left

(;Ol)USIN(J

97
Chap. X.

loins

you

sliould
;

rub with your right hand,

lest

under the belly

the dog, being forcibly

down upon
to the

his knees, should suffer injury.

The

sides

should be rubbed with both hands at once, and the haunches

quite

domi

feet,

and the shoulders in the same way.

have had enough of
it;
it,

Wlien the dog seems

his tail,

to

lay hold of
it

and

lift

him up by
let

and then having drawn

through your hand,

him

go.

As soon

as he
is

is

at liberty,

he

will

shake himself, and show that he

pleased with the

operation.

It is

a point of equal importance with any other, that greythe day

;

Chap. XI.
KeHnellmg.

hounds be confined during

otherwise they will

by body-clothes.
is

The clothing of greyhounds,

as at present practised by coursers,

;

of more remote antiquity than the days of Michael Angelo Biondi

having

its

pro-

bable origin in the aTihfioviai. of Xenophon,

who

describes, in the 6th chapter of his

Cynegeticus,
Sepaia, soft
tfidvTes,

all

the accoutrements of his hunting pack.

to rub off the dog's hair
;

These consisted of

collars,

and broad, so as not

leading-thongs or straps,
;

independent of the

collar,

with a handle attached to them

and sur-cingles

or body-clothes, areXixoviai, with straps sufficiently broad not to gall the bellies of the animals.
latter,

Such was the Athenian's kvvwv

for the protection of the

k6(Thos

and

it

is

probable that the

though used

hound from injury during the chase, and

have been the type of the modern

not merely, as at present, against cold,

application.

may

The
.

Bocii

Kvves were certainly clothed in parti-coloured habiliments in the age of

:

H.

in Dian.
'^'

Blondus, and their feet were also protected with shoes

^

" Canibus venaticis dorsum

1

l^^*

integunt pannis diversorum colorum, adversus irigons mjuriam, praecipue leporams

et pedibus adhibent calceamenta,
states that the

...

J.

..
;

De

Canibus et Venatione
Libellus.

quo

facilius illaesi

cursum exerceant."

Beckman

dogs of Kamschatka are furnished with shoes, so ingeniously made,

that their claws project through small apertures

a plausible contrivance for heavy

on the coursing plain
dogs
but

Hist, of Inventions.

dogs of draught

but

how

a greyhound

is

to exhibit his speed

with such incumbrances, I

1. Arrian

know

not.
for full-grown
;

recommends confinement
is

we must

not suppose

that the

same treatment

suited to puppies.

They, on the contrary, should have

their entire liberty, as

Nemesian remarks

Sed neque conclusos teneas, neque vincula

Iropatiens circuradederis, noceasque futuris

collo

Cyneget.
'

^^^*

Cursibus imprudens.

98
Chap. XT.

ARRIAN

unavoidably become intractable, and, whenever fastened with

collar, will

be impatient under the restraint, and whine, and

This freedom from restraint

is

to

be continued until they are eight months old, when

they should be put into couples, and habituated to confinement

Cyneget.
V. 184.

Libera tunc primum consuescant colla

ligari,

Concordes et

ferre giadus, ciausique teneri.

The whole

of this department of kennel discipline

is

elegantly explained by the

classic poet of

Barga

Petr. Angel. Bargcei

Ergo age duro

Assuescant victu catuli, imperioque
raagistri

Cyneget. L.

v.

Unius addiscant parere, atque unius omnes

Nutus observare,

et jussa facessere Iseti,

Collaque prseduris uitro prasbere capistris.

Cum primum teneros

Et
se

artus duraverit tetas,

jam sua

per vestigia volverit annus.

Ante

autera cave imprudens concluseris

usquam

Aut

loris

vinctum, aut angusti pariete septi.

urent tenerurn circumdata vincula collum,

Namque

Impatiensque morse sese conatibus anget

Ostiaque arrodens denteis obtundet, et ungues.

Blondus de Canibus &c.

Libellus.

"

Dum

non venatur,

loris in stabulo
:

vinciendus est

et siccis potiiis eduliis alendus

quam
tius

pinguibus jusculentis

hiec

enim graviorem reddunt.

Educendus taraen non-

nunquara est e stabulo vinctus, in vicos tantum, ut excrementis se exoneret promp;

mox

iteruni coercendus

usque ad tempus venationis."

greyhounds," says Gervase Markham, "
all diligence
;

"

Now

for the kennelling of

it is

a right

necessary action and must ba performed with

lust, spirit,

for

it

breeds in the dog

and nimbleness, prevents divers mischances, and keeps the powers from
time of necessity
:

spending
to

till

and therefore you

shall

by no means

suffer

your dog

be out of the kennel, but in the hours of feeding, walking, coursing, or when you
to

have other necessary business

do about him."

But Arrian means more than mere

confinement within the walls of a kennel by the term SeSeVOat.

The greyhounds
such, I

are to be actually fastened with a collar and strap or chain; and

is

am

informed,

the customary restraint of the boar-hound of continental

Europe.

The dogs

are chained along the walls of their kennel equidistant from

each other, a row on each side of the sleeping-room.

celebrated

modern courser adheres very

strictly to the

system of restraint

alterit

nated with exercise, as recommended in this chapter, and appears to have found
conducive to his success at public meetings.

Vide Sport. Mag. Vol. 71.

p. 256.

ON COURSING.
gnaw

99
Chap. XI.

the straps, go as even to require chains hke malefactors.

is
; -

Besides, a hound that that falls in his

at liberty

must needs

eat every thing

way

and, from running about during the

day-time, lose the acme of his speed.

at rest, they should
out.
still

But, though generally

for

have their appointed times

walking

Four times a day, at

a level and open
field,

least,

take your dogs out of kennel to

to

Chap. Xll.
Exercising.

and there loose them from couples, and run about.

^

empty themselves,

gallop,

But

if

they have

Hounds accustomed
with great
fire

to

such privation of liberty, are said to start from the

:

slips

and speed

Ita demiiin libera colla.

Fracastorii

Cum

res ipsa, ususque vocat, niajore feruntur

Alcon.

Impete.

According to the old proverb, cited by Rittershusius

in his

Commentary on Oppian,

p. 41.

DiflScile est

canem vetulum assuescere

loro.

2. 'EaOiiiv Se avdyati \e\vixev7]v kvvo. irav

tJ> futrecrSv.

iraVTT) Se TrActJofTOi,

(Jtttj

yews, evda

/ceAeuet

Oppian.
Halieut.
V.
i.

yaar^p, Kal Xodiiapyos epws aKSpryros iSwSrjs.

250.

1.

Compare Xenophon de Venations

c. iv. 9.

on exercising hounds.
/%1aj)Strr Of
*fSaiUf.
c.^

" The child shuld lede the houndes

and
in the

to

scombre twies in the day, in the raornyng

in

evenyng, so that the sonne be up, specially

play longe in a faire

wynter.

Than shuld he

lat

xxi.

hem renne and

hounde

medew

in the sonne, Jind

than kerahe every

;

after other,

and wipe

hem

with a grette wispe of straw

and thus

slial

he

do every momyng."
These simple instructions of Duke

Edmund

are
is

ampUfied by old Gervase

" Touching ayring

ofwinde,
it

or walking of

greyhounds, which

a great nourisher and increaser

sun-rise,

must be dewly done every morning before

;

and every evening

tent.

Countrey ConB. i. p. 52.

before or after sunne-set in this manner

as soone as

you have opened your kennel

shall let

and rub'd your dogge over with a cleane haire cloath, you

him play a

little

about you before the kennel dore, then take him up into your leashe, and walke him
forth into the fields,

where

for

the most parte are no sliecpe or other smal cattell,

let

which they

may

out of wantonness indaunger, and there

him

loose,

and give him

100
Chap. XII.

ARRIAN
it

quife ccased coursing, let

be done more frequently.

so that

Slip

them

in pairs, a brace at a time,

by contending and

playing with each other, they

may

enjoy their pleasure, and

let

take their exercise together.

But on no account

many
falling

loose at once, as they sometimes do great mischief

by

on each other.
a puppy
;

Never

slip

a strong and full-grown dog with

is

for the old

dog

an overpowering and distressing

antagonist for the youngster, easily overtaking

and as readily
behind
;

him in pursuit, away from him, and leaving him whereby the pup must of course be cowed and disrunning

spirited,

having in either case the worst of the contest.

And

farther,

such as are spiteful towards each other, never give

these their liberty at one and the

same time,

lest

they injure

one another.

For there are dogs, as well as men, with

with mutual attach-

mutual antipathies, and others again

ments.
3

Those of the same sex are particularly inimical to

;

each other, dogs to dogs, and bitches to bitches

and

this

leave to play and scope about you, so that he

may skummer and emptie

this

his

body

which when

lie

hath done sufEciently, you shall then take him up in your leash

againe, and so walk

him home and kennell him

;

you

shall

doe after the same

lustie, at
let

manner

in the evening

and

also if

your dogge bee stronge and

night after

sapper, and then bringing him home, bring

him

to the fire,

and there

him

stretch

and beake themselves, and with your hand grope and cleanse them from
other
filth,

ticks

and

which done leade thera to the kennell, and shut them up

for all night."

2. 'EiJ.iriirTov<Tai

yap

a,\\-fi\ais

tuTLV

tfre

jxeydKa KaKo. ipyd^ovrat.

Apollon.Rliod. L. III. 1372.

dool Kives afKpieopSmes

'AWiiKovs fipvxri^hv

iSri'iop.

Somerville's

For

oft in sport

Chace. B.

i.

Begun, combat ensues

growling they snarl.

rear'd,

Then on
Each

their

haunches
;

rampant they seize

in

other's throats

with teeth and claws

tear,
till

gore

Besmear'd, they wound, they

on the ground
lies,

Panting, half dead the conquer'd champion

&c.

3. Blancard's reading of <piKat

is

adopted instead of that of the

first

edition of

Paris, &(pi\at.

ON COUUSlN(;
generally from spiteful jealousy.

101
Chat. xil.

These matters are not to be

made

light of.

In the winter season feed your dogs only once a day,

little

Chap. XIH.
in winter

before evening
to be so
till

for the

days are short, and the greyif

hounds are
for coursing

managed, that

you need

their services

Feeding and summer.

a late hour, they

may be
it is

able to bear the

necessary fasting.
little

But
"

in

summer

right to give

them a

bread in addition,

that they

may
To

not be exhausted by

the length of the day

less detriment

and

if thirsty,

they will drink with

thrust

after

having eaten.
is

down a
'

dog's

throat a piece of salted suet

also found beneficial.

But

if

1.

Arrian has already spoken on

c. viii.

tlie

subject of feeding, as an indication of good

blood, in

" Adulti
Iioris,

siccis

vescanlur edulibus

pane videlicet et osbibus, et hoc

fiat

digestis

Blondi
Libellus, &c.

ut concoctio peragatur, et potius famescaut paululum, quara non exactis hods

pascantur."
It is occasionally necessary to administer food twice a

day

to delicate

hounds

but

the more usual practice accords with the text.

Gervase Markham, however, recomCountrey ConB. i. p. 51.

mends

the courser to feed twice a day on his prescribed diet-bread, " to wit, halfe an

houre after sunne-rise, and halfe an houre before sun-set, when he comes from walking or ayring his dogge, and

tent.

and purenesse of winde."

" Upon
:

it will

bring hiro to exceeding great strength of body

his

coursing days you must by no means give him

oil,"

p. 52.

any meat more than a white bread toast and butter, or a toast and
Tardif, a French writer cited

&c.
Tardivus de Venatione.

of a second meal in

summer

by Conrad Gesner, agrees with Arrian on the utility " Canis eestate frequentius quam hyeme cibandus est,
Infringatur ei panis in aquam.
Si

ut aestivis diebus longis et calidis durare possit.

tamen

saepius

quam

par est cihetur, ventriculus ei subvertitur, lac aut panis lacte

madidus optime aiunt."

2.

&fpovs 5e ayadhv Koi &pTou 6\lyov Sovvai (/^(payelv

as

a morning meal, a

breakfast.
3. 'Xreap Tapixfv6fievov
c. V. 3. to

salted suet
irifieXr),

or fat.

"Xriap appears from Pollux, L.

ii.

be the same as

white adipose substance adherent to the

mem-

branes of the abdomen and viscera of

men and animals

but

if

Hesychius be correct
Seiirvois'

in his explanation of airoixaySaXia as (rreap eV

ris x^'P^^ airfjidrTOVJO 4v to7s

it

$a\6vTis Se Tors Kvalv avaXvovres anb rwv

Sfiirvwv,
fat,

must have possessed sapo-

naceous qualities of detergency

for if

it

were pure
?

with Bocliart we might well ask

Hierozoicon L. II. c. LV.

" unde

abstergantur, qui inde absterguntur

"

For the distinctive difference between

102
Chap. XIII.

ARRIAN
I

the Weather be very hot,

would have you take an egg

it

in

your hand, open your dog's mouth, and push

down, that he

may

swallow

it

at one gulp.

This will be nourishment enough

for him, will cherish his wind,

and quench his

thirst. *

Chap. XIV.
Seasons of Coursing.

You may go

out coursing frequently in spring and autumn,

these seasons being attended with the least risk to your dogs

ffj/ieX^

and ariap, see Aristot. Hist. Animal. L. in.

c.

xvii.

The

properties of each

are evidently distinct.

Columel. de

4.

" Sa;pe

etiara

languor et nausea discutitur,

si

integrum

gallinaceum
si

ovum
sic

K.

li. VI. 4. 2.

jejunis faucibus inferas," &c.

So also Tardif, as cited by Gesner, "

canis inter
:

His oria venandum nimi^ siti laboret, duo aut tria ova confracta in gulam ei imraittes Quadruped. &c. enim sitim extingues, et a periculo hecticae vel marasmi canem liberabis.
1.

Ancient sportsmen were accustomed to follow their

till

field sports
i.

through the
i.

whole year; and often prolonged the chase

midnight.

Hor. L.

Od.

Oppian.Cyneg.
I.

iroTi 8' effirepiov, iroTe S'

avre Kol

op(t>VTi

112.

6rjpas vv' aKTivecrffi ae\rtva'n)S iSdfxaaaav.

But the more humane of modern days have abridged

this perpetuity of warfare with

the animals of the field and forest by legislative enactment.

Nemesian alone, of

all

the cynegetical writers of Greece and

Rome,

enjoins us to

commence coursing

at the period usually

adopted

Cyneget. V.321.

Hiemis sub tempus aquosee

Incipe veloces catulos imraittere pratis, Incipe cornipedes latos agitare per agros.

Dame
on
till

Juliana, seemingly careless of the

" her-hounde's " impatience of heat, held

Midsummer;
At myghelmas begynneth huntynge

Book of
St. Albans.

of the haare

And
Natalis

lastyth tyll

mydsomer

there wyll no

man

it

spare.

Comes

allows us to sport during the whole spring, preferring that season for

the reasons stated in the text

De

Venat.
L.
I.

Nam

neque tunc horrent torpentia

frigora brumae.

Nee uimio

uruntur florentia prata calore.

ON COURSING.
but rarely in summer,
oppressive.

103
3

lying by, generally,

when

the heat

is

Chap. XIV.

For greyhounds are impatient of heat, and

all

often,

when pursuing a hare with

cated

their might,
*

have been suftb-

from a stoppage of their wind.

To guard

against

which, a courser should carry eggs with him, and administer

them

entire, if his
is

hound's breathing be exceedingly distressed.

refrigerative,
It

For there
difficulty

no better

nothing that appeases

is

of breathing so much.

not unattended with

danger

for

a dog, under these circumstances of distress, to

drink immoderately.

For the reasons given, then, be cautious of coursing in hot

weather.

Never go out

in winter

when
is

the cold

is

severe,

and, on no account,

when

the ground

frozen hard.

For dogs

but the prudent and

of February.

humane

courser will not slip his greyhound later than the month

2. Qfpovs Si oKiyaKts.

It is not

customary with British sportsmen to course in

summer.
if 86 6fpei,
<l>vy4uv (pXoySeffaav iviirijv

xpe''"'

Oppian. Cyneg.
'

&^av T

f/6Afou.

^^^'

3.

The

Paris and

Amsterdam
(xp<5'oi')

editions read Siairviyourai, for which

Schneider

substitutes 5ia\elirovTa
lation.

an emendation

which I have adopted in the trans-

4. 'AireiTvlyricrav virh tov &(x9iJ.aTos.

Such accidents usually happen from running

greyhounds when out of wind, and condition.

respiratory systems are always in fault

The

state of the

muscular and

r<j) fii]

maXfoi

0^pr}s iirl fxwXov totev

Oppian. Cyneg.
'

/UTjSe

T \iTrTa\4oi.

8^'

But the

safest plan is to leave the

greyhounds in a cool and shady kennel during the

intense heat of a
airing, the belter.

midsummer day

if

exercised at

all,

the earlier they have their

I.YC.

Ad

fluvium due, Daphni, canes, (vocat aestus in umbram,)

catulos virides sine lascivire per herbas.

Petr. Lotich.

Nee

Eja agedura, requiesce Lacon, requiesce Lycarba,

Fervidus Hespehas

Secund. Eel. Viburnus

ii.

dum

sol declinet in

undas.

104
Chap. XIV.

ARRIAN
themselves in
frost, ^
if

bruise

lose

their

nails, ^ lacerate the

soles of their feet,

and

very high-couraged, break even the

bones of

their toes

against the frozen ground from running

with excessive eagerness.

Whereas the hare

and
trips

is

light,

with

woolly
frost.

and

soft

feet,

"^

along without injury in

5. 'AiroKualovrai,

(radendo vulnerare anoKvaifiv,)

a preferable reading to the conc. viii. 2.

jectural one of Schneider, airoKaiovrai

founded

on Xenoph, de Venat.

passage scarce applicable to the Celtic hound.

coursing his greyhounds during severe frost.

No

wise Veltrarius would think of

Savary

Cum
Ne

fluidos gelida

sisti

torpedine rivos

Album

Dianae,
III.

Videris, extantesque pedi non cedere glebas,

&c. L.

p. 33.

campis immitte canes

;

nam

nulla laborura

Prsemia
Saepe

et avulsos vanis conatibus

ungues

diii,

melior para turmas clauda, dolebit.

G.

Against this havock from

frost,

Natalia

Comes

suggests a guard in the use of

shoes, so formed according to Ruscellius (Schol. in Nat.

nails pass through
tlie

Com. L.

i.)

as to let the

calceamenta coriacea

De

Venat. L.I.

Ast ubi jam Boreas invadit

frigidus arva,
sistit,

Et

glacialis

hyems

currentia flumina

Arcendae a plantis concretae frigore crusts,

Atque armandus

erit pes,

ne mala frigora laedant,

Et But should
this

tellus concreta gelu, spinicque rigentes.

guard be insufficient, or inapplicable, and the loss of a nai! ensue, the

poetical physician of

Verona supplies a simple

restorative

Fracastorii

Quid

taceam nimio cum decidit ungula cursu

Alcon.

Frangere namque juvat pallentis grana cumini

Dentibus, admotaque pedeni lenire saliv^
:

Incipientque novi subcrescere protlnus ungues."

The Cynosophium of Demetrius

remedy
;

gives its earlier sanction to the efficacy of this

spirit of

and yet

it is

probable that any of the gum-resins dissolved in

wine

will be found

more

curative.

7. Aaffus ex^i rovs ir6Sas Kal fut\6aKo{)S.

So Oppian,

Martini

ovS*

WTOis

SfiXois XaffioKvrjfuncri \ayuois,

Lexicon
Philologicum.

Lepus Saffiwovs vocatur, quod hirsutos habeat pedes.

ON COURSING.

lorj

Whoever
tlieiu

courses with
llie
Ir.irc,

o-reyhomuls

'

sliould

neither slip
;

Chap. XV'.*
flipping law.

near

nor more thnn a l)race at a lime

for

tliougli the hare

be remarkably swift-footed, and have often

beaten

many

dogs, yet being just started from her form, she

terrified at the hallooing,
:

cannot but be fluttered at heart, and

and the hounds pressing close upon her

and

in this

way,

many
effort,

noble hare

has

often

ignobly perished without an

showing no diversion worth mentioning.

if

Let the hare, therefore, creep away from her form as

unperceived, and recover her presence of mind.

And

then, if

she be a racer,

"'

she will prick up her ears, and bound

away

* In the first and second editions of the Cynegeticus, a chapter

is

here introduced

On

the

Manner and Time

of Coursing

among

the Celts

but which

is

more

correctly
I liave
it

placed by Schneider after the nineteenth chapter.

omitted
it

Following his example,

here, and shall introduce

it

into that part of the treatise to

which

natu-

rally belongs.
1. "Ocrrts

Kvyas a7a0as ex*'

wKsias.

whoever has good hounds: greyhounds; elsewhere

Vide Stepliaui
Schediasm.
L.
V. c.

called
2.

Kwas

XVI.

The laws

of the leash in England, subscribed

:

by Thomas Duke of Norfolk,

in

the reign of Elizabeth, speak to these points

" That not above one brace of greyh.ounds do course a hare at one instant.

"

Tliat the fewterer shall give the hare twelve score law, ere he
it

loose the grey-

hounds, except

he

in

danger of losing sight."

little

Turberville, however, gives a

more licence as

to

number
at

of dogs

"

If the

The Booke

greyhounds be but yong or slowe, you may course with a lease

is seldorae

one hare, but that

of Venerie, &c.

seene, and a brase of dogges

slip

is

ynow

for such a

poore beast."

No

fair Iliad. V.

courser

would

more than a brace

of tried and swift dogs (Sua) Kvve, eiSore Q^p-qs)

after a hare.

L. xx. 360.

As

to the distance at

which the hounds are to be slipped

is

to the hare,

which

in the

ancient English Cynegetica

called law, "

it

should be," says Turberville, " xii

score yardes or more, according to the ground

and country where she sitteth."

So

Ben Jonson,

in the

Sad Shepherd,
give her law

But you must

and you

shall see her

Act

II. sc. 8.

Make

twenty leaps and doubles, &c.

3. ApO/UiK^j a racer.
Tr({p5a), 5pOHiK6i 'ipfxtl, Spo/ii/tJs
:

'O dwdixefos ra

ffKf\r) piirTelv

Trciis,

Kol ftuelf raxv, xal

Aristot.
"'^

a definition equally applicable to

man and

beast.

See the

final

note

Knetoric;'.
1^.
I.

c. V.

to this chapter.

106
Chap. XV.

ARRIAN
;

from her seat with long strides

capered about as
if

and the greyhounds, having

^

they were dancing,

will stretch out at full

speed after her.

And

at this time is the spectacle

worthy

indeed of the pains that must necessarily be bestowed on these

doe's. 5

4. Aia^pi^avTes

to. /usAtj

having tossed about

^lian

their limbs

capered about.
liare
is

Arrian

means
Onomast. L. c. X.61.
L. XIII.
c.

to

express the anxiety and joy of the gi-eyhound wlieu the

the

just on the

v,

start.

With

same

signification

Xenophon uses

Siap^ifxfia, the

rh

irri5r)na

tov aijxa-

Hist. Aniiiial.
14.

Tos &c. of Pollux.

yris, Kal TTTjSa
:

2/cipTa jovv, says

calls

of the hare's start,

irriSriTiKhv

to

TrpaJra airh Ttjs

and Pollux

her aXTiKhu koI

is

rb fajoc.

5.

The
:

rush of the greyhound from slips

splendidly described in the Ovidian

Lffilaps

Metamorph.
L.
vii.

jamdudum
Exuere ipse
sibi,

viiicula

pugnat

vs. 772.

colloque morantia tendit.

erat
;

Vix bene missus

Scire
;

nee jam poteramus, ubi esset,

pedum

calidus vestigia pulvis habebat

Ipse oculis ereptus erat.

Non

ocyor

illo

Hasta, nee excussae contorto verbere glandes,

IVec Gortyniaco calamus levis exit ab arcu.

Many
saic

of the coursing terms

employed

in the present, the 19th, and 20lh chapters,

illustrated

on the Celtic mode of following the sport, are

by Michael Drayton's pro-

muse

Polyolbion.

In the proper terms the

Muse doth

thus report

Song xxiii.

The man whose vacant mind prepares him to the sport, The finder sendeth out, to seek out nimble Wat, Which crosseth in the field, each furlong, every flat.
Till

he

this pretty beast

upon the form hath found

which
is

Then viewing

for the course,

the fairest ground,

The greyhounds

forth are brought, for coursing then in case,

And
The

choicely in the slip, one leading forth a brace

finder puts her up, and gives her courser's law.

And

whilst the eager dogs

upon the

start

do draw,

She riseth from her

seat, as

though on earth she flew.

to give the

Forced by some yelping cute

greyhounds view.
out they go,
;

Which
As

are at length let slip,

when gunning

in respect of

them the

swiftest

wind were slow

When

each

man runs
first

his horse,

with fixed eyes, and notes

first

Which dog

turns the hare, which

the other coats

ON COLKSINO.

107

Tliose are

tlie

strongest hares which have

^
;

their forms

in

Chap. XVI.
Hares.

open and exposed places

for,

IVoni

boldness, they do not

Tliey wrench her once or twice, ere she a turn will take,

What's

offer'd

by

tlie first,

the other good doth

make

And

turn for turn again with equal speed they ply,

:

Bestirring their swift feet with strange agility

harden'd ridge or way, wlien

as sliot from a
strive to

if

the hare do win. the dogs doth spin,

Then
That

bow she from

off,

put her

but when he cannot reach her,

This giving him

a coat,

about again doth fetch her

tlie

To him

that

comes behind, which seems

casts

hare to bear
ariear
:

But with a nimble turn she

Till oft for

them both

want of breath

to fall to

ground they make her,

The greyhounds both

so spent that they

want breath

to take her.

For the indications of speed, and strength of course, in the hare, see L'Ecole de
Chasse,
says
zit
c. iv.

la

" Lievre vigoureux, bon a chasser," &c.

w'. right

" The hare

ferd and
is

that renneth,"

Ue Langley, "

stondyng eeres

is

but

litel a

strong

and

iWagstrr of
(Same.
fol.

whan she

iioldeth that

oone eere upryght stondyng and that other y leyde lowe

litel

c. III.

upon her ryge, she

fereth but

the houndes.

An

19.

hare that crompes hure tayle

it is

upon hure rumpe whan she

sterleth out of here forme, as a conyng,

token she

is

stronge and wele rennyng."

1.

Xenophon

enters

most

fully into the description of the hare,

her habits, haunts,

&c.

iroSwKecrTaToi fiev ai/v ^lalv ol opeioi, oi ireSivol 5e t/ttoj', PpaSuTaroi 5e ol f\eioi.

De

Venat.

And
hares

so also ^lian, with

some difference

as to the speed of the mountain and plain

ol rois ireSiois ivoiKovyres, el
fxii

Aayca 8e

opeioi

ovk ovtoos rax^^s ixTirepovv

viroKelixepov,

Trore

De

Natura.
c.

&pa KaKUfoi

TceSlou exoiev v. c. xii.

iv

cp

KariovTes SiaOeovai,

See also Polluc.

of Xenophon's

Animal.
L. XIII.
I4>

Onomast. L.
description
is

and Varr. de

11.

R.

L. in.

c. xii.

Much

versified

by Oppian

nrwKas aeiSwuev,
(TWfjLa

6ripr\s iplSaipov

unupriv
L.
k. t. K.

Cyneget.
III. vs.

ireAet rirrGhv, \d(nov' Bo\iX'iTaTov oZas'

Ktiprj,

504.

0aihv virepdf

$aiol

Tr({Ses,

ovk

taa.

Kw\a,

" Of hares soom goon

beestis.

faster

and ben stronger than other, as of men and of other

/Waystrr of

And

also the pasture and the contre

wher

thei abiden helpeth

moche

there-

amp.
fol.

c. HI. 20.

to

ffor

whan an hare abideth and formeth

in a playn contre ther as

no busshes be,
thei pasture of

suche hares ben comoniy strengest and wel rennyng.

too herbes, that oon
is

And

also

whan

clepyd sorpol and that other pulegium, thei be stronge and fast

rennyng."

108
Chap. XVI.
coiiceal themselves,

AKR1A

but seem to

me

to

challenge the dogs.

When
away

coursed, they do not fly to the woods or groves,

how-

ever near, for

to the

immediate liberation from danger, but stretch

;

open country

and during the contest,

they
;

if

they are

pursued by slow hounds,

moderate their own speed

if their

according as they are pressed

but

pursuers are

fast,

they run with

all their

might.

Often

when they have turned

if

aside

to

the

champaign

dog following so close as to country, overshadow them, they throw him otf by frequent ricks and
they perceive a
fleet

turns,

and again make

;

for the

woods, or wherever they know

of a place of refuge

and

this

should be deemed a proof that

the dog has beaten the hare.

For coursers, such at

least as

are true sportsmen, do not take their dogs out for the sake of

catching a hare, but for the contest and sport of coursing

*
;

This superioiily of the upland over the lowland hare continues, according to Paullini, after

death.
is

The

flavour of its flesh on the table is as superior in the former to

what
C. F. Paullini
f^agograpb. Curios. S. IV.

it

in the latter,

as the prowess of the one during

life

surpassed that of

the other

" Lumbi et clunes,

seu coxse," says the credulous epicure of Eisenach,

"

gratissiraura prajbent

alimentum et pulmentum, imprimis niarium, qui femellis in

pra;sertini
si

cibatu merito pra;feruntur,

montium

fuerint incolse

planorumque loco-

rum, serpyllo, pulegio,

degunt,
Quadripartit.

et sircilibus herbis vescentes.

Qui

enira in palustribus locis

vilioris condilionis

sunt carnis et succi di'terioris."

The cause

of the infe-

riority of the latter is furnished

by Simon Paulli, " quia illorum intercus et excre-

Botanicum.

mentitia humiditas, quae carnem reddit

est, uti

manu conturaacem, non

open country,

atteuuata et consumpta

horum, qui fugati sunt."

if

2. Turherville observes a hare will take to the

the horsemen stand

of Veiierie p. 248,

Book

on the covert-side, " then peradventure when shee ryseth, shee will take towards the

champayne

" but I have often seen a hare voluntarily

start directly

away from the

covert, witiiout any such obstacle existing to her nearer escape. iElian. de Natur. Animal
Jj.

3. Oi)

juV avaXiiTKei
rj

ttjv

eaurov Svpafiiv aTafinvTus, TTjpe? Se rod StwKovTos r^P

iro.vv avriKe
/x?)i'

op/iiiv

Kal iav fiiv

fjikv

voidris,

ov

rh kavTov Tctxis" aWa. Kai ti koI avicrret\ev,

XIII. c. 14.

ws TTOOiKQuv

Tov Kvvhs, OV
&>p,

aTTayopivcTai virh rod avvrSvov rov dp6nov avrSs.

/tir;

Ol5e yap ayalvwy

6 Kvwv

koI dpa els rh

virepirovuaQai. ol rhv Kaiphv ovtu.

77

'Eav 8e Kal

^ &Ki<nos,

Tt\viKavTa & \ayi)S (peperai dewv

a.\iava.i

koScov eKet, k. t. \.

4. Oil
Ko).

yap TOJ ewl t&?

k. t. \.
tlie

rb

Bripiov

f^dyovffi tocs

Kvvas,

aWa.

es

aywua

SpSfMOV

a/xiWav

With

the fine feelings of a genuine courser, the author considers

the struggle for victory between the

the pleasure of

sport as arising solely from

ON COUKSlNt!.
and are glad
if

lUI)

the hare meet with au escape

for conceahnent,

if

she

fly

to

Chap. XVI

any thin brake

though they

may

see her

trembhng and
dogs,
^

in

the utmost distress, they will call off their

so,

and more particularly

when they have run

well.^

Often, indeed,

when

following a course on horseback, have I

as caught,

come up
alive:

to the hare as soon

and myself saved her

dog, and- fastened

and then, having taken away

to escape.
"^

my

him up, allowed her

late to save her, I

And
^

if I

have arrived too

have struck

my

head with sorrow, that the

dogs had killed so good an antagonist.

liare

and dog

a trial of the former's speed, its distinctive excellence, (so elegantly

alluded to by Anacreon in his complimentary ode to the ladies.

^iffis

Kepara ravpois,
S'

Anacreon. Od.
II. 1.

oirKas

iSdiKev 'Innois,

iroSaiKlriv

Aayuols)

against that of the latter,

petition.

whose shape marks

its

natural designation for such a

com-

Coursing does not seem to have been otherwise practised as an emulative

;

sport in the classic ages

5.

nor indeed

till

a very

modern period of
o'l5e

its

annals.

Kal KaracpvySvTa is
!

OLKoivOai ecrriv 8t

oKiyas

Kal iBSvres eirrTJX^Ta K. t. A.

spirit

uohie paragraph

conceived and penned in the true ye

of an enlightened

sportsman

Read

it all

who

dare calumniate, wilh Savary and Somerville,

The mean, murderous, coursing crew,

intent

The Chace.

On

blood and spoil

6.

Zfune would read Siaywvhano, as referring

to the hare,

whose

life is

spared for

having run well.

Sclmeider,
7.
it is

Such a reading,

if

tenable, (which,
to the

I fear, for

the reasons given by

not,)

would add much

beauty of the passage.

How

different the sentiments of the Bithynian courser from those of the Sci:

luntian

huntsman

like a

modern thistle-whipper or pot-hunter, Xenophon bids us

De

Venat.

search every hiding-place for the worn-out hare, that

irJSos,

we may catch

her at force,

kutci,

C. VI,

or drive her into the snares

while Arrian rejoices in her safety and grieves

over her accidental capture and destruction.

8. "Enaiffa rijv Ke<pa\-fiv.

Blane supposes Arrian to strike the greyhound's head as

:

a chastisement for having killed the hare

admitted.

but this interpretation

is

too absurd to be

Many

arc the exan)ples of the

custom of striking the head with the hand.

110
Chap. XVI.
I

ARRIAN
this

On

point

alone

cannot agree with

my

namesake.

allow indeed that a

is

which he

man may forget every enamoured, when he sees a hare

;

other object of

found, and pur-

sued at speed

but to see her taken

;

is,

own, neither a

pleasant nor striking spectacle

but disagreeable rather, and

not at

all likely to
^"

ment.

And

yet

make us forgetful of other objects of attachwe must not blame Xenophon, considering

in indication

of sudden grief and vexation.

:

Priam

is

fearfully

apprehensive of

Hector's death, and strikes his head with sorrow

Iliad.

XXII.
v4'0(t'

Ki<pa\r]v

6'

076

K(5i|'aTo

x^pcii'

acacrxo'jUfos.

Psammetichus expresses
Herodot.
Thalia.

his grief in the

same way over the

rich

Egyptian monarch,
tells

reduced to mendicancy in his old age,

iirXTj^aTo riju
t'

K^oAV

^^^ Plutarch

us

that Solon began iraUiv ri)P KecpaXrjv koI

trepnradovffi, as

&\Xa woiuv

koI \eyetv, &

crvfj.fiaii'ei

rdis

soon as he heard of the death of his son.

of the hare-chase have

9.

The joys

been celebrated,

in

prose and verse, by the

successors of the Athenian, in even higher strains than

by himself

Natalis

Comes
11.

Tantus amor lepores venandi, gaudia tanta

de Venat.
L.

HJc mens, hie animus, hic

est et tota voluntas

!

Prseponunt reliquis una haec solatia cunctis

fHagstrr of
ifSanif.
fol.

" The hare

is

good

lityl

beest and

moch good

sport and lyking

is

the

huntyng of hur

more than
hare
is

in

eny othere beest that eny

man knoweth, &c." "

is

the sechyns for the

17. 18.

a wel faire thing, and the enchasyng of the hare

a wel faire thing, and the

sleyng of

hym

with strength
it

is

a faire thing," &c.

The
Arrian

latter,
;

is

singular, are the very sentiments of

affords

Xenophon, reprobated by
Langley's acquaintance
p. 33.

and the passage

one of many proofs of

De
i.

with the Grecian Cyuegeticus.

See Markhain C. C. B.

and

Soraerville's

Chace.
10.

See Xenophon Cyneg.

v. 33.

Arrian has spoken throughout his treatise

;

with the greatest respect of his predecessor's opinions

but ventures to

differ

from

him

in

this place, as

to the feelings

which the poor hare, when caught, should

excite

Sophoclis Ajax. 1011.

a\yiffToi', Siv irpoatihov 6cp6a\/ji.o7s

iyu-

ON COUUSING.
he was ignorant of greyhounds,
if

11

even the capture of a hare

Chap. XVI.

appeared to him a grand

I

sight.

ain aware, (even if

my

instructions were opposed to

is

it),

how

strong the inducement

to

halloo,

when

following a
is

course, and that even a

dumb man might

^^

break forth, as

related of the son of Croesus.

It is

proper sometimes to speak to the greyhounds

^

for

CriAp.

XVII.

Clieering

they are pleased at hearing their master's voice,

and have the

greyhounds.

and yet he almost immediately

palliates

Xenophon's contrary sentiments, and excuses

them on account of

his ignorance of the Celtic greyhound.

i.

11. See Herodot. L.

(Tr]v,

sect. 85. 6 Se irots ovtos 6 &(p(iiuos,

(pooi/rif

ws
fii]

elSe eVioj'Ta

Thv Tlep-

Clio.

inrh

Seouy re koI kukov e^prj^e

elire 5e, "nvdpceTre,

KTt7vf Kpolffov.
:

The
C, J. Solini Polyhistor.
c. I.

tale of the father of history is

somewhat

differently told by Solinus

:

Atys,

filius regis,
:

rautus ad id locorum, in vocera erupit vi timoris

patri
1.

exclamasse enini dicitur

" Parce

meo, Cyre,

et

hominem

te esse, vel casihus disce nostris."

Xenophon de Venat.
by the

c. VI, 9.

avaPoau edye, eSye

S>

Kvves,

e-ire(T0e Si

KvvfS.

He
feris

gives a different cheer at different parts of the chase.

halloo
significant verb i-iruri^ai

Pollux explains the whistling

solitis

jubilationibus

canes cohortari et

imraittere

At comites

rabidura

solitis

hortatibus

agmen

Ignari instigant.

Ovid. Metam, L. Ill,

So Venus

in pursuit of

her beloved Adonis,

Per juga, per

silvas,

dumosaque saxa vagatur

ritu succincta

Ovid. Metara.
L. X. 53.5.

Nuda

genu, vestem

Dianas

Hortaiurque canes, &c.

Incipiam captare feras, et reddere pinu

Cornua, et audaces ipse raonere canes.

Propert. L. ii. EI. XVIII. ad Cynthiani.

Nemesian approaches nearer

of sound

to the text,

in his probable allusion to the

same

variety

Necnon

consuetaj norint hortamina vocis,

cursus.

Cyneget.
v. 196.

Seu cursus revocent, jubeant seu tendere

112
Chap. XVII.

ARRIAN

consciousness of his presence, and of their brilliant running not

escaping his notice, as an encouragement and reward for their

exertions.

There

is

no objection
first

to

your cheering your hound as often

;

as you like in his

course

but in his second or third,

when it is probable that he is fagged, I think it wrong to cheer him very often by name, lest from his ardour, and desire of
pleasing his master, he exert himself beyond his strength, and
suffer

some inward rupture

an accident which has been

fatal

to

many

a high-bred greyhound.

But he should be allowed

For the contest
:

to

slacken his running as he chooses.

is

by no

means equal between the hare and greyhound

the hare runs

But Arrian means more than

4iTi\4yitv

is

expressed in either of these passages

by

ovo/xacrT]
;

we

are to understand speaking to,

and cheering the hounds by name

B6i/vu,

as in

the following cbaj)ter

evye

Si

Ktppa, eHye

S>

koXus ye

S> 'Op/xr]

2. 6 a7aiv Xaywu) koX kvvI

simile
;

accurately and beautifully

described in the Ovidian

Metamorph.
L.
I.

Ut canis
Vidit
;

in

vacuo leporem cum Gallicus arvo

533.

et hicjjrffidam pedibus petit, ille salutem

Alter inhaesuro similis, jam jamque tenere

Sperat, et extento stringit vestigia rostro
;

Alter in ambiguo est, an

sit

depretisus, et ipsis

Morsibus

eripitur

tangentiaque era relinquit.

and
hare

in the fable of
;

Cephalus and Procris, the Teumesian fox being substituted

for the

Metamorph. L. vn.781.

Tollor eo capioque novi spectacula cursus

Qua modo

deprendi,

modo
:

se

subducere ab ipso

Vulnere visa fera est

In spatiumque fugit
;

nee limite callida recto,

sed decipit ora sequentis,
sit

Et

redit in

gyrum, ne

suus impetus hosti.

:

Imminet hie sequiturque parem

similisque tenenti

Non

tenet, et vacuos exercet in aiira morsus.

When

reading these and other splendid fables of this poet, and his similes illustrative

of terror and rapidity of flight, and eagerness of pursuit, in the parties represented,

ON (OLHSINCi
where she hkes, and the
throws
is
iiini ofi",

11:3

clog pursues
;

she shifts
if

lier course,''

Chap. XVII.

and darts forward

and

thrown out, the

dog-

wide of the hare, and must again stretch away after her

a-head, and recover what he has lost of the course by over-

shoot inii himself.

it

strikes us as probable that be

was a

practical courser,

" Apollinis et Dianae

field.

utrius-

que sectator," and derived his imagery from experience in the

To

the tales of
its

" Cepbalus and his greyhound Lselups," and of " Daphne

in

Laurum " with

cited

accompaniment, we may add much of the poetical ornament of Arethusa's plaintive

and
terrified flight

from

thelastfiil

Aipheus,

Sic ego currebam

sic

me

ferus

ille

premebat,

...ficc.

Metamorpli
L. V. 604.

in

which the

classic courser will discover

many

allusions to his favourite sport

Nee me
Sed
tolerare diu cursus

velocior

ille,

ego viribus irapar

ille laboris.

Ejiisdem V. 609.

Non

poterani
et

longi patiens eiat

Per tamen

campos, per opertos arbore montes,

et rupes, et quii via nulla,

Saxa quoque

cucuni.

Sol erat a tergo: vidi prajcedere

longam
ilia

Ante pedes uiubram

nisi si

timer

videbat.

Sed certe sonituque pedum terrebar;

Crinales vittas afflabat anhelitus oris.

et

ingens

And when

the afFriglited

nymph

is

rescued by the interposition of a cloud from her

Aretiiusa, lo Arethusa," the poet compares

pursuer's grasp, and hears the cry

" lo

her to a hare in a brake under

biii)ilar

terror.

Lepori, qui vepre latens hostilia cernit

Ejusdem
V. (i27.

Ora canura, nullosque audetdare corpore raotus:

as if the chase of this little animal liad supplied

3. 'O /ifv

him with the

Sp6fji.ov

outline of his picture.

l6vi>

i^fXi^as rhv SpSfiov &c.

So yElian,

Se eva Koi

oh du, Sevpo

De

Naturii
c.

Se KOI e/C?(Te irapaKXlvet, Koi e'leXiTrej t?7 koI t^, iKTrKi]TTWv tovs Kvvas koI

wkotuv.

Animal.
L. XIII.
14.

4. Apoilonius
after the

Rhodius has well expressed the Kvvis

SeSarjixei/ot

&yor]s straining

game with open jaws

TviOhi/ 5e Tnai.v6ft.ivoi. /xiroiriffOtv

Argonaut.
L. H. 2W).

&icpT]^iv yivvitrai ixa.Tr\v apd^Tjaav uSovras.

114
Chap. XVIT.

AKRIAN
difficulties of

Moreover, the natural

favour of the hare,

the country are more in

as rough and stony

than the dog

such

ami

Virgil in the simile of the

" vividus Umber;" copjing, probably, the poet of the

Argonauts,

jEneid. L. XII. 754.

Ilfcret hiaus,

jam jamque

tenet, similisque tenenti

Increpuit malis, morsuque elusus inani est.

The

hare under pursuit has a peculiar sensibility of sounds behind her.

excellence she owes her preservation from the danger of her pursuers.

To By

this
this

faculty she often outstrips the fleetest brace of greyhounds, attentive to the noise of

every stretch, and sound of every pant

Statii

Theb.

Praecipitat suspensa

fugam

jam jamque

teneri

L. V. 168.

Credit, et elusos audit concurrere morsiis.

The Booke
Venerie. p. 248.

of

"

It is a gallant sport,"

says Turberville, " to see

how

the hare will turne and

wind

to save herselfe

out of the dogges mouth.

it

So that sometimes even when you

thinke that your greyhound doth (as

cast

were) gape to take her, she will turne and

them a good way behind her

and so saveth herselfe by turning, wrenching, and

life."

winding, until she reach some covert and so save her

And

far

greater than

Bacon, of
Discourse,

this translator of Fouilloux has

remarked

"We

see in beasts, that those that are

;

weakest in the course, are yet nimblest in the turne

as

it is

betwixt the greyhound

Essay xxxii.

and the

liare."

Scarce inferior to his poetical predecessor of Venusium, the classic Darcius slips
liis

swift-footed Ptereias after the started hare, in a sketch which places the course
:

before the reader's eyes

Darcii Venusini Canes.

Ocyus insequitur
Intervalia facit

Ptereias, cursuque citato

lati

decrescere campi.

Jam

propior propiorque micat, jam captat hianti

rostro,

Summa pedum
Ille pavet,

jam terga fugacia

stringit.

flexoque obliquat tramite cursus,

teneri

Et dubia trepidans formidine, jamque

Se putat, et rursum tangentis ab ore recedit,

Fataque moment
sibi prorogat,

a;mula donee
victor,

Rostra

Jevis

mergat miserando in corpore

Fulmineus

victor,

gemino cui tramite lumbos

Spina subit graciles, et castigata coercet

liiu suhstrictus venter, stant

crura volantem

ON (OIHSINC;.
grounds,^ steeps and inequalities of surface
is

115

both

because she

Chap. XVII.

light,

and because her

feet,

from their wooUiness, are not

;

liable to

be lacerated by the roughness of the ground

and

Praeteritura

uotum, longo internodia ductu

toUuntur acumiue bino

Pes

geril, in cueluin

Auricula;, flexoque in la3via tergora gyro

Erecta; redeuni falcata volumina cauda;.

Mr. Gay's " Rural Sports," Canto 2nd,

liare-course in the English language, with

afford the only poetical description of a

which

am

acquainted, in addition to
:

tliat

already cited from the Polyolbion of Michael Urayton

Yet

if for

sylvan sports thy bosom glow,

Canto

ii.

Let thy

fleet

greyhound urge

liis

flying foe.
!

With what

delight the rapid course I view

How
He
The
She

does

my

eye the circling race pursue

air

snaps deceitful

with empty jaws.

subtle hare darts swift beneath his

flies,

paws

he stretches

now

with nimble bound

his

Eager he presses on, but overshoots

Slie turns,

ground

he winds, and soon regains the way.

Then

tears with gory

mouth the screaming prey.

5.

Ol (peWewves.

have not met with this word elsewhere.

Xenophon has to

<p4Wta, chsp. V.

De

Ven., to signify the same kind of stony ground.

ii. sc. ii.

The Scholia on

the Acharnenses of Aristophanes, Act

explains (peWeiis as rocky ground,

stony beneati), with a superficial covering of earth

hills,

such as we see on the slopes of

may
be derived from the Greek

perhaps.

^eXXhs occurs in Hesychius

ffKXjjphs tottos koL Sv(rtpyi]s, Kcd i^ eirifell

^oKrjs irerpiiSris.

Possibly the English term "

"

<pe\Khs or (peWevs.
6. TlSSas rovs irpScrOfv &Kpais vypovs, (TTivovs, opOovs- tovs 5e oiria'dei' arepfohs, ir\aT6JS'

Xenophon.

de

iravras 8e oiiSeyhs rpax^os (ppovri^ovTas.

^ enal. c. v.

rie'^u/ce
is

yap Saavs tovs

TT65as

ko.) Stj

Kal tu>v rpaxecov avexfTai.

;

The term

Safftnrovs

yElian. de
"J^^'

evidently derived from the woolly covering of the hare's feet

originally an adjective

Animal.

expressive of this peculiarity, but subsequently used to designate the hare herself.

To

the same origin Junius refers the English term ra66e<

"cuniculus :"

"Quotquot
Atque

Franc. Jimii
*, ,.^ ghcan. a Lye. 1743.

unquam observarunt Anglos, ^

. .

in linguas vernaculae pronuntiatione, o sonare ut a, facile

mecum

credent

oliru fuisse rohbet,

quod nunc rabbet pronuntiant

et scribunt.

ita robbet iilud fortasse

corruptum fuerint ex roughfet, quod exprirait Gr. haavirovs."

is

The English word hare

derived by the same Etymologist from the Anglo-Saxon

11&
Chap. xvil.

ARRIAN
away
all

the running for her hfe, too, takes

culties.

sense of

diffi-

Chap. XVIII.
Praising, &c.

When

the greyhound has caught the hare, or been otherwise

victorious in the course,^

you should dismount from your horse,

pat him with your hand and praise him, kissing his head, and
stroking his ears, and speaking to
Cirras

him by name

" Well done,

!"2 " Well

done, Bonnas
his

calling each

hound by

!"3 " Bravo, my Horme !"* name for, like men of generous
;
:

spirit,

they love to be praised

and the dog,

if

not quite tired

come up with joy to caress you. At this time, it is a good sign for him to roll himself on the ground, as we see horses do ^ for it shows that he is not done up with the course, and, at the same time, rolling refreshes him.
out, will
;

hara.

" A.

S. hara videtur esse ab har, pilus

quoniam, ut est apud Plinium,

'

vil-

losissimum animalium lepus.'

1.

Let him be made to

feel in the

words of

Oviil,

non tam
Turpe
fuit vinci,

quain contendisse decorum.

It is

a great point to encourage a

young hound, whether he

kill

or not.

Plutarch remarks in his treatise on the Comparative Instinct of Land and VVater

Animals, that the Canes Venatici, generally, tear

greedily,

tlieir

game and

lick

up the blood

when they

kill it

themselves

but

if

the animal, of which they are in purit,

suit, expire

from exhaustion, before they reach

it
;

they merely wag their

tails,

and do

not lacerate

showing thereby that the contest was not

for the flesh of the animal,

but rather for the glory of victory.

2. 3.

Ki^^a

BtJwa

derived probably from the red colour of the dog. the derivation of this canine name unknown to me.
is

4. 'Opfii)

Arriau's own much-valued hound:

''"'

to the

same kennel perhaps belonged

Cirras and Bonnas.

Vj'.Jian. oe Nat. Animal. L. VIII. c. II.

5.
v'lKrjs

eoiKe Se eX*""

''''''

^'^OTfjuias eV

tavTw

(fwffiKTJs"

;U7)

jap

SeTffSai

Kpfuv, aA\i

epav.
et optiraus

" Trahimur omnes laudis studio," says Cicero, "

gloria ducitur."
G. Pliny also

quisque maxime

makes the same remark, " Canes

a cursu volutatio juvat, ut veterina

a jugo."

ON COURSING.

117

The more opulent Celts/ who live in luxury, course in the following mnnner. They send out hare-finders ^ early in the
morning
in fonn
;

Chap. XIX.*
coursing'w^iih hare-tiuders.

to look over
^

such places as are likely to afford hares

if

and a messenger brings word

they have found

any, and what number.

They then go out themselves, and

slip

having started the hare,

horseback.*

the dogs after her, and follow on

But

others,

who have no

hare-finders, go out on horseback,

;

Chap. xx.
finders^'^'^"

collecting

a large

party of fellow-sportsmen together

and

coming

to likely lying-ground,

slip their dogs.

While others
sally

when a hare is started, they again, who are more of workon

foot
;

men

at

the

sport,

forth

and

if

any one

* In the Paris edition of 1644, in Blancard's of 1683, and in Zeune's, this Chapter
stands after Chap. xiv.
;

but, on the authority of Schneider,

it is

more appropriately

introduced in this place.

Indeed the present, and two following chapters, treat of

the diflFerent modes of coursing

title.

among

the Celts, and might

all

be united under one

1. "Offot

/jLev

irXovTOvaiv aurwv Kol Tpvpwffiv

the

superior class of Celtic gentry,

nobility, &c.
2.

Tohs KaTOTrrevaovTas

vue."

"c'est decouvrir

finders to
v a dans

look over, &c.

le

The French

say,

"

aller a la

Encyc.M^thod.
..,

s'il

pays des betes courables."

in accuracy

3. 'Avairav6fi(vos \aytis.

No

description can surpass

and elegance
inrodtls to, viro-

that of the hare in her form by the elder

K(c\ia imh ras \ay6vas,

Xenophon

KoTOKXtVerat Se

De
*

Venat.
^'

to

Sg TrpSffdev (TkeAtj to. TrKelara (Twdels Kul e/creiVas,

eV

&Kpovs
elra 5e

^'

Se Toiis irddas ttjc yevvv KciTadels,

ra

Se Sira iinirerdcras
iru/cj/rj

iirl

ras

ai/j-OTrAdras'

ivoffriyei
4.

ret

vypd' xei 5e koI

rrju

Tpix (rreyav-qv

yap Kal

/xaXaKT].

The example
Bruyer

of the Celtic nobility of Arrian's days was followed

relates

by those of a

later date.

(de

Re

Cib.

c.

24.) " Gallia omnisleporibusscatel, ideoque

horum venatio
tists

peculiaris est mediocri nobilitati et primariae

territory, that
it

non invisa."

And Bap-

Guarinus notes of the X'eronese

:

abounds with hares, and affords

opportunities for long courses

Namque

hie si studeas lepores agitare fugaces,

Cursibus effusis aquora longa patent.

1.

AvTovpyoi Kwi^ytnioov.

Upon

this

expression Henry Stephens merely remarks.

118
Chap. XX.

ARRIAN
it

accompanies them on horseback,

the dogs.

is

his duty to

keep up with

Beating the

They beat the ground

front,

in regular array,

with an extended

proceeding in a straight line to the completion of a

;

certain extent of country

and then, wheeUng about

side
"

in a

body,

return

in the

same way by the

of their former track,

omitting as far as possible none of the likely lying.

But
ment.

it

is

necessary, if

many dogs
is

are taken into the field,

that they should not be left at random, and without arrange-

For when the hare

refrain

started from her form, not a

after her
:

man

would

from slipping his hound

see his

one from

eagerness to
startled

own dog

run,

and another from being

;

and beside himself

at the hallooing

and the hare

would be caught, in consequence of the crowd and confusion

of the dogs, without a struggle, and the whole value of the

ScheHiasm. hm V. c. XVI.

" (juod loquendi genus observatione dignum est,"

interprets

offering

" qui pedites venantur, studio

incumbunt
:"

rei capti :" Holsten,

no explanation: Zeune " qui ipsi per se vena-

tionis studio

those

who have

to

do with the practical part of the

sport, as the slippers, leaders of

tlie

hounds, &c. the actual workmen.

Such were

Cyneg.

i.

the ipyoirSvoi Kparepol of Oppian, the bearers of the hunting gear to the covert, &c.
2. 'EKTTfpuaai. 5e eV} yueTOTroy raxdevres.

V. l4o.

We

here see the military tactician

after

the lapse of nearly seventeen centuries, no improvement has taken place in the

mode

of beating for a hare.

One

of our

best English manuals of coursing, whose author

was probably
Turberville's
Ti Hunting, &c.

as expert in the field as his predecessor of Bithynia, thus describes the

plan adopted in the days of good

Queen Bess
.

"To
.

course

y''.

hare you must send

either hare-finders before ' vou to find

some hare

sitting, or els yourself w'h.

vour cora-

pany may range and beat over the

her.
1

fields until

you either

find a hare sitting, or start

have marked y^. hare-finders in their seeking of a hare in Norlhamptonshyre,

will never beat but one

and they

end of a furlong
;

and that

shall

be the end which

will

is

downe

the

wind or from the wind

for they

hold opinion that a hare

that will seeke a hare
let

not (by

her wil)

sit

with her head into the wind.

;

He

must go overhis eye

thwart the lands

at his foot,

and every land that he passeth over,

him beginne with

first

and so looke downe the land to the furlong's end,

;

on the one side

:

and then on the other

and so

shall

he

find

y<^.

hare sitting in her forme

assoone as

heespyeth her he must cry Sa how. Then they which lead the greyhounds may come
neare
:

and you may appoynt which greyhounds

shall course.
!

Then

let

him which

found the hare, go towards her and say. Up, pusse, up

forme."

untill

she rise out of her

ON rouRsiNc;.
spectacle destroyed.

119
Chap. XX.
Steward,

On

which account a steward should be

appointed over the sport, ^ should match the dogs, and give
orders to the field
:

if

the hare start on this side, you and

;

you are
you
:

to slip,

and nobody else

but

if

on that

side,

you and
*

and

let strict attention

be paid to the orders given.

3. "kpxovTo-

" the judge expert in coursing "

me
from

of Turberville, p. 249.

It appears to

this passage that the Celts coursed witli each

hound

lield in

a single slip and collar, and started probably simultaneously with his appointed compeer, held in juxta-positiun by a second person.

Some commentators, however,

are

of opinion, from the term (rufSt/affTw, that the dogs were held in double collars, or

couples

but

if so,

we must

still

suppose, from the words

(tv

koI ah iwiXiifiv, that

:

two persons were appointed to

let

the dogs loose at the same time

Copula detrahitur canibus.

Ovid. Met. L. VII. 709.

Xenophon

particularly enjoins, in his instructions

in

on hare-hunting, that the Spartan

:

hounds should he held

apart)
'6irciis

separate collars at the covert-side

fKacn-qv X'^P^^j (each

hv evXvroi

Sxri,

De
elabendo Vlit.
p. 94.)

Venat.
^^'

The ancient

slip or slippe (ab

was formed by a leading thong

''

or lyam, passed through the ring of the dog's collar, the

two ends being held

in the

hand of the slipper, or keeper.

When

the dog
his

was

loosed, the slipper let go one

collar,

end of the thong, and drew the other wilh

whereby the dog was liberated with the
slipper's hand.

hand from the eye of the

his

collar

on

neck, the lyam remaining in the

(See Xenophon, Pollux, and Conrad Gesner, on these accoutreis

ments

the latter

copious on the subject in his Hist. Quadrup. " Canis.")

Such
in

a representation of greyhounds coursing, with collars on their necks,

we have
gem, got

Monlfaucon, Tom.

iii.

Liv. iv. pi. 176. (Chasse au Lievre.)

Nor

are the incumrid

ggg

{jj^

brances, which envelop the necks of Chrysis and

Aura

in this beautiful

lithograph of
l^nrysis

of in the coursing plates of "

,

The Gentleman's Hecrealions," so few

leasli,

are the iratill

ana Aura,

provements in the practical department of the

those of Richard Blorae.
the
tion

from the days of Arrian

The modern method

of slipping a brace of greyhounds, at

same
;

instant of time, from double spring or

wedge

collars, is of recent introduc-

liaving its origin, probably, at the institution of public coursing meetings.

4. 01 Se ffiireSovuraii' rh rax04y.
6iTt)s,

Obedience

to the orders of

the &pxwv or ayccvoindeed,

in a coursing field, is

an essential point of discipline:

we could not
orders"

select

any more important

for the regulation of

in his Tactics,

such an assemblage than the brief and

emphatic injunction of our author

"

silence

and attention

to

aiya. Koi Trp6(rex^ "^^ 'i^o.po.'yyiWo^iV(f.

Arriani Tactic. 71. Ed. Blancard.

120

ARRIAN

Chap. XXI.
Coursing with sagacious and swift hounds
together.

The

Celts sometimes course with a mixture of sagacious and

'

swift-footed houuds:^

and while the

doo;s of scent are tryino-, ^

JO'

fBiapstfr of
c.

1.

This method of coursing was practised

in

England

in the

da^s of Edmund
relative to
it,

De
it

XXXV
99.

Langley (A. D. 1380).

From

the instructions

which he gives

fol.

appears that the gre^^hounds were placed, as amongst the Celts, on the outside of the
covert.

So also

in the beautiful poetry of Scott

Marniion. Inlroduction to

And
L^^j

foresters in
-^ ^,,^ j^
.

greenwood trim
j,

,^

Canto

11.

gazehounds grim, b b
,

Attentive as the brachet's bay

From

the dark covert drove the prey

To slip them as he drove away. The startled quarry bounds amain, As

fast the gallant

greyhounds

strain.

De
\

Canibus et
enatione

" ^"^ autem vidimus,"

says Blondus,

" venantes canem

in

capiendis leporibus hunc

modum

servare insidiandi.

Divisi ac sparsi veuatores per inculta frequentiiis quain

laqueis
leporariura detinentes
:

per culta, arte

quadam incedunt

spineta et

sentes, sive dumeta, saltusve potiiis celebranles

praemittunt

odorum canem qui

altis

e latebris pellat

Nonnunquam etiam timidum leporem, post quem e laqueis

quam nemora.

mittunt canem fugacem,

clamoribus persequentes, qui sunt exhortationes fuga-

cium canum."
U. Aldrovand. de yuad. UigU.
\

" In montosis
ciijug 3(j lepores

locis (agri

Bononiensis) ob rubetorum frequentiam, canibus saga-

ivip. I/. II. ^

excitandos utuntur, deinde visis leporibus canes leporarios solvunt," ' r r

&c.

The

classic poet of

Barga, although

we

look in vain for a description of the hareleft

course throughout his varied and copious Cyncgeticon, has

us the following
:

counterpart in the machinery of the fox-chase with swift-footed hounds

P. Angel. Barg. Cyneg. L. vi.

Interea juvenes qua sunt asperrima campi

Dumeta,
Obsedere

et spinis clivus consurgit acutis,

vias, alii

qua mane tepenti

Flamine

in

adversos ^uras fert Eurus odoras,

:

Veloces tenuere canes

turbaraquc sagacem

Immisere, premant patulis, qu<e naribus hostem

Obscenam,

et

dumis sese occultare parantein,

tristi

Conantemque animam

subducere letho.

Quam

postquam certo

latratu ursere propinquain,

Solvuntur canibus curracia vincla Lacainis

ON COD US INC

121
CtiAP.

they stand apart with the greyhouuds, leading them in their

XXI.

hands where

it

is

most probable the hare

slip

will

direct

her
-

course, that they

may

them at her when she breaks cover.

its

And

here the greyhounds answer the same purpose

^

Xenoand

phon's nets.

But the courses

in this

way
is

are irregular

confused, and the hare, however good,

generally so terrified

at the barking of the finders, that, unless she get far

enough

a-head to be able to recover herself, she

frightened out of her wits.
*

is

easily caught, being

and

this

is

again followed by other chases, wherein the wolf and stag are the grey-

hound's quarry.

See also L'EcoIe de

avec
les levriers."

la

Chasse, (Rouen, 1788,) " Maniere de prendre

les

loups

Venerie Norraande.
C. VII.

2. "Otto^s

&v Toi
is

irpoxoipfi-

" Quacunque ratione

fieri

potest,"

Ind. Grsec. Z.

"

When
3.

she

going off," Blane.

Kivss oStoi, 8 ri irep ai &pKvs s,eyo<ptaVTi 4Keiv(f.

Kai

elcrlv at

From some curious

shown
that

Dialogues composed by Elfric,

Duke

of Mercia, in Latin, Mr. Turner has

field sports.

our ancestors resembled their continental neighbours in these

"

am

a hunter to one of the kings.

set

How do you exercise your

my
hounds

art

spread

Hist, of the

my
till

nets,

and

them

in a

fit

place, and instruct

to pursue the wild deer

Anglo-Saxons.

they come to the nets unexpectedly, and so are entangled, and I slay them in the

nets.

Cannot
T7)s

you hunt without nets

Yes, with swift hounds I follow the wild

1

deer.

What wild deer do you

hares,''

chiefly take

Harts, boars, and rein-deer, and goats,

and sometimes
4. 'Yfrh

&c.

KAayyrjs twv kvvZv, &e.

Kvvuv

e<p6l3riaev

ofioKKT]

for

a practical

Apollon.

exemplification of a course conducted

city in the

upon the

principle of uniting speed and sagahis

Rhod.
L.
III.

13.

same pack, see Mr. Hobhouse's description of his sport with

host at

Votizza.

To "four
. .
.

wire-haired Lacouni" were added "three mongrel pointers,

and several curs

with a large party of

men on

foot
state

and horseback, making

as

Journey thro' Albania, &c.

Letter xvii.

much
"

noise as possible."

It is scarce necessary to

the poor hare was killed

after

a short run."
(if it

This method of coursing

centuries or

deserve the name) was

much

in

use in France two

more ago.

" They use

their greyhounds," says Turberville,

" only

to

Book of
Hunting. p. 240.

set backsets, or receytes for

deare, wolfe, fox, or such-like.

is

Whereas we here

in

England do make great account of such pastime as

greyhounds
at deare, hare, foxe, or such-like,

to

be seen in coursing with

even of themselves, when there are

GO.

neyther hounds hunting, nor other meaue to help them."

Edmund De
and
fleet

Langley, in his jiHagStCT Of ffiatHf, condemns the union of sagacious

field
;

c.

XVII.

fol.

hounds, " spaynels and greihoundes," in the same

for

" the spaynel

122
Chap. XXI.

ARRIAN
therefore, is a
is

Whoever,

good
all

slipper, should not let

go his

dog while the hare

and then
Chap. XXII.

at

bewildered,

(unless

he would
first

destroy the sport,) but should allow her to

slip.

make her

turns,

Let
^.^ther,

it

be deemed unlawful to
obedience to

slip to

a young hare;^ but

for

Ware

Leveret,

in

my

namesake, spare such

the

Goddess."

If possible, indeed, you should endeavour to call off

wil

make

al

the ryot

and

al

the

harme."
:

The

latter'a

mode

of bunting

is

beautifully

described by Darcius of Venusium

Canes.

Hi

si forte levis

toto lepus errat in arvo,

:

Pone legent

rostro vestigia nota sagaci

Et modo transverse, niodo recto jugera sulco

Scrutantur, &c.

Xenophon. de Venatione.

^'

^^

M*'' oiiu

\iav veoyva
to fawns
:

ol

(piXoKwi^yeTai acpiuai

Trj @e<a.

But

the

'ame mercy

was not extended

2. Tij foj.

see

Xenoph. de Venat.

c. ix. 1.

Diana ayporepu, or Veuatrix.

Homer.

Iliad.
''ApTefiis ayporiprj.

irSrvia OripZv

Homer. Hymn,
in

T)

KUT

tjpri

ffKi6evra Koi &Kptas

r]veiJ.6e(T(Tas

Dian.

ayprj Tepnofiivi]

nayxpima

t({|o riTaivet.

So, in the Anacreontic Airaveia,

yovvov/xai c' 4Xa<p-q$6\e,

s,avdi), TTol Aihs, aypiaiv
SeffTTOtv', "'Aprefj.t, Bripuv.

Polluc.

Onom.

By

Pollux the worshipful goddess

opfia.

is

variously called ayporepa,

Ka),

Kwriyeris, koI

L. V.

c. I. 13.

<pi\66ripos, /col

For the popular belief respecting her many vocations, see

Callimacb. H. in Dian.

How

graphically

is

she decked out, in

all

her sylvan trim, br

sporting associates,

Nemesian,

in tlie following address to her, to aid,

with her

many

the essay of his Cynegetical

Muse

Nemesian. Cyneg. 86.

Tu modo

qu3B saltus placidos silvasque pererras

Latona^, Phoebe,

magnum

decus, eja age suetos

ON COURSING.

123
Chap. XXII.

the dogs on scent; though they are with difficulty checked,

being

intractable

from hunger,

and so keen at devouring

whatever prey they take, that you can scarce drive them

away, even by beating them with

sticks.

You should
same way,

course the stag, or any

game
;

of equal size in the

^

Chap. XXIII.
Stag-coursing.

slipping high-couraged hounds

for the

animal

is

Sume

habitus,

arcumque manu
:

pictamque pharetram
:

Suspende ex humeris

sint aurea tela, sagittse

:

Candida puniceis aptentur crura cothurnis

Sit

chlamys aurato multiim sub tegmine

lusa,

Corrugesque sinus geinmatis baltbeus arctet

Nexibus

implicibus cohibe diademate crines.

faciles, viridique

Tecum Naiades

juventa

Pubentes Dr^'ades, Nympliajque, unde amnibus humor,

Adsint, et docilis decantet Oreadas Echo.

Due

age, Diva, tuuin frondosa per avia vatem.

:

Te sequimur

tu

pande doraos et

lustra ferarum.

See Lucian's Deorum Dialogi, Venus et Cupido,

for several elegant representations of

for the pursuits of

attire,

Diana

and

her in her sporting

Grpeciee,

see Montfaucon,
vii.
f.

Tom.

I.

Perrier, Tab. 64.

f.

Goltzii

Numismata

&c. Tab.

1.

Insular

Medals, Tah. xvii.

of the most classic

1.

Morell. Tab. xv.

Passerii

Tom. in. Tab.

88. &c.

few

gems and medals have heen

annexed
to this

faithfully copied in outline

;

by Mr.

Haghe from
con,

the antique, and

work

they are taken from Montfau-

who had

previously borrowed them from

La Chausse and Beger.

this Chapter.
for deer-hunting, as

The
1
.

translation of

Mr. Blane does not extend beyond

c. ix.

Xenophon De Venat.

recommends Indian dogs

they

are strong, large, swift-footed, and resolute.

In the ancient

field sports

of Britain

we

find tlie deer, the wolf,

and the

fox,

and

even sometimes the wild

cat, (of

which

last the

ifHsgStcr Of dSiMlt
:

x. reports,

" he

hath the Devyllis spyryt,") coursed with greyhounds

but at present these

the honourable

diversions are discontinued, and the hare alone

distinction of

deemed worthy of
:

competing

in

speed with the Celtic hound

And where
I shall

that
tell

ye come

in playne or in place,

Book of
Aioan
s.

you

whyche ben bestys

is

of enchace
is tlie

One
The

of

theym

the bucke

a nother
:

doo

foxe and the raarleron

and the wyide roo.

124
Chap. XXIII. large, runs a long while,

ARRIA N

and

is

by no means

safe to contend

with

indeed there
^

is

no

little

danger of a greyhound being

destroyed by a stag.

But where the

Dacia,
Scythia,

plains are adapted for riding, as in Mysia,

and Illyricum,* they are

in

the

habit of

The coursing
sorts
;

of deer

was a

recreation of high repute, and

was divided

into two

the paddock, and the forest or purlieu.

See Daniel's Rural Sports.

But a

better authority, Turberville, in

" a

short observation set

downs by

the Translatour,

concerning courting with greyhoundes," attached to " Tlie Booke of Hunting," has
given us
liis

remarks on coursing deer, and the method of doing

(" to
start the

it

in the olden time

with "

teasers,^'

deare from the whole heard, or

make

a low deare

strain,")

" side

laies," (" to
full

way-lay him by the midway,")

in the
face

and " back-sets, or

receits," (to

meet him "

is

to the

end they may the more amase

him.")

See Turberville's Appendix to his translation of Fouilloux, and " The Goi.

vernour," B.
2.

c.

17.
6'i]piof,

Meya

re yap rh

&c.

"

He

of all beasts," says Gervase

Markham,

" the goodliest,

Hist. Naturelle.

stateliest,

and most manly

:"

and Buffon,

after describing the stag

le

with his wonted eloquence, concludes, " sa grandeur, sa legerete, sa force

tinguent assez des autres habitans des bois
:

dis-

et

comme

il

est le plus noble d'eutre

;

eux,

il

ne

sert aussi

qu'aux

plaisirs

des plus nobles des

hommes

il

a,

dans tous

les

temps, occupe

le loisir

des heros."
five
is

Booke

of

"

red deare will beare sometimes foure or

:

brase of greyhounds before they

of,

Hunting. p. 247.
p. 247.

can pull him downe

such wonderfuU force he

and can so easily shake

off

greyhound when he pincheth him."

3. 'O Kivdovos oh CfxiKphs,

&c.

" He that hath a good hare greyhound,

it

shal

do
:

very evill to course a deare with him, for

wil both bruse him and

make him

lyther

and the course

at the

hare

is

much

the nobler pastime."

:

Oppian denies

that deer butt with their horns, and thereby endanger the dogs

Cyncgcticus
II.

ovnoTe yap Ke^a\fj<pi.v ivavria driplaaivro,

oi)

184.

6T]pal KpaTepols,

ovk apyaKfoicri

Kvvicrffi

Be

Venat.
IX.

but Xenophon, a practical authority, affirms

thrust from the

it

tois Kfpaai iraUi Kol rois

irocrlv.

The

C.

tynes, or branches, of the stag's horns, were accounted far more

:

dangerous to a human being than those of the boar's tusk

If thou be hurt with

horn of stag,

it

brings thee to thy bier

;

But

barber's liand shall boar's hurt heal

thereof have thou no fear.

Hippolyt. Act. 1. 71.

4.

"Evda Tc

TreSia fin}\aTa.

The Homeric scholar will remember the

Nomade

tribes

ON CO USING.
IJ

125
horses

coursino;

deer with

Scythian

and

lUyrian

which,

Chap, xxiil.

though slow

at first in pursuit,

and

utterly despicable, as far as

Sicily, or

appearance goes, by the side of those of Thessaly,

Peloponnesus, hold out to the last under the most severe work.^

On

such occasions you will see the huge, swift, proud-looking

little

horse flagging, and this lean and scrubby

animal at

first

passing him, then leaving him behind, and at last even driving
the stag

away from him.

He

holds on indeed until the stag

;

gives out and stops, gasping with distress

when you may,

if

of this champaign region, on

whom

Jupiter cast his eyes in looking from

of the

Mount Ida

towards Thrace.

The Mysiana were

number

aiirhs 8f TraAtj' Tpeirev ocrcre (paeivwy

pScrcpiv i<p' iiriroTrSKuv QpriKuiv

Iliad, v. 3.

Kadopufievos alav,
'li:ir7]ixo\'ywv,

Mv(TU)v t' ajx^l^dxcDV, Kul

ayavuv

&c.

Seneca speaks of the " Vacuisque vagus Sarmata canipis,"

exercita carapo,"
elegies,

Claudian, of the
:

" gens

De

and

an earlier poet, the exiled Ovid, in one of his mournful

skill in

iv. Consul, Honorii.

comraemorates the Scythian's

horsemanship

Protinus aquato siccis aquilonibus Istro,

Invehitur celeri barbarus hoslis equo
:

Tristium
'^'*
'*

*"

Hostis equo pollens longeque volante sagitt^

Vicinam

late

depopulatur huraum.

Strabo notices the hunting propensities of the inhabitants of the Scythian and Sar-

matian plains (L. xvii.); and the eloquent historian of the Decline and Fall enlarges on the vigour and patience both of the
cise of the chase.

Hist, of

Rome.
xxvi.

men and

horses in the continual exertribes of the Scythian

vol. iv. c.

From

the

way
in

in

which these pastoral

plains are introduced

by Arrian

connexion with the Celtic coursing, we

may

con-

clude that they vere Celto-Scythians.

5.

The highest
fleeter

praise is bestowed by

Oppian on

Sicilian horses, iiKvraroi. 'SiKeXoi

;

Cyneg.
^^^*

i.

hut

than these are the Armenians and Parthians

and

fleetest of all,

the

Iberians.
C. 'O Se is ToaovTov 6.pa aurexft-

non ilium miquam genibusve labantem

Videris, aut

animam fessum

vix ore trahentem.

P. Angelii rJarg^i Cyneg. L.

Verum importuno

potuit superesse labori

Acrior, atque novas currendo acquirere vires,

126
Chap. XXIII.

ARRIAN
at close quarters as if enfettered,
alive.
7

you choose, spear him

or

throw a noose over his neck/ and lead him away

Chap. XXIV.
Cou/sinTof

In Africa there

is

mode

of coursing on Libyan horses,*

called iVomades, on

which the sportsmen, mounted, catch not

little

Wild Asses,

only red and roe deer," (for these are taken with

effort,

and the horses are not esteemed good

in consequence,^)

but also

Velocem quandoque fuga

praevertere cervum,

Et premere immanes animis optavimus

apros.

7. "E^fffTiv ijSri, 1 ixiv

^oiXoio, aKovriaai e77i50'

ois ireTreSrifUfvriv,

Virgil. Georg.

Cominus obtruncat
Casduat, et

ferro, graviterque
laeti

rudentes

L.

III. V.

374.

magno

clamore reportant.

Xenophon

gives a

full

description of the
:

mode

of ensnaring deer in a variety of

trap called irodocrTpd^r],

and adds

aXiffKovrai 8e Koi &vev 7roSocrTpd$7]s SiwKSfiivai,

atpdSpa, SxTTe effrwcai aKovri^ovTat,

Htuv ^

7)

wpa

Septv^, airayopevovcri

yap

Oppian. Cyneg.
IV. 54.

^vvhu aKovrl^eiu 5e koI avrla To^d^ecrdczL

6ripa.s apeioTepo'js.

8.

Bpdxov

noose-rope.

Such ropes were generally used by rude nations in

For a clever representation of
this

batlle as well as the chase.

mode

of catching

deer, see the Venationes

Ferarum of Stradanus and Galle, and the accompanying

quatrain of Kilian Dufflseus.

De

Nat. Anim. L. II. c. II.

1.
fjLiv

/Elian mentions these horses in his second book of

'iiTiyaiv

Animal History:

Hkkttoi

fijiv

Kajxa/Tov

5e

57j

Ti aiaOourai

ovBtv KfVTol
:

Se, Kai

ovk ivcrapKOi, iirm]-

Seioi

ye

fiyjv

Koi (pepeiu 6\iyo>piav 5e<xir6Tou eiaiv

and Oppian

in his first

Cynegetic

Cyncg.
V.

I.

Mavpuv
a/xcpl

S'

ai6\a

^v\a

iroXv irpocpepovatv

avavruv

289.

dpSfiovs ravaovs re, Kal ajxcpl nSvovs a\iyfivovs'

Kol Aifivis ixeja rovs SoAix^c 5p6fj.oy iKTf\eov(nv.

2. 'E\d<povs

^ SopKdSas.

I take 4\d(pos to be the red deer, the cervus elaphus of

naturalists

and 56pKas the roe deer, cervus capreolus, the chevreuil of France.

To

Cyneg.
V.

ii.

these the poet of Anazarbus adds the fallow deer, under the
TS.

name

of eiipvKepu-

293.

3.

From hence

it

would appear
;

that it

was no great exploit

fleet

to take

a red or roe

Cyneg.
V.

ii.

deer, iu Arrian's opinion

but the latter was deemed very

by the last-cited poet,

315.

ON CO\

KS1N(;.

12'

wild asses,* which excel in speed, and power of holding out for
the greatest length of course.

Chat.

XXIV

For when the Greeks marched with Cyrus,

the

son of

Arabian Coursing described by

Darius, against the great king,^ (in which expedition

Xenophon
were

was engaged, who

relates the circumstance,^) while they

Xenoplion.

passing over the plains of Arabia,^ there appeared herds of

wild asses, but not one could be caught

man, and therefore horsemen

at stated

by any single horsethe Greeks pursued them with relays of distances and after the asses had held
;

out for a long while against several, they sunk at last from
fatigue.

Thus even Cyrus himself, the son of the great king,

and the brother of the great king, had not horses good enough

uKVTd.TdH' SopKoiv api'SijAa yeveOKa

rity of the

and

bis opinion is

supported by the bigli authofast,

Wayster of Game, who

affirms that
lie

" he rennyth wondir

and some

iStagstcr of

tyme, at the partyng from his leyre,

4.

shal out goo a brace of good greye houndes."

a^am.
fol.

c. V.

The

wild ass, or Koulan,

is

an animal of the greatest speed and beauty.

He

32.

is

elegantly and correctly described by

Oppian

fSff^opov, Tive/xSevra,
Kpaitrvhv, o\\oiro5r;i', Kpareptivvxov, alirvu ovaypov,
offTe TTeAei (fiatSphs, Se/xas &pKios, evpiis ISeaOat,

Cyneget. in. 183.

apyv(peos xpo'^>'i

SoAiX'"^''''os,

o|utotos 6e7y.

See also the Book of Job,

c.

xxxix.

vs. 5. et seqq.

Plin. Hist. Nat. L. viii.

c.

44.
21.

Epigr. L. XIII.

Varro de R. R. L.

ii. c.

6.

and the Veterinarian Apsyrtus, Geopon. L. xvi.

" Pulcher adest onager."

c.

100.

IMartial records his beauty, tifying the his

Spelman

is

mistaken

in iden-

onager and zebra, and referring to the stuffed specimen of our college for
latter.
all

example of the former under the type of the

This
is

5. MeT'OJ' ^affiXea.

the title given by

Greek authors

to the king of

Persia

and

it

is

preserved to the successors of

Mahomet

in that of the

Grand

Seignor.

Cyrus was the youngest son of Darius by Parysatis, and brother to

His father, therefore, and brother, were both called, kut e|oxV> " the

Artaxerxes.
great king."
6.

Xenophon. Anabas. L.

i.

5. 2.

7.

The
;

inhabitants of this part of Arabia are denominated SKijv/Tat "Apa^es

a vagabond

by

Strabo

people, living

by depredation.

" Nomades, infestioresque

;"
afterv/ards

Chaldaeonim, Scenit,"
Saracens.

says

Pliny,

" a tabcrnaculis cognominati

128
Chap. XXIV.
for tliis cliase
;

ARRIAN
and yet the Libyan boys, some at eight years much older, mounted on their naked

of age, and others not

steeds,^

and guiding them with a switch, as the Greeks employ

8. 'Ettj yvfivcUp Tuiv 'Ixiroiv.

Lucret. L. iv.

Gens
Ora

quiE

nudo lesidens Massylia dorso

nescia virga.

levi flectit frffinorum

The
too

allusions to the

tractable

and

fleet

Numidian

horse, and his expert rider, are

numerous

in the authors of antiquity for citation of

more than

a few.

The

barbs,

in the

language of our great dramatist,

will follow

where the game

Makes way, and run

like

swallows o'er the plain.

Livii L. V.

In the army of Hannibal, the " equi hominesque paululi, discinctus et inermis
eques, equi sine frjenis," are eulogized by the
the docility of the African
Virgil speaks of the
little

Decad.

iv.

Roman
S>s

historian

and Strabo notices

steeds to be such

airh pafiSiov oiaici^eadai.

" Numidje infrsni," (^neid. L.

iv. 41.)

Silius Italicus

of the
velocior Euris

Et doctus virgK sonipes

L.
:

iii.

and again,

in the

first

hook of

his

Punic

War

Hie passim exultant Numida; gens inscia

fra;ni,

Quels inter geminas per ludum nobilis aures

Quadrupedein

flectit

non cedens virga

lupatis.

But

the poets of the chase,

:

Oppian and Nemesian, have

left

us in detail their shape

and qualifications
Oppian. Cyneg.
IV. 45.

oirirSTf S'
Kttl

o5t

novvoti

'l-mroiai

kwoou Srep

lOvs

eAawetv

lirnoiatv Kiivoicnv 'Saoi irepl

<}>pfiovT',
f)

MavplSa ya7av

\ifiviffcnv, ocFoi

n^

Kapre'C xfipwi'

&yXovrai

ipeAioiai fiia^o/jievoio xaAivoD,

oiri)

irelQovTai 8e Kvyoiffiv,

fiporhs riyefioveid.
'inirocv

TovviKiV (TrireXaTOt Kilvwv iirt^riTopes

riSi

Kvvas AeiVouffi (pi\ovs,

iritrvvoi t' i\6ci>aiV

'Imrois, r)fKlov re jSoA?;, Kol y6(T(piv aptaywv.

ON ("OUHSING.

129
Chap. XXIV.

the rein, press these wild asses so closely in })ursuit, that at

last

they throw a noose around their necks and lead them away
s^

quite subdued.

fleet

Such arc the methods of coursing adopted by those who have hounds and horses they neither ensnare the animals with
:

Comparison of

Coursmg.

toils, nets,

or springes

j^*'

nor employ, in short, any other tricks

or wily inventions, but contend with

trial

them

in a straight-forward

of speed. "

And

to

me, the two spectacles appear nowise

Quemque

coloratus

Mazax

deserta per arva

Pavit, et assiduos docuit^tolerare labores.

Nemesian. Cyneg. vs. 201.

Nee

pigcat quod turpe caput, deformis et alvus

liber uterque,

Est oUis, quodque infrenes, quod

Quodque

jubis pronos cervix diverberet armos.

Nam

flecti facilis,

lascivaque colla secutus

Paret ia obsequium lent* moderamiue virgs.

Verbera sunt^praecepta

fuga3, sunt verbera freni.

Quin

et proraissi spatiosa per ajquora

campi
vires,

Cursibus acquirunt commoto sanguine

Paulatimque avidos comites post terga relinquunt.

9.
c. 10.

The same
;

fact is related

by iElian,

in his Natural History of Animals,

iv. p.
is

L. xiv.

and Beckman (Hist, of Inventions, Vol.

292.) observes, on the autho-

rity

of Vancouver, tbat the ISpSxos, or noose-rope,

still

employed by the Hunga-

rians, for the subjugation of wild horses.

10. See these instruments of predatory hunting described in the early part of the

Appendix, and accurately represented in the

spirited engravings of the

" Venationes

Ferarum " of Stradanus and Galle.

poet of the annexed quatrains,
is

The

metrical skill of A. C. Kilian Duffljeus, the

not commensurate with that of the engraver.

11. 'Ek tov eiiOeos 5iayui'i^6iJ.evoi,

Many

are the instances recorded in

which the

agency of the hound of chase was despised by " the light-footed sons of Chiron's
school."
fleetest

The heroes and

heroines of old were all-sufBcient for the capture of the

animals of the forest and plain.

This was indeed coursing in good earnest,

tiie

and

is well illustrated

by the simile of

text.

In this

way Diana

furnished her

chariot with deer, her npuTdypiov, the swiftest beasts of draught

iricrvpas 8' e'\ej SiKa deovffa,

v6a<pi KvvoBpoixiijs,

'lua

roi Qobv apjxa (pepwai.

H.

Callimach. in Dian. vs. 105.

In

this

way, the son of Peleus arrested the attention of her sylvan ladyship and the

goddess Pallas,

130
Chap. XXIV.

ARRIAN
:

akin

the former being like thievish depredation

the latter,

like a battle fought out with

main strength

the one class of

sportsmen resembling pirates in their clandestine attack, while

the other are as openly victorious as were the Athenians over the

Medes

in the naval

engagement

at

Artemisium,

^-

or at

Salamis and Psyttalia, or again at Cyprus.

Chap. XXV.
Age and
iDode of entering bitch-puppies.

As

to the age at

which greyhounds should begin coursing,

after the eleventh

you may take a bitch out

month

or, if

she

Lee's Pindar.

when,

if

we

credit tales believed of old,

Nem. Od.

iii.

His speed subdued

tlie

bounding

stag,

liis

spoil

By bounds
Justin.
C. II.

unaided and the treach'rous

toil.

H.

L. XXXVII.
Descriptioa of
Britaine.

Mithridates, in later days, was wont, during

liis

rustication,

"

feras cursu aut fugare,

aut persequi,

cum quibusdam
fife,"

etiani

viribus congredi."
it

And
a

in

our

own

annals,

" King Henrye the

says Holinshed, " tliought

mere

scoffery to pursue
selfe

Books Thirde.
c. 7.

any fallow deare wyth bounds or greyhounds, but supposed byra

have done a
so kylled
sufficient acte,

alwayes to
foote,

when he had

tired

them by

his

own

travaile

on

and
liys

them wyth hys handes,

in the

upshot of that exercise and ende of

recreation."
12. Tie pi 'ApTeixicriov.

Pindar. Fragm. XL. p. 75.

edit.

'66i
(t)v

TraiSes 'A07]vai(paevvaif

Heyne.

ipdXovTO

KpTjTTiS'

i\ev6fplas.

Plato (\6yos ewiTd<f>ios) gives the

of IMarathon
viKTiaaffi.
ra,

first

and principal honours (apiffrua)

to the victors

Se Sevrtpua, to7s irepl 'ZaKafjuva koI iw' 'Apre/ncriV vavfj.ax'ho'ci<n Kal

;

Artemisium was a northern promontory of the island of Euboea

isle, otF

Psyttalia,
;

a small, rocky, and barren

the coast of Attica, and near to Salamis

Cyprus,

an island of the Mediterranean Sea.

are too well
1.

The

naval victories of Themistocles and Ciraon

known

to

need any

detail.

Having taken a summary view of the

different

modes

of coursing amongst the

Celts, and elsewhere, be

now

enters in detail into the treatment, initiation, &c. of

young hounds.
2.

The elder Xenophon mentions an

:

earlier date for entering

puppies

bitches
c.

at

eight months, dogs at ten months old

but he does not allude to greyhounds.

Pollux
ix.

would introduce bitches

at six

months, and dogs at eight; Onomast. L. v.

The

courser will follow the example of his Bithynian predecessor, whose instructions,

indeed, are in exact accordance with modern practice.

ON COURSIN(;.
be well
set,

131

and not loose-limbed, you may

field,

let

go a hare from

Cuap. xxv.

your hand before her, in an open

this,

a month earlier than

starting the

pup

close to the hare, that she

it

the sight of her game, and, by seeing

quite close,

may enjoy may work

with eaoerness.^
hare, that the
flag

But presently

slip

another good dog to the

puppy may not

;

suffer

by too long a course, nor

her into the puppy's

from over-fatigue

and the second dog turning the hare

should be allowed to tear her with her
her.'*

with ease again and again, will drive

mouth, when the

teeth
till

latter

she has killed

3. lie

recommends

a later

period for entering dog-puppies

see the next Chapter.

:

Nemesian makes no

distinction

between the dog and bitch on this point

Jam cum

bis

denos Phoebe reparaverit ortus,

;

Nemesian. Cyneget.
vs. 18G.

Incipe non longo catulos producere cursu

Sed parvfe

vailis spatio,

septove novali.
a-quis,

His leporem praemitte manu, non viribus

Nee
Nee

cursus virtute
;

parem

sed tarda trahentem

Membra

queant jam nunc faciles ut eumere praedas.

seniel indulge catulis

moderamine cursus

Sed donee validos etiam praivertere suescant,

Exerceto diu, venandi munere cogens
Discere, et emerites laudera virtutis aniare.

Necnon

consuetaj norint bortamina vocis.

jiibeaiit

Sen cursus revocent,

seu tendere cursus,

Quinetiam docti victam contingere pra^dam,

Exanimare
Less

velint tantum,

non carpere sutnptam.

diiTiise

than the Carthaginian poet, the Veronese physician enters his " catu:

ius venaticus" in the following lines of his Alcou, without specifying his age

mi
Et

igitur plenis ubi

nondum

viribus setas

Fracastorii

Accessit,

parvum cursu conscendere collem

A Icon.

ruoUi assuescant sese demittere clivo.

infirnia

nine tenerum leporem, vel crura

trahentem

Sectari capream, et facilem pra?currere

can)pum

Incipiat, verbisque viri parere morantis.

4.

'

AKiffKofxii/ou 5e
is

tov \ayw, says the elder Xenophon, Si56vat avTois avappriyvvvai.

fully

Dc
c.

Venat.

Every sportsman

aware of the importance of blooding young hounds

kvwv

vu.

132
Chap. XXV.

ARRIAN

As soon as the season arrives for taking out your puppies, ^ let them be first walked over such roads as are rough
;

^lian. de
a urd
A
.
.

aypevriKhs airas avrhi

.

fxev

Xa^wv
:

Oripiov T^Serat, koI

/cexP^JTOi

t^ &ypf s

HdKcf, fav

ninia

^^^^^^^ (rvyxoopriari

6 Secnror-rjs

and a greater than Xenophon

tlie

or vElian has declared

|.

that the curee, or quarry, is to

Spartan hound the object of his chase, ovSe rais

Ethic. Nicom. L. III. c. X.

oanuis toov XaywSiv ai Kvves

x'"/"""''"'>

o-Wa rp

fipcucrei

Sti

fiopav

'd^ovffiv.
it,

But
unless
aTjxa

Plutarch tells us that they will not touch the game, nor lap the blood of

Plutarchi

they

kill it

themselves

while, in the other case, i^Sovrat StacnruvTes, Kal

-rh

Utraque aniraalia, &C.

^^^^^^^^ i^poQiixws, &c.

Gratu Cvneg. vs. 246.

Ergo ubi plena suo

rediit victoria fine

t . j . In partem prajdee veniat conies, et sua norit

Prajmia.

Sic operi juvet inservisse benigno.

:

Hoc
Onomast. L.
C. VI.

ingens nierituni est

hffic

ultima pahna trophffi.

v.

Julius Pollux advises that puppies be well blooded, Iva irpoffedi^aivTai ry KvvrjyeTiKr} Tpo<pfj,

Albi Dianae
L,eporiciaffi

Atque

in

parva secant spoliatum segmina corpus,

Adduatque infectum leporino sanguine panem.

MS. Twety and

" Ye shal

gif

yo^ houndys

the bowellis boyled w*". breed, and

it is

callyd reward

for cause that it is etyn

on the erthe aud not on the skyn."

/Hayster of
f
*
I

" Goodnesse
^^'^^'^

of greyhoundes cometh of ryght corage and of the good nature of her

fi9

^'"^

modir, and also

men may wel

helpe to

make hem good

in the

encharmyng

of

hem

with other good greihoundes and feede

hem

wel in the beest that he taketh."

Countrey Content. >.

I.

" In coursing," says Markham, " you

bloud, which
is

shall observe

two things, bloud and labour

p. 51.

a hartening and animating of your dogge to delight in the pleasure,

of his paines taking
;

when he
never

findes the reward

for if a

dog course continually, and

kill,

the sport will growe yrksome to him, and therefore,

kill

now and
is

then, give

him such advantage that he may

killing
;

the hare
all

then

labour,

which

contrary to

for in

it

you must

give the hare

indifferent advantage, both

by lawe and
his

otherwise, whereby she

may stand

long before the dogge and

make him shewe

uttermost strength before he be able to reach her."

De
^'

Venat.
'^*

4.
ils

So Xenophon
Koi

ean

Se koI, &vev tov evpiffKeii' rhv Xayic, ayadhv, &yeiP

Tas Kvvas

TO rpoxea*

yap

fviroSes yiyvovrai, Kal

ra

(Tuifiara

Siawoyovaai iv T6voiS roiovTOis

oxpeXovvrai,

Natalis

Comes

^^'^ nulla hinc merces sequitur te digna laborum

de Venatione.

In loca dura canes

si

duxeris, aspera montis

Per juga

sylvestri

populo vix pervia sicpe.

ON COUUSING.
for this exercise is
feet.

133
Chav. xxv.

conducive to forming and strengthening their

Then

station the

man who

leads

them upon a conspislip

cuous and elevated spot, and be sure that he does not

puppy when
sight
to
;

the hare has got

(notwithstanding the elder

much a-head, and Xenophon advises it

is

out of

in regard
;

dogs that are to be practised at running on scent

slip

^)

for if

you

a greyhound puppy out of sight of her game, she

runs wide, and jumps about,

wildered.

and

is

beside herself and beif

And
she

after she
is

is

full-grown,

a hare happen to
to

escape her,

never at rest,

neither returning

her

keeper, nor obeying his call, but, from

eagerness for

a course,
^

continuing to run about wildly, like a

mad

dog, after nothing.

Let the man, then, that holds the puppy stand on such a spot
as
1

have stated,

"^

concealed from view at the point where

tired hare ^ will

it is

most probable the

come

in the course of her

Scilicet hinc

ungues

solida?,

corpusque labori
pertulit ante
!

Aplius

est parvo,

tnaguum quod

" Wlian
gravel, or
,

thei

be at sojoume,

men

sbuld lede

hem out every day

a myle or

ij

upon
be

^ap^ttr
(JRainc.
c.

0(
59.

upon

right an hard pathe, bi a revere syde, bicause that her feet

may

harder.

xm.

fol.

5. Ilepl

rwv

els

Ixviiav a<TKovfi4vuv kvvuv

Spartan hounds, Castorians and Foxites

j)e Venat.
c. vii.

with regard to wliich, Xenophon recommends that the hare should be out of sight
before they be allowed to follow her
;

lest,

from being too near their game, such as

are high-couraged and swift of foot might be injured

by too much exertion

in pursuit.

It is unnecessary to observe that the elder Athenian's

remarks are inappHcai)le to the

is

courser's iiound,

who

runs entirely by the eye

and the nearer he

slipped to the

hare,

if

he be only

just entered, the better.

hare will always beat a puppy ia his

noviciate, unaided

by an old and experienced hound.

6. Vlaivofievy eoiKev.

A.vaaa\eois

5' ijireir'

KkeXoi Kva\v atcrcTouTes.

AnoUon. Rhod.
L. IV.
vs.

139 J.

7.

He now

gives in detail his instructions for entering greyhound puppies to their

;

appointed game, in opposition to those of Xenophon's seventh chapter

nor can the

most experienced courser add

ratit

to

them any thing worth knowing, nor the most igno-

complain of their insufficiency.

novovfj-evos 6 hayiis
:

8.

viroKafxtpas

ti^h.

To

the same point sings the poet of

Barga

134
Chap. XXV.

ARRIAN
;

tuins

aiid

when he

sees her quite weary, let

him

slip the

puppy
;

close to her, neither before, nor directly opposite to her

for

the bitch rushing right upon her will overshoot herself, and the
hare, with a wrench, easily

skimming by,

will of course leave

the bitch far behind

the latter with difficulty turning herself,

as gallies sailing briskly a-head cannot readily tack, unless

the rowing be

much slackened

before they are brought about.

let

Let the hare, therefore, just pass by, and then

obliquely after her.

him

slip

Some one

should follow up quickly, as

soon as the hare

blood.

is

caught, before the dogs are gorged with her

Not that the flesh of a hare is to be accounted of much worth by a person who courses for the beauty of the sport ^ but it is a bad thing to teach a greyhound to eat a hare. ^^
;

p. Aug. Bargtei

Quaeque adeo multo jamdudum tarda labore

Lyneg. L.

v.

Genua

trahat, primceve annis incauta juventae

facili
si

Continuo sese

det caede vorandara,

Namque animum,
Ipse suae

spes olim frustrentur inanes,

sibi virtutis

male conscius acrem

Abjicit, et dubia;, desperat prEemia palmae.

9.

OvK

eTretSr)

to Hpea

6,pa irfpl

iroXKov iron)reou avSpl is KtiWos KVVTjyfTOvvrt.

And
;

yet

we

find that the hare's flesh

is

was

in high estimation with epicures of old

and

a coursed bare
table,

particularly lauded

by Martial among the luxuries of a country

L.

III.

Leporemque la;sum
In our
with
its

Gallici canis dente.

Epigram. 47.

own

country, the sportsman was as attentive to supply the hall of banquet

little

due portion of the delicate

animal, as the kennel with

its

appointed

halow.

Booke of
St. Alban's.

Thenne the loynes of the haare loke ye not

But brynge theyra
to the

forgete

kechyn

for the lordes

mete-

says the dignified Prioress of Sopewell, in her metrical canons of hunting.

See also

'

The Venery de Twety and

It certainly is

of Mayster

John Giffarde." Fouilloux,

p. 69.

Turberville, p. 174. and Gervase

10. Hotn]phi'
/toflrjjuo.

Markham, C. C.
wrong
to

p. 33.

allow a greyhound to gorge himself

;

with his game, after he has been sufficiently instructed in the art of killing

but no

puppy should be

hastily checked,

when he has caught

his hare, even though, in the

words of old Gervase, " he may breake her."

ON

COl]USlN(;.

13;

Many
while

dog-,

too,

lias

been

destroyed by gorging

himself

Ci.AP.

XXV.
dead.

out of breath,

after a

long course,

and has died of

Ware

sufibcation.

Dog-puppies must not be taken out coursing

two years
old,^ for their

until they are

later period
little

Chap. xxvi.

limbs become set at a

much

Age

of enter-

than those of bitches.

Besides

it

is

attended with no

puppies,

danger to take them out

earlier,

many
of the

a greyhound having

been prematurely destroyed by a severe course before he was

full-grown, and especially

those

greatest spirit
spirit,

and

highest breeding

for, in

consequence of their

they run

to the very utmost of their power.

The other
sex.

practical points, already insisted

on in reference

to

bitches, are equally to

be attended to

in regard to the other

Dogs
;

are to be kept from copulation within

the age
generally

Age

of sexual

stated

for the seed

being not yet matured in them,

xuQuTrsp
19

"itercourse.

is

weak and evanid,

toov vuldcov. ^

The puppies them-

1.

Few

coursers wait

till

the period specified before they enter their dog-puppies

but

it

occasionally happens that dogs entered at fifteen

in their limbs, break
;

months

old, if they are large

and unset

down under

severe work, and are rendered subse-

quently useless

while others, again, more neat and compact of shape, will run as

well at eighteen months as at any later period.

" Men

shuld late renne no houndes," says

Duke Edmund, "

tyme
that thei
at the

of what condicions

/Mniififrr nf

that thei be of, ne nat hunte with

hem

in to the

were a xii mounthis

aniC c
fol.

xiii.

olde and passed, and also thei

may hunt but ix yeer

moost."

52.

2. *wA.OTTJV 5e Ka\ anh oxefas.

Venus imminuit
non
ulla

vires

Lucret. L. v.
vs.

1016.

magis vires

iiidustria firmat,

Virgil.
III.

Georg.
209.

Quam
Columella,
still

Venerera et

caeci

stimulos avertere amoris.

who

admits the dog and bitch to copulate

aware of the mischievous consequences of the practice

much earlier than Arrian, is " si teneris conceditur,"

;

De Re
L. VII.

Rust,
c. XII.

says he,

" carpit

et corpus et vires,

animosque degenerat."
tenellis.

Blanda Venus canibus non permittenda

Vanierii Prred.

Rust. L. IV,

As

to the exact period

at

which

tlie

ewTJs tpya of Oppian (Hal.

i.

532.) should
far

commence, and

their probable duration, without risk of breeding

from animals too

136
Chap. XXVI.

ARRIAN
by
it

selves too are so utterly ruined

that you can never aftererror.

is

wards, do what you

will,

remedy the

The proper and

seasonable time for sexual intercourse

from the completion

of the third year.

Pollux.

advanced in years, there

apiffrrj

is

some

difference of opinion.
fiev

According to Pollux, &pa

L. V.

c. VII.

kvvwv

irphs nKjjpuxriv re
i)

Kol yeveaiv, T(p

&^^evi rerdpTov erovs ap^afiivov,

TiKevTcuov rh oySoov

Se G^Aeia Tpiirls, fiexpi e^aeriSos (TvvSva^eaBu.

:

Columella De Re Rust. L. VII. c. XII.

Plin. Hist. Nat.

" Mares
foeniinis

juveniliter usque in annos decern progenerant

post id tempus ineundis

existit.

non videntur habiles, quoniam seniorura pigra soboles

Foerainae con-

cipiunt usque in annos

novem, nee sunt

utiles

post

decimum," according

to Colu-

mella

while Pliny admits both dog and bitch at a year old

" canum generibus

L. VIII.

c.

40.

annul partus, justa ad pariendum annua ietas."

Conrad Gesner
Hist. Quadrup.

cites

an ancient, nameless authority, to the following effect

scilicet

" Mares quarto anno gignere incipiant, (opera

hominura admittentium tunc

L,

I.

De

Cane.

primuiD robustioris generandae sobolis gratia,) foeminje tertio usque in nonum."

If a courser follow Virgil's rule as to milch kine, in limiting the age of his brood bitcU for the purposes alluded to,

he

will find it perfectly applicable':

Georg.
60.

III.

^tas Lucinam justosque

pati

hymenjeos

Desinit ante decern, post quatuor incipit annos.

After the fourth year, no greyhound can be depended on for

fore

fair

running, and there-

may

be well spared, to keep up the kennel stock,

when no

longer useful in the

field:

Fracastorii

ut generosa Desit.

canum

tibi

copia

nunquam

Alcon.

Countrey Contentments. B. p. 47.

I.

3. 'AttJ) rpirov juef fTovs itpUaOai

" You

shall obseiTe," says

Markham, "

to

have

your dogges and bitches of equal and indifferent ages, as about three or foure years old
at the most.

But

in case of need, your bitch will

endure a great deale longer than

your dogge, and to breed with a young dogge on an old bitch,

Virg. Georg. III. 96.
excellent whelpe."

may

bring forth an

" Frigidus

in

Venerem

senior

."

After describing a good-sbaped bitch, Nemesian adds

Nemesian. Cyneg. vs. 114.

Huic parilem submitte mareni,

sic

omnia magnum,
juventus.

Dum

superant vires,

dum

Izeto flore

Corporis et venis primaevi sanguis abundat.

Namque

graves morbi subeunt, segnisque senectiis

Invalidamque dabunt non firmo robore prolem.

Sed diversa

raagis foetura: convenil aetas.

ON

COIJ RSI NC,

137

And

it

sliould be thus

managed:

^vatch the

opportunity of Chap, x.wii.

Time
of sexual

intercourse.

Tu

bis vicenis

plenum jam mensibus acrem

:

In Venerera pennitte marem

Quae
tulerit soles.

sit

foemina, binos

H*c

optima cura jugaadis.

Gratius would have a general parity of character in both male and female,

Junge pares ergo,

FcEturani.

et

majorum

pigiiore signa

Cyneg.

vs.

2G3.

And

Bargaeus agrees with him that the similaiity should extend to the essential
:

points of age, shape, and bodily powers

conjunge una qui corpore, quique

c-

iMut

ffitace

pares, atijue iisdem vinbus, ut

.......

mor

" Angelii Bargaei Cvnet;.

I

v'

Ipsa tuis votis similis foetura sequatur.

Columella

is

mistaken

if

he intends his observations on breeding in general, (de-

livered in his chapter

on swine-breeding), to apply to the canine race.

" In omni
quoniam
fre-

De Re
^' ^"*

Rust,
'-

genere quadrupedum," says he,

"

species maris

diligenter eligitur,

^'

quenter patri similior est progenies

quam

matri."

Markham's comparative view of

vs^ill

the merits of the male and female in breeding for the Celtic kennel
practically correct.
.

be found more

See Countrey Contentments, B.

.

i.

The dam should be selected

in the field
;

Booke

i.

with the greatest attention to shape, pedigree, and character

the same points be disregarded in the
sire,

nor should

but they are not so important in the latter.

and Countrey Farme. c. xxii.

The chances, however,

{ytvi/atSTTis)

of producing a good litter are greater in the ratio of excellence

in

both parents, their genealogical distinction, the blood of their " profor the reasons stated

avorum atavi," &c.

by the philosophic poet

Fit quoque ut interdum similes existere

avorum

Lucretii

Possint, et referant proavorum saepe fi^uras,

Propterea, quia nmlta mudis priraordia multis

L.

v. vs.

1212.

Mista suo celant

in corpore sajpe parentes,

Quffi patribus patres tradunt

a slirpe profecta, &c.

It

is

evident from

what the elder Xenophon says on

the accoutrements of the

dog, in the sixth chapter of his Cynegeticus, that the Grecian sportsmen took some
pains to preserve the purity of breed of certain varieties of the dog.

Sharp spikes
'Lva

were attached

to the ffTeA/uoj/iai or

body -clothes;

iyKare^pafjievai Se iyKivrpiSis,

Tct yivt\ (pv\dT7ai(Ti, to

prevent promiscuous connexion.

leaving

The remarks

of the text aie defective on the subject of breeding,

much

to

138
Chap. XXVII. the bitch being clear of
it

ARRIAN
vaginal blood
is
;

for

if
is

she receive

the seed before,

generally

not retained, but

washed out

be supplied by experience and reference to other authorities.

Arrian, however, was

too good a judge of the importance of purity of blood in the greyhound kennel to

attend to the mongrel crosses recommended by other cynegetical writers, whose object

seems

to

have been to induce sportsmen to correct the faults or defects of one species
it

by crossing

with anotlier in which the opposite excellencies abounded.

The

ancients, before the time of Arrian at least,

tions of individuals of the

had no idea of correcting the imperfecselecting from

it

same species by

other individuals in

which the same defects were not apparent, but rather " a redundancy of the desired
excellency, coveted in the imperfect animal."

Such

is

the plan of Gratius

Gratii Cyneg.

Idcirco variis miscebo gentibus usum.

^"^'

Quondam

inconsultis raatcr dabit

Umbrica

Gallis

Sensum agilem, traxere animos de

patie Gelona;
linguae

Hyrcano, et vanae tantum Calydonia

Exibit vitium patre emendata Molosso.

Scilicet

ex omni fiorem

virtute capessunt,

Et sequilur natura favens.

De Re
L.

Rust.
IX.

Varro,
interest

however, speaking of the breed of the shepherd's dog, says " magni
it

II. c.

ex seniine esse canes eodem;" by which he means that

should not be

crossed with any hunting breed.

But

in the

"Geoponica" we

are cautioned against

L. XIX.

c.

I.

allowing those of the same

readai
fi^ irore ol

litter to

have sexual connexion with each other, (pvXdrjUi|i xP'h'^"''-^'''''

eK ttjs outtjs firtrphs oures Kvves tq irphs a.Wr]\ovs

a circumstance the more remarkable, because breeding in and in {(puivavra awiroicn)

was general

in other animals, though not practised in the canine tribe

Ovid. Met.
L. x-

Coeuntque animalia nullo

Csetera delicto, nee habetur turpe juvencse

Ferre patrem tergo,

fit

equo sua

filia

conjux.

Oppian's

tale to the contrary is not

worthy of
little

attention.
farther than his Cynegetical predecessors
is

The Greek
whether the

poet of the Chase goes a

on the subject of breeding. His concubinage

varieties united
in its

promiscuous, and he seems inditferent

be both of a mild, or both of a savage disposition, or

each different

type and character.

The male and female

are to be suited to

each other, and of superior excellence

CyneE.

i.

ap/xiva t' aWTjAoicriv, ioiKSra t' e|oxa ^CAa.

vs. 31)2.

Then

uniting the

Arcadian with the Elcan, the Cretan with the Pannonian,

the

ON COURSINC;
by the blood,
^

139

xaQansp Tali ymat^l

it

and you must here pay her Chap. XXVTT.

particular attention, as

is

only for a short interval of time

Cavian with Ihe Thracian,

tlie

Tuscan with the Spartan, and the Sarmatian with the

:

Iberian, he concludes with a preference of pure blood

uiSe f^ev ev Kepdtreias'

arap ttoAv <p4prara

iro-vruiv

(pv\a fXfveL ixov6cpv\a,

rd t e|oxa

TiKHi^'puvTO

&vSpes iiraKTripes.

gens una tamen felicior unS.

Nascitur ex specie.

Natalis
L.

Comes
I.

de Venat.

Beliiide Ballu in his

" Animadversiones" has evidently mistaken Oppian's meaning

in the latter part of this citation.

The poet
dog
;

alludes to an union of the qualities of

critic,

individuals of the same variety of

and not, as supposed by the French

to

breeding in and

in, or

proximity of blood, in the same family

if

practice as degene-

rative in the canine race,

persevered in for a length of time, as the Stagirite has

species.
iJ.ov6(pv\a

observed

it

to be

in

the

human

See Aristot. de Rlietoricu L.

ii. c.

17.

Brodasus very properly explains

by
:

iSiScpvAa

in

his annotations.

And
Hist.

Conrad Gesner, with

his usual accuracy, says

est,

"

Prajstantissimi quidenicanes in suo

:

Quad,
P*
'^''''

quique genere ixovScpvXoi sunt, id

ex unius generis pare^tibus prognati

veriim
sunt,

^*

'

superflua venatorum cura miscere etiam diversa genera, qua;

quidem innumera

adinvenit."

Ipsa tamen generi sua cuique est maxima virtus.

P. Angelii
rSargiei

Et quamvis

variis proles genitoribus orta

Lyneg.

Testeturque aninios, et

magnum

robur avorum

Inque uno interdum geminetur pectore duplex

Utililas
;

tamen

ilia

alieno proiiiius usu

Degenerat, semperque magis producit inertem

Progeniem,

et patria longe a virtute remotani.

1.

Ta

Se Karafjirjuia Tats Kvalv

e-trTo.

rip-fpats

yiuirat' crvfifiaiva Si afxa Kol fTrapcns

Aristotelis

uiSotou* if Be
riixepais'

tS

xpo^'V tovti^

uii

irpuaUfrai oxeiaf, aAA' eV rais i^era Tainas kuTo.

Hist. Animal.

L. VI.

"20.

Tas yap

iracras SoKe7 (TKv^au 7]fi4pas

Thrapas

koI SeKa

iis

inl rh iruXv.

Dat Venus
The son
intercourse

accessus, et blando focdere jungit.

Gratii Cyneg.
vs.

JG3.

of Gryllus
:

recommends

(c. vii.)

the same watchful delay to insure fruitful

irphs

S7' 5e

Karairavofievas,

iVa Buttov iyKvixoves yiyvuVTat,

signifies

kvvus

d^aOous.

The term Karavavofuvas here

"

when

their

heat

is

begiuning to

remit a little," and not, as rendered by Blane, " in a quiet manner."

140
Chap. xxvil.

A R U1AN

that

she preserves her

heat

after

the

vaginal

blood

has

stopped.
Suitable age in bitches for

bitcli's

aoe niav be considered eood for the purpose from

,

breeding.

the second to the seventh year.

^";f

p-

It is

best for the

dog and bitch

v^rhile

to

be shut up by themselves,
^

Wo.le of sexual
intercourse,

^^^

^^

^^ ^^^ ^^ sight
if

together.

For open and public

;

copulations,

we may

believe sportsmen, are not prolific

Fracastorii

Bis quinas tamen ante dies, accensus uterque

In venerem, venere abstiueant
;

Alcon.

sic

plena libido

Acrius exstimulat, viresque ad stmina praebet.

Hinc major soboles, atque inde valentior

&c.

exit.

2. 'A-yaBi] 5e rfj 6r}\eia r]\iK'ta,

Marvellous tales are on record of periods much

to

later than the seventh year, in

which bitches have given birth

numerous progenies

but Arrian has specified a limited time within which a greyhound bitch
sidered as being at the

may be

con-

acme

of her bodily powers, and likely to yield such a litter as

will not disappoint the expectations of the Veltrarius.

in his

To Mr. Pope we

are indebted,

endeavour to reconcile with probability the age of the Homeric Argus,

Odyssey,
B. xvii. vs. 394.

The dog whom

His
lord,

fate

had granted

to

behold

when twenty

tedious years had roll'd,

for the almost incredible case of a gravid bitch of the

age of twenty-two years. After

naturalist,
!

^lian. Hist.
Anniial- L. vii.

which,
^ kvoov
1.

we may

well exclaim in the words of the

Greek

ovkow

ov5i''A.pyoi

ixvdoTrolr]fj.a -^v, Si OeTe "OyUTjpe,

ahu, ovte KOfiiros 7roir]TiK6s

Xenophon merely

says that

tlie

dog and bitch should be 070601, and the Fa-

liscian

adds that they be of tried spirit.

Cyneget. vs. 266.

Et prinium expertos

aniini, quae gratia

prima

est.

In venerem jungunt, &c.

The Chace.
B. IV.

for

erery longing
;

dame
him

select

Some happy paramour

His lineage

to

alone

In leagues connubial join.

;

Consider well

what

his fathers did of old,

Chiefs of the pack, &c.

2.

At 7op ef

TCf)

ifj.<pavei 6fj.t\iai

oh

y6t'i/j.oi.

This ridiculous notion, though doubt-

fully

advanced

in the

manual,

is

supported by many of the old Cynegetica.

ON COURSING.

141
Chap. XXVIII.

but such as are effected by dogs in private are reported to

succeed.
'

Bitches,

after

being

warded,

may
;

be led out, as walking

Management
afterwards.

about

is

conducive to their strength

but they must not be

Sed

frustra longus properat labor, abdita si

non

Gratli Cyneg.

Altiis in latebras,

unique inclusa marito

270

Foemina, nee patitur veneris sub tempore moechos

Ilia,

Deque emeritas servat

fastigia laudis.

Primi complexus, dulcissima prima voluptas.

Huric veneri dedit impatiens natura furorem.

The credulous author

notion by saying,
*'

of the Cynographia Curiosa adds to the absurdity of the

Cynograpb.
'

Si turn videantur canes,

venationi inutiles patient," borrowing

is

P'

the same from the Cynosophium, where such an opinion

long pxperience.

said to be the result of

See Cynosoph.

c.

n.
tovto ylverai lAi-Kuna eV rols KXiitrovcri
:

3. Kiit(TKSTai re kvuiv k jxias oxeias' SrjXov Se

Aristot. Hist.

ras oxdo-S' aTtal "yap iiri^avTis n\i)pov(n, says the Stagirite

that the Spartan dog

and again he remarks,

well

AnKual. L.

vi.

and
:

bitch are

more inclined
yhp

to copulate after exercise, a fact

known

to sportsmen

irov^<ratnes

/xaAAoi' Svi/avrai ox^veiv,

^ apyovvres.
is

(See

Scaliger's note

on the passage, L.

vi. c.

xx.)

This circumstance

also noticed by

^han
which

and Julius Pollux.

Indeed the author of the Onomasticon, in a passage that

has escaped the observation of commentators, throws considerable light on the text,
is

here rather obscure. See L. v.

c. vi.

51. of the Onomasticon.

Nee

prius optatam in

venerem dimitte volentes,

P. Angelii
Bargffii

Quam

rapido quassis cursu,

quam

corpora multo
a;stus.

Cyneg.

L. V.

Sole fatigatis

vehementior ingruat

Inde decern nuctes, totidemque ex ordine luces

Abde domi, cursusque omnes

4.

prohibere memento.

A greyhound

bitch

warded, but not longer

" Da requiem gravidcB,

till

may

be taken out coursing for ten days after having been

solitosque remitte labores."

Walk-

Gratii
^**

Cyneg.
*

ing exercise, however, should be continued

the period of parturition arrive.

clienil, s'engraisse et

"

I!

est

prouve qu'une

lice couverte,

qu'on Icusse au

santit

en cessant de
elle

travailler,

et qu'en cet ^tat elle fait

souventmeme
The period

meurt dans I'operation"

" on

Encvc. Method, ses chiens avec peine, et ^ur les Chasses.

s'appe-

la fait

proraener de tems en terns

dehors, par un valet de chiens," &c. &c.

of uterine gestation is in the Celtic
:

greyhound the same as

in other

varieties of the canine tribe

Mox cum
Ex quo

se bin a formlrit

lampade Phoebe

Neraesian.

passa niareni genitalia viscera turgent,

Cyneg.

vs.

130.

142
CllAl'.

ARRIAN
by over-

slipped again to a hare, for fear of being destroyed

straining or excessive fatigue.
let loose after

XXVJII.

The dog
is

likewise should not be

a hare until he

recovered from his exhaustion,

sixty days' rest.
^

and invigorated by

an interval of at least

After which there will be no obstacle to his beins; coursed.

Chap.

XXIX.

The most favourable season

year,
^

for

breeding

is

the spring of

tlie

Breeding
season.

as the temperature

is

mediate between hot and cold.

FcECundos aperit partus matura gravedo

Continuo, largaque vides strepere omnia prole
I

Hist.

De

Quadrup. Lane.

Conrad Gesner remarks

uterum

" observavi

in

canibus nostris nonnullas catcllas gessisse

prtEcise diebiis 60,

nonnullas uno insuper aut duobus.

Peregrina leporaria

nostra excellens tulit uterum diebus 63."

5.

Thv S/}peva

fxi]

((pievai iirl

\ay<Siv.

This caution
in

is

unnecessary for modern

coursers,

who

rarely use the

same hound

the field and kennel, for coursing the

hare, and supplying the pack with high-bred successors.

But

if

the

same dog be
is

employed

for

both purposes, the interval specified for the restoration of his powers

not too long.

The Cynosophium, however, suggests a

is

shorter period of 30 days,

during which nutritious food

to be

administered, and then the stallion hound

may

be again taken out for sport,

1.

Although the rule has

its

exceptions,

(see Brodajus in

Oppianum,

p. 42.)

Aristotle's observation, that animals in general op/iS irpos

rhv avvSvaafuhv in the vernal

season, will be found correct.

Virgil.
III.

Georg. 272.

Vere magis, quia vere calor

yXvKvs olcnpos avayKaiyts

retlit

ossibus.

lialieut.

Oppian. L.

ilapt Se
i.

^AcppoSiTTis

Kal

ydfjioi Tj^wctxn,
'6croi

Kul aWrjAoov (pi\6Tr]Tes

(pepeffffiov, a'l

vs. 473.
naaiv
T]fpos,

yaldv re

t ava K6\nov5

o'l

t' afo, TtSvTov

ipi^pvxv^ doveovrai.

All the Cynegelica agree with Arrian as to the spring being the most

fit

season for

De

Venatione.
^'

breeding and rearing puppies.

says Xenophon
little
;

'H yap

cl>pa irphs rets

av^riaeis raiv Kvviav KparlffTi] avrrj,

^"*

and the same opinion

is

repeated by the copyists of later date, with

addition.

Indeed, the reasons alleged in the text are the best that can be

adduced

for preferring the spring to

any other season

Oppian. Cyneg. L. I. V. 375.

iiapi p-iv TTpiuTtara Ae'^os trdpavve Kvyeatrtv.

ON COUUSINC,
WintxM'
i;

143

not. ])ropitious for

rearing pu])pies,
:

more especially on ^" Ai>. XXIX.

is

account of the want of milk

the

and sunuiier
is

distressing to

dams

for suckling.

Autunui

worse than spring for this

reason,

that

the

winter arrests the whelps before they are

^

thoroughly formed.

The Cynosopliium
et

specifies

January and February as

tlie

best breeding months.

" La droite saison," says Fouilloux, " en laquelle doivent naistre est en Mars, Avril,

La

Venerie.
P* ^*

May, que

le

temps

est tempore, et

que

les

chaleurs ne sont Irop vehementes."

lie gives the

same reasons as our author

for avoiding

summer and autumn, and

is,

of
to

course, followed verbatim by Turberviile.

Markliam would " put them together

Countrey Con^" '"^".f*

'

ingender and breed, eyther in January, February, or Marcli, according as they shall

''

grow proud

for those are the three

most principal! monthes

:

in the yeare for

hound,

bitches, or bratches, to be limed in

not but

tliat

they

may

conceive and bring forth

as good whelps in other

monthes

but because there

will

be much losse of time in

in the signe
tliat

the entering of them,"

He

farther enjoins that

"

the

moone be eyther

Aquarius or Gemini; for

it is

held amongst the best huntsmen of this land,

the

whelpes that are ingendred under those two signes, wil never runne mad, and

for the

most part the

whelpes."

littsr will

have

at

least double so

many dogge whelpes

as bitch

2. 'AAAois re Kal airopia yaXuKTOs.

The want

of this essential article of nutriment

;

renders the winter objectionable for the rearing of whelps spring gives to this season an additional claim
:

but

its

abundance in the

passim nam

lactis

abundans

Tempus
3.

adest, albent plenis et oviiia mulctris.

Nemesian. Cyneg. vs. 158.

"On

x^^l^"

eTti\afJi.pdi'ei

to,
;

anvXaKia.

The greyhound puppy

is

remarkably

tender and susceptible of cold

indeed Fronto says that the whelp of the pastoral

Sucrxe^M^poi/

dog requires

to be fostered in

warmth,

7ap eVrt tovto rh

^Siov

and

if

an

Geoponic.
L. XIX. c.
II

animal, necessarily of a hardy constitution, be,

when young, impatient

of severe cold,
for the delito

we

shall readily

acknowledge the importance of such a seasonable birth

cate Celtic whelp, as will give

him during

his period of

growth two summers

fin

one

winter.

"

II faut,

autant qu'il est possible, faire couvrir les lices a la

la raison

de I'hiver Encyc. Method,

les froids

ou au commencement du prin terns, par

que

les

jeunes chiens, a qui

Les Chasses.
p. 139.

sont toujours nuisibles, ont pour eux deux etes centre un hiver, et qu'en consequence
ils

s'elevent plus aisement."

It
is

an essential part of kennel management to support brood bitches with the

most nutritious aliment.

Varro (in Geoponicis) recommends barley bread, in prefe-

rence to whcaten, as more nutritious, with mutton broth from bones, &c. poured over

Geoponic. L. XIX. c.

the bread, to be given before whelping

goat's milk, boiled bones,

and afterwards, barley meal with cow's or

and water

to drink.

The same

instructions are delivered,

144

ARRI AN

Chap. XXX.
Management
after

If
"^

you

wisli

a brood-bitch to recover her previous speed,

let

you must not

whelping.

her suckle her whelps, f '

except merely to J r

almost ouTo\e|eJ, by Varro, de

Re

Rustic^, L.

ii. c.

ix.

In the

latter reference, the

author expressly says the bitches are more nourished by barley than wheaten bread,

" magis 60 aluntur,

the late Sir H.

et lactis praebent niajorem facultatem."

But

the experiments of

Davy on

the

quantum of
tlie lest to

nutritious matter contained in the different

in

varieties of bread corn,

and

which they have been put,

kennel feeding,

by

practical sportsmen, induce us to believe that the

this

" Scriptores de Re Ruslica" are

the best food for brood bitches,

mistaken on

point.

The

farina of

wheat

is

boiled with milk, or scalded with meat-broti).

Of

the importance of keeping brood

bitches on highly nutritious food, the old huntsman. Pan, "

fully

Deus

ArcadijE," was

aware

for

Diana found him carving a lynx

for their repast

Callimach. II. in Dian.

?/c60 S' ail A if

'ApKaSi/CTjc

fir\

UavSs' d Se Kpea \vyKhs eTUfive

roKaSes Kwes fiSap fSonv.

MoicaAiTjs,

'Iva ul

1.

The number

of whelps in a litter varies much.

The

translator's experience

affords instances of twelve at a birth,

Aristotelis

and of a

solitary P'ippy,

from the same Celtic

dam.

Aristotle states the former nuniher to be the greatest in a canine litter; but
his annotations

Hist.

Animal.

Julius Caesar Scaliger (a celebrated dog-fancier) certifies, in

Stagirite's

on the
:

L. VI. 286.
Aldrovaiidi

Animal History, a

litter

of fourteen whelps, as within his

own knowledge

and
dus,

this is again

surpassed by the case of the canis leporaria recorded by Aldrovan-

de Quad. Digit.
Vivip. L.
III.

" Canis

leporaria hie Bononiae, unica foetura, catulos septenos supra decern enixa

est."
2. Mr; tav
iKTpf(f>eiv

avTi]v.

Whether the

bitch be again required for the field or

five

not, no

humane courser

will allow

her to suckle more than four or

first

whelps.
:

If pri-

De Re Rust.
L. VII.
c.

she be young. Columella advises that the

litter

should be tak'en from her

nutrit
;

"

12.

mus

effcetai

partus

amovendus

est,

quoniam tiruncula nee recte

Nemesian

et educatio

totius habitus aufert indreinentum."

also destroys the first litter,

and the

smallest pups of subsequent

litters

Cyneget.
Ts. 134.

Sed quamvis avidus, primos contemnere partus

Malueris,

mox non omnes

si

nutrire minores.
foetus.

Nam tibi

placitum populosos poscere

Jam macie

tenues, succique videbis inanes,

larabat,

Pugnantesque diu, quisnam prior ubera

Distrahere invalidam lassato viscere niatrem.

De Re
L,

Rust.
9.

" In

nutricatu

secundum partum," says Varro, "

:

si

plures sunt, statim eligere

tani

II. c.

oportet (|uos habere velis, reliquos abjicere

quam

paucissimos reliqueris,

optimi

ON COURSING.
lighten
bitches,

145
put
:

any excess of milk,

selecting

and

then

them
the

to other

Chap. XXX.

such

as

are

well-bred

for

milk of

in alendo fiunt propter copiani lactis."

litter

Fronto also agrees with him, and out of a

four to be left with the

Gooponic.
L. XIX.
c.

of seven

recommends only three or

mother

out of three,

2.

only two.

Many

are the diagnostics, recorded ia the ancient Cynegetica, to assist the classic
:

sportsman in selecting the most promising puppies

turn deinde nionebo,

Ne matrem

indocilis

natorum turba

fatiget,

GratiiCyneget. vs. 287.

Percensere notis, jamque inde excemere parvos.

Signa dabunt

ipsae, teneris vix

artubus hasret
:

lUe tuos olim non defecturus honores

Jamque ilium impatiens

Extulit, aftectat

fequae

vehementia

sortis

materna regna sub alvo,

Ubera

tola tenet, a tergo liber aperto,

Dum

tepida indulge! terris dementia mundi.

Verura ubi Caurino perstrinxit frigore vesper

Ira jacet, turb&que potens operitur inerti.
Illius e meinibus vires sit cura futuras

Perpensare

levis

deducet pondere

fratres

Nee me

pignoribus, nee te

mea

carraina fallent.

Nemesian demands our assent

the best puppies of a

to a novel
litter,

and somewhat cruel mode of ascertaining

states that
it is

numerous

and

founded on actual experi-

ment

quae prodidit usus

Nemesian.
Cyneget.
vs. 144.

Percipe, et intrepidus spectatis annue dictis.

Pondere nam

catuli poteris perpendere vires,

ciirsus.

Corporibusque leves gravibus preenoscere

Qiiin et ilammato ducatur linea longe

Circuitu, signetque habilem vapor igneus orbem.

Impune

in

medio possis consistere

catuli,

circo.

Hue omnes

hue indiscreta

feratur

Turba, dabit mater partus examine honestos,

Judicio natos servans, trepidoque pertclo.

Nam

postquam conclusa videt sua germina flammis,

Continue saltu transcendens fervida zonae

Vincla, rapit rictu primum, portatque cubili
;

Mox

aliuni,

mux deinde

aliuni.

Sic conscia mater

Segregat egregiam sobolem virtutis amore.

146
Chap. XXX.

ARRIAN
is

degenerate CUTS

not congenial to high-bred pu])pies.

herself appear

'^

If,

however, the

dam

no longer serviceable

for

The same
Cynosopli.
C. III.

diagnostics occur in the Cynosopliium of Demetrius, and the Alcon of

Fracastorius.
Kol i^dyei, and

The former

says, the

dam

(pvaiKa tivX

ir6Q(f

SiaKp'urei

ra

fieXTiova,

recommends the

refuse to be disposed of

by

sale or gift, after having

been placed under foster-parents.

to
this

The heavier whelps should be placed, according

But, of course, our diagnostic canons must

writer,

under their

own dam.

Hist.

Quad.
p.

vary with each variety of dog.

Gesner reconciles the conflicting opinions of the

tlie

L.

I.

178.

De

Caue.

Greek and Latin Cynegetica, on

" Optimus

selection of puppies, in these words

;

" ego

ita

conciliarim, ut ad robur prseferendi sunt graviores

ad celeritatem, leviores."
fert

Hist. Nat.

in fnetu,"

says Pliny, " qui novissime cernere incipit, aut quern

L. VIII.

c.

40.

priraum in cubiie

fcEta :"

and

lie is

supported by the Virgilian poet of Barga

P. Angelii
Bargaei Cyneg.

Namque

ea quern secum

tulit in straraenta,

toroque

Coniposuit priinutn, prinioque affecit honore,

L. V.

Hie alios omnes cursuque animisque stiperhis

Vincet

ovaiis, siinul ac loris exire solutis

Quiverit, et saJtu transgressus inania campi

Intervaila cito diffugerit ocyus Euro.

He condemns
Ejusdeni L. V.

the large and heavy

pup as

likely to

be hereafter deficient

in

speed

Continuo cujus subsidunt pcmdere membra

Atque artus major moles gravat,

ille

volucri

Insuetus cursu longe post ultima fratruin

Terga relinquetur, frustraque optabit adempta

Praeniiaque, et niulto perfusam sanguine prsedam.

Markham's
Countrey Contentments. B.I. p. 48.

" Touching greyhounds," says

" when they
are puppies or

the practical author of Countrey Contentments, are most raw-boned, leane,

young whelpes, those which

loose-made, sickle or crooked bought, and generally unknit in every member, are
ever likely to make the best dogges, and most shapely
:

but such as in the

first

three

or foure monthes, are round, and close trust, fat, straight,

and

as it

were

full

sum'd

and knit

in every

member, never prove good,

swift, or

comely."
Jitter, will

The

courser, in selecting youngsters

from a numerous

not be indif-

ferent to

The marks

of their renown'd progenitors

to

Sure pledge of triumphs yet

come

but will preserve

all

such " with joy," while he casts " the dwindling refuse to the

merciless flood," fearful of overloading " the indulgent mother."

3.

Th yap Twv aryivvuv

ya.Xa.

ov ^6n<pv\ov raTs yevvalaii.

of the

It

is

diflicult
is

to prove

that the quality of the milk of varieties

same species of animal

absolutely

ON COURSING.
coursing,
it

147

is

best to leave the whelps with their

own mother,
is

Chat-,

xxx.

and not

to put

them under a

foster-parent.

'

For the growth

<lifferent,

and productive of

effects,

beyond

its

physical nutriment, upon the innate

it
:

powers and propensities of the young animal supported by

nion
is too

and yet such an opi-

much countenanced
all

by naturalists to

make

us unliesitatingly

condemn

it

as destitute of

foundation.

It

was a favourite notion of ancient physiologists, and

it

many moral

inferences were

drawn from

by Galen and others.

" Non frustra

Noct. Attic,
'-'

credituni est," says A. Gellius, on the authority of the philosopher Favorinus, " sicuti valeat

x".

c. i.

ad fingendas corporis atijue animi siinilitudines

vis

et natura serainis, non

;

secus ad eandera rem lactis quoque ingenia et proprietalcs valere

neque

in

homini-

bus id solum, sed

Elyot enjoins,

in

pecudibus quoque animadversum," &c.

of nutrication,

Wherefore

Sir

Thomas
TheGovernoiir.
13. I. c.

when speaking
:

"a

nourse shoulde be of no servile

condition, or vyce notable

for as

some auncient writers do suppose, ofteniymes the

See

chylde sucketli the vyce of hys nouryse with the mylke of her pappe."
Bratiiwait's English

Gentleman,

p. 94.

1
fiT]

5e vv roi irivvTi] (TKvKaKorpocpiTi iJLefie\r)Tai,

TTOT

Oppian.Cyneg.
'

a.ixi\yeadai

CKvAaKas veo0ri\ei fia^^

/xrjS' oiViSirjiri

alywu, ^ TrpojSaTcoc,
^

Kvvfcrcnv'

yap

Toi vudpoi re Kol ovriBavol fiapvdoiev.

Nee unquam

eos

quorum generosani volumus indolem

;

conservare, patiemur alienee

Columel. de

nutricis uberibus educari

quoniam semper

et lac et spiriius

maternus longe magis

*'"
^^

ingenii atque incrementa corporis augent.

4.

KpaTKTTov iSv
;

virh

rfj

Te/coutr??.

Arrian

here copies his predecessor almost

irvevfia

verbatim

but in addition to \herhyd\a ayaBhv koI rh

of the former, the latter

patlietic

De
'^'

adds Koi
of

at irepiPoXal (piXai.

The

classic reader will

remember the

address

Venat. ^"

Andromache

in the Troades,

S)

veov vitayKaXio'iJ.a fnyrpl (pihraTov,

Eurijiidis

S,

xpooThs r,Sb vvevfia

Troad.

vs.

7CC.

It

is

true

that a foster-mother

may "

cherish kind

an

alien offspring,"

and
are,

" pleased" we may " behold her tenderness, and hospitable love," but instances
I

believe,

most
"

rare of gre^'hound puppies, suckled

by

alien

dams of mongrel blood,

tc

repaying the courser for the trouble of rearing them.

iiriTr\5iiau
ui

Tlav yap

reKhv

Tpo<pr]V exet

hv

Tiicri

and

it is

iti

vain that

we make

the unnatural attempt, at yhp

Piatonis JVlenexenus.

Oepairelai at

aWdrpiai ovk

elalv av^ifioi, according to both

Xenophons

whereas "

les

Encycloped.
1

ieunes chiens, nourris par leur propre mere, seroient plus forts et mieux portans que ^ '
.

letlioilKiue.

ceux qui sont nourris d'uu

berville,

lait

etranger."

"

When

a bitch hath whelpes," says

^ Tur-

Les Chasses.
p_
j

jq_

"

let

a niastiffe bitch (une niatine, Fouilloux)give sucke to one halfe, and

Booke of
Hunting, &c. '"

you

shall find that they will never be so

good

as those

which the

damme

did bring

up."

148
Chap. XXX.

ARRIAN
by a
stranger's

stinted

nursing,

(as

the

other

Xenophon
to

declares,) but the mother's milk

and breath are cherishing

her puppies.

Chap. XXXI.
^""p^uppreT'"^

When
mends

puppies can run about, Xenophon properly recom;

that they be fed with milk

for the

filling

them with

Oppian. Cyneg.
'" '"'

i)

^a t6(iov reKedv re, Kal apnySvoto yevedXris

(pl\Tpov iv\ KpaSlri (ndlev 6f6s'

rSaaov pa

cpvcris

KparepuTaTov

&Wuv.
also speaks of milk food
for the first
;

1. Xprj

yd\aKTi

avarpeipiLi' aiiTci.
c. vii. 4.

See Ch.

viii.

where he

and Xenophon. de Venat.

The

latter

recommends milk
Se yurjSeV

year

Kal ois fieWei tov airavTa xp6vov PtaxreaOat,

&\\o

al

yap

/3ape?a( TrXrjfffxoval

rwv (TKvKaKlwv
ylyvfTai. Gratii Cyncg.
^^-

hioiffrpecpovai

aKiMj,

awfjiaai v6(Tovs

iixvoiovcrt,

Kal

to fvrhs &SiKa

turn denique foetu

^^^'

Cum

desunt, operis fregitque industria matres,

Transeat in catulos omnis tutela relictos.

Lacte no van) pubem, facilique tuebere maza.

Nee

luxus alios avidieque impendia

vitse

Noscant.
Columella
also,

and the Carthaginian poet, administer milk

to ttie

young

fry,

and

Pollux with his copyist Paullini adds thereto the blood of the game to which the

Columella

hounds are

to be

afterwards entered; "

Quod

si

eifoeta

lacte
:"

deficitur,

caprinum

De He
L. VII.

Rust,
c. 2.

maxirae conveniet prajberi catulis,

dum

fiant

mensium quatuor

Nemesian. Cyneg. vs. 161.

Interdumque cibo cererem cum

lacte ministra,

Fortibus ut succis teneras conflere medullas

Possint, et validas

jam tunc promittere

vires.

Cvnopranh
Curiosa.
p. 33.

" ^'^^^ autem despiciendum," says the credulous physician of Eisenach, on the
authority of Julius Pollux, "cui generi singulos applicare velis, ut
qua; venation! sunt destinata, sanguinem
nistres," &c.

eorum auimaliuni,

cum

offis

statim post ablactationem subiiii-

fMflncfrr nf

" ^^^^

''^^ grete
ij

nede of bur dame," according to Duke Edmund," in to the tyme

anfc.
fol.

c. XII.

that thei be

monethis olde, and than thei shuld be fedde with gootis mylke or with
;

51.

kowes mylk and cromes of brede ymade smale and put there inne
the raorowe and at nyght by cause that
y*".

and specially

in

nyght

is

more cold than the day and

this wise

also

men

shuld geve

hem crommes

in fflesh brothe

and in

men may

norfshe

hem

tyl thei

be of half yeere olde."

ON COLRSiNC.
heavy food distorts
bodies.
their legs,

149
in their

and occasions diseases

Chap. XXXI.

And

as to giving dogs short

names of easy pronuncia-

Largus victus solet esse maximo damno.

Blondus de Canibus, &c.

Oppian.
Halieut. L.
i.

It

vory rarely happens that

tlie

kxiuv dpTtrJ/cos is deficient in milk for six or eight

;

weeli* after the birth of her progeny

719.
foemina qujcqne
Lucretii L. v.

Cum

peperit dulci repletur lacte,

quod omnis
ille

805.
:

Impetus in

mammas

converlitur

alimenti

but

if llie

puppies do not thrive on the nutriment they derive from their dam,

it

is

probably deficient in quantity, and should be dispensed with altogether as soon as

they

will lap

cow's milk sufficient for their support.

Tum

tu

adeo (nam tempus

erit)

jam parce

parenti,

Exhaustis parce uberibus.

Sed mollia nondum

P. Angelii Bargaei Cyneg. L.

V.

Subducenda tamen
Pascendi

natis alimenta, sed haustu

lactis, cujus

mulctralia pingues

Implerunt vaccas, et redeuntes rure capellas.

Turberville says, " the longer they tast of their

dammes

teat,

the more they shall

best," he remarks,

Booke of
Hunting, p. 22.

take of her complexion and nature."

And when weaned, "

all sorts

it is

"

to bring tliera

up abroad with milke, bread, and

of pottages,
is

and you

shall

understand that to bring them up in villages of the country,

bring them up in a butcherie :"

much

better than to
p. 9.

" aux

villages, et

non aux boucheries," Fouilloux

How close
the
tions

is

the analogy " touching the acceleration of growth and stature," in

subject
!

Lord Bacon's
Nat. History. Cent. IV.

human and canine

In breeding for the kennel. Lord Bacon's observa-

may be turned
;

to

some account.

" Excess of nourishn)ent," says he, " and growing

is

hurtful

for it

maketh the

child corpulent,
it

in breadth rather than in

height."
countries

" The nature of

may

not be too dry, and therefore children in dairy

do wax more

tall,

than where they feed more upon bread and flesh ;"

" over-dry nourishment in childhood putteth back stature." Upon which principle Albertus Magnus orders liquid food for the dog, because his temperament is dry.
It is

seldom that the practical courser

wh'en he says, "
if

will differ

from the advice of old Gervase

receite,

Markham; but
servants,

the house

you keep be of great

Countrey Conand many tentments. B. I.

p. 27.

you

shall let

your cooke bring up your whelpes, and your dairy-maide your

second

best,

and the

rest

you

shall

put forth amongst your friends or tenants, accord-

ing unto the love you possesse in the country," I

the respective claimants on the
litter,

am

inclined to invert the merits of

the bottom of the
list.

placing

la cuisiniere at

unto thy choicest friends

Somerville.
Tlie Cliace.

Commit

thy valued prize: the rustic

dames

B. IV.

150
Chap. XXXI.
Xenophon's
instructions

ARRIAN
"

tion,

in this

we should

also attend to

him

for

the

names

which he has enumerated,

(in part the invention

of others, and

approved.

some of his own

But
if

creation), are cleverly

composed.
to breed

Care of brood
bitches, not

you do not as yet wish your bitches

up any

allowed to
suckle.

puppies, you must take the greatest possible care

of them

while under distress in consequence.^

For when they have

Shall at thy kennel wait, and in their laps

Receive thy

grovi^ing hopes, with

tlieir little

many

a kiss

Caress, and dignify

charge

With some

great title,

and resounding name

Of high
2.

import.
All the

Sec Xenophon de Venat.

c. vii.

,5.

names

left

us by Xenophon, Arrian,

Columella de Re Rust.
L. VII.
c.

and Columella, are Hissyllabical.

Nominibus autem non longissimis appellandi sunt,

;

quo celerius quisque vocaius exaudiat

syllabis
I'T/TTtaxoi

nee tamen brevioribus,

bis

quam

quaj duabus

12.

enunlientur.

Oppian names

puppies, while

young

and tractable,

C^neg.
443.

>

avrap

VT)itiaxoi<nv

eV

oiivSfjLaTa

OKvXaKiaai
^d^iv aKovri.

^aia. T(0t,

6oa

irdt'Ta, Bor]v 'Iva

By which Gesner

supposes the names should be " oxytona."

Natalis

Comes

agrees

with his predecessors

De

V^enat.

ponantur nomina cuique

Certa cani, teneatque ad summura syllaba bina
:

L.

1.

Protinus ut noscat voces, et verba vocantum.

The
names

indefatigable

German

naturalist has alphabetically arranged all the classic

of the

Greek and

Roman

kennels that have descended to us.

We

find in his
;

canine vocabulary, those of Xenophon, Ovid, Columella, and others of ancient days

and some from Blondus (of

has a copious
list

wliich

Gesner disapproves) of more modern use. Ilyginus

of canine appellatives in his 181st fable, entitled " Diana."

And

one of the most chaste poets of the fifteenth century supplies the kennel with
Hercules
Stroza.

bona naribus Heuresiiclme,

Theragus, Ocypete, Thoissa, Melaena, Cylindus,

Chaetodesque

liirtus setis,

domitorque ferarum
ilia

Theridamas, veloxque Lagois, et ocyor

Protodomus, longoque legens compendia passu

Macrobates, Leuconque rapaci et
S.

cum Harpage Tbcron.

of opinion that Arrian
it

El Zi firiTTW idcKois aKvKaKevaai.

Schneider

is

is

here

cautioning the courser agdinst running a bitch,

whom

has been deemed prudent to

O N C O U R S N (;
I

151
turgid

ceased

to

oivc

suck,

tlioir

teats
tiic

become

and

full

of Chap. XXXI.

milk, and the parts beneath

time,
it is

belly distended.

At which

not safe to loose them after a hare,

:

for their flanks

may

be burst asunder

nor should you

let

them play with

another dog, as, by contending and striving with him beyond

their strength, they
It is best to

may be
till

placed in equal danger.

teats are

wait

their
it is

become
them
it

flaccid.

you

will

have a proof that

off"

safe to take

out,

And when the

hair falls

abundantly, as you stroke

I

with your hand.

They

are then,

think, free from the distress they laboured

for coursing. *

under on account of their milk, and are ready

The greyhound

bitch

is

fleeter

than the dog,^ but the dog Chap, xxxil.

Estimate of Sexes.

put aside from taking the dog, and whose milk-vessels are distended towards the
close of the period of gestation, as if she were actually pregnant.
is

This interpretation

ingenious, and

may be

tenable

but as I find no such caution in any ancient author,

at the time alluded to,
;)

and have never seen any mischief accrue from running a bitch
(though her speed
is certainly
it

impaired by the constitutional plethora of the period

in

and, moreover, as

magnifies a very unimportant circumstance

is,

the

physical
I

condition of the bitch, and

on the whole, rather a far-fetched interpretation,

have followed Blancard and Zeune in the more usual acceptation of the verb ffKvXaKfvfiu,
i.

e. catulos nutrire.

No man
is SpSfiov.

in his senses

would think of coursing a brood

bitch while in the state described in the text.

4.
all

Kal iraplaram-ai
editions

ijSri

These words commence the 32nd Chapter

;

in

the

which

have examined

and though Schneider suggests

their

adaptation to the close of the present Chapter, he does not venture to change their
position.

Inasmuch, however, as the division into chapters

is

probably arbitrary, and

the words in question are

more appropriate here than

at the

commencement

of the

ensuing Chapter, they are here introduced.

1.

Kvwv

driXeia ixev

wKurepa &pp(vos.

have already remarked that Arrian and

Xenophon
chase
:

invariably use the feminine

also the Grecian poets,

gender when speaking of the dogs of the

(as the Kva\v raxeiais of Euripides, and ckv-

and so

some cases the Latin, (as the " canes montivag" of Lucretius, " venatica canis" of Ennius, and " multd cane" of Horace); as if bitches were more quick-scented, " more fleet of foot, or sure of fang." Minerva, XaKicrai 0oa7sof Oppian,)

and

in

in the

Ajax

Flagellifer,

compares Ulysses searching

for the

mad

Ajax, to a Spartan

bilch

though the verse would have admitted the masculine instead of the feminine

152
Cfiap.

ARRIAN
more bottom than the bitch
is
;

XXXII. has

and, because he can run

valuable acquisition
:

through the whole year,

much more
it

and as good bitches abound, but

precious

is

no easy thing to meet

is

with a thorough-good dog, the latter

:

on

this account

more

and again,
fifth

it

is

fortunate

if

bitches preserve their

speed to the

year,^ whereas dogs retain theirs even to the

gender, and the former would certainly have been more appropriate to the sex of the

person represented.

The gender

is

changed by the poet

in a

marked way

Sophoclis

KOI vvv eVJ aKrjpais ae vavriKois SpSi

Ajax

Flagell.

Aiavros,

tvOa,

rd^iv iaxo.Ti\v ^X^h

vs. 2.

viXai KwrjyeTovfTa, Koi fierpovfievov

tX'^V
eSfr'

TO Keivov veoxO'PCX^'} ottws

ifSps

evSov, fXr ovk tvdov

ei 5e a' e/c^e'pet

Kwhs

AaKaivrjs

Sis

ris eiipivos fidais.

This opinion, therefore, of the superiority of the bitch over the dog seems
prevailed in the kennels of antiquity
;

to

have

and such,

I believe, is

still

entertained by

Markham's
Countrey Contentments. B. I.
p. 47.

sportsmen.
tentments,

"

It

is

an old received opinion," observes the author of Countrey Conof the leashe, that the greyhound bitch will ever

" amongst many men

is

beate the greyhound dogge, by reason of her more nimblenesse, quicknesse, and
agillity
;

and

it

sometimes seene that a perfect good bitch indeed, hath much

:

advantage of an ordinary dogge

there
is

but

if

the good dogge meet with the good bitch,

then no comparison, but the dogge will be her master, inasmuch as he ex;

ceedeth her both in lengthe and strengthe, the two maine helpes in coursing
nimblenesse
as
is

for

her

then no helpe, sith a good dogge in the turne will loose as

little

ground

any bitch whatsoever."

See also The Countrey Farme,

c. xxii.

by Markham,
additional

ed. 1G16.

The

earliest edition, of IGOO, does not contain

Surflet's version of

Markham's

remarks on coursing, but merely

" Maison Rustique."

2. "Ap^-qv 5e 6r]\e[as Stairoviiadai afiiivaiv.

Aristotle remarks, in the Spartan tribe

tlie

of dogs, that the bitches are longer- lived than

dogs, in consequence of the latter

The Countrey
Farme.
c.

working harder than the former,

ever," says
out the

Sib.

jh

iroi'(7v

rotis

a^ptvas fiaWov.

" Wheresowill beat

xxii.

Markham, " the course

shall stand forth long, the

good dogge

good bitch and make her give over."

(jlIv

3. A 6ii\eicu

ayoeirriThv, k. t. \.

am not aware

of any difference having been

observed by coursers,
It is

in the duration of the

comparative speed of the dog and bitch.

tliird

not inability to run that disqualifies a greyhound (generally in his

field,

year

from the period of entrance) for appearance on the coursing

acquired by experience, to skulk and run false
:

but a propensity,

Sir

W.

Scott.

Experience sage the lack of speed supplies.

And

in the

gap he seeks

his victim dies.

ON COUKSINC.
touth.*

15: J

For

all
is

which reasons,
u

in

my

opinion,

really tiood,

Cum'. XXXII.

hioli-bred doc;

irreat treasure^

one

that falls not to the lot

We
is

can rarely,

if ever,

say of any greyliound, after he has run two seasons, what

Sliiillotc

says of Page's fallow greyhound,

who " was

?

out-run on Cotsale

:" " He
So

Merry Wives
of VViiidsor.

a good clog, and a fair

tlie

dog

can there be more said

to n)ake

he

is

good, and fair."

Act
in willingness

soon does
to work.
-1.

fleetest

dog begin

up by cunning what he wants

"k^^evfs 5 Koi s SeVoTOf hacpvXaTrovaiv.

tlie

Our author

is

here at issue with

Juliana ]$erners, wlio says of

greyhound

in his ninth year,

And whan
Have hym

he

is

comyn

to that yere.
;

Book

of

to the tannere

St. Alban's.

For the beste hounde that ever bytche had,

149G.

At nynthe yere he
Indeed,
it

is full

badde.

is

incredible,
full

however great may have been

speed
till

his youthful vigour, that

vk'liich all

any

dog should retain his powers begin

the tenth year

period at
at

the hodily

to feel the gradual

approach of infirmity,

which many dogs die appa-

rently of natural decay,

and

all

are incapacitated for strenuous exertion.

" Canes

Laconici," says Pliny, " vivunt annis denis, fceminas duodenis, caetera genera quin-

decim annos, aliquando

rare.

viginti."

Instances of the latter protracted period are very

never knew a greyhound to reach the memorable age of the Homeric

Argus
"Apyov
5' ail

Kara

y-olp

i\a^ev (leXavos davdroio,

Odyss. xvir.
*

avTiK iS6vT 'Oivffrja ieLKOffTu iviavr^.

320.

Short

is

their span

few

at the date arrive

The Chace.
B.
!

Of

ancient Argus, in old Homer's song

;

IV.

So highly lionour'd
See ^lian de Nat. Animal.
Mortis.
5. Me'^a
fioi

kind, sagacious brute

Buffon Hist. Natur.

and Lord Bacon Hist. Vitje et

SoKfi rh KTTJfia &^pr]i>

kvuv ry

a.\T]dfla yevvalos.

Such

in the annals of

British coursing

wasTopham's Snowball, and such Bate Dudley's

Millar

Tu quos ad studium venandi

Quaere mares

legeris, et

quos

Natalis

Comes

Dixeris hinc comites cursus, cajdisque ferarum,

:

de Venation^ L.I.

maribus major

vis est

animusque,

Et melius
Kal ovK

tolerare valent certamina longa.

G.

&i^fv

Oiwu tov eunevdas, K. r. \.

first

With Schneider's

sanction, I have

united the 33rd Chapter of the

and second editions of the Greek text with the

U

154

ARRIAN
some god.6
For such a

Chap. XXXII. of a courser without the favour of

blessmg, then, he should sacrifice to Diana Venatrix.'^

He

32nd

of the

German

editor,

from which chapter the former seeras to have been most

first

unnecessarily separated by Holstein, or whoever

sections, affixing to each a table of contents.

divided the Cynegetiius into

In accordance with Arrian's notion, the fabulous greyhound of the suspicious Ce-

phalus

is

conceived, in the imagination of the poet, to have been bestowed on the

virtuous Procris

by the Goddess of the Chase, with the high character of pre-eminent

speed
Ovid. Metam. L. VII. 754.
quern

cum

sua traderet
'

illi

Cynthia,

'

currendo superabit,' dixeral,

omnes.'

7. 'ApTffiiSi 'AypoT4p(}.

This

title

of the sylvan goddess

is

variously derived by

etymologists.

Scheffer (-lElian. V.

H. L.

ii.

c.

25.) would have her ladyship so

called from Agre in Attica

Attic. L.
C.
I.

x'^p'^ov''AypaL Ka\ovfxevov, the

scene of her

first

essay in

hunting on arriving from Delos.

"AypcLi KaKovjxivov,
/col

Aia^aai 5e rhv Eihiffahv, says Pausanias, xwptoi'

XIX.

vabs 'AypoTfpas iarlv 'AprfniSos, k. t. X.

But Perizonias

objects to Scheffer's derivation, and also to that anh rrjs &ypas, d venaiione, consi-

dering 'AypoTepa rather to signify rustica, in agris agens.

rtiot

If &ypa, venatio, be the

titular epithet

of the
is

title,

to the

same may probably be referred the

in Atticis,

by which
:

Apollo

connected with the chase, by Pausanias

(L.

i. c.

xli.) 'Aypalos

unless the Attic Agrae

would here
to

afford a
in aypSs.
is

more ready

solution.

But the

true deri-

vation of 'Ayporepa

is

be sought

See Etyraologicon

Magnum.
is ii.

From whatever
commonly applied
454.)
luis,"

source derived,

it

sufl^cient for our

purpose that the epithet

" Dea

to her in the character of

" Dea Venatrix," (Ovid. Met. L.

163.)

sylvarum," (Ovid. Met. L.

i.

iii.

"

ssevis

iuimica virgo

bel-

(Hor. Od. xii. L.

22.)

as presiding over woods, and delighting in

t'

hunting.

It is so used in the

Thesmophoriazusae of Aristophanes,

rdf

iv opiffi Spvoy6vot-

ai KSpav aeiaar^ "Ap-

reniv 'Ayporepav

and in the Rape of Helen of Coluthus,

Coluthi Rapt.

oiiSe KcuTLyvrirri Arirw'ias 'Air(5A\wi'os

Helena,

vs. 32.

"Aprefiis

riTlfi7)(Te,

Koi ayportprj irep iovcra.

To

coursers

it

must be a mighty consolation to know

is

that,

by virtue of

this distinc;

tion, the

goddess

ominous of good when seen by them

as a

night-phantom

at least

Oneirocrit.

so says the dream-interpreter of Ephesus, the fortune-telling Artemidorus

jxaXiffTU avfx(pipu Si^

Kvvrjyo7s

L,

II. c.

XXXV,

tV

'Ayporipav.

ON CODUSING.
should
sacrifice, too,

155
in his sport, dedicate Chap, XXXII.

whenever successful

The Odyssey
worked
ort"

affords the graphic outline from

whence Apelles

is

supposed

to

have
:

his linislied picture of the

Goddess of the Chase as an

KaT* oPpeos lox^O'ipO')

active toxophilite

"Aprefits

flffi

Homeri Odyss.
L. VI. 102.

^ Kara Trityerov

ireptfiriKeTov,

^ 'EpvfiavOov,

TipirofXivt] Kairpoiai koI wfcefjjs ^\a<poiai'

rrj Se 6' oifxa 'Nvix(pai,

Kovpai Aihs Alyidxoto,

'Aypov6fj.oi TTai^ovffi' K. r. A.

The

rival

copy of Virgil (^Iineid. L.

c.

i.

502.) will occur to the reader's recollection;

and I need not again exhibit (see

xxii.note 2.) the elaborate and highly-embelEffigies in

;

lished portrait of the Carthaginian poet, (Nemesian. Cyneg. vs. 86.)

marble of the Goddess of Hunting are to be seen in almost every collection

alone,

with her usual symbols of venation, or accompanied by dogs of chase, or deer

both, as in an alto-relievo at Wilton House.

or

Temples and
c.

altars of

Diana Agrotera
i. c.

are mentioned by Pausanias in Atticis

c.

xix. and

xli., in Eliacis

xv., in

Achaicis

c.

xxvi.
in

For the honour of Diana,

the

the character of Agrotera, the shows of wild beasts in

:

Roman

Circus and Amphitheatre were generally designed

so Claudian,

Tu juga

Taygeti, frondosaque ftlaenala, Clio,

;

I Triviae supplex

non aspernata rogantem

!

Amphitheatrali faveat Latonia pompfe

. . .

&c.

Claudian. Consul. Mall. Theod. vs. 292.

De

and

for their support in splendid variety, the

:

whole world was ransacked

for its rarest

and most savage animals

quodcunque tremendum

est

Dentibus, aut insigne jubis, aut nobile cornu,

Aut rigidum

setis capitur

decus omne timorque

Sylvarun), &c.

No
I

deity amongst the heathens

was more

terrible

than the masculine daughter of

Lucian. Deor.
Dial.
^

Latona, {a^peviKij irepa toO jXiTpov, koX

e f patient of atiront less ^

opeios, in

Juno's taunting language,) and none

...

Juno

et

Latona.

gods and
Fear'd her stem frown, and she

men
woods.

Milton's

was queen

o' th'

Comus.

vs. 44-5.

The reader

will call to recollection the

death of the unfortunate sen of Autonoe, rhv

'Attraiuvos &@\iov /xSpov, (Euripid. Bacchse,)

and the desolation of the well-cultivated

vineyard of (Eneus (Homer.

Iliad.

L. ix.) at the hand of Dian,

156

A HR1A

N
and purify
his dogs

Chap. XXXII. the first-fruits of his spoils to the goddess,^

and sportsmen,^ as regulated by

country.

the established rites of the

Chap. XXXIII.
'

Some
Diana
: '

of the Celts have a custom of annually sacrificing to

^,

Celtic
luinting rites.

,..

while others institute a treasury for the g-oddess," ^

"^
.

Kal
Iliad. L. IX.

yap

Toiffi

KaKhp XP^'^^^P"^"^

''Aprefits Zpcre

533.
It
is

X<catitvri.

supposed that the beautiful

poetrjr of Callimaclius, in

which the anger and

favour of the goddess are so feelingly described,

(Hymn,
vs. 124.

in Dian.,)

was imitated

from the Psalms of David, which the poet, peradventure, had seen at the court
of King Ptolemy.
irT}V,

See the

effects of

her wrath,

<rxeTAot oTs tvv-q x*"^*"

K. T. A.

with which are contrasted the good luck and haj)piness of those to
oiis

whom
Calliniacli.

she

is

propitious, vs. 129.

Se k^v fv/xeiSfis re

Kal 1\aos, k. t. \.

The con-

clusion follows, of course, that

the powerful dispenser of so
in Diaii.

no man in

his right senses

evil
htj ris

should think of slighting

T^jv^Aprefitv.
in the sulks at

much good and

urifi-fiffri

260.

The reader
the

will find

an amusing description of the worshipful Dian

marked

insult of ffineus,

Ovid. Metam. L. VIII. 277.

(solas sine Ihure relictas

Prsteritae cessasse ferunt LatuVdos aras)

fj.6vr\v,

in Lucian, irepi Qvaiouv

Kai

fioi

5oKe7 upav avT^jv eV toJ ovpavai Tore

says the

infidel satirist, tuiv &\\cev Qioov iv

Oiviws

irciropevfifVicy, Bfiua iroiov(Tav, Ka\

cxfrAia-

^ovaav
8.

o'las foprris a.Tro\ei(\)di\aiTa.i,

'AvaTiQivai airapxas

amended by Schneider.

twv aMa KOfXiVwv rrj 06^, Kal airoKaSaipuv, k, t. A. as " Ac ne degustahant quidem novas friiges, aut vina," says

Pliny (xviii. 2.) " antequam sacerdotes primitias libassent."

And

our venerable

courser would have his disciples observe with strictness the same religious ceremonies

of dedication, purification, &c.

Plant. All!
III. G.

sacrificing

" Ego,

The ancients always

vis,

purified themselves before

tells his

nisi quid

me

eo lavatum, ut sacrificem :" and Hector

13.

mother he

is afraid to

pour forth even a libation to Jupiter with unwashed hands,

Iliad. L.

Xepcl

S'

avinroKTiv Ait Aei/Setc aWoira olvov

26G.

9.

The

Toi/s

Kvvas koI tovs KvvrjyfTas of our author answers to the " tota juven;

tus " of Gratius, hereafter cited

and his &s

p6ixos, to the

"

lustralis

de more sacri

of the Faliscian.
1.

M. Le

Verrier de la Conterie derives the fete of the French Chasseurs called

of Diana.

La

S. Hubert from this Celtic festival

As

the latter supplanted wilh her

ON COUKSl NG,
into

157

which they

j)ay

two oboli

for every
is

hare that

is

cauoht,^

drachma

lor a I'ox/

(because he

a crafty animal, and

Chap. XXXllI.

images the unseen divinity of

of
tiie

earlier adoration, she in her turn yielded the tutelage

chase to St. Martin, St. Germain, and St. Hubert.

Arrian wrote in the second

:

century, and in the sixth

we

find

Diana

still

predominant

" Le pere Dom Martin

Lu
le

V6nerie

nous assure que vers

la fin

du sixieme siecie, les Gaulois c^Iebroient les inysteres de

debauches que peuvent produire

Normande.
S. Hubert.

cette divinite avec des chants excessifs, et toutes les

I'amour et
ils

le

vin, sur

une montagne des Ardennes qui est dans

Luxembourg,

oii

avoient une idole de Diane fort grande et fort celebre," &c.

M.
site.

Fleuri (Hist. Ecclesiast.

Tom.

viii.

L. xxxv. n. 22.) relates

tlie

destruction of

Diana's image, and the erection of the monastery and church of

St.

Martin on

its

But neither

St.

Martin, nor St. Germain, (" eveque d'Auxerre, et chasseur de

grande reputation,") were able to preserve their ascendancy against the superior
claims of St. Hubert, (" eveque de Liege, plus
fin

et plus rus6 dans I'art

de

la

chasse,")
Koft.(vwv,

who

subsequently received the

first-fruits of the

chase, airapxas tuv

fviavcria,

a,\i<T-

and a tenth part of the game, as an annual consecration,

from the

posterity of the Celts.

The worship
at

of

Diana Venatrix extended from Celtica

to the British

Isles,

which

an early period were peopled by a Celtic race, (see note 12. at the end of the

present chapter).

" Amongst other the goddes also," says Holinshed, " whiche

Historic of

the Scottislimen had in most reverence, Diana

was

chiefe,

whom

they accompted as

their peculiar patronesse, for that she was taken to be

tiie

goddesse of hunting,

Scotland. Mainiis.

wherein consisted their chiefest exercise, pastime, and delite."

period, vve find these Scoto-Celts in possession of greyhounds

And

at the

same

and hounds of chase of

the highest repute, during the reign of Dorvadiile.

2. r/iraupbj
signifies, primarily,

" theca, ubi res pretiosa deponitur ;" and secon-

darily,

" ipsa

res condita."

See Martinii Lexicon Philologicum.

3. 'Eirl fiev

\ay^

a\6vTi Svo ofioXii iii^iWovaiv,

The game

of the

modern courser

Pinkerton on
Coins. Vol.
p. 8<).
I.

was valued by the Celtic sportsmen,

currency.
in ancient

for Dian's treasury, at

silver,

about 2Jd. of British

The obolus was a small Greek coin of

weighing about 11 grains,

and Aiiisworth.

money worth

\\d.

It

was the sixth part of the drachma, which nearly

answered to the

Roman

denarius.

The double

obolus, or diobolion, exactly bit the

value of the hare in the Celtic scale of appreciation.

4. 'ETrl 5e
aKdii-nfKi

SpaXM^ Anglice,
The

winepefjce /or a fox.

The

silver

drachma

was equal

to six oboli, consequently this crafty

and destructive felon was estimated

at thrice the value of the hare.

reasons

of the text for the extra

'6ti

payment must
XP^M^j ""^
''""i's

be perfectly satisfactory to the patrons of the leash

Xwyltis

iirifiovXov th

Sta^delpei, k. t. \.

" Fraudulenturn animal,"

says

Isidorus,

"

insidiisque
SpSfiCj),

L. XII.

c. ir.

decipiens :"

and ilian, alpovvrai

Texfjl'
(To<l>hv

Se oi Aa7cj) wrb aXoyirtKuv iviore, ovk ^ttov

a\ei7nj|, Ka\ ^6\ovs oT^iv.

iElian. de

dA\i
too,

Koi

/xaWov

ykp airaj^v
kill

Xenophon, Natura Animal.

L. XIII.
c. XI.

remarks that foxes are wont to

:

not only hares, hut leverets, avrotis Koi ra

TiKva

and

is

supported by the Cilician poet of the chase,

who

says of the fux

De

Venat.

aruian
Chap. XXXIII.

destroys hares,)

and four drachmsB

is
;

for a roe-deer,^ in consi-

deration of his size, and greater value as game.

When
the

the year conies round, on the return of the nativity of

Diana,^ the treasury

opened, and a victim purchased out of

7

money

collected

either

a sheep, or kid,^ or heifer,

Oppian. Cyneg. L. III. 459.

St;

T(5t6 Kal 6i)prt iriKpi]V iirl ixr\Tiv xxpaivn

oluvovs re BSXotcnv e\uv koI reKva XaryuiMV.

iMagstcr ot
<I5amt. c. VIII. fol. 43.

" Foxes done grete banne," says Duke Edmund, "

hares, the whiche thei ete, and take

in

wareyns of conynges and of

hem

so gynnously and withe grete malice,

and

not withe rennyng."

5. 'Eirl 5e Sop/caSi reffffapas Zpax/J^ds.

The tetradrachm

of silver was worth four

drachmas, or three shillings sterling

a high valuation
all

of the roe-deer, an animal of

times, I believe, abundant in

chase, rather scarce in the British Isles, but at

iMagster of
ffiaiiic.

France.
6.

De

I-angley calls the roe

t^kt]

" a good

litel

beest,

and goodly

for to

bunte to."

c. V.

'OvSrav yiv46\ia

t^j 'Apre'^tSos.

The gods

of antiquity had their natal

fol.

30.

days as well as men.

L. VII.
coelites dies

" Dies nobis

natalitii

sunt," says Arnobius, " et potentias

autumant habere natales."

viii. c.

The

anniversary of Diana's birth-day (see

Martial. Epigr. L. XII. Ep. 68.

Ad. Tumebi Adversar. L.

xxvi.) was celebrated on the 13th of August

Antiquit.

" Augustis reditldibus Diana."

i.

"

Feriis suis, emeritos canes, quietosque

et ipsa etiam feriari," in the

a vena-

Roman. Tom.
662.
Statii Sylv.

tions, et

immunes habere credebatur,

words of Pitiscus.

Ipsa coronat Emeritos Diana canes, et spicula

tergit,

L. HI. 1.57.

Et
Pausanias in Achaicis

tutas sinit ire feras.

c.

xviii. describes a splendid celebration of the sylvan rites

of Diana Laphria by the people of Patrae, in costliness and magnificence far sur-

passing these Celtic ceremonies, but in character

Patrse was also annual, as in Celtica.
7. 'lepuov.

somewhat

similar.

The

festival of

Ovid. Metam.
L. XV. 130.

Victiraa labe carens, et prjestantissima forma,

(Nam

placuisse nocet,) vittis praesiguis et auro

Sistitur ante aras.

The
tim
;

ancient sacrifice consisted of three principal things

libation,

incense, and vic-

of which the latter was most important

varying according to the character of

offering.

the deity to

whom

it

was

ofiFered,

and that of the persons

Perfection of

form, as described by Ovid, was essential to acceptance at the altar.

8.

Ot

ixiv oiV, ol 5e alya.

So

iu Horace's invitation to Phyllis to attend his

banquet

on Mfficenas's natal day.

ON COURSING.
according to the amount of the
sacrificed,

15f)

sum

and then,

after

having

CirAP.

XXXIII.

and presented the

first-offerings of their victims to

rites,

the Goddess of the chase,^ according to their respective

they give themselves up, with their hounds, to indulgence and

recreation,*^'

crowning

the latter on this day with garlands,"

ara castis

Carminum
L. IV. c. XI.

Vincta verbenis avet immolato

Spargier agno.

Tlie kid of the Celtic hunters is mentioned in the celebration of Diana's riles

by

Gratius
9.

see note 10.

airap^diieyot

Tuv Updwu
to

ry 'Ayporepa.
c.

The

first-fruits

of the spoil were offered

sacrificial

up

Diana Venatrix, (see

xxxii. n. 8.,) as well as the purchased

it

victims.

We

are told

by Plutarch that
affix

was customary
temple
j

to consecrate the

horns of

the stag to the goddess, and to

them

to her

a quiver, too, with

bow and

arrows, and a canis venaticus, were

commonly added.
Tibi sEepe, Diana,

Maenalios arcus, venatricesque pharetras

Suspendit, puerile decus.

Claudian. Consul. Honor. L. iv. 159.

De

See Symmach. Epist. L. v. Ep. 68. and Pitisci Lexicon Antiquitatum.

10. Evuxovinai avrol re ko2 ot Kvves.

Idcirco aeriis molimur compita lucis

Gratii Cyneget.

Spicatasque faces (sacrum) ad nemora alta Dianse

Sistimus, et solito catuli velantur honore
;

483.

Ipsaque per

flores

medio

in discrimine luci

Stravere arma, sacris et pace vacantia fest&.

Tum

cadus, et viridi fumantia liba feretro

Praeveniunt, tener^que extrudens

comua

fronte

Hoedus, et ad ramos etiamnum haerentia poma,

Lustralis de

more

sacri,

quo tota juventus

Lustraturque Deee, proque anno reddit honorem.

Ergo irapetrato respondet multa favore

Ad
Seu

partes
tibi

qu^ poscis opem, seu vincere

siivas,

fatorum labes exire minasque

Cura

prior, tua

magna

fides tutelaque Virgo.

To

the hunting jubilations of our early annals

exploded) John of Salisbury alludes in his Policraticus

cervo forte vel apro, venantium labor effulserit,
fit

(when Dian's revels were scarce " Si vero clariore preedil,

:

De
L.

Nugis
c. IV.

plausus intolerabilis, exultant

Curialium
I.

160
Chap. XXXIII.

AERIAN
ail

as

indication
*-

of the festival

being;

celebrated

on their

account.

venatores, caput
regeni

preedag et solemnia

quaedam spolia triumphantibus prieferuntur,

Cappadocum captum
Tas Kvvas

credas.

Sic cornicines et tibicines videas victorise glo-

riam declarare."
11.
Se Kol ffrfcjjavovffiv.

The

custon) of crowniug, or decorating witb

in the

roses and garlands of ribbon,

greyhounds which have distinguished themselves

coursing

field,

continues, I believe, at the present day.

fleet horses of the

Such were the rewards

bestowed on the

liippodrome

Theocriti Idyl. XVI.

Ti/uos 5e Koi wicees

01 (Kp'iaiv e{

fWaxov

'iiriroi

Upwv

(Tre(pavficpopoi

^vdov ayuivwu.

See the medal of Diana Perga;a from Montfaucon Antiq. Expliq. Tom.

i.

p. 44. in

The goddess holds a

up, as

spear, or hunting-pole, in her left hand, and a

is

fillet

or

crown

her right hand, elevated over the head of a canis venaticus, who
if

wishfully looking

in expectation of the

reward of merit.
its

This medal

is

copied by the learned

Father from Beger, and derives

Strabon.

inscription from
site

Perga

in

Pamphylia, nigh to

which

city, I find in Strabo, stood

rites

on an elevated

the temple of

APTEMI2

IIEP-

Geograph.
L. XIV.

FAIA, whose

were there annually celebrated.

12. Vestiges of the Celtic ceremonies of Agrotera

seem

to

have been extant, under

a peculiar modification, in London, within a period not very remote.

That Dian's

worship was not confined to continental Europe, but extended, as already noticed in
note
Illustrations
1.

(sub fine) of this chapter, to the insular Britons,

is

an historical

fact,

con-

of firmed, according to the learned and ingenious Mr. Douce, by the remains of such

Sliakspeare,

and of Ancient Manners, &c.

Vol.
I.

animals as were used in her sacrifices, and also by her

St. Paul's

own images found on

"

rebuilding

Cathedral

on the

site

of which. Dr.

Woodward
It

very plausibly inferred, a

p. 392.

Roman

temple of the pagan goddess once stood.

cannot be controverted,"

continues the first-cited able antiquary, " that Diana was reverenced in this country

long after the introduction of Christianity, when

we

find from the

testimony of

Richard Sporling, a monk of Westminster in 1450, and a diligent collector of ancient

materials, that during the persecution of Diocletian the inhabitants of
ficed

London

sacri-

to Diana, whilst those of

Sir
I.

Thorney, now Westminster, were

ofifering

incense to

Apollo.

W. Dugdale
Sir

records that a commutation grant

was made

in the reign of

Edward

by

William Le Baud, to the dean and canons of St. Paul, of a doe in

winter on the day of the Saint's conversion, and of a fat buck in summer on that of
his

commemoration, to be offered
this

at the

high

altar,

and distributed among the canons.

To

ceremony Erasmus has alluded

in his

book De Ratione Concionandi, when he

procession to St. Paul's

describes the custom which the Londoners had of going in

Cathedral with a deer's head fixed upon a spear, accompanied with

hunting-horns.

men

blowing

Mr. Strype, likewise, in his Ecclesiastical Memorials, Vol. in.

custom as practised
in

p. 378. has preserved a notice of the

Queen Mary's

time, with

ON

O U R S N <;
1

161

This Celtic custom

declare no

follow with
to

my

fellow-sportsinen/ and
issue

x\xiv
injunctions to

human undertaking

have a prosperous

the

observance
rices.

of religious

this additiun, that the priest of every parish in the city, arrayed in

his cope,

and the

bishop of London in his mitre, assisted on the occasion.

it

Camden had

likewise seen

when

a boy, and had heard that the canons of the Cathedral attended in their

sacred vestments, wearing garlands of flowers on their heads."

1.
iin

We

cannot but admire the

fine feelings of

piety,

and conscious dependence on

over-ruling Providence, which pervade the closing cliRpters of the Cynegeticus.

Many

splendid passages might be selected from the classical writings of Greece

fact that,

and Rome, demonstrative of the

sions, the

however darkened by mythological

allu-

most enlightened heathens supported a conviction of the

affairs of this

lower world being under the guidance of a Supreme Intelligence, and of

being utterly weak and destitute

man

himself

when unsupported

h.y

the aid and

influence of

Heaven.

This feeling

is

strongly manifested in the works of

Homer, Hesiod, Pindar,

:

Orpheus, Phocylides, and a host of others among the Greeks

the mischievous attempt of
tiie

and notwithstanding

philosophy of Epicurus to eradicate from the

if

Roman
Lucretii

mind

all

sense of dependency on Heaven, (as

the Divine Essence, in relation to

hunma

conduct, " nee bene promeritis cajntur, nee tangitur ira,") the works of

Virgil, Horace,

and Claudian afford splendid examples of the important truth that

L.

I. ()2.

the natural aspirations of poetry tend to the honour of the Gods, and that
fully

when

right-

employed, the genius of

man

is

ever directed to the advancement of religion

and morality.

It is unnecessary to refer to the innumerable passages illustrative of

;

the creed of ancient philosophers, contained in their works

in speaking of the unity of the Deity, gives the reason

let

it

sufHce that Pliny,

why men commonly

ista

spoke of
Hist. Natur.

more than one God

mitatis sure

" Fragilis et laboriosa mortalitas in partes

;

digessit, inllr&(?.

memor

ut portionibus quisque coleret,

quo maxime indigeret,"

L.

II. c.

vn.

The

catalogue of subordinate deities, enumerated by our author as directing the

affairs, destinies,

and pursuits of mankind, merged with him in the belief of one

Supreme

Intelligence, of

which these subaltern

deities

were the several attributes

its

and manifestations,

in the

government of the universe and

constituent parts.

According to Hermesianax,

TlKovTOou, nep(Ti(()6i>r],

Ay\fx,i)rt]p, Kvirpis,''EpciirS,

Tpirctives, NTjpei/s, T-qdvs, Kal Kvavoxu'iTTis,

'Epfxris T,"li(pai(TT6s

re KXvrhs, Uav, Zeis re, :ai"Hp77,

icrri

"ApTffiis,

r]S'

'EKUfpyos 'AndWooi', ds 9e6s

an opinion which was general with the superior philosojihers of Greece and Rome,

in

opposition to the polytheistic notions of their inferiors, who, while worshipping the

" porliones" of Pliny, violated most grossly the unity of the ETs (hs of {)hllosophy

162
Chap.

ARRIAN
2

witliout the interposition of the Gods.

For that Mariners,

XXXIV.

the
in the

understandings of the former being too strong (as Sir

W.

Jones has remarked

but their influence
at large, the

argument of his
to reform
it,

Hymn
and

to

Surya) to admit the popular

belief,

too

weak

establish in its place, in

the public

mind

supreme unity of the Deity

Hor. Canii. L. HI. Od. IV.

Qui terram
Ventorum,

inertein, qui
et urbes,

mare temperal
tristia,

regnaque

Divosque, mortalesque turmas

Iraperio regit unus sequo.

For further notice of

sert. 17.,

this subject, the reader is

referred to Maxinius Tyrius, Dis-

a Greek philosopher of the second century, contemporary, I believe, with

Arrian.

Homer. Odyss.
L.
III.

2. cite

OuSev &vev deuv

'ytyv6fjLevov
:

avQpuivois is ayadhv awoTeXevra. Se Bewv x^'''^ov(r' &vQp(i3iroi,

To

this

we may

48.

many

parallel

passages

-rravres

says the son of

his

Nestor
the

to the divine attendant of

Telemachus.

Hesiod begins and ends

poem

of

Works and Days with inculcating

is

piety towards the

Gods

the only

way

to please

wiioin and to be happy, he says,

to be religious

and

strictly

moral

Opera
vs.
'

et Dies 700.

eS

8* oiriv

adavdrwv

fxaKapcav Kf(pv\ayfj.4vos fhai.

aoi^^

^'^^

^"^^ '^'^

passages,

recommendatory of due reverence of the Gods,

:

less

numerous

in

the lyric and tragic poets of Greece, than in her heroic poets

Pindar Pyth.
L.
I.

fK 6ea>p
ffai

yap ixaxaval

ira-

79.

Ppojeais aperais

ral Trepiy\(iT(Tol t e<pvv.

See also the sublime supplication of Hecuba in the Troades of Euripides,

vs.

884.

The hymn

of Cleanthes,

ou5e Ti 7171/6x04 ipyov eVi x^"''' ""''

oi'Ti

St'xo:,

^aifiov,

Kar^ aldepwv Belov it6\ov, ovt eV2 iroyTqi, k. t. A.

is

considered the forgery of a later age.

:

Not

so,

however, the beautiful truths of the

Greek poet of the Halieutics

Oppian.
llalieulic.
v6ff(f>i

Tt

yap

fMspSTreaffty auvcTThv

6iwv

ouS" ocraov utt' ck iroShs Jxi/os aeTpat,

L.

II.

4.

ov^

8(701/ afjiiriTaaai

$\e<pdpuv irfpicpata KVK\a,

oAA.' avTol

KpaTfovai koi iQvvovaiv 'inaaTa,

ON COUKSINC;.

163

who

regard their safety, supplicate the

Gods

at

embarkation

;'

Chai-.

and, after dangers escaped, oiler np sacrifices of gratitude to

the sea-deities, Neptune, Amphitrite, and the Nereids.*
tivators of the
soil

Cul-

do the same to Ceres, her daughter, and

Bacchus;^

Artificers, to

Minerva and Vulcan;^ Professors of

TriK69eu iyyvs iSvTes, avayKairj

ireiderrdai, k. t. A.

S'

arlvuKTOs

3.

"Oaoi vavrlWovTai,

airh Qfuiv &pxovrai.

The
in
six

sea-deities
classes.

were numerous, and of

See Milton's invocation
of these Dii Marini.

various gradations.

Spence arranges them

of Sabrina, in his Comus, vs. 867. for the names of

many

Arrian mentions only Neptune, his Queen, and the Nereids

lords of the

mediterra'I'ethvs.

nean or inland seas

Moreover,
it

superior to

whom were

Oceanus, " Pater rerum," and

appears from Apolionius Rhodius, that Apollo, for particular reasons,

L.
i.

{avrhs yap inaiTios en\fv aeOAiav, says Jason, addressing iraTpwiov ^AiroWwva,) was

vs. 3.59.

worshipped, under the name of

'E/ujSajrios,

by the Argonauts

at

the time of their

^^i^d

vs.

1186.

embarkation, and under that of 'EKPacrios at disembarking.

II.

See also Homer. Odyss.

Pope's Odyss. "'
'

430. where Telemachus pours forth " the holy goblet to the powers divine," but

principally invokes, for a specific reason,

4. ^Ai/aaudevTfs xap'O'Trjpta Ovovmv,

" the blue-eyed progeny of Jove."

Votaque
and again, ^neid.
xii. 766.

servati solvent in littore nauta;, &c.

Virg. Georg. L. I. 43G.

Servati ex undis ubi figere dona solebant

Laurenii divo,

et votas

suspendere vestes.

Several votive

monuments

are engraven in Pere Montfaucon's Antiq.

Expliq.

Tom.

II.

with inscriptions,

SALVOS IRE, SALVOS REDIRE,

ii.

&c.

and Pitis-

cu3 (Lexic. Antiq.

Rom. V.

p. 164.) has others,

NEPTUNO REDUC.

SA-

CRUM,

&c.

See the indications of the Dii Marini appearing in dreams to sea-faring people, in
Arteniidorus, L.
ii.

38.

5. "Otrot rT]v yriv

epyd^ovrai.

Every

art

and science had, in

classic

mythology,

ts divine guardian, from

whom

it first

emanated, and by whose

liberal
:

condescension

mankind were instructed

in the rudiments of their several callings

Ke7voi Koi

Tfxvas TToAvKfpSeas avOpdwoKTiv

Oppian. Hal.

&\Kos

5'

aWoioiaiv

iiruvvfios fTrXero ^aifioiv

Tifxriv.

epyois, olaiv eKacrros tiriaKoirov TJpaTo

164
Chap.
instruction,^ to the

ARRIAN
Muses,^ Apollo Musagetes,^ Mnemosyne,^

XXXIV.

The

tutelar deities of

the beginning of the

husbandmen were Ceres, Proserpine, and Bacchus. Hence, in ' ajjrestum pr^esentia nuraina," first Georgic, amongst the

Virgil invokes conjointly " Liber et alma Ceres ;" and Pindar designates Bacchus,

Isthra. L. VII
3.

XAkokp(5toi irdpiSpov

Aa/xdrepos.

Arteniidor.
'

Athxtjttip 5e Koi Kopi], koI 6 Aiyofxevos "laKxos,

sa^s the Epiiesian vit^ionary, yfwpyo7s

f Xj

Kal Tuis KrTiffaffdai yrjv Trpoijpr}iJ.evois ayadai.

The department of

rural

economy under

lis C* oil*

the tutelagf of Ceres

eulics
:

is

succinctly stated hy

Oppian

in

the second book uf his Hali-

Oppian. Hal. L. II. 19.

Arjo) fifv ^evyKrjs

re

/Socov,

aporoto re yairjs

TTVpSiv t' ivKapiToio (pipii yepcLS ap.i]roio.

The connexion

of Proserpine with husbandry

is

not so clear

but as Nicoraedia, our

author's native city,

office of priest in
all

was sacred both

to

the mother and daughter, and he held the

the temple of the latter,

we may

suppose him fully acquainted with

her tutelary distinctions, of which the patronage of agriculture seems to have been

one.

Bacchus's presidency was principally confined, in his character of Vithator,

Arteniidor.
culture of vineyards
yovffi,
:

to

the

AiSvucros toIs yeaipyois

(TVfj,(pepei

rots 7hi' ^vAtKhv Kapirhv yiwp-

Oneirocnc. L. II. c. 37.

Georgic. L. 21.
i.

fjidKiara afiiriXovs.

To

the three deities of Arrian here mentioned, Virgil

tueri,"

subjoins others,
to

"studium quibus arva

to

whom
at
least

the philosopiiic courser allows

extend their fostering care

venation

some of them,

as Pan,

the

Nymphs, &c.
G. Oi Se a^Kpl. Tas rexvas
Trovovjj.ei'oi.

The

difterent bodies or colleges of artificers

had

their particular tutelary deities.

:

Pau>^anias in Arcadicis mentions a temple of

Minerva Machinalrix

ecrrt 5e 'AB7)vas lephv iiriKXtjatv

MaxaviriSos, otl fiovXev/xdrut'

of

darh
Oneirocrit.

7)

Behs irain-oiwv Koi iirirexvrindToiv evperis.

is

The connexion
:

Minerva and
ayady Sih t^v

Vulcan with handicrafts

irpocrriyoplat',

noted by Artemidorus

'Adrjvix xeipore'xJ'ais

L.

II. c.

35.
c.

'Epyduri KaAelrai

ydp

"HcpaiffTos .... xe'p<^''o|t ayaOhs iraffi:

and by

Ejusdeni

37.

Oppian

Halieut. L.
21.

ii.

Sovpa Se
<pdpid

TettTjjVocrflai, avaaT7J(Tai
off/c^trat fi7]\wp

re jXiKadpa,

ivavdei Kapirc^

TlaWiis iTTixdoviovi eSiSd^aro.

'li((iaiaTCfi

5e /ueAei f)at(TTi)pios iSpws.

Juno
Lucian. Deor.
Dial,
,

tells
:

Latona that Vulcan's

oA\' oinos
fxku

skill as

au

artificer, is a

counterpoise to his claudicant

eirrl,
TX''''r''?s

deformity
K. T. A.
^

d x<'^os,

Hfxws xpW'fJ''^^

7*

&'

&pi<rTos,

Juno

ct

Latona.

ON ton USING,
and Mercury;" Lovers,
'

165
Chap.

to

Venus'- Cupid,** Suada'^ and the

*

XXXIV.

7. Oi aftcpl iraiSeva-iv.

InstructDrs
poet.

those

engaged in education

tlie

fiuvaoirdAoov

epyaiv fVio-fcoiroj of
S.
Moi'xrais.

tlie Ciliciiin

I'lie

Muses were

tbouglit to preside over

tlie ciiirerent

departments

of science, poetry, vocal and instrumental music,

and the

fine arts generally.

fK

yap Movcrdccv Kal

ficr]06\ov 'AttSWcdvos

avSpis aoiSoi eadic

iirl x^'ii'a

Koi KidapicTTai.

Hesiod. D. G. "!

y. 'Air6\\aivi Movffr^yeTTi.

When

the gods attended the nuptials of I'eleus and

tiie

Thetis on
getes
:

Mount

Pelion, Apollo led "

tuneful choir" in the character of

Musa-

eK Se fie\t(T(Tr]VTOs

air(T(TVfi.4vtiov

'E\iku>vos

Mova-duf Kiyxxpwvov

iiyaiv xepi"' ^ASei'

'ktrSWwv.

Coluthi Rapt. Helen, vs. 'Z'A.

Kepresentations of Apollo

in

the character of Musagetes or Lyristes, from the

first

Justinian gallery, are given by Pere Montfaucon in the

volume of his Antiquities;

by Spence,

in his
i.

Polymetis, Pi. xiii.

f. i.

xi.

and by Visconti, in the Clementine

Museum,

Vol.

Mentis ApoIlineiE

vis has

movet undique Musas.

Ausonii RlusaIdyll.
t
.

In medio residens amplectitur omnia Phcebus. ^

,,

XX.

'AirdAA.coi' /uoi/diKoTy ayaffbs,

TracTTjs.

says the Ephesian, ^07011' yap evperris d dths Kal

fxovariKTis

Artemidori
^

In which character the

life.

Roman

poets of the Augustan age have decked him t' o o

"^^"^""^

'

L. ii.c. 35.

out to the

See Ovid's
Ille

caput flavum lauro Parnasside vinctus

Metam. L.
165.

xi.

Verrit

humum

Tyrio saturata murice palla, &c.

is

10. Mvrifj.o(7WTj.

This goddess
:

celebrated by Hesiod, in

his

Theogony,

as the

mother of the Muses

eKris at Movffai XP^'^^I^'"'^'^^^ i^eyeuoyTo

D,

(J,

vs. "Jl5.

evvea, T'ptnv aSov 6a\iaL, Kal Tepxpis aoiSfis.

So Akenside, in The Pleasures of Imagination

Ye heauteons And Memory

That
this

offspring of

Olympian Jove

Book

divine, Pierian maids.

mythology
;

is

judicious, has been remarked by Plutarch in his rules for the

education of children
is

since nothing so
tlie

much

cherishes learning as

memory.
i.

There

a statue of iMneniosyne in
11.
'EpiJ.fi.

Clementine Rluseum of Visconti, Vol.

Mercury

is

here introduced in one of his most creditable capacities, as

:

the author of letters,

and the god of orators and eloquence

166
Chap.

AKRIAN
And, upon the same
principle^

Graces.i^

Sportsmen should

xxxiv.

Francis's

The god
i.

of wit, from Atlas sprung.

Horace. B. Od. X.

Who
And

hy persuasive power of tongue

graceful exercise refined
race of

The savage

human

kind

Artemidori
Oneirocrit.

'Ep/i7)s

ayadbs

ro'is iirl

\6yovs

dpfjiUfjievois,

koI adAriTois, Kot iratSoTplfiais, k. t.A.

L. u.

c.

37.

12. Oi 5e
'Ap/jLOvlris

aficpl

TO

ipaiTiKo. 'A(^po5iT7?.

In the

Rape

of Helen,

Venus

is

called

^aaiXeta, (v. 26.) 6a\dfxuv fiaaiAeia, (v. 137.) and ydixoov /SacriAeio, (v. 306.)

queen of marriage.
Bucol. Eclog.
L. 11.57.

And to

the same purport is the description of Nemesian

cui cura jugales

Concubitus hominum

totis

connectere

seclis.

fidXiffra 8e ayaOrj irepl ydfiovs Kol Koivuvias, Kal irepl tIkvoiv yovds, says the

dream-

Artemidori
Oneirocrit.

interpreter, of the goddess of love,

will

crvvSecriiciiv

yap Koi iinyovoou eaTlv alria. The reader

L.

II.

C.37.

remember her angry speech

(tangit at ira

Deos) in the prologue of

the Hip-

polytus,

rovs

fiev

aifiovras Tafia
S' '6(Toi

irpeafieviii Kparr),

acpdWw

^povovffiv eis Tifias fieya, k. t. \.

and her vengeful and infuriate character, as drawn by Apollonius Rhodius in

ference to the

re-

Lemnians

Argonaut. L.I. 615.

ovvfKa

fj.iv

yepdwv

iinSriphv &Ti(T(rav.

and amplified by Valerius Flaccus, L.

13. "EpwTt.

xi.

vs. 29.
little

Venus confesses
Cupid
;

that she has

power without the aid

of her

favourite son

^Eneid. L. 668.

r.

Nate, meae

vires,

mea magna

potentia, &c.

Ad
She
is

te confugio, et

supplex tua numina posco.

accompanied by him and"I;Upos (whom the Grecian mythologists seem

to

have

distinguished from''Epa)s) in the

Theogony

of Hesiod.

U. G. vs. 201.

T^ S"'Epos

ai/iapTTjtre,

KaVlfiepos

eWero

Ka\6s,

The Odes
Od.
III. vs.

of

Anacreon

aflford

many graphic

sketches of the mischievous

little

god

17.

ipepovra t6^ov,
Trrepirydi re Kal <pap4Tprii'.

14. Hfi0o7.

Suada or Suadela

the goddess of persuasion

nuplianmi conciliutrix.

ON con
not be
ne.oloctt'ul

RSIN(;.

\()7

of Diana V^enatrix,"^ nor Apollo ," nor Pan,'" ^

Cum-.

XXXIV.

In the temple of Jupiter at Dlytiipia, as described by Pausanias, Cupid

ceiving

is

seen relier

Venus

rising out of the sea,

and the goddess TleiOw placing a crown on

head

and so

in the

Rape

of Helen, she is the bearer of tlie brida! chaplet

Kal CTfcpos

affK-fiffacra

yafi7}\iov i^\v6e rifieo),

,.
,

To^evTi]pos EpooTos e\a(ppi^ovffa <paptTpr]v,

Loluthi K. H. vs. 28.

" bene-numraatuin decorat Suadela Venusque."

pearanceis ominous of good to
all

Horace unites Suadela and Venus

in the attractions of

" the well-bemoney'd swain" Artemidorus says her apTleiOcu Se koI

And
all

Epod. L.
*-'"

i.

persons, and on

occasions;

Xdpnes,
.

^''
''

Kol'^npai, Kui Nvfiipaiirphs irdvra Kal iraffiv eiaiv ayadai.

15. XdpKTiv.

The Graces

of

Heathen mythology were

ladies of great influence:

simplicity of manners, gracefulness of deportment, gaiety of disposition, liberality,

eloquence, and wisdom, were

all

derived from them

rci, repirva Kal to, y\vKea ^ , , ylverai iravra pporoiS'

avv yap vfuv

rindar. (Jlymp. L. XIV. 6.

el (ro(phs, el

KaXhs,

eif

tjs

ayXahs

hviip.

In the Theogony they "keep their court with the

quets
;

God of Love," and

revel in ban-

Hesiodi D. G.

and in Horace's supplicatory Ode

the

to

Venus, they are associated with the

:

" Regina Cnidi Paphique," Cupid,

Nymphs, Hebe, and Mercury

Fervidus tecum puer, et solutis

^ Gratiae
.

zonis, properentque

TVT

Wymphse,

..

Larm. L. i. Od. 31.VS. 5.

Et parum

corais sine te Juventas,

Mercuriusque.

16. Tovs

iirl

Bripa

einrovSaK6Tas ov xph
strict in his religious

ct/ieA.eTi'

t^s 'Apre/xiSos

tjjs

^AypoTfpas.

Xenophon was equally

observances towards the rural deities,

De
^'

Venat.
^'"

bidding the sportsman, before he

slip

a single hound, to vow a participation of the

game
Met.

to

Apollo and Diana Agrotera. See Pitisci Lexicon Antiquit. Roman. and Apul.
p. 175.

VI.

The

falconer of Demetrius, in later days, offered his morning

of heaven before
sun-rise,

adoration to the

God

and then flew his hawk at the

IfpuKOffocpiov,

quarry

rhv debv

iiriKaAea'dfj.ei'os

rp

Oripa

evuivws (TvW^\f/otTo, k. t. A.

Following his Classic prototypes, Adrian de Castello makes the cardinal hunter
supplicate the Sylvan goddess
:

^'

Volans Ascanius

levi

veredo

Adriani
\ enatio

Precatus Triviae perenne numen,

apud

poetas tres Aldi.

KiH
Chap.

AKR AN
I

nor the Nymphs, 19 nor Mercury,"'^ the conductor and president

XXXIV.

Invadit jaculo, diuque librans

Jecit eminus, &c.

as a necessary preliminary to the slaughter of a stag, bayed

by the hounds.

Xenoplion. De V enat.
c.
I.

17. 'Att^AAcows.

Apollo shared with Diana the institution of hunting: 'AWaAoi-

^^^ ^^j '/^pTffj^i^os &ypai koI Kvvis.

relievos with

Whence,

witli Ids twin-sister,

he

is

seen on antique

dogs and other emblems of the chase.

In his character of Venator,

his
:

wiili a bow, Chiaramonti of '^poUo is described by Maximus Tyrius as a youth armed Visconti and appearing beneath a chlamys, and his feet raised in the act of runnhig

naked side

Guattani. 1. XVIII.
Virgil.

Quails ubi hibernam Lyciam Xanthiqiie fluenta

Deserit, ac Delura maternam invisit Apollo, ^ ^ Instauralque choros, mixtique altaria circum
. .

jEneid. L. IV. 143.

Cretesque Dryopesque frenmnt pictique Agathyrsi

Ipse jugis Cynthi graditur, mollique fluentem

Fronde premit crinem fingens, atque implicat auro

Tela sonant humeris.

The
Statii Achil.

reader

is

of course

familiar

with the Apollo of the Belvedere

the Venator of

Statuaries
effigy of

" Venator Apollo :"

but perhaps not so well acquainted with the Wilton

all

L.I. 167, him, exhibiting in a small compass

the symbols which characterise his

presidency over poetry, music, divination, or more probably medicine, and the chase
Liician. Deor.

(irpoatrotiiTai

jjXv

itavra elSevai, Kol To^eveiv, koI KiOapi^etv, koI larphs ilvai, Kol
is cited liy
;

Dial.

Juno ef

fiavTfiiaQai)

in

three of which attributes he

is

our author in the present

to

Latona.
Chapter.

The

attitude of the god

easy and graceful

he appears

lean against

one of the horns of his lyre,

placed on a tripod, around which a serpent twines.

Over
Tibull. L.
III.

his right shoulder is seen his quiver,

and

his

head

is

decorated vpith a laurel

is

crown
off,

"casta redimitus
tlie

tempora lauro:"

the chlamys of the Venator

its

throvi'n
fit

El. IV. 34.

exposing the belt beneath, and the former with

right leg.
alia re,"

gem

is

placed on some

receptacle beside

De Augment.
Scient. L.
ii.

18. Tlav6s. " Officium Panis nulla

says Lord Bacon, " tam ad vivum

est," &c.
as

proponi atque explicari potuerit, quain quod

Deus Venatorum

He was
the

the

Virg. Eclog. L. 11.33.

god of the shepherds as well as hunters, the leader of the

the

Nymphs
life,

Apollo was of

Muses, the patron of rural

life,

and president of the mountains.

Happy

man,
the

exclaims the poet of the Georgics in his eulogy of country

rustic deities,

who numbers
:

and Pan amongst the

rest, in the catalogue of his

acquaintance

Virg. Georg.

deos qui novit agrestes,

L.

II.

494.

Panaque, Sylvanumque senem, Nymphasque sorores!

The most

gra[)hic

description of the goatish god

have any where seen

is

in the

13th book of Silius Italicus:

ON COtUSlNC.
of
tlic

169
o-ods-^ that there
Chai'.

hili\vavs, nor

any other mountain

pendenti

siniilis

Pan semper,

et

uno

\'ix ulla iuscribens terras vestigia

cornu, &c. &c.

But as

tliis

lias

been cited

at length
it

by Spence in his Polyinetis, a book of easy

reference,

decline introducing

here

wishing,
'

as

much

as possible, to present

my
Deorum
Concilium.
in

readers with passages omitted by this celebrated scholar.

delineation be substituted
eoiKws, KOi yfyeiov
^
\ :

Let Lucian's more

rh
/.

brief

6 /liv
'

Kepara Ix'^^i ""'

'>'

'^^"^ *l Tjtxia-fias is
'

ko-to) al'yX

o o^ paav

Kaoetij.fi/os,
list

5 J. oXiyov rpayov oiatpepwv

ecrrif.

'

19.

'NvfjLipiv.

Beger's
it is

of these ladies does not

much exceed one hundred

in

number, although

said that

Diana had above a thousand

in

her retinue.

We

may

suppose those principally interested

Cynegetical pursuits to have been the

Oreades, nymphs of the mountains; the vvfi<pai'OpeaTid5es of Homer (Iliad, vi. 421.)
the 'Opel-nKayKToi of Aristophanes (Thesmophoriazusae)
the
;

the Napace,

nymphs

of

meadows, (of whom

Virgil, " faciles venerare Napa;as,")

(ptXopvi6a>v
Stilic.

and the Dryades and

X'^P^^
''^

Hamadryades, nymphs of the woods, the

(Cyneg.
i.

Apvddwv

Oppian

vs. 78.)

See Claudian. de laudib.

L. in. for a description of the

"

acies formosa

names of many of these

Diana," and the Epicedium of Hercules Stroza; in which latter the inferior Sylvan deities, " turbae nemoralis," are registered in
Sometimes the Naiads also

chaste hexameters, addressed to the Ducliess of Ferrara.

accompanied the land-nymphs

in their

hunting pranks

pulchro venantes agmine Nyrophas,

Valer. Flacci

Undarum, nemorunique decus, &c.

* '

Argon. J,, in. 530.

Elves of

hills,

brooks, standing lakes, and groves.

Tempest, Act V. sc. I.

J)q bello

20. 'Epfiov ^Evo^Lov Kol 'Hytfioviov.

"

Deum maxime
;

Mercurium colunt," says

;

Cassar of the Gauls or Celts

torero artium ferunt;

" hujus sunt plurima simulacra

hunc omnium inven-

Gallico L. v.

hunc viarum atqne ilinerum ducem

hunc ad quajstus pecuniee

mercaturasque habere vim maxiniam arbitrantur."

gain,

Being the god of every species of

and the dog being sacred

to him,

we have

additional reasons for the injunction

of the text.

He was

called 'Eff^Sios or "vialis" according to Pitiscus,

" qui viarum Lexicon Anliq.

V.
ii.

pra;ses, in biviis, et compitis ponebatur ad semitas

his statues are,

monstrandas :" in which capacity

180.

what are commonly called Terminal,

that seemingly imperfect, ugly,

Rubellius Plancus,
is

awkward-looking shape, to which a worthless

assimilated by the satirist of

Roman nobleman,

Aqainum

at tu

Juvenal.
^'- ^'"'" ^"'

Nil nisi Cecropides, truncoque simillimus Hermae.

NuUo

quippe

alio vincis discriinine,

quam quod

Uli niarnioreum caput est, tua vivit imago.

170

ARRIAN
:

J^^^y XXXIV.

may be

otherwise their pursuits must turn out abortive, their

A
Tab.

Greek medal
tlie

is

extant of Arrian's native city, of the reign of Antoninus Pius,

bearing

impcess of the god Terminus.

See Numruophylacium Reginae Christina;,

i.vii.

The
use
:

old herdsman of Theocritus, with the

title flvoSios, affords

the reason of

its

Uy\l XXV.

3.

roi ^eive Trp6(ppwv

fjivB-fiffofiai o<rct'

ipaivus,

'Kp/xew a^SfjLevos Setv^v oiriv elvoSioio.

rhv yap
ei"

(paffl ix4yi(rTov

iirovpaviwu Kf^oAaJtrOai,
oSi'ttjj'.

Kev odov ^axp^^ov avrjvriTai tis

See Eustathius ad Homeri Odyss. xvi. and Ouzelius ad

p. 109.

M.

INIinuc. Felic.

Octavium,

In his character of guide or conductor,

('liyeix6ptos,)

amongst many others, the

wily god volunteers his services to Cario, in the Plutus of Aristophanes

Act. V.

sc.

I.

EP.

aW'

T]yffjL6vwv.

KA. aW'

6 dfhs ^Srj fi\4net.

Though

the messenger of

tlie

gods, and supremely Aihs

&yy f\os, he seems

to have

been a willing itinerant on earth {65onr6pos) in the cause of humanity. See Iliad xxiv.

Guard of our
21. "OffOL &KXoi opeioi 6eoi.

life,

and partner of our way

Almost every mountain had

its

tutelar deity

but

Arrian probably here means the rural deities hitherto unnamed, as Sylvanus, Silenus,
Priapus, Aristaeus, the Fauns, Satyrs, Pales, Flora, Feronia, and a host of others.

On
"

a due observance of the rites of these gods and goddesses,

and demi-deities of
fairy sys-

hill

and

dale, forest

and mead," (to

whom

might be traced, perhaps, the

tem of more modem days,) and more

particularly on an observance of those of

Diana

Agrotera, was an abundant supply of game, and avoidance of the ordinary casualties
of the chase, entirely dependent

Senecae Hippolyt.
Prol. vs. 73.

Tua

si

gratus

numina
;

cultor

Tulit in saltus

retia vincta*
nulli

Tenuere

feras

laqueum

Rupere pedes;

fertur plaustra

Praeda gementi: turn rostra canes

Sanguine multo rubicundii gerunt

Repetitque casas rustica longo

Turba triumpho.

ON COUKSINf;.
dogs injured, their horses
pointed. -3

171

lamed,- and themselves disap-

x\x\\'

And

of this,

he says, the

Homer gives evidence in his poem.^ Teucer, best bowman of the Greeks, in the archery-contest

Chap.

xxxv.

exampk-s from

Homer.

22. KoJ yap koi

ol

/ewes fi\dinovTai, k.t. A.

deities,

All that Arrian lierc anticipates as a

consequence of neglect of the rural

Savary of Caen, iu bitterness of heart,

;

invokes on the ill-fated heads of the hrelhren of the leash

whom

he designates as
which alone,

enamoured of the savage pugnacity of the bull-dog greyhound

the wolf-greyhound of his country, this poet was acquainted.

ivitli

Great as
its

may have

been
he

his love

of the harrier's chase, and great his admiration of

followers,

whom
C.

calls

Dian's legitimate worshippers, I cannot conceive him conversant with the

rij

genuine pastime of his Celtic ancestry, nor with the kvoov

Arrian,

aAridela

yivvaws of

XXMII.

when he wrote

the i'ollowing virulent

anathema

Talia legitimosnon infortunia tangant

Cultores, Diana, tuos
:

Album

Diana;

inhonora Laconis
feritas truculenta Rlolossi,

LeporicidiB.

L. V.

Sed quoscunque juvat

Sola quibus ca;des,
si

qua

est in caede voluptas,

Illorum paribus turbentur gaudia causis.

Mulcta

suppliciis cor insatiabile prEedre.

Plecte viros, extingue canes, rabiemque feroceni

InstilU, dominus catulis odiosus et ipsis,

Exsequet falsum veris Actaeona posnis.

Et qui parlicipes (pigeat

licet ista precari)

Disrumpanlur equi, domini plectantur

in

illis

23. .Elian tells us there

is

a temple of Diana in an

isle of the

Red Sea

called
if

Icarus, abounding with goats, roe-deer, and hares, which a sportsman niav catch, "

/Elian, de Natura Animal,

L. XI.

c.

9.

the goddess be duly petitioned

but

if not,

he

is

not only unsuccessful in his sport,

Koi Sl5uai 5i/cos, &s

but punished for the transgression

iav 5e

/ur;

alr^ar), ovt^ alpel,

aWoL

\iyov(jiv.

1. "Ofi-ripos iv TJj irotricrei,

Arrian alludes to the contest for the prize of

arclierj', at

the ganies celebrated by Achilles on the occasion of the funeral of his friend Patroclus. I give Pope's translation of the passage
:

To the

tall

top a milk-white dove they

tie.
fly.

Iliad
vs.

B. XXIII.
1020.

The trembling mark

at which their arrows

"Whose weapon

strikes

yon

fluttHriiig bird, shall

bear

These two-edged axes,

terrible in

war;

172
Chap.
^'

ARRIAN
and cut
it

XXXV.
^''"''

hit the cord only,

asunder, because he had offered

852^8

^^ ^^^^

^^ Apollo ;- but that

Merion, who was no archer at

all,

by having invoked Apollo, struck the bird when on the wing.

Again, the posterity of those,
with Polynices, captured the
Ihad. L. IV. 406. seqq.

who fought

against Thebes

city,^

To omens

trusting,

and the aid of Jove

'J'he

single he,
:

whose

shaft divides the cord."

;

He said experienced Merion took the word And skilful Teucer in the Iielm they threw
:

Their

lots inscribed,

and forth the

latter flew.
flies
;

Swift from the string the sounding arrow

But

flies

unblest

No

grateful sacrifice,
!

No
To
For

firstling

lambs, unheedful

didst thou

vow

Phosbus, patron of the shaft and bow.

this,

thy well-aim'd arrow, turn'd aside,

:

Err'd from the dove, yet cut the cord that tied

Adown the mainmast fell the parted And the free bird to heav'n displays

string,

her wing

Seas, shores, and skies with loud applause resound,

And Merion eager meditates the wound He takes the bow, directs tlie sliaft above. And following with liis eye the soaring dove,
:

Implores the god

to

speed

it

through the skies,

With vows

of firstling Iambs, and grateful sacrifice.

The

dove, in airy circles as she wheels

the clouds, the piercing arrow feels
its
:

Amid

Quite through and through the point

passage found,

And
2. 'ETTCtSTj

at his feet fell

bloody to the ground.

jur)

firrjv^aTO raj

'AirdWuvi.

The God

of Archers and Arciiery. lesson

The poet and

the courser would both teach us the same

that without
IVIerion

addressing supplication to heaven,

we cannot succeed

in our undertakings.

docs not conquer because

3.

lie is
iirl

the better archer, but because he is the better man.

Tovs fKySvovs Se ru'V

@r)^as avv

FIoAi/i'eiK?;.

The Homeric

line cited

by

Arrian from the speech of Sthenelus, in the fourth book of the Iliad, alludes to the
victors of the second

Theban war, wherein

the sons of the seven captains subdued

:

the city, before which their fathers had perished

Pope's Iliad. 13. IV. 4G0.

With fewer troops we storm'd the Theban

wall,

And

happier saw the sev'n-fold city

fall.

ON couRsiN(;.
whereas
tlieir fathers,
it,

173

not at

all inferior to

them

in valour,

had

Chap.

XXXV.

perished before

because they were disobedient to the signs

vouchsafed to them by the Gods.

And

lastly,

Hector, inattentive to Polvdamas

.

when he
.

ob-

^^^^^- ^- ''"

210. seqq.

jected to an attack on the Grecian fleet,* (because the Trojans

would not return from

inferred from a serpent

it

with honour to themselves, as he

after-

dropped by an eagle,) was soon

wards taught otherwise by experience, that no good comes of

being refractory towards the Deity.^

In impious acts the guilty fathers died

The
Capaneus, the
sire of

sons subdued, for heav'n was on their side.

Sthenelus, was thunder-struck, while blaspheming Jupiter

Talia dicentem toto Jove fuimen adactum

Statii

^ Lorripmt.
.
.

Thebaid. L. X. 927.

4. UoXv^dfiavTi

ovk

(covrt.

From Pope's
referred to
:

translation I extract a part of the speech

of Polydamas, with the

omen
this
to

Seek not

day the Grecian ships

his

to gain

B- ^ii- 253.
;

For sure

warn us Jove

omen
its

sent.

And
The

tiius

my mind

explains

clear event

victor eagle

whose

sinister flight

Retards our host, and

fills

our hearts with fright,

Dismiss'd his conquest in the middle skies,

Allow'd to seize, but not retain the prize, &c.

Pope's version of Hector's reply to

this

speech of Polydamas,

is

one of the most

is

splendid specimens of his talent to be found in the

poem

as the whole incident

perhaps the finest of Flaxman's beautiful illustrations of the immortal bard.

5. OiiK

wyadhv

aireiBiiv

TCfi

Beicp.

Homer

himself draws

many
5'

similar inferences in

the progress of his interesting tales both of the Iliad and the Odyssey
fptcrdevios

Kpoviuvos

iraicrlv

ipi^ffievai

and

x''^*'"''^'' '''<"

again, 6e66ev

ovk

ecrr

a\eaadai

and
Pyth'

Pindar abounds with

irphs

like injunctions of

humble submission

to the divine will

Qihv

oiiK

fpi^fiu,

k.t.\.

ttotI

Kivrpov Se toi

XaKTi^ffiev,
!)

XP^^^

ii

reXeOei

dMcrdriphs
memorable

|o*

olfios.

See also

vs. 89. ejusd.

Carm. The reader cannot but

recollect the

counterpart to these words, (with reverence be they cited

of the conversion of St. Paul

in the Apostolic history

Act. Apost.

aKKr\p6v aoi irphs Kevrpa XaKri^eiv.

How
Cilicia
!

beautiful the

metaplior that runs through the following lines of the poet of

174
Chap.

A Kill AN
it is

XXX\^

Following these examples,

right in field-sports, as in
;

every thing else, to begin with adoration of the Gods

after

and,

having obtained success, to offer thanksgiving-sacrifices'''

libations,^

and

with

auspicious

words, 9 and crowns,^" and

Oppian. Hal.

oW'

ah\

ixa-Kapes Kavviripjoroi r]vla wavri)

Khivova', p K

edfKaxTW 6

5' 'iffinTai,

os ks aa6<ppo)V,

irp\v )(a^^'''fi ndcTTtyi Kal

ovk iOeXaiv iKariTat.

See the sensible remarks of Xenophou on the words

conclusion of his treatise

2YN En nPATTEIN,

at the

De

Offic.

Magistr. Equit.

c.

ix.

De

Legibus,

6.

"ApxeaOai re awh Beuv,

piimordia :"

"

Diis iinraortalibus," sajs Cicero,

" sunt nobis

at the

agendi capienda

and Julius Pollux, to

whom

have frequently referred

in the early part of these

annotations, concludes his address to

Commodus,
trotrjaofj.ai

commencement
apx^v,
a(p'

of his

Onomasticon, with the same sentiment

rovs
eucre/SetS,

Se

tV

wv

iJ.6Xi.ara. irpoa-fiKft

anh rwv dewv.

Arrian writes, Bvcai 'AAe^av-

DeExpeditione

7. Xapiariipia Oveiv ev irpd^avra.

So in

his Anabasis,

Alexandn
L. VI.
c.

^^

Kapuavia
'

Yopio-T'^pjo

rvs Kar

'IvSaiv viKrjs, k. r. A.

These free-will
to the

offerings

XXVIII.
received.

may he considered
and by sportsmen
8. SireVSeii/.

in the light of grateful

acknowledgments

gods

J,

,, r for blessings

They were

paid by soldiers after victory, by

husbandmen

after harvest,

after success in the field.

Wine was

generally used in these libations, but not always

sacrifices,

for

there were vqcpaXia

Uphsdbet

wherein no wine was poured forth.

Gene-

iEneid. L.

vi.

rally,

however, wine was employed, as we learn from Virgil's " frontique invergit

vina sacerdos."
9. Evcprjixuv to

" favere lingua, bona verba dicere."

omen.
eixpTjiMrja-ai,

This expression does not seem

mean

that the persons present at a sacrifice were to observe profound silence, but

rather to abstain only from words of evil

correctly in his translation of

Mr. Cowper has preserved

its

sense

Iliad ix. 171.

" That every tongue

all

abstain

from speech
Schol. ad Aristoph. Thesm. Act.

Portentous."

Ogilby, Dacier, and Pope,

mistake the signification

sacrificiis favere

of
i.

eixpvfieiv.

" Prascones claiuantes," says Festus, " populum

jube-

b^nt.
,

Favere est bona

ffrjuaivei

aiyau koI mwirav

-..,,/
Si

fari."

But Bourdin ad Aristoph. Thesraophor.

eiKpTjfj.e'iv

ev<p7]iJ.ias.

10.

2Te<|)a'oCi'.

The

sacrificial

victims were adorned with garlands and crowns on

iheir liorns

and necks.

The

altars

were decorated with sacred herbs, and the priests

themselves wore crowns upon their heads, composed of the leaves of the tree sacred
to the deity to

whom

they paid their devotions.

it

See Tertullian de Idololatri^.

to

11. "Tuvuv.
train,

Hunting-carols,

maybe, were chanted

It

Dian and her sylvan

to sing

by

the Celts and other sportsmen of old.

was customary

hymns

in

honour of the Gods, and dance around the

brating the more important religious rites
rated the exploits of the worshipped,
;

altar of sacrifice,

on occasion of cele-

when

the songs, in general,

virtues,

commemo-

enumerated their

and the benefits con-

ON COURSING.
hymns, ^* and
game,
i-

ni
of
the captured Chap,
^^

to

dedicate

the

first-fruits

xxxv

as the conqueror does of the spoils of war.

ferreil

upon the worshippers, expressing,

"T/xvoi
iJ.ev

at the

same time, a wish

wOpwirovs,

for their conti-

nuance.

fs Tovs 6eovs Troiovvrat, ewatvoi 5e es

s?iy s

Callisthenes,

Arrian. de

in his splendid speech

on the line of distinction to be drawn between divine and

Exped, Alex.
L. IV.
c. XI.

human honours.
12. ^Airapx^s rwv aXuTKOfuvaip avaridevai.
sacrifices,

The

aTrapxal, or first-fruits of animal

were small pieces of

flesh
:

cut from every part of the beast, and offered to

the gods, (see

Homer, passim)

but hunters, according to Pitiscus, dedicated to the

feet, skin,

Lexicon
-""t'^* rloman.

Goddess of the Chase the bead, horns,

which custom Nisus alludes

&c. of the slaughtered game; to

in bis invocation to

Diana:

Si

qua

tuis

unquam pro me pater Hyrtacus

aris

Doraa

tulit, si

qua ipse meis venatibus auxi,

fixi
:

iEneid. L. ix. 406.

Suspendive tholo, aut sacra ad fastigia

Hunc
13. 'O Tp

sine

me, &c.

viKTi

TroXe'/Uou

aKpodluia,

Before the spoils of victory were distributed

among
them

the warriors, they considered themselves obliged to

make an
all.

offering out of

to

the Gods, to whose assistance they were indebted for them

Those sepa-

rated to this use were termed, according to the author of the Archaeologia Grseca,
uKpodivia, because taken
OTr'

&Kpov rod Oivhs, from the top of the heap.

BEfrER.

VAIL li A NT.

APPENDIX
SOME ACCOUNT

CANES VENATICI
CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY.

prima

ilia

canura, non uUa per artes

Cura

prior, sive

indomitos veliementior hostes

seu bellum ex arte ministres.

Nudo marte premas,

Miile

canum
sub.,

patriae, ditctique

ab origine mores

Cuique

Gratii Falisci Cyneget.

vs. 151.

APPENDIX.

In

introducing to the reader's notice the Canes Venatici of the

following monograph

wherein

the embellishment of fable

is

is

often
to

admitted as the language of truth, and amusement

instruction

paramount

it

must not be expected that

I should carry

back the

history of the chase to the early period of the world's annals,

harmony, and family accord,

when
Cowper's
'Taik. B. VI,

Were

driven from Paradise

and man's subject creatures revolted from

Ktt\ Brjpes

their revolted lord

aiSovs a.yvafi]<xavres vSfiovs,

us

Svafteinj (pevyovai

rhv

irplv SiffirSTTiv

venationum

Phil, de Animal.

Propriet. vs. 8.

the probable date of

its

institution

("

cum

peccato enim animalium

Incert. et
0.

noxa simul

Agrippa de Van.
LXXII.
Invent. L. in.

et persecutio et fuga subintravit, et artes

Sc. et Art.

excogitatai sunt,")

nor to

the

later

epoch of

its

Phenician origin,
;

maintained by Polydore Vergil on the authority of Eusebius

its

nor Rerum.

De

more fabulous Theban birth and

distribution,

the thrice-told

c. V.

tale of

John of Salisbury

but rather consider hunting as an art of

acquisition and self-defence of remote

and undefined antiquity.

Euseh. de Praep. Evang. L.I.

].

To Henricus
given.

Cornelius Agrippa, and his Origin of the Chase, reference

its

is else-

where

Identical with his view of

in his Policraticus,

rise, progress,

and demerit,

is

that of

Joannes Sarisberiensis,

De

Venatici

et

autoribus et speciebus ejus,

et exercitio licito et illicito.

" Et piimi quidem Thebani," says John, (who wrote

180

APPENDIX.
Venation, as a pastime, too

On

much has

already been said in

the preface to

Arrian

and I will at present confine

its

my

remarks to

a few classical anecdotes of

progressional improvement
;

primitive furniture,

its

founders,

and

premising, by the way, that

civilization,

when men

were unacquainted with the blessings of

and had no

idea of pleasure beyond the gratification of their appetites

in short, they

when,

were

in

a state of nature

hunting was

not the by-

work of
a

leisure hours, but the

call of continual

urgency

not the

jocund diversion of a day, but' the]toilsome and perilous occupation of

life.

In such early times, the nonage of a fallen world, commenced

beasts
:

the
P. A. Bargaji

war of men with

Ccepere in pecudes avidi saevire ferasque,

de Aucupio
L.
I.

p. 13.

Et

nil tale prius meritas

captare Tolantes.

The

personal

safety

of

himself and those

dependent
to

on his

protection,
necessity

and the daily cravings of hunger, dictated

slaughter;

man

the

of animal

so that, in seeking his quotidian

:

meal, he originated the art of hunting

Oppian. Cyneg
L.
II.

iiriS6fnriov

evparo

Oiiprtu.

7.

Tickell's

Rude

arts at first,

but witty want refined

Miscellanies.

The huntsman's

wiles,

and famine form'd the mind.

The

first

hostile efforts of the

barbarian lords of creation against

their biped

and quadruped

subjects,

" joint-tenants of the shade"

with themselves, were confined, we

of physical
strength

may

suppose, to manifestations
;

and brute courage

by which, under the

powerful incentives of self-interest, they procured the vital necessaries of food

Gratii Cyneget.
TS. 2.

and clothing
prills

omnis

in armis

Spes

fuit, et

nuda

silvas virtute

movebant

Inconsulti homines.

De

Nugis

in the reign of our

second Henry, and from

whom

later authors

have purloined the

Curialium L. I. c. IV.

oft-repeated reprobation,)

"

si

fidem sequamur
sit

historije, earn

communicandam omni-

bus statuerunt.

Et ex quo suspecta

omnibus gens

foeda parricidiis, ipcestibus

detestanda, insignis fraude, nota perjuriis, hujus

artificii, vel

potius maleficii, in pri-

mis preecepta congessit, quae postmodum ad gentem

moUem
wrong.

imbellemque, levem et

impudicam (Phrygios loquor) transmitteret," &c.

1.

Armis from armi not arma.

Wase's version

is

The term

is

more com-

1' 1'

K N Dl \

181

And

here at the head of rude pedestrian sportsmen

we

find the

human
Ovid. Metam.

inventor of the science of the chase, that legendary personage, the

Gorgon-killing Perseus
rator"

" Gorgonis

anguicomai Perseus supe-

(for I

would not deprive Latona's hunting-twins, Apollo

Qripofnyii, "

and Diana, nor the worshipful race of Centaurs, <pvXa

Xen. de Venat.
*^

of their priority of claim, and patent of precedency, in the apotheosis of the chase,) who,

'

courage, as

we

are told

when he had performed this redoubted by the poet of Anazarbus

act of

j",

voiSuv Kpaivvoiffiv ieipSixevos irTepvyerrffi

Kot nrwKaSf koI 6uas iKa^vro, Koi ytvos alywv

Oppian. Cyneg. L. 11. 10.

aypordpaiv, SdpKovs re doohs, opvywv re yeve6\a,

^y avTw;'
i\a(l)(i)i'

(ttiktuv alnetva KdpTjva.

As men

in general,

however, did not possess the speed of Perseus

nionly applied to the shoulder or

arm of animals than man

it,

but the sense of the

passage requires the interpretation I have put upon

and

is farther illustrated

by the

" unguibus

et

pugnis" of Horace, and "merat

vires " of

Ovid

Hor. Sat. L.

i.

S. III. vs. 101.

Turn genus humanum

Hisque mera;

solis errabat in agris

vires, et

rude corpus

ei'at.

Ovid. Art. *-" "*

Am.

Politian elegantly exemplifies the Faliscian's

meaning

in his Silva, entitled Nutricia

Sed longum tamen obscuris iramersa tenebris

Carmina V.
illustr.

Gens

rudis, atque inculta virum, sine '

'

more, sine ulla

.

roet.

p. 159.

Lege propagabant sevum, passimque fenno

Degebant homines
ritu,

visque insita cordi

ullos prompserat usus,

Mole obsessa

gravi,

nondum

Nil animo, duris agitabant cuncta lacertis.

1.

For Perseus's

title

to this post

of honour

Oppian

is

my

only voucher; but his

words are decisive

iv fiepSwetrffi Sf irpuros 6 FopySvos aiiXfv' a/ifpffas,
Zrtvhs xpv<^^ioio irdiS

Cyneg. L.
^s. 8.

11.

K\vTbs fvparo Uepffevs.

2. Will the reader

admit the explanation of the Policraticus as to the fabulous con:

nexion of these hybrids with the chase

" nempe qui

,,

his studiis aut desidiis insistunt,

semiferi sunt, et abjecta potiore humanitatis parte, ratione raorum prodigiis conformantur
r

-,,.. and

J. Sarisberiensis de N. C.

again,

" Venatores omnes adhuc institutionem redolent Centaurorum.

-rr

.r>

L.

I. C.

IV.

Raro invenitur quisquam eorum modestus aut gravis," &c.

182
Bedingfield's

APPENDIX.
To sweep
with winged feet along
at
force,

and Achilles,! "

plain;"
nor
the

the

level

Education of
Achilles.

power of catching

vow^t

Kvpobpofiirfs,
;

Callimach. H.
in Diaii.

the fleetest animals of chase, like the goddess

Dian

it

became

105.

necessary to add to their naked powers sundry inartificial imple-

ments,

auxiliary

to the subjugation

of some, the destruction and

expulsion of other beasts.

Lucretii L. V. 964.

Et

manuum

niiri freti virtute

pedumque
ferarum
clavae
:

Consectabantur s^lvestria
Missilibus saxis, et

sa?cla

magno pondere

Multaque vincebant, vitabant pauca

latebris.

Somerville's

Chace. B.

i.

New and unpolish'd was the huntsman's art No stated rule, his wanton will his guide.
With clubs and
stones, rude

implements of war,

He

arm'd his savage bands, a multitude

;

Untrain'd

of twining osiers form'd, they pitch

toils,

Their artless

then range the desert

:

hills.

And

scow'r the plains below

the trembling herd

Start at th' unusual sound,

and clam'rous shout

!

Unheard

before

surpriz'd, alas

to find

Man now

their foe,

whom

erst they

deem'd

their lord,

But mild and

gentle,

and by whom as yet

Secure they graz'd.

Acquiring knowledge

by experience,

man advanced

in

the

mechanism and variety of

increasing civilization.

his hunting gear,

as in other articles of

Gratii

Cyneg.

Post

ali^ propiore vi&, raeliusque profecti,

vs. 5.

Te

sociam, ratio, rebus sumpsere gerendis.

vitse,

Hinc omne auxilium

rectusque reluxit

Ordo

et continuas didicere
;

ex artibus

artes
retro.

Proserere

hinc demens cecidit violentia

The Times.
Find.

1.

" The

light-footed

Greek of Chiron's school,"

as Churchill calls hira.

Nem.
p.ls

Carm. L. in.
85.

re Koi

Bpacre'i'

'Addua,

KreivovT i\d<povs &uev kv-

vwv
TTOcrcrl

SoXitcv 6' kpKtoiv

"yhp Kpd-TtdKiv,

APPENDIX.
Finding, on patient
its

183
Trfpt^re^es of

trial,

the

)^fos evpii

Oppian, with Oppian. Cyneg.

rude accompaninieiit of fire,'cVc. insufficient for capturing the

more wary creatures

Nam

fovea atque igni prius est venarier ortum

!-epire plagis

Lucretii

Quain

saltum, canibusque ciere

L. V. 1249.
;

he had recourse to the various kinds of weapons, snares, and wily

inventions of slaughter described

by Xenophon, Gratius, Oppian,

and Nemesiati

and often aUuded to by other writers, both sacred

and profane

Turn hqueis captare

Inventum.

feras, et fallere visco

Virgil.

Georg.
139.

L.

I.

But " short of due perfection" were all the hunter's wiles, till the dog was tutored to assist in the sylvan pursuit and massacre, and to
contribute the acuteness of his senses, his speed and courage, to the
service of

mankind

who consummated

their

superiority over the

animals of the forest, when they had directed to their chase the
cited poet of the Georgics " magnos

adapted powers of this faithful ally, and begim,

in

the words of the

canibus circumdare saltus,"

Ejusdem
140.

redeeming thereby their esculent crops and innocuous herds from

the ferocious and depredatory aggression of quadruped felons,
Kov<povf<iiv
i

T6 (pv\ov 6p-

Sophoclis Antigone, 350.

viOccv aiJ.(pt0a\uv &yeL,

Otjpioov t'

aypiuiv

(dvr)

irovrov t' elvaXiav (pvaiv

crirelpaiffi

SiKTvoKXciaroi?

KepicppaSris avrip'

Kparel Se

ixr^x^tvals

aypav\ov

8r]phs opeaaifiaTa.'^

1,

Nee mediocre
quadam

pacis

decus habebatur submota carapis irruptio ferarum, et

Plin.

Paneg.

obsidione
2.

liberatus agrestium labor.

tlie

According to Manilius

power of fasbioning implements of hunting, breeding

in,

Trajan. Diet. 81.

dogs of good pedigrees, breaking them

nativities

&c.

is

derived from sidereal influence at our

At Procyon

orieus, quiim

jam vicesima Cancri

astra,

Rlanilii

Septimaque ex undis pars sese emergitin

Astronomicon.
L. V.

184

APPENDIX.
venaii<li mille
in

The "
the gun
Adriani
Cardlnalis

via?"

of the

Carthaginian poet have been

superior
attraction of

superseded
:

the

British

islands

by the

macliiiiJe,

Venatio.

Mirandas,

horrificae, ininacis, atrae,

Qualem nee

Steropes, nee ipse fertur

Pater Lemnius inferis cavemis

Informksse Jovi, nee uUa

in

orbe
;

Per

tot secula cogitavit setas

and of various eminent breeds of

to

lleet

and sagacious dogs, adapted methods were

^

the

chase at force.
less

But

as these

heretofore
in

employed by our
unreclaimed
Certaine
Illustrations,

civilized

ancestry,

are

still

vogue

in

continent of
factions,"

&c. p. 25,

and many Europe whatever be their " incongruity to our as Wase expresses himself a brief description
countries,

of them yet practised on

the

present

of the

" supellex venandi"

will not be unacceptable to the

modern reader,

Venatus non

ille
:

quidem, verum arma

creatis

Venandi

tribuit

catulos nutrire sagaces,

artes,

Et genus a proavis, mores numerare per

Retiaque, et valida venabula cuspide

fixa,

Lentaque contextis formare

hastilia nodis,

Et quodcumque

solet

venandi poscere cura

In proprios fabricare dabit venalia qufestus.

1.

We

have the authority of the most ancient record of British

of
(fliaitir.

field spoils, called

j'ttagfitfr

(a curious manuscript in the British

Museum,)

for tlie general

five

use of
ago.
c. III. fol.

much

of the classic furniture of the chase in France

and England

centuries
:

Let the reader compare the following with the Greek and Latin Cynegetica
the

21.

" Of the Hare, and

methods of taking her.

Men

slee hares
ellis

with greyhoundes
thei slee

and with rennynghoundes by strengthe, as inEngelond; but

where

hem

with smale pocketes and wt p'suetes and wt smale nettis, with hare pipes and with

long nettis and with smale cordes that

c. IV. ful.

men

casten where thei

mak

here brekyng of

25.

the smale twygges

whan

thei goon

to

hure pasture,"

&c. " Of the

Hertc.

Men

taken

hem

with houndis, with greyhoundis, with nettis, and with cordes, and with
;

other harnays

with

puttes and

with

shott,

and with other gynnes, and with

all

strengthe, as y shal say here after,"

<Slc.

Almost

the instruments of this royal

armoury, the

fruits of

De

Langley's extensive experience at home and abroad, and as

their counterparts in the

such recorded in his hunting manual, have

phon, Gratius, Oppian, and Nemesian.

works of Xeno-

A I'lM'.N IllX.

18.J

by way of introduction

to

the subject of classic hunting witli

tlic

ancient varieties of the canine race.

With seeming accuracy

antique poaching gear
;

Gratius has described the whole of the

'

but

it

must be confessed that neither

Xenophon's, nor the Faliscian's, nor the hunting technicalities of

the other Cynegetical writers, can be fully explained to modern

comprehension.

The

deities

and demi-deities of sylvan

:

life

are objects of invoca-

tion in the

exordium of Gratius

His ego praesidibus nostram defendere sortem

Contra mille
feras, et

GraliiCyneg.
'^' '^^'

non sine carmine, nisus

Carmine, et arma dabo venandi, et persequar artem

Armorum,

cassesque, plagarumque ordiar astus.

and then, under their tutelary aid, the poet begins to handle the " arma venandi ;" which, as recorded in the Cynegetica generally,
consisted of the linea or formido, nets of various

mesh and

size

and

shape, nooses, springes, and other traps

arrows, &c.
;

missile weapons, as darts,

and those
:

for standing-defence, as the halberd-like

boar-spear, &c.
antiquity.
~

many

of these, however, were not of very remote

1.

"

We

are not sensible of Gratius's great care in the choice and ordering of

Certaine
,"*

speares," in the language of his illustrator,

engines, and dig pits, which

" nor

of his provision in sliowing to set

lations,

men

prize in those countries

where beares and lyons,

with such ravenous beasts, do abound.

We

seem

to

have a different end in our

hunting, which hath introduced a diflFerent

2.

stile of

hunting," &c.
;

The
and

arts of

war and hunting advanced passibus aquis

both at

first

equally

rude,
assault

destitute of ingenuity of contrivance in their respective instruments of

Unguibus

et pugnis, dein fustibus, atque ita porro

fjor. Sat.
S'l'-

L.

i.

Pugnabant armis quae post fabricaverat

usus.

'" l^^*

Before the age of Homer, the bow and arrow, " the artillery of ancient heroes," the

67X05 or ^6pv, spear or pike,

entire

|iiJ)os

the sword, and Kopivri the club, constituted the

armoury of

tlie

warriors and hunters of semi-barbarous Greece.

See Iliad xi.

and xvii. Odyss. ix. and xix.

attack of the

How

scanty

was the

furniture of Hercules in his

Nemcan

lion

2 A

186

APPENDIX.
feathered line or

The

pinnatum was

called, from its effect, metus,

iv.

DeM
L.
II, c.

formido, and belfxara

dripHv,

(Oppian. Cyneg-.

389.)

"

Cum

XII.

maximos ferarum greges," says Seneca, "

contineat, et in insidias agat; ab ipso effectu

linea
d'lctB,

pennis

distincta

formido."

Gratii Cyneg.
vs.

Sunt quibus immundo decerptae vulture plumae

75.

Instrumentum operis

fuit, et

non parva

facultas.

Tantum
Et
satis

inter nivei jungantur vellera

cygni

armorum

est.
:

Ha;c clar^ luce coruscant,

Terribiles species

ab vulture dirus avaro

meliusque alterna valet
res.

Turbat odor

silvas,

The
Wase's
Illustrations,

line of

feathfers

of various hue,

impregnated with
(

artificial

odour, " was drawn about the woods

oXiyov

yat'jjs

efvirepdev,

&c.

p. 7.

Oppian. Cyneg.

iv.

380.)

in

the intermitted spaces where

the
is

toyles were pitched, that so the deer (than

which no creature

more timorous) might balk them, and be cast upon the net."
linea thus flanked the

The

bUrv or long

net,

where not extensive enough

to enclose the covert

and

filled the intervals,

between the purse-

nets

and nooses,

when

the latter were set independent of the retia.

in cervos valuit

Gratii Cyneg. vs. 85.

Hie magis

metus.

'

Ast ubi

lentee

Interdum Libyco fucantur sandice pinnea,

Lineaque extructis lucent anconibus arma
:

Rarum

si

qua metus eludat bellua

falsos.

Theocriti Idyll.

ainap iyi> Kepas vyphv

'Iwf
e^uirAeir/j/,

e\i)V, Kol\ijv

re (papfrpav,

L. XXV. 20C.

veonrjv erfpr/cpi re fidKrpou

evirayes, avr6<l>\oiov, inripecpeos Korivoio,

evfierpov.

The Persian hunting

Sir T. Elyot's.

of Cyrus, as described in the Cyropsedia, (L.

i. c.

v.), presents

"^

^^^'^

warlike weapons alone.

his

" Than tooke every man "

his

(I quote from

The GoSteele,

The Governour. vemour) " with hym

B.
I,

bowe and quiver with arowes,

sword or hach of

c. XVIII.

little tergat,

and two dartes."

to Gratius,
it

1.

" The formido," Wase admonishes the reader of his Preface

" may

be in some measure retriv'd by looking into the Sicilian hunting, where

in use at this day.

continues
a herd of

When

the nobles or gentry are inform'd which

way

dear passeth, giving notice to one another, they

make a meeting.

Every one brings

with him a cross-bow or long-bow, and a bundle of staves.

iron spike at the bottom,

These staves have an

all

and

their

head

is

beared with a cord drawn through

of

rriiN

1)1

\.

ltS7

The

Ciliciaii poi't lias lelt

in the

a graphic description of the formido, as

employed
Cyneg.

Armenian bear-hunt
that I regret

a picture so vividly sketched,

length prevents transcription.

iv.
it

:J80.,

its

part of

will

be found hereafter under the Eastern " Canis

liniehouiid.

[nductor'tUe Armenian

The

fourth Halicutic, in an

apposite and beautiful simile, describes the startling effect of the

feathered line on timid animals of chase
:

wSe Koi eV ^u\6xoi(rtv dpfarepoi aypevrripfs

eTXov avaKKelrjv i\a.cpwv ivaypii Te'xfj;,
fiTipivBai crrexl/avTes

Oppian. Hal,
L, IV. 58G.

cinav Spios'

aij,(pi

Be KOv<pwv

opvidoiv 5r}(ravro 6oa

impd' ral

S'

iaopuaai

r]\efiaTa irTfiffaovcTi Kevhf <p6^ov, ouSe ireKaffcrai

(xw^iBiais TTTepvyecTatv arv^Sfievai fie/xdacnv
ela-6Ke OtjpTjTTJpes iirat^avTes '4\u(Xi.

Many

notices of this instrument

w^ill

occur to the classical reader

them.

Their length

is

about four

foot.

Being thus provided, they come to the herd,

and there casting themselves about

into a large ring, they surround the deer,

and
ties
it,

then every one of them receives a peculiar stand, and there unbinding his fagot,
the end of his cord to the other
sticks into the

who

is

set in the

next station

then to support

ground each

stafFe

about the distance of ten foot one from another.

Then they

take out feathers which they bring with

them dyed'in crimson

for this

very

purpose, and fastned upon a thrid which they

breath of wind they are whirl'd round about.

lie to

the cord, so that with the least

severall stands,

Those which keep the

withdraw, and hide themselves in the next covert.

enters within the line, taking with him only

After this the chiefe ranger

after the herd,
till

some hounds, which draw

and coming near with

their cry, rouse

it.

Upon which,
left,

the deer fly

they come

towards the line, where they turn oflto the

and

still

gazing upon the shining and

in

shaking feathers, wander about

it

as

if

they were kept

with a wall or pale.

The
and

chief ranger pursues, and calling to every one by name, as he passeth by their stand,
cries to
if

them
of

that they should shoot the

first,

third, or sixth, as he shall please

any

them miss or

single out any other then that which

:

was assigned by the

ranger,

it is

counted a disgrace to him

by which means, as they pass by the severall

. . .

stations, the

whole herd

is kill'd

by diverse bands

These stakes are of the same

use with those ancones* mention'd in Gratius, but

it

improv'd."

" These things,"

might seem that they are farther

continues the translator of the Faliscian, "

may

be of

use to have been preraitted ;"

the author of this Appendix.

and with the same view they are here introduced by

The

staves (lithe Sicilians are the ancones of

Gratius the araXiKis and

irxciAfSes

of the

Greek hunters.

188
in the

APPENDIX.
works of the Latin poets, but
in

none more copiously de;

lineated than in the Cynegeticon of

Nemesian

who enumerates

the

many

sources whence the feathers of dissimilar tint are to be culled

for decorating the

" plumed

line :"

Nemesian.
'-yneg. vs. 312.

Dat

tibi

pinnarum terrentia

millia vultur

p^j Jjbye magnaram avium foecunda

Danlque

creatrix,
;

grues, cygnique senes, et candidus anser crassisque paludibus errant,

:

Pant qufE fluminibus

Pellitosqiie

pedes stagnanti gurgite tingunt

:

nine mage Puniceas native raunere sumes

Namque

illic

sine fine greges florentibus alis

Invenies avium, suavique rubescere luto,

Et sparsos passim tergo vernare

colores.

If the reader be interested in the minutiae of Grecian and

Roman
ivobta,

net-making, and the methods of fixing the apKves,

the casses, retia, and plaga, he
is

6/fcrua,

and

referred for the former to the

Cynegeticus of the elder Xenophon, and that most extraordinary

work of human

research, the

Onomasticon of Julius Pollux

for
view

the latter, to the Venatio Novantiqua of Janus Vlitius, a scholar of

deep erudition, and an experienced sportsman:

being
all

a summary

that can be rendered

by the present

writer, professedly

epitomising the labours of more experienced workmen.

The
ending

apKves
in

or

casses

were conical, purse or tunnel-like

nets,

a point at one end, and having a running noose of entrance

at the other, resembling

somewhat a hooped calash, or cowl.

for

The
Nemesian. Cyneg. vs. 300.
^^^

hiKTva or retia

were long sean-like nets

open

fields,

and
retia

encircling

brakes and coverts;

" longoque meantia

tractu."

The

kvohia or plagtB

were nets of much

paths,

less length, to

be placed

across roads,

game-tracks,

and narrow openings between

bushes.

The
that

apKves appear to

have been sometimes placed independent of

in

the blKTva, but more

commonly

the course of the main nets

so

when

the animals passed along the linear and reticular barrier,

exploring a place of egress, terrified by the formido, (which flanked

the hayes,

and occasionally was drawn along above the net-rope

to

scare the

game

from overleaping,) and the meshes of the biKTva,

(continuous except where the purse-nets were introduced with their

A I'l'HN

1)1

\.

189

slip-knot entrance), on attempting to pass out at the apparent opening

of the

ap(.us, tliey

became by

their struggles entangled therein

the
there

purse either spontaneously, or

to

by the agency of the men placed

draw

the necessary ropes, immediately closing at the mouth.

iird KeXdSovTos

ar)Te(ii

Oppian.Cyneg.
L. IV. 409.

raiviai t' 4<pinTfp6f Str]epiat KpaSdovcrt,

KivvfXivai irripvyis re Ktyh'ia crvpi^ovaiv.

ovveKa iraTTTaivovaa kot' &pKvas avriov

iv
8'

epirei'

eneffev \iV(Oi(Ti \6xois.

The whole management of

watch
at^rtuiv

the nets

and

lines

was vested

in

the

TTvXawpwv referred to,

who were concealed under

copse-wood, for the purpose, more particularly, of attending to the

enlbpo/jios

and

7reptSpo/xos,

the

ropes (smooth and knotless) which

governed the apKves, and passed through iron rings, along the course
of the biKTva, up to the watchmen's hiding-place
4v Se Svo)
kK'^volv SoioTs iKarepfle Kepatais
:

Opplan.Cjneg.
L. IV. 382.

avepas aKpoXivovs virh

fxetXiveoicri irdyoiffLV.

The

length

of the biKTva

or retia,

properly so called, would

astonish a

modern

disciple of Diana.

So great was the extent of

that Plutarch mentions, in

ground sometimes enclosed by these

his life of

toils,

Alexander, hunting-nets above twelve miles long.

to encircle vast tracts of country,

With

such

it

was customary

and then, by

1.

The complete and

helpless entanglement of the victim of the tunnel-net

is

admirably described by Seneca, in the simile of

The Agamemnon, where Cassandra

likens the son of Atreus, ensnared in a cassi-form vest (so happily called by jEschylus irnixov^v apKiKTraTov)

by the "seraivir" Thyestes and the adulteress queen-

Agamemnon
vs.

consort, to a boar inextricably enveloped in these toils

1386.

At

ille

ut

altis

hispidus sylvis aper,

Senecae

Cum

casse vinctus, tentat egressus tamen,

furit,

Agamem.
Act. v. 886.

Arctatque raotu vincla, et incassiim

Cupit fluentes undique et cascos sinus

Disjicere, et hostem quaerit implicitus suum.

See the definitions of Pollux in

my

notes to the

first

Chapter of Arrian's Cynege-

ticus itpKuex,

S'lKTva, 4v6Sia.

190

APPENDIX.

gradually contracting their ambit, to force the animals of the district

into a narrower
tionis, the

compass

when at the
its
:

will of the magister vena-

work of slaughter commenced. i

Achilleid

This

mode

of hunting

is

very clearly described, with

in a simile of the
Statii Achil.
'

usual auxiliaries of noise and flame,

sic

curva feras indago latentes

'

Claudit, et admotis paulatim cassibus arctat.

Illffi

ignem sonitumque pavent, difFusaque liuquunt

Avia, tniranturque suum decrescere moutem.

Donee

in aiigustaiu ceciderunt

undique vallem,
tiniore

Inque vicem stupuere greges, socioque

IMansuescunt.

Simul hirtus aper, simul ursa, iupusque

Cogitur, et captos contemnit cerva leones.

The

Faliscian poet, in the early part of his Cynegeticon, specifies

the best materials for the composition of nets, with particular instructions for their size
Gratii

and shape

Cyneg.

Prima jubent tenui nascentem jungere

filo

^^" ^^'

Limbum,

et quadruplici

tormento adstringere limbos.

usus linea longi.
qui nascitur ore.

Ilia operura patiens, ilia

Tunc ipsum medio cassem

Concipiat tergo,

Per senos circum usque sinus laqueabis, ut

si

omnem

quisquam est pluriraus, hostem.

Et

bis vicenos, spatium praetendere passus

velira,

Rete

plenisque decern consurgere nodis.

Certaine
lluistrations

1.

"In

Poland,

when

the king hunts," observes

Wase, "

his servants are

wont to

of surround a wood, though to the space of a mile or better in compasse, with toiles, the Ovneffeti''^'^ich are pitched upon firme stakes this being done, the whole town, all sexes and call Poem of Gratius. p. 68, ages, promiscuously rush into the inclosure, and with their loud shouts rear all the
:

beasts within that wood, which

making

forth, are

intercepted in the nets.

There

small and great beasts are together intai)gled, after the same manner as us we draw a net over a pond, and after heating
it all

when amongst

over with poles,

we
and

bring out
bores,

not only pike and carp, but lesser fry

roe-bucks, and hares
:

so they enclose at once, dear,

and

for so

they order their nets, that the space of those meshes

for the entangling of greater beasts

which are twisted with greater cords,

space, I say,
is

that
See
latter

made up

witli

smaller whip-cord, for the catching lesser prey."

vi.,

Xenophon de Venatione,

c,

and Pausanias in Ba;oticis,

c.

xxi.

The

autlior relates that the Celtic hunters

surrounded plains and mountain-thickets with

all

their toils, so as to

be certain of catching

the animals within the circumference

thereof.

APPENDIX.

191
distinctly
:

On

the

same suhjoct the Carthaginian summarily touches,

recognizing the three varieties of which we have been just speaking

Necnon
et casses iidem venatibus aptos,
retia tractu

Atque plagas, longoque meantia

Addiscant
raris

W^eg.

Nemesian. vs. 2J9.

semper contexere nodis,

maciilis linoque tenaci.

El servare nioduni

And

an

earlier poet,
life,

in

his praise of the

brumal pleasures of the

countryman's

sunders plagte and retia, applying them to such

it is

totally difterent purposes, that

probable they sometimes differed

its size,

as

much

in

the structure of the mesh,

&c. as

in the

magni-

nitude of the whole instrument

At cum
r

tonantis annus hvbernus Jovis

^

Inibres

mvesque comparat

nor. Epod. L. 11.29.

Aut

trudit acres hinc et hinc raulta, cane

Apros

in obstantes plagas

Aut amite

levi rara tendit retia

Turdis edacibus dolos,

Pavidurave leporera, et advenam laqueo gruem,

Jucunda capiat praemia.

Whatever honour be attached

polytus

to these reticular inventions,

is

and

that of the running-noose, the Ppoxos or laqueus,

due

to

Hip-

&pKvas aire fip6xovs re, Kal ajKvKa hlKrva wpwros

'1idt6\vtos
ix(p6irfff(rii> iiraKxripeffffiv f<p7ive.

Oppian. Cyneg.

The

fipoxos generally

formed a rhomb-shaped entrance to the

apicvs,

as probably did the laqueus to the cassis

(evobiov plages),

but

as the tunnel

was
and

occasionally used separate from the sean-like

toil {biKTv

rete)

from the road-net

so

may

these slip-knot nooses

have been also

in

set

independent of the purses, their usual additaments,

straits

narrow passes, or

frequented by

game

Namque

hos aut foveis, aut cseci in limine

callis

Occultant, &c.

P. A. Bargaei Cyneg. L. i.

The noose-ropes/ being

of much ruder manufacture, and more simple

1.

Such were the anpai

of the Parlhians, applied to the purposes of

human war-

192
structure, than

APPENDIX.
any variety of net with meshes, must have been of

earlier institution.
Gratii Cynegt
vs.

Nam

fuit et laqueis aliquis curracibus usus.

;

89.

Cervino jussere niagis contexere nervo

Fraus teget insidias, habitu mentita ferino.

These laquei curraces,^ seemingly from

materials than

this

passage

made of other
who, I

hemp

before the days of Gratius, are yet in use, under

the form of springes and wires, with deer and hare-poachers

Hor. L.
III.

find in

Oppian, are indebted to the giant-hunter Orion

"

integrae

Od.

IV. vs. 70.

tentator Orion Dianae"

for the first establishment of their nocturnal

depredations
Cyneg. L.
28.
rvKTeplovs Se \6xovs, vvxiv" iraviTr'iKXo-nov &ypTiv

'npiuf irpwri.aros e/i'^coTo KepSaXed^pwv.

We

are next introduced

by Gratius

to dentatee pedica, spiked

fare

for it is evident

from Josephus's account of Tiridates's narrow escape from the

De

Bell.

Alan

aeipacpSpos

{fipdxov

yap avr^

tJs ir6^pudev Trepi^aXoov

efieWev

iiri<nrd(reiv, el

Judaic. L. vii. c. 27.

M^ T^ l'4**' Owrrov iKe7vos 7hv r6vov Kuipas, e<p6r} Sia<pirye7p,') that the instrument employed against the king was of the nature of a laqueus. And a farther illustration
of the use of the noose-rope in

war we

find in the lines of Valerius Flaccus,

Argonaut. L. VI. 133.

Doctus

et

Auchates patulo vaga vincula gyro

Spargere, et extremas laqueis adducere turmas.

1.

Some

idea of the curraces laquei, and hunting nets duly set,

may be formed from

Ferarum &c.

the engravings of Strada and Galle (1578.');

or those of the Venationes

of CoUaert, Mallery, Theodore and Cornelius Galle of later date.

cuts of John

The

spirited

wood-

Adam

Lonicer, of Francfort, attached to the Venatus et

Aucupium

of Sigismund Feyerabendi (1582), are amusing, but far less illustrative than the
former.

To Pere Montfaucon we
but

are indebted for a few copies from the antique of the

;

larger varieties of nets for hunting, Ziktvo,, retia

see his plates of stag-hunting

we have no representations of other Wase confounds the laquei curraces with

and
all

predatory instruments in the latter work.

the dentatee pedicee, where he describes the

Preface to the

former as " a round hoop of yeughen wood

force, in fashion of a coronet,

made

of boughs, which stood bent by

Reader.

stuck with iron nayles, and

wooden pins," &c.

Peradventure, they

may have been

set together, the gins in a shallow pit beneath tlie

nooses, more superficially placed on the ground.

Polluc.

See Xenoph. de Venat.

c.

ix.

Onom. L.

v. c, iv.

Al'l'KN
or i^ms, resembling the
.

1)1

\.

193
1
1-

1-

ii>ot-tra[)s

-KocoaTpapai o\

I Aenoplioii

ami

'^en.

de Venat.
^^

,x.

I*)llux;

and formed, as the following

tlio

lines indicate, of

wood, con-

Poll.

Onom.

ceulod on

ground
Quid

^* ^' ^^'
;

(jui

dentatas illgno robore clausit

1

Venator pedicas

cum

dissimulautibus arniis
1

Sa?pe habet iiiiprudens alieni lucra laboris

It being no small

recommendation to them that one poacher might

Their invention
is

reap the fruits of another's labours.

attributed to
higli

a virtuous and holy Arcadian, ycleped Dercylus,i

in

favour
of

with the Sylvan goddess, and by her initiated

hunting, and the

in the mysteries

formation
first

of sundry
in

destructive

implements of

predation, which he

employed
:

the valleys of

Mount Maenalus,

and the Lacediemonian AmycIvK

felix, tantis

quern primum industria rebus

!

Gralii

Cjneg.

vs. 95.

Prodidit auctorem

Deus

ille,

an proxuma Divos

Mens

fuit, in caecas

aciem quae magna tenebras

?

Egit, et ignarum perfudit himine valgus

And
Ergo ilium primis nemorum Dea
finxit in annis,

Auctoremque operi dignata

inscribere

magno,

Jussit adire suas et pandere geutibus artes.

1. It is

remarkable that this inventive genius

is

noticed

by no other writer

high

as his character stands with the Faliscian,

baud

illo

quisquam

se justior egit,
:

Gratii
vs.

Cyneg.
103.

Aut

fuit in terris

Diviim observautior alter

unless indeed he be the sly coadjutor of Alebion, wlio with a thief cleped Dercjlus

(of a different caste seemingly from the Gratian hero) despoiled Hercules of his

bovine booty during

its

transit

through Iberia.

See Natal. Comes, Mytholog. L. vii.

first

Perhaps we may with Wernsdorf consider him the

writer on the science

its

and
:

Excursus

II.

mechanism of
or
if

the chase, rather than the actual inventor of

multifarious furniture

ad Gratii vs. 103.

we cannot

thus dispose of his claim to manual dexterity,

may we not

identify

him with

Aristaeus, the

Arcadian nephew of Diana,

hv KaXfovaiv

aypea Koi

nSfiiov,

Apollon. Argonaut. L. II. 508.

a sort of legendary Sir Tristrem iu ancient matters of venery, and rural economy.

2 R

194

APPENDIX.
it

But

must not be forgotten that a competitor

like discoveries,
in
is

for the glory of these,

in

and other
Plutarch, in Araatorio.

mentioned by Phitarch,

Amatorio,
ev^ovTai

and by Nonnus,

Dionysiacis, in the person of Arista^us

b"Api(TTai(i) boXovrres

opvyfxam Ka\

jSpo'^^oisXvkovs Kal apKTOvs, os npioTOS

if

diipeaaiv

errrt^e

Trobriypas:

indeed,

we may

credit the Christian poet

is

of Panopolis, the

sire of the

hapless Actajon

entitled to the inven-

tion of almost every article of hunting-gear, the dresses of sportsmen,

initiation

of hounds of chase, &c.

less rightful

of many of which

he has been

deprived by

claimants

Nonni

in
v.

Kilvos avijp irpciriffTos oplSpofios a\(j.ari rapau>v

Dionys. L.

evpe <pi\oaKoirf\oio irdvov KefiaSoffaSov

i/yp-qs,

Kois voepif) fxvKTript irapa acpvpa (popfidSos v\7]s

dripos aar)ndvTOio

kvwv fiavreierai
iirl

oSfi^v,

vpdLU o^vKeKevOov
Kal SoAiTjy

Zpdjxov

ovara reivwf

SeSctrj/ce

iroXvirKoKa d'lKTva rexftis,

Kal araX'iKwv tvttov opQ6v. k.t. A.

To

the first-mentioned

Arcadian worthy Gratius attributes the

with morce or guards.
;

earliest fashioning of hunting-spears

Virgil

sings of

"

lato

venabula ferro," for close conflict

and Gratius more

particularly adds, to the honour of Dercylus's armoury, the introduction of bitid spears

Gratii Cyneg.
vs.

llle

etiam valido primus venabula dente

:

108.

Induit

et proni

moderatus vulneris iram Turn

stricta verutis

Omne

moris excepit onus.

Dentibus et geminas subiere

hastilia fuicas.

But although the Arcadian formed

Oppian. Cyneg.
L.
II.

the spear for pedestrian assault,

it,

^^*^
poiiTt

Meleager was conspicuous

fiuOoiaiv,

in the use of

kv oTabioiaiv opeiore-

22.

a more
:

celebrated hero

tirst

wielded

it

in

distant

jaculation on horseback

Oppian. Cyneg. L. II. 14.

jTTiraAe'rjr 8'

&ypr}v 6 <pae(T(p6pos evparu Kdcrrwp,

firl

Kal Tobs iifv KaTiTri<pviv,

aKonhv

tdvs &kovti

PaWSfXfvos, Tovs
O^lpas eAe

5'

oSre Boois

'Itzttoktiv

iKavi/wv

lv\6xoKn

/leffrifiPpLVolo Spdfioio.

style of hunting,

which we may suppose

to

have been much

practised in the

Boman

empire by persons of noble rank, as Montit

faucon gives several representations of

from the sepulchre of the

J'

PEN D1X

195
tlio

Nasoni
J
\

in

exact accordance with which,

tor the equestrian chase.

nnreXari]^ oi

Onnian

t.y"eg. L. i. vs. 91. seqq.

IS

decked out

The

reader's recollection will readily supply, from authors in every

one's hands, the use of

bows and

arrows,' and small darts

ot held-sports
:

" excussa

IVIartial.

de

iancea torta raanu,

m the early annals

tit

Aiiipli. Cfusar.

L. xi.

Quocirca et jaculis habilem perpendimus usum

Gratii Cyneg.
vs.

Neu

leve vulnus eat, neu

brevis impetus

122.

illi.

Ipsa arcu Lyci&.que suas Diana pharetia,

Annavit comites

ne

tela relinquite Divse, sagitta;.

Magnum

opus et volucres quondam fecere

The far-famed female

donian boar,

ally of

Meleager

in the

attack on the Caly-

the paragone

Of Lycey

forest, Atalant, a

goodly lady, one

Golding's Ovid's Me lam. B. VIII.

Of Schaenyes daughters,

claims the merit of

first

employing archery

having been instructed

"

both

in KvyTjXaair)

and

e.v(jTo\iri

by Dian

herself, (see Callim.

H.

in

Dian.

vs. 217.)

"SiXoivrios irpuTT) Se
flTjpffi

kXvtt) fliryarrjp 'AroAai'Tij

(ru7jj8o'A.os

Oppian. Cyneg.
L.
II.

<p6vov irrepoevra

ivparo Kovpr).

26.

We are unacquainted

with the form and use of

many

of the wea-

1.

The decay

of archery in England
is

is
:

feelingly deplored by Sir

Thomas

Elyot,

because " in shotyng

a double utilitee

"

it is

"

the feate,
vrith

wherby Englyshmcn The (iovernour.

have been moste dradde and had in estimation

outwarde princes, as wel

enemyes

as alies,"
is

&c.

and secondly

in

" kyllynge of deere, wylde foule, and other

game, there

both profyte and pleasure above any other artyllery."

2. Superior expertness in the chase

" To bend the bow, and aim unerring darts,"

Diana; so was Scamandrius
:

was always attributed

to the personal instructions of

taught, though his skill availed

him nothing

before the fatal lance of Menelaus

fffOhhv 6ripr}r^pa' SiSa^e

yap "Apre/xis

avri)
i/'Atj.

Iliad.

L. v. 51.

PdWeiv &ypta
dAA' ov
ol

ndi/ra,

to re

Tpecpft ovpeatv

run

ye xP^'^'m'
rh

''Aprefnis loxeaipa,

oiiSe eKrtPo\iat, iiaLv

irpiv

iKfuacrro.

196

APPENDIX.

pons, with which Oppian accoutres his able-bodied rustics for the
covert-side,

EjusJem
L.
I.

Koi

fj-ijp

T6aaa

(pipoivTo ttotI kj/tj/xous ^vXoXovs t6

148.

epyow6uoL Kpartpol 6vpr)s epiKvSfos 'dvAa,

ivrea t' ehQripoio fitya irviiovTa (pSvoio,
k. t. A.

Nat. Com. de
Hieron.
Schol. Breviss. Iliustr.
Riiscell.

and Natalis Comes, with

light on them, in the

his brief scholiast Ruscellius, throws his first cynegetic.

no

borrowed armoury of

The

Oppianic catalogue runs through eight

in

lines, in

which we recognize,

Aid. F. Venet. M.D.LI.

addition to the former implements of predatory hunting, others

particularly devoted to the capture of the hare, the ap-rraXnyov and

Xaywofoyos -piaiva, the hare-pole, and

three-pronged hare-fork

belonging probably to the class of murderous instruments mentioned

by the poet of Barga

P. A. Bargffii C^neg. L. I.

Nee

desint durte sinuato vertice clavas

Qua; leporis cursum jactK compescere possint.'

Among
ture,
I

the more simple

modes of following wild animals

for capits
is

should have earlier mentioned that of tracking from

simplicity, probably, coeval with the rudest species of pursuit.

It

alluded to

in the

32nd Epigram of Callimachus,

Kaywhv

'nypVT)]S, 'EfftKuSes, eV ovp^cri iravra

Si(pa, Kol Trdarjs Ixvia, SopKaXiSos,

arlPr] koi PKpercf Kex<''PWf''os

1st

in the

1st Georgic of Virgil vs. 308.

vs.

and the 2nd Satire of the

as twofold,

book of Horace
men, and dogs,

105.

Oppian describes tracking

latter scenting

by

the
efSea 5

former of course being the more ancient, and

more correctly termed tracking, the

Oppian. Cyneg. L. I. 450.
(Ttj/Sit/s

SvaSepKfOS tirXero Stffaa,

fiepoins /xiv ap" alo\60ov\oi

avZpwv,
bfifxacri

T)6e

Kwwv

TfK/xijpavTo, Koi ev (ppdcraavro Ke\ev6a'

Hv^anripcri Kui>es 5e iravixi'ia ai]yi.rivavTO.

Scliol.

ad

1.

The \ayoiP6\ov

of Theocrilus IdvU. iv. 49. vii. 128. Epigr.

ii. 3.

{^v\ov,

Theocrit. id.

SiatpevyouTes ot Aayuol /SaAAoj/Tui,) seems to be the type of Barga;us's

weapon

the

lagobolion of Natalis

Comes.

])e Veiiat. L.

i.

1' I'

EN

1)1

\.

197
is

Savaiy's ejaculation on snow-tracking the hare

poetical
:

more

aniusiiii;

than

nix

improba nix
!

generosii; invisa Diana*,

Alb. Diana;
j

Pcrnicies leporum

venantum

ignobile vulgus

Quam

votis petit assiduis, ut ca;de cruenta,

Depopuletur agros! &c.

The many wily

inventions devised

by man's ingenuity of old

for

ensnaring noxious and timid animals, appear to us more like instru-

ments of lawless poaching, than

fair

hunting, and fully justify the

;

conclusion of Arrian's 24th chapter de Venatione

spirit of a

wherein, with the

as

genuine courser, he exclaims, " there

fair trial

is

much

difference

between a

of speed in a

good run, and ensnaring a poor

piratical assaults of

animal without an

effort, as

between the secret

robbers at sea, and the victorious naval engagements of the Athenians at Artemisium, at Salamis, at Psyttalia, and at Cyprus."
It has been erroneously stated

by Montfaucon and
.

others, that the

Antiq. Expi.

use 01 nets and snares

was not an

exercise of pleasure to

men
;

Tom. III. L.
or
e.

III.

iv.

quality, but only to peasants, and

praise of a noble

persons of inferior grade

this

the
how-

employment being, on

view, alone awarded to

hunting with dogs, or being armed for the sport with venabula,
hastilia,

&c. either on foot or horseback.

is

But

this distinction,

ever plausible in theory,

use of snares

not tenable in fact.

Discreditable as the

may be deemed, and

irreconcilable to

modern

taste, the

philosophic recluse of Scillus, the patrician

Xenophon, and every

other sportsman, whether high or low, of the classic ages, must plead
guilty to their

employment
ducuntur et ipsi
Manilii L. v.

Retibus, ct claudunt campos formidine mortis,

Mendacesque parant foveas, laqueosque

tenaces,

Currentesque feras pedicarum compede nectunt,

Aut canibus
I

ferrove necant, prjedasque reportant.

do not mean that the gentry had not the aid of servants
other menial occupations

in these as

in

(for

it

is

evident that

Xenophon's

npKvuipos

was a servant
in

and on the huntsman's tomb, recorded by

xxii., by the side of the principal
is

Pausanias
(>iKiTT)s

Achaicis

c.

the

uKoPTia e^w', Kai I'tywv Kvvas eirirribeias drjpeuovffiv auOpwirois

The

ostentation too of the Horatian Gargilius,

198
Hor. L.
I.

APPENDIX,
qui

mane

plagas, venabula, servos,

Epist. VI. 58.

Differtum transire forum populumque jubebat,

is

farther proof ;

and so likewise the "/awm/e, comitumque animosa

engaged
in

juventus"
hunting;!)

of Nemesian,

preparing

the

furniture of
in

but I mean that the gentry

venation,

were practically engaged

this predatory

themselves directing and

it.

assisting in the

distribution of the

whole machinery of

In defence, however, of

Xenophon,

the most accomplished of ancient sportsmen,

and

in

con-

tradistinction of his habits in the field to those of

modern poachers,

whom
Xenophon
de Venat.
c.

in

some of

his predatory tackling

it

must be allowed he
apparatus to be

resembled,

we may

observe that he orders

is

all the

taken away when the sport

ir&vra

over

avaXveiv

^pj) to. nepi Kvvrtyeaiov

a clear indication, that though he and his compeers used nets

forestalling their prey, contrary to the

and dogs together,

custom of

the more enlightened moderns,

it

who hunt

at force, Kara iroSas,

yet
on

was held

illegal, or at

least unsportsmanlike, to leave snares

the ground longer than the time of the actual chase.

1.

Additional evidence of the attendance of servants being usual at hunting expe-

ditions, is afforded

bj the

tale of

Cephalus,

Ovid. Metam. L. VII. 805.

Venatum

in silvis juveniliter ire

solebam

Nee mecnm famulos, nee

Ire canes, nee

equos, nee naribus acres

Una sequi nodosa sinebam.

Tutus eram jaculo, &c.

Preface to the

2.

The hunting

of the ancient

Hebrews appears not

to

have differed materially

hemmed in with Gratius Englished &c. deserts there was the great Lebanon, and there was Mizpeh, and Tabor, and other by C. Wase. mountains which abounded with game; and in the royall age, I beleeve, hunting
from that of the Pagan world. ^
: ,

Keader.

" Canaan,"

observes Wase, " was '

itself

was much frequented;

for

though the sacred history do not ex professo take

care to deliver us any thing concerning those lighter recreations, yet the frequent

representations
bility that it

made by

it

throughout the writters of that age, do give some probause.

:

was a frequent object among them, and taken from the common

David's persecutions are sometimes likened to fowling, oftentimes to hunting

his

enemies dig a pit for him, they set a snare to catch his
learning,

feet.

No

authors of

human

whose works yet survive, make so much mention of grins as the Psalmes
:

have made
string,

his enemies bend

tliiir

bow, and make their arrows ready upon the

to shoot at the righteous.

J'his

was Esau's

artillery.

So that according to

APPENDIX.
But of "
enough.
tlio

1!H)

abrogated styles of hunting

in

the ignorant non-

age of the world,"

to

use the language of Christopher AVase,

The

pit,

the snare,

and other svpellex venandi, were

to the

employed, as already stated, long before the dog was tutored

chase,
^

and were continued

after his initiation,

and

that

of his

valued associate and coadjutor the horse, (the joint-presents of the

tliat

age, hunting was so instituted

for our author,

speaking of these two, intimates

that they were courses of an elder date, for Ginas saith he,

Nam/ttif

et laqueis aliquis curracibus

usus

Cervmo jussire magis, &c.

He

saith likewise for

bows and arrows,

opus et celeres quondam fecire

Magnum

sagittae.

David's enemies hide a net for him.

cords
;

'

The proud have

side
;

hid a snare for me, and

Psalm cxl.

5.

they have spread a net by the

way

they have set grins for me.'

beasts,

Neither

was

it

unknown

to the

Jewish huntsmen the way of driving

by an immission

of fear, which is the fonnido et pinnatum," &c.

The

biblical scholar will

remember
Job
c. xviii.

the memorable passage of the book of Job, " the steps of his strength shall be
straitened, [Gr. hunted,)

and his own counsel

shall cast

him down. For he

is

cast into

a net by his
heel,

own
The

feet,

and he walketh upon

a snare.

The

gin shall take him by the

or noose holdeth

and the robber

fast).

shall prevail against

is laid for

him (the entangling cord

and a trap

him

snare

him

in the ground,

for

him

in the

way.

Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet."

In the

prophet Isaiah almost

all

the methods of capture given in the Classic Cynegetica

contribute their metaphorical signification.

" Fear, and

it shall
;

the pit,
to pass,

and the snare, are

that he

Isaiah

c.

xxiv,

upon thee,

inhabitant of the earth.

fall

And

come

who

fleetli

from the noise of the fear shall

into the pit

and he that cometh up out of the

See also Jeremiah
c.

midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare."

Ezekiel
c.

xlviii. and

xix.

The

irayiSes Oavdrov of the

*'

LXX.

version of Proverbs xxi. 1.

may

be compared to the

mortis laquei " of Horace, L. in. Od. xxiv. vs. 8. and to the
Silv.

"

leti plagae

" of Statins

V.

i.

vs. 155.

1. It is

a curious fact, that in the

to

Hebrew

text of the
is

Scriptures there

is

no

allu-

sion

whatever

hunting with dogs.

9.,

Nimrod

called in the

Greek version ylyas

Kvvriyhs,

Genesis x.

and Esau ivOponros

to the

elSoos

Kwriyeiv, Genesis xxv. 27.; but in

of the dog.

the Hebrew, there

is

no reference

employment

The

cam's lutnbis

tenuibus, quo ad venationem utunlur venatores, introduced by commentators. Proverbs

Bocharf. Hierozoic.

XXX.

31., I believe to be a fanciful rabbinical creation.

See a note on the subject in

the prefatory matter to

my

translation of Arrian.

200
twin-sons of Leila,)

APPENDIX.
who
contributed their services in
:

common

to

almost every variety of chase

Oppian. Cyneg.
L. IV. 43.

^uval Brjpoavvai re Xiuwv, Ivvai re iro5a7poi'

I-

s'

>

'

fl

'

!t

'

'

'

fli

iTTTTOtJ r)5e

Kvueaai

diaiKe/jLev.

We know not

at this period

whether the different varieties of the

canine tribe are to be classed under the same species

specific identity exist
in

the wolf, the jackal, and the dog

whether a nor

whether,

in the latter family, the peculiar

adaptation of each variety

for peculiar functions

can be the accidental consequences of mere

degeneration, excited to change

by the climate of

different countries,

and the ingenuity of man.

Let the primeval stock be what
in the pursuit of
it

may, the race was

first

initiated

wild animals by that celebrated sportsman, the

;

Amyclean Pollux
silent,

for

we must

not despise fable where history

:

is

and again quote the Greek poet of the chase

Kwas

Onpian. Cyneg. L. II. 18.

irphs Se fiodovs Oripvv

SiirAiae

Kapxcip^SovTas

StoyevTis

npSnos

/iaKf:^aifi6vios no\v5evK7]S,

Kol

yap

iru7/uaxi7?(7[

\vypovs ipapi^aro (pwras,

Kol (TKv\dKia<n doais fiaXlovs iSaixdacraTO Orjpas.

The

species being distributed over the habitable world, derived

its

various

names from
its

its

geographical distribution

i each

country
qualities,

having

variety of the race, characterized

in the

by remarkable

and distinguished by them

Cynegetical works of Greece and

Rome

1.

Tlie exceptions to this geographical nomenclaturg are only

I'our, viz.

the Ver-

tragus, otherwise called the Celtic or Gallic

hound

the Metagon, a lime-hound;

is

the Agassaaus

and Petronius

the origin of which two latter names

uncertain.

The

sub-varieties of the Cretan,

mentioned by Arrian and Julius Pollux, may also

;

constitute exceptions to the general rule

but these,

vpith the

Menelaides and Har-

modii, Caslorii and Alopecides, must be considered as merging in the more general
titles of

Crete and Laceda;mon

and so likewise the porter and pastoral dogs, and

their vocations, in

others deriving their

names from

the topical appellatives of their

respective countries.

I'

P KN

1)

201
per artes
Gratii Cynpf;. vs. 151.

prima

ilia

canum, non

ulla

Cura

prior, sive itulomitos vclicmcntior liostcs

Nudo

niarte

premas, seu belluin ex arte

niinistres.

Mille canum patria;, ductique ab origine mores

Cuique

suil.

Where
full,

the descriptions of these mores or qualities are sufficiently

in the

works alluded

to, for

a satisfactory classification of the

it is

several varieties of the canine tribe,

trivial

the object of the following

work

to

attempt

it

the various gifts to trace,

Tickell's
Rliscellanies.

The minds and genius

of the latrant race.

But

it

must not be expected that

it

will

give an account of
or

all

the

serai-fabulous dogs of classical

antiquity,

attempt to

reduce

within the pale of a zoological arrangement the shape and properties

of every mongrel, however memorable, that has puzzled the discriminative
in the

kennels of Greece and

acumen of Conrad Gesner himself; or find archetypes Rome, for " all the barkand parishmore recent
writers of canine

Ben Jonson's
Sad Shepherd. Act II. sc. 3.

tikes" of the credulous Dr. Caius, and

biography.

This

little

monograph being almost exclusively confined

to the

common

Canes Venatici
TOffaoi t' inl iraai Kvveaffiv

Oppian. Cyneg.

e|ox' api^7i\oi

nd\a t

aypevrripcri fifhovrai

'"

it

is

not incumbent on

me

to inquire

whether a Cerberus, or an
Hesiod. Tbeog.

Orthrus, (the

i:paTp6(f)pova

existed in canine shape

Typhaon and Echidna i), ever whether Anubis was a biped or quadruped
reKva of

"

a genuine KvyonpoawTTos whether

iatrator"
"^

barker, or a dog-faced

Mercury

"Epjiris

virgil. iEn.

Euripides was torn to pieces by ferocious L. viii.768. r J Lucian. Jupiter Tragoedus. dogs or spiteful women whether the beauty of the dog of Alci-

'^

7]

8' inroKV(r(xafj.eu7i,
/jlIv

reKero KpaTfp6cppGua reKVa,

rrjpvovfi'i'

''OpBpov

TTpunov Kvva ytivaTo

Hesiod. Theog. vs. 308.

htimpov
K4p$epov

aiiTis

iTtKTfv

a/j.'fixavov ,

ovri (parethv,

cifxr)(rrr}v,

aiSew Kitva xaXKefJc^oivof,

KiVTTfKovra Kaprivov, dcotSe'a Tf , Kparepdv

2 c

202
Pollucis Ononiast. L.

APPENDIX.
was

blades, probably a Canis Ostiarius and not a Canis Venaticus,

impaired by the

loss of his tail,

or the act of decurtation conferred

on the eccentric Athenian the notoriety he expected

In Ibin.

nor

on what

variety of the race

is

to

be charged the deaths of Thrasus, Actaeon,i

tetrastic.

and Linus, of Ovid's well-known

Plutarch, de
Solert.

It

is

foreign to

my

purpose to inquire whether Plutarch's dog,

who threw

stones into

Animal. &c.
v.

an oil-cruse

till

he had raised

its

contents sufficiently high in the

fluid,

Pollucis

neck of the vessel to lap the oleaginous

surpassed in sagacious

Onomast. L.

ingenuity the cunning brutes of more modern dog-fanciers

whether

the disciplined mimic, exhibited before Vespasian in the theatre of

Marcellus, must yield to the discriminative feats of his congener

before Justinian.

All these non-descripts, from the janitor Orci to

the theatrical pantomimi, are out of

my

beat.

Amusing

too as

it

might be

to the reader to

have an acccount of every

faithful dog,
av/ijua^^ot

recorded by the immortal

c(ofxaTO(j)v\aKs

German

naturalist as the

and

of man,

and

the anecdotes of canine instinct and

affection registered

by Plutarch, ^lian, Pliny,

Solinus, and Julius

Pollux

versified

by Johannes Tzetzes and Natalis Comes, and

in

reprinted

by the laborious PauUini

the Cynographia Curiosa,

presented to his notice,

such a

compilation would lead

me

into too
dis-

wide a

field.

For the same reason, and without meaning any

respect to the ladies of Greece and

Rome,

am

prevented from

enrolling on

my

file

their domestic pets

Lucret. L. iv. 995.

consueta domi catulorum blanda propago

Degere

the

ol

eirl

rfpTTwXjyj/,
^

Knl

o'l

fxeXiru'iot

Xeyo/uevot

of the visionary
gratification

Artemidorus.

I cannot, however,

deny the reader the

1.

With

the aid of the poet I shall hereafter venture an opinion on the breed of the stag-like

some of the pack of

Lucian. Deor.
Dial.

huntsman

the most celebrated of the

roiis

trio

slain by

command
L.

of

Dian

eVeJ ^ixade ocpdeicra virh tov 'AKratcovos, <po$r]6e7iTa

n^

6 veaviaKos

Juno

et

f^ayopevffrj rh alcrxos avrrjs, iira(prJKfv

I. c.

Latona.
IV. for the moral of this tale.

avTw

Kvvas.

See

J, Sarisber. Policrat.

Minshasi

2.

The

iieXiToia KwiSia

were so called, " quia ad fceminarura delicias ex Rlelito

Emend,

p. 242.
*

insula advehebantur :"

Alban's.

Juliana Berners

" Instruments of folly

the

" smalle ladyes popees that here awaye the flees" of

to

play and dally withal, in

trifling

away the

1' 1' i:

N D1X

203

of perusing the following lines of Darcius, in which he celebrates

these tiny creatures;

of

whom

Martial's Issa will be remembered

catella Publi."
ex gentc

Martial.

as a clussic

exemplar" Delici*
Sunt huroiles

L. i.Ep.

no.

etiain Molitaju

catelli,

.T.

Darcil

Quod gremio

gestare soleut Hero'ides, hique

Venusini Canes.

Nee cursu celerem Nee

lato

sectantur privpete cervum.

in arvo
:

pavidum leporem scrutantur

flux^, et

Veste sedent
Serica, sub

pedibus mylesia caleant

:

Tjrioque reeurabunt moUiter ostro

None

caput exertant gremio, saliuntque decorum

Nobilis in vullum doming, lusuque fatigant

Labra corallino modicum

siiffusa rubore,

Vemantesque genas,
Smaragdoque graves

et

ebur superantia coila,

digitus, et Perside gaza.

Nunc

tenui latrare soiio, pictoque videbis

Lascivire toro, aut nitida juveniliter aula.

But holdwhilst thus

we

play the fool,

('liurchill's
^ '"^

In bold contempt of every rule "

.

Ghost. B. HI.

Things of no consequence expressing,

now digressing To the discredit of our skill, The main concern is standing still.
Describing now, and

It

is

a favourite notion of classic writers that the qualities and

dispositions of the animals of each country are in accordance with

those of the

human

inhabitants

and

this

opinion prevails more

especially relative to domesticated animals, the reclaimed varieties

of the dog and horse.

Numerous

instances might be adduced in

corroboration of this hypothesis.

Strabo remarks

in

the Iberian

and Albanian people, and

dripevTiKol be Kal avroi Ka\

their dogs, the

same fondness of hunting

:

o'l

kvves uvtuv els virepfioXi'jv

and ^lian,
aftpol,

^iian. de Nat.

in

the

Medes and
ical

their horses

aopapoi bk
(pairjs

Mfjboi
avroiis

Kai

Kal
Tois

c.

2.

fievTOi Kal ol eKeiviav toiovtoi

Imrof

av

rpvcp^v avv
k. t.

beuTTorais,

t^

fxeyedei tov awfiarosy Kai

t^ KaWei,

X.

These,

treasure of time, to

wythdrawe theyr mindes from more commendable

exercises,

and

to content theyr corrupt concupiscences

wyth vaine

disport, a silly poore shift to

shun

Holinshed's Description of

theyr irkesome ' ydlenesse." '

B.

"'*'^;
III. c.

13.

204

APPENDIX.

probably, he meant to contrast, as well as their proud riders, with

the sorry-looking, unsightly horses of Libya, (active, however, and
patient of fatigue),

and the unsightly people of the country.

proceeds to say that such also are his opinions
;

The

naturalist then

with regard to the dogs of each country

and

specifies, as

examples

corroborative of his hypothesis, the Cretan, Molossian, and CaryElian. de Nat. Animal. L. iii.
c. 2.

nianian
,

kvcjv
v

Kpj/c^"
.
>

/coi/0^,

kui
/

uXtiki),
f
-

kuI

opetflaaiais trvi/Tpcxpos'
q

''f*

fxivToi

Kai avToi

i'

Kpr/res toiovtovs avrovs iTapaoeiicvvai,

errei (^vfiwhetTTUTOi

icai

<^dei

"i

>/

(pflfir).

dufxiKwraros be KvriLv Mo\oct(tos,

be

Kai ol avvpes.
fietXi^Orjvai
is

'Avfjp

Kap/myios kui

kvihv

aiJ(j)6Tpa

aypiuiTaTa

Kai

ciTeyKTa

(pvertv.

A farther example

of this prevalent notion

in the lines

of Gratius on the crafty Acarnanian dog

" clandestinus

found

Acarnan
Gratii

:"

Cyneg.

Sicut Acarnanes subierunt praelia furto

Sic canis
ilia

vs. 184.

suos taciturna supervenit hostes

Thucyd. B. P.
L.
III.

alluding to a passage of the history of Thucydides, where he relates

that

107.

Demosthenes placed 400 Acarnanians

in

ambuscade,

in

hollow

way

near Olpae

whence they issued

forth in the heat of the

subsequent engagement, and by their sudden assault on the rear of

the Peloponnesians, completely routed them.
to national character
is

similar reference

evident in the passage of Gratius, on cross-

ing defective breeds of dogs with others in

lencies exist

which opposite excel-

Gratii C^fiieg.
vs.

Quondam
Sensum

inconsullis mater dabit Unibrica Gallis

'

194,

agilem,

&c.

1.

passage which

Wase

supposes to allude to the canis Gallicus of Arrian

entire

whose impetuosity of course, and

want of scent,

his peculiar characteristics,

in

resemble the heedless, rash, and head-strong ardour of the Gallic character
Antiq. Sept. etCelt.Keysler.
s. II. c. II.

gene-

ral,

(yElian.
:

V. H. L.

xii. c. 23.)

and particularly of the Gallic soldiers

of

Lucan's

Pharsalia

G.
i.

Lucan. L.
p. 19.

quos

ille
;

tiraorum

Maximus haud
Mortis

urget lethi metus

viris,

inde ruendi

Ed. Farnab.

la ferrum mens prona

:

animffique capaces

et

ignavum

rediture parcere vita;.

But an

allusion to the

war-dogs of Ccltica, the " divcrsi Cella; " of

vs.

15G. of the

APPENDIX.
But
to tloscoiid
ot"

205
assi-

from these general remarks on the supposed

the

milation

men and animals, cohabitants of

kennel-rolls of Greece

same

soil,

to the to

particular

and Rome.

There appears

have been a threefold distinction of Canes Venatici, acknowledged

by
not

classic authors, during the imperial

government of Rome.

I
all

do
the

mean

that this classification

is
;

accurately observed

by

cynegetical and popular authorities

less

but

it

may
^

be traced, more or

clearly,

in

the

writings of Gratius,

Seneca, Arteraidorus,

Oppian, Claudian, and Julius Firmicus.

The

Faliscian notes a triple division in

the

fragment of

his

Halieutic

poem

canum quibus
Venandique sagax

est audacia preeceps,

virtus, viresque sequendi.

Gratii Halieut. 98.

" In cane sagacitas prima "

si

est," says
;

Seneca

in

one of his Epistles,

si

investigare debet feras

cursus,

si

consequi; audacia,

mordere

et invadere."

We
life in

find nearly

a similar arrangement

in

the Oneirocritica of

Artemidorus, a strange visionary of Ephesus,

who

spent his whole

endeavouring to solve the mysteries, hidden, as he conceived,

in
,

dreams
,

rwv kvvwv

oi /uev

eirl

df]pav Tpe(j>ovTai, Kat tovtwv ot

'

fxeu

Artemidori
Oneirocrit.

i(Tiv

~ ~ a t^vevrat, ot oe ofxoae tois orjpiois j^^iopovaiv' ot ce ent cpvKaKT) twv

x.c>f/

'S^^J^-~

ii

c xi

KTrifJLarwv, ovs olKovpovs Kai Seff/xtous Xeyo/icr,

k. t.

X.

Claudian, in his third book

the active co-operation of

De
in

Laudibus

Stiliconis, describing
in

Diana and her nymphs

advancing the

honour of his hero, " Consulis

triple division
:

plausum," distinctly specifies a

variae formis, et

gente sequuntur,

Claudian. de

Ingenioque canes

ilia;

gravioribus aptw
;

Laud,
;

btilic.

Morsibus

hae pedibiis celeres

hae nare sagaces

Cynegeticon, seems equally tenable.

both passages
1.

At

the

same time,

it

is

not impossible but that

may

refer to greyhounds, under the

names

of Galli and Celta;.

In the muster-roll of Actaeon's pack by Gratius's contemporary, amidst various

sorts of

hounds culled from various countries, the same characteristic distinctions pre:

dominate

we

have a
trux

cum

Laelape Thcron,
utilis

Ovid. Met.
*

Et pedibus Pterclas, et naribus

Agre.

"''

206

APPENDIX.
in

and then inverting the order of sequence, names, apparently

illustration of his classes, the Cretan,

Spartan, and Briton

Hirsuteeque fremunt Cressae, tenuesque Laceena;,

Magnaque taurorum

fracture coUa Britannae,

The

first

we must acknowledge
the slenderest

to be nare

sagaces

the

second

pedibus

celeres,

and

speediest

hounds,

probably,

known

to the poet, in

the absence of the Vertragus,

whom alone

we

consider swift of foot, and entitled to rank under the class so

denominated.

The

Britannae justly exemplify the dogs of combat

graviorihus aptee morsibus.

Julius Firmicus comprehends the whole
Jul. Firmici

genus under the triple

distinction of

" Molossi, Vertragi,

et qui sunt

ad venationes ac-

L. V.

c. VIII.

comodati,"
class
title

meaning

to include in the latter periphrasis the

whole

of sagacious hounds,
of Molossi.
tripartite

as he does the pugnacious under the

Of Oppian's
and of

arrangement, exemplified

in

the portraits
class,

which he has drawn of the individuals representative of each

his farther distinction,

founded on purity and commixture of

;

blood, I shall hereafter speak

assuming at present, on the autho-

rity of the cited passages, that all the

more celebrated

varieties of

the canine race, mentioned in the Cynegetica of Greece and

Rome,

of the date referred to,

may be
celeres.

classified
^

under the triple division of

pugnaces, sagaces, and

1. Tlie

same

threefold division runs through

as of course
it is,

many

of the modern semi-classical

Cynegetica being founded,

race:

in the essential qualities of the canine

Joan. Darcii Venusini Canes.

Nunc age
Sit potior

quis

villas

meiior, gregibusque tuendis

Quffi volucri soboles cursu,

;

nasove sagaci

ncc enim solers dedit omnibus

unum

Natura ingenium.
Ulysses Aldrovandus, in the section of his elaborate work which treats of the canine

De Quad. Digit,
P*
*

race, uses the very words of Seneca hefore cited, to

mark the "

tres

prajcipua cani-

bus venaticis proprietates

sagacitas, cursus, atidacia."

Vanierii Praed.

Sed non una canum species

Excubiis, gressum et

pars nata domorura

sectatur herilem
:

Rust. L. IV.

mensam

Venandi studiosa

feras pars alite cursu

Insequitur, vcl nare sagax vestigat odora.

Al'l'KNDlV.

207

In Xenoplion, and the cailinr Greek writers, we do not trace

more than a twofold division

into

pugnaces and sagaccs

the

varieties of the latter class differing,

in

perhaps, amongst themselves

is

degrees of swiftness.

Indeed, that they did so

evident from
different indi-

what Socrates remarks of the sagacity and speed of

meretricious Theodota

viduals of the race, in the well-known interview with the beautiful,

:

on

be
rj

/iefl'

iinepav aTrobibpn(TKov(nv ol Xayios

rf]S vofifis els rriv

ciXXas KTwyrai Kvias, aini'es,

Tj;

ay eK

evyfiv

aireXdum,
u'xrre

Xenoplion, ^inof"

oafifj

aiadavofieyai, evptUKOvmy avrovs'

on

he TTobuiKCis eialv,

Kal eK Tov (havepov Tpe^oyres airo(j)evyeiv,

fiXXas av

Kvvas ra-^elai naswift-footed of this

paffKevd^ovrai, Hva kutu nobas aXicnciovrai.

The

passage must not be interpreted as the celeres of our third class,

which

will

be found to contain only the Vertragus of Arrian

it

on
in

whose authority
Greece
in

is

affirmed that the greyhound

was unknown

the days of the Socratic

Xenophon.

Probably, they

were the most speedy of the Canes Laconici, to which the philosopher
alludes

the daaffoves avpacov Kvvoffovpibes of Callimachus.

in
:

H.

in

Dianam.

In accordance with the distinctions pointed out

kennels
^j
is

the classical

the threefold character of ancient hunting

but as coursing
to

properly so called,
,

Vertragus),

was

or late introduction in

,.,..
(the
third
;

variety of chase
.

peculiar

the

Vide Jani
Vlitii

comparison with hunting,

field

Venat. Novantiq.

the

two grand divisions of the sports of the

and by

may

be considered

as primarily founded on the twofold distinction of canes

pugnaces

or hellicosi, and canes sagaces

Gratius, under the terms

arma and artes, both are vividly depicted. " The one," says Christopher Wase, " ,-1 1T

is

a desperate and gla1

1

diator-nke entering the

violence; which

lists w^ith

beasts,

and assaulting

,1 them by
wiles,
to re-

Certaine
Illustrations

of the Cvneg.
p.

was
:

the school of cruelty

''

and ignorant course of ^ ,.'"'"^. Uratius. 1/. them by

assisting

ancient

Nimrods
him
in

the other a crafty circumventing

which

is

the child of ingenious invention,

his

much

man

establish

empire over the beasts of the

field, that

hath

been so much empayred."

Then, again, he observes, " the magleve

num
opus
It

opus
is

is

bold and hazardous hunting of great beasts, and

little

hard-riding and pursuit of

left to

fugacious quarry."

was

the courser of Nicomedia, the Bithynian

Xenophon,
illus-

to place on record in his supplementary Cynegeticus, and to

trate from his

personal experience, the third variety of chase with

;

dogs peculiar to Celtica

which

we have

designated as forming a

208

APPENDIX.

class of themselvos, under the title of pedibus celeres, of the greatest

speed of foot and least sagacity of nose of the whole genus, running
entirely

on sight of

their

game.

The

Celtic or Gallic hound does

not appear to have been introduced generally into the more southern
parts of Europe,
till

after the dissolution

;

of the commonwealth of

Rome.

He

is

first

mentioned by Ovid

and

his style of coursing

the hare so exquisitely described, that

it

must have been derived

;

from actual experience

in the field rather

than hearsay

which

latter

alone seems to have given him admission into the Cynegeticon of

Gratius, Ovid's contemporary.

The

earliest systematic

account of the two

first

varieties of

Vena;

tio, will

be found

in

the Cynegeticus of the elder Xenoplion

who

describes in the 6th chapter the style of hunting the hare in the

mountainous, woodland regions of Greece, with

gear
:

all

its

poaching-

and

in

the 9th, 10th,

and 11th chapters, the chase of deer,

boars, lions, pards, lynxes, panthers, and bears.

J. Vlitii

The Greeks were

named,
V.
for
hellica,

Venat. entirely unacquainted with the third species of Venatio,

distinction's

sake, Venatio cursoria, as the others are

and V. indagatoria.

The animals obnoxious

varieties,

to the chase

were suitable to

its

diflferent

and coped with by

classic hunters according to the prowess

of each game.

Some

creatures being timid and fugacious, others of

great strength and ferocity, and a third class wily and artful,
Plin. Paneg.
^"
'

the
cum

hunters were wont, in the words of Pliny's panegyric, " certare

fngacibus

feris

cursu,

cum audacibus

robore,

cum

callidis

astu ;"

thereby acquiring, in Diana's school of mimic war, the necessary

experimental knowledge for following the flying foe, or contending

with the daring, or the subtle, in the
field

of real battle.

1. Painter's

Palace of Pleasure amusingly works out the points of resemblance in

;

the field-array of an army and a hunt

"

by the pursuite of Beastes, sleyghts of

battel!,

warre bee observed

flanquarts

The Houndes be the square

to follow

the Greyhoundes be the

and Wynges

the enimy,

the horseman semeth to gieve the

Chase, when the

Game

speedetli to covert, the

Homes

be the Trumpets to sounde'

to run.

the Chase, and Retire, and for incouragement of the

Dogges

To be

short,

it

seemeth a very Campe

youth."

in battayle,

ordayned

for the pleasure

and passetyme of noble

I' I' i:

I)

\
hcasts of

209
Vcncry
in

(iiatius has ologantly sketched

lioiitic frasiiK'iit
'
:

th(;

his Ila-

Ca^tera qua3 densas habitant aiiimalia sylvas,

Gratii
vs.

Ilalicut.

Aut
Aut

vani quatiunt semper lymphata timores,

traliit

71.

in praiceps

non sana ferocia mentis.

iro,

Ipsa sequi natura monet, vel coimnus

Impiger ipse leo venantum sternere pergit

Agmiiia, et adversis infert sua pectora
telis
:

Quoque

venit, fidens magis, et sublatior ardel,

Coticussitque toros, et viribus addidit iram,

Prodigus atque suo properat

sibi

robore letbum.

Foedus Lucanis provolvitur ursus ab antris.

Quid

nisi

pondus
setis

iners, stolida;que ferocia

hirtis,

mentis

Actus aper

iram denunciat

Et

ruit oppositi nitens in vulnera ferri,

Pressus, et eniisso nioritur per viscera telo.

Altera pars fidens pedibus, dat terga sequenti,

Ut

pavidi lepores, et fulvo tergore damse,

fine tiniore.

Et capto fugiens cervus sine

Oppian's distribution of them into classes

drjpajv ol fiev

is

nearly similar

eacnv firi<ppoves, aio\6fiov\oi,

Oppian. Cyneg.
L. IV, 25.

aWa

defxas /3awi" toI 5' f/xiraMv aKKrjfvres,

/SouAtji/ 5'

if

(TTTideffaii'

avdhKiSis' ol

5'

&p^ Sfiaprrj

Kal KpaS'iTiv SeiKo), Koi yv7u ireKova' afievr]Vol,

aWa K65tiT(Ti
jSouAV

0001' Tolaiv 5e Qihs irdpe TtavTO,,

/cepSaAerjv,

Kparephv

fievos,

wKea yovva,

yiyvdffKovcri 3' eKaffros krjs (pvcrtos kMito, SSipa,

evO' 6\LjoBpai>ees re Kal

tvQa ireKovcri Sacpoivoi. k. t. A.

And

in

Claudian we recognise a summary

classification of the

same

distinctive characters, adapted to the threefold varieties of the

dog

already noticed in his

poem

capitur decus

omne timorque
:

Claudian. de

Silvarum.
Fortia
:

Non

cauta latent

non mole resistunt

cursu.

non volucri fugiunt pernicia

Laud. L.

Stilic.
III.

1.

This fragment, highly Gratian in

its style

and subject, but long mis-appropriated

c. 2.)
is

to

Ovid on the erroneous authority of Pliny, (L. xxxii.

now

considered, on

the strength of internal evidence, by Vlitius and Wernsdorf to belong to Gratius.

2 D

210

APPENDIX.
minute description of each particular chase would exceed the

A
Cyneg.

limits of a

compendium, ^ and lead me

into too extensive a field.

Ojipian.

etSfa ttoWo. Tre\ei KXeirrjs iroXvepytos &yprjs,

fivpia'

Ti's

Kev airavra

fxiij

(ppepl x<p^<^^^^^t

eiireixivat /caret fioipav

Let a few brief sketches of the more celebrated

suffice

beginning
to

with the hare-chase of the keenest and most accomplished sportsman

of the classic ages.

After the snares and nets are duly

set,

and a man placed

watch them, the

De
Venatione

first-fruits

of the sport being

slips

vowed

to

Apollo and

Diana 'A yporepci, Xenophon

one of his most keen-nosed dogs,

rrofwruTr] ly^veveiv, the rest of the

pack being held singly at the cois

vert.

If this finder hit on a scent, a second dog

immediately

slipped,

and a

third,

and so on

till

the whole pack are in full cry

after the started hare.

Sic apud Uindnrfii

The huntsman

follows with his pole, and chla'\u>

mj/s

wrapped about
_

Anuot.

in loco

o^'P'^s

ye
firj

(o

y, Kvt'es,
is

his

hand, cheering the dogs,

lo

Ka\ws ye

~, takmg ,. Kvves,

kvpcs, Iw kvpps,

care not to iieaa tne

ii_iii

pro KUKas.

game

vTtavTav imopov yap

guilty of this.

for
is

nobody but a bungler and nothen customary to shout to the

Ttals, waT.
!
b)),

sportsman

It
itals,
!

watchman
hoy
!

at the nets, XiiTf

avrf

ttoI bij

To her,
and they
kvres,

to her,

hoy

now, hoy

now, hoy

the
;

latter

replying whe-

ther the hare be taken or not.

If she be captured, the hounds are

for

called

off,

and begin

to

draw

a second

but

if

not,

again hit off the scent, the halloo should be Evye, evye w
eTzeaQe

Kvves.

If the dogs are got very forward, so that the huntsis

man

cannot keep up, but

thrown out

neither

seeing them, nor

to
>)

hearing their cry

he should

keep running on, calling

everyone
icaTe'ibes w>7

he happens to come near, and inquiring for the pack

Tits

Kvvas

When

he finds them,

if still

on scent, he should cheer, and call

every dog by name as often as possible, varying the intonations of

1. Spirited

representations of the different chases are given in RIontfaucon's

III.

An-

tiquities,

Tom.

Liv.

III.

from ancient gems, the Sepulchre of the Nasoni, Arch

later date

of Constantine, &c.

See also the Venationes Ferarum of a

by Strada and

Galle, alreadj' referred to.

APPKNUIX.
his voice.

211
mountains, he should enbut
it"

If the liare lias

made

for the
:

courage tliom with Ei/a Kvves, eva w Kvres

the scent, he should call

they have over-shot

!

sic

aimd

oh naXiv, ov
line of the

them back
:

Hark

back, dogs

hark hack

bacc'l)a^ntiuiJ*in

iraXiv

Kvve.s

when brought back

to the scent, he

moatibus!

should draw around, making

many

casts, {kvk\ovs,^)

even up to the

Vide Savary
Lep'oricidae.

nets, encouraging the he

biappiTTTOvarai

dogs

till

they again pick up the

tawrals
efiKiirrovani,

scent

at

ras ovpas, Kai

'
>

kuI
\'

Xen. de Vei)at.
c. VI.

_\\'' ^TToAAa vTrpnT}Cu)(Tai,

u0'

\ A. Kai eTraraKAayyavovaai, enavaipovffat ras KcfaAas,

'

<>

23.

el(TJ3\Trovaat els tov Kwriyerrii' ,

ewiyvwpi^ovaat
/cat

aXtjOf]

elvai

ijcr)

rriura,
oft

avTwv

araffTrjcrovai

tuv

Aayw,

eTTidai

KSKXayyv'iai

starting

again at full cry.

The watchman
stopping short.

at the nets gives a particular shout, significant of

the hare's capture in the apKvs, or her escape

by going beyond,
if

or

If she be taken, they try for another;

not, they

continue the pursuit of the same.

Weary

at length with their day's

assist the

work, the huntsman must himself, towards evening,

in searching out the
_ /uiKpio

pack
Xonophon de
Venaiione.
c. vi.

poor tired hare at her quat, (KarakXiveTai yap ev

,
,
,

70 OTjpiov, Kai ovK aiiaTUTai viro Kunov kui cpopuv,)

;

'i\

IIand bring them

they
kill

forward with encouragement

eager ones
Kara
little,

" cheering the meek dogs much, the

till
:

the intermediate moderately,"

her
last

ttoSos, at force, or drive

her into the nets

will the
1

infelicem bcstiolam J-Sarisberiensis Policrat. L, i. lepusculum timidum tanto tortasse praedabitur apparatu. c. iv.

huntsman become master of the hare

"

and thus at

/-

Oppian's instructions on hare-hunting, contained

the latter end of his fourth Cynegetic, are of

in

a few verses at

little interest.

Hares

should never be chased up

for
it,

hill,

as their shape

is

particularly adapted

and they avail themselves of the advantage whenever they can

:

aet to a rising around "o s'

avrlKa yap (TKvKaKas re kcu avipas aOpi/aavTes

irphs \6(pov Idvovffiv, eVei fxdXa yivclocrKovatv
'6tti irdpoidev

Oppian.Cjr'iieg.

eacnv oM^drtpoi irdSes avTo7s. k.t. A.

Beaten roads should be avoided by huntsmen and ploughed lands

,

preferred for sport.

iElian has

the hares shifts and prowess in

..... avoiding
left

us an animated description of

De

IVatuni

her pursuers, and the con-

Animal. l. xih.c. 14.

1.

kvkKovs, the rings of Cervase Rlarkhain, Countrey Coulei)tmeu(s,Book

1. 1. 1. 1.

212

APPENDIX.
uiro aKo-mus,

tempt with which she looks down, olov

efforts to

on their

fruitless

overtake her.
is

De

Venatione
C. IX.

The
size,

stag-hunt

treated of

by Xenophon,

in

his ninth chapter,

with snares, traps, &c.

strength,

Indian dogs are here preferred, for their

speed,

and courage.

But

as

his

name-sake has

written on the

same variety of chase with Celtic hounds and Scyis

thian horses, I pass on to the boar-hunt, in which the former

Ejusdem
c.

x.

diffuse

too

diffuse for

more than a bare

reference.

Indian and

Locrian hounds are selected from the pugnacious class, and Cretan

and Spartan from the sagacious, to

of the wild boar.

assist the

sportsman
to be

in his

attack
this

The

latter

hound appears

employed, on

occasion, as a lime-dog, or inductor, to find out the lair of the beast.

Apuleii IMet. L. vjii. p. 512.

Purse-nets, javelins, 7rpo/36\m, and woboffTpafSai, are in request. " Jamque apud frondosum tumulum," says Apuleius, in a vivid, but somewhat wordy sketch, " ramorumque densis tegminibus umbrosura, prospectu

vestigatorum obseptis carapis, canes venationis

residentes

indagini geuerosae, mandato, cubili

invaderent bestias,

immittuntur

statimque solertis disciplinae memores partitae totos

:

prjecingunt aditus

tacit&que prius servat<i mussitatione, signo sibi

repentino reddito, latratibus fervidis dissonisque miscent omnia "

" aper immanis atque

Ovid. Metam. L. VIII.

invisitatus exsurgit,"

&c.

Ovid's Calydonian boar-hunt, with the " lecta manus juvenum "
of Meleager's confederacy, will occur to the classical reader, and
farther illustrate this perilous species of chase
;

which, with" others

the 11th chapter of

yet more dangerous, described

his
Horat. Od. L. II. 1. 6.

by Xenophon
in

in

Manual, and by Oppian

bellica

his

fourth Cynegetic, constitute

examples of the

Venatio, "

periculosae

plenum opus

aleae,"

so emblematic of actual war.

The Athenian

is

very brief on the subject of lion, pard, lynx,

panther, and bear-hunting.

These ferocious brutes are commonly

1.

For further

particulars, see

Xen. de V.

c.

x. Oppian. Cyn.
iii. v.

iii. vs.

379. Adrian.

Venat.

vs. 55. (Edit.

Aid.) Natalis

Comes de Ven. L.

342. (Edit. Aid. F.) Caeiv. p. 104.

sar. Borgiae

Duels Epiced. per H. Strozam. P. A. Bargaei Cyneg.

i.

and lac.
is

Savary, Syothera L.

capital

wood-cut of a boar bayed by ferocious hounds

given by

I.

A. Lonicer

in his

Venatus ei Aucupium, Tab. Aper. and others in the

See also the IHauStcr Of (SSamc; of \^t

Venationes Ferarum of Strada and Galle.

tDgKretoor,

c.

vn.

A11'ENI)1\.

213
Oppiari
is

taken by stratagom
(lifl'iise,

raioly,

if

over, at force.

more

amplifying; the

lion-chase with the

Libyan, Indian, and

^Ethiopian practices for capturing the king of beasts.

As
his

a splendid specimen

of

poetical

talent

in

this

too

much

neglected author, (for he richly deserves the character bestowed on

works by

J.

C. Scaliger, C. Barthius, and other eminent scho-

lars,)

I select, from the latter part of the same book, the following

extract

description

of an

Armenian bear-hunt.

The bear

is

found with the limehound of the country, the nets, snares, and
fii'lpivBos

evarpofos are set,

and the din of pursuit commences

<rd\iriy^ filv KeXaSriae ireXcepiov rj Se re x6xiJ^y\s ,>v <>v -/> V otv AeATjKe dopoucra, kul o|u oeoopKe XaKovaa.
-

Oppian. Cyneg. L. IV. 398.

al^rjol 5' firopoxKrav

aoWees,

e'/c

8'

eKdrepdev

amla
7]

Or/phs laai

^aKayyti^hv KKoviovres.

8'

SnaSov irpoKmovaa Kol avepas, l$vs opovei

yvfivhu '6wov Aeuffcrej treSiof iroXv' KeWev eiretra

I|ei7js

KOTO vuTov iyeipSfisvos \6xos auSpui/

K\ayy7]5hv irarayivcnv,
aevSixevoi koL Seifia

eV

ocppva firipivOoto
tj

iroXvxpoov

Se t' aviypij
rre(pAp7iTai,
avrijif,

aft^iPoXos fxdXa irdfiirav orufb/xeVrj

TToj/To S' ofiov SeiSoiKe,
5eiiJ.a\4r]v
fj.ripii'doi',

\6xov, ktvitov, av\hi>,

KeXdSopros
ar)T(oi

iirel

raiviai t* icpvirepOe Sirjfpiai KpaSdovat,

Kivinevou iTTfpvyes re Xiyffia avpi^ovcriv

oSveKa Trairraivovcra kut &pKvas avrlov epirer

iv
S"

eireaeu Kiveotai \6xois. k, t. \.

But

farewell the detail of these savage chases

The
Cliace.
*
'

The king
Grumbles
in death
it

of brutes
last,

In broken roarings breathes his

;

the bear

nor can his spotted skin,

Though

sleek

shine, with varied beauties gay,

!

Save the proud pard from unrelenting fate

1.

The

reader will find descriptions of

many

of the different chases, for wliicli I

have no room here, in the Latin Cynegetica of the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries,
cited under the boar-hiint of Calydon.

For " the chiefe huntyng of the valiaunt

Sir

Grekes and noble Romaynes," see " The boke named The Governour, devised by

Thomas

Elyot, Knyght." B.

i.

c.

xviii.

214 The most

nere,
lively

APPENDIX.
and striking picture of
in the

classic

Venation, in geis

which I have met with

they may, contain

Latin language,
let

contained in

one of Seneca's tragedies; which,

them be the productions of

whom
The
Xenophon de
Venatione
rigid

much
field is

brilliant descriptive poetry.

The
and
this

whole arrangement of the

admirably given
tx'ci'")s,

in the

Hippolytus.

duties of the biKrvayuyos,

icvvaywyus,

apKVbjpos,

XivoTTTijs,

are successively detailed in the prologue, spoken

by

paragon of chastity himself,

{(Ta)(ppo(Tvvy kui oatori^Ti jjiai^apicdets,)

in the character of

Magister Venationis.
"
Ite

Senecaj Hippolyt. Act. I. sc. 1.

umbrosas cingite sylvas,

Suiiimaque montis juga Cecropii,

Celeri plants lustrate vagi

Quae saxosa loca Parnetlii

Subjecta jacent
;

et qua; Thriasiis

Vallibus amnis rapid a currens

Verberat unda

scandite colles

Semper canos nive Riphaea.

Hac Lac

alii,

qua nemus

altii

Texitur alno

qua prata jacent,

Quie rorifer^ mulcens aura

Zephjrus vernas evocat herbas," &c.

says the son of Theseus to his attendant

local scenery of different parts of Attica,

huntsmen describing the most abundant in game

and allotting them their respective stations and duties, with the mute
limehounds, (" canibus tacitis,") the
7ioisy

pack, and divers imple-

ments of the sylvan chase

^
:

duni lux dubia est

Dum

signa

pedum

roscida tellus
riiras

Irapressa tenet, alius

Cervice gravi portare plagas,

Alius teretes properet laqueos. Picta rubenti linea pinna

1.

The

lines of this animated picture, which describe, in the language of ex-

perience, the different degrees of restraint to be imposed on the Limiers, the Molossians, the Cretans,

and Spartans, are here omitted

inasmuch as they

will

be more

api)ropriately cited by us,

when we come

to

speak of the family of limiers, the canes

inductores of classical antiquity.

APPENDIX.
\'ano cludat tcrrore feras,
'I'ibi

215

libretur missile Ictlium.

Til grave,

dcxtra

la!v.'\(]iie

siniul,

llobur lato dirige ferro.

Tu

prfficipites

clamore feras
:

Subsessor ages

tu

jam

victor

Curvo solves viscera

cultro.

So much

for the furniture of the chase, its inventors,

to

and practice,
the

by way of introduction

our

triple

classification of

Canes

Venatici of the classic ages.

\aKb)l',

We

will

now

proceed, oluov Ini okv- Oppian.Cyneg

CLASS

I,

In the

first

class of the triple division

quibus est audacia prte-

ceps, or gravioribus

aptee

morsibus

are

included

all

the canes

pugnaces or

bellicosi

pugnacious dogs of war.

Libyan, Egyptian, Pannonian,

The Mede,

Celt, Ser or Indian, Albanian, Iberian, Lycaonian

or Arcadian, Hyrcanian, Locrian,

Magnesian, Molossian, Briton, Athanaanian, Acarnanian, and a few

others nearly allied.

CLASS
In the second
class of

II.

Canes Venatici, under the

title

of naic

sagaces, are placed all keen-nosed dogs of scent.

The Spartan, Cretan, Carian,

saeus or Briton, Segusian,

Etolian or Calydonian, Metagon,

Belgian, Gelonian, Umbrian, Tuscan, Armenian, Petronius, Agas-

and others of

inferior note.

CLASS
In the third
class, entitled

III.

pedibus

celeres, those

dogs alone are

comprehended, which ran on sight of

their

game, as the Vertragus,

however,
I

and possibly the Sicambcr

of the

latter,

know

nothing

beyond the meagre

distinction

allusion of Gratius to his speed,

and the apparent

made between him and

the Vertraha, in the Cynegeticon

of this poet

216
Gratii Cyncg.
vs.

APPENDIX.
Petronios (sic fama) canes, volucresque Sicambros,

201.

El

pictani

macula Vertraham delige

falsa.

Janus Vlitius considers the Sicambrian to be the Gallo-Belgic

hound of more modern days, and

Gallicus
:

identical with the Ovidian canis

but the latter

is

more probably the Vertraha of Gratius,

the oveprpayos of the younger Xenoplion.

Strabo L. VI r.

The Sicambrian

people,

strictly speaking,

were Germans, and not Belgians; as they dwelt

on the eastern, or Germanic side of the Rhine.

On
natici

first

comparing the different types of the Oppianic Canes Ve-

with those of the Latin Cynegetica, I was misled by the

authority of annotators to an admission that the type, so particularly

described

by the Greek poet

vs.

in

his first

book, firiKebavov Kparepdv

Sifias, K. T. X.

401. ad vs. 412. was of the sagacious hound, the

Petronian or such-like.

But

this interpretation, in addition to the

want of resemblance of
in

the picture to the supposed original, implies,

a notorious copyist of his predecessors' labours and a keen ob-

server of natural history, the entire omission of the swiftest of the

canine tribe, the canis Gallicus or Vertragus

which,
in

if

known by

fame

in the age of Gratius, alluded to

by him

his

Cynegeticon,

accurately portrayed by Ovid as to his style of running, and subsequently, and more minutely,

by

the younger

Xenophon, could
lost to

not,

under any balance of probabilities, have been

the sporting

world, between the time of Arrian and that at which Nemesian

flourished
:

by the latter of whom the greyhound

mode
I

is

most beautifully

depicted, and the

of initiating greyhound puppies in the hare-

course detailed with the hand of a master.

am, therefore, on more

mature

reflection, inclined to consider the passage referred to de-

scriptive of the

greyhound type, the

third class of ancient hounds,

the family of pedibiis celeres.^

That Rittershusius makes no

allusion

1. If the appropriation of the

Oppianic portrait to the Vertragus of Arrian alone

be deemed too scrupulously exclusive,

inasmuch as
my

it

leaves the Spartan hound of

that preference of the Celtic

Xenophon undescribed by
type to
all

the Greek poet,

I will allow
decision
;

others

may have
tlie

influenced

and am willing, with the honour

reader's approval, to admit

hound of Lacedaenion

into a participation of the

bestowed on the Vertragus.

APPENDIX.
to such a rosomhlance, docs not surprise nic
;

217
for,

by

pointiiijs;

out a

supposed dotVct of the picture, compared with a sketch of (iratius,

this learned

and laborious commentator proves that he was not aware

of the variety of dog intended to be delineated

by

his

author

per-

haps himself unacquainted with

of the boX(\o(jKios

its

type

in nature.

The very

feature

ovpi), condemned by this editor as burthensome to Canes cursores, with a preference of the " cauda brevis" of Gratius,

(suited to the

Canes

bellicosi alone,) is so

remarkable and useful an

it

additament to the greyhound's form, that, instead of burthening,

essentially assists

him as a Canis cursor, (" ad conversiones

in

cursu

Cynographia
12.

reciproco regendas,") and

much

strengthens the resemblance of the

Oppianic picture to

its

Celtic prototype in Arrian.

is

The
K. T. X.

conclusion of this sketch

followed by that of the Canis pughereafter cited, Qovpoi

b'

nax or helUcosus of the

;

first class,

aid" erepoi,

Oppian. Cyneg.

and

this

again by the amusing and lively picture of the

o-KvXdicwv yivos aXKipov l^^vevrriis

keen-scented beagle or hare-hound

pu)v, K. T. \.

the representative of which

according to

Ejusdem
vs. 4(J7.

taken from Britain, and

constitutes,

my

theory, Oppian's specimen (rather a

sorry one,

it

must be allowed) of the second class of Canes Venatici,

termed nare sagaces.

the

Are we

not, then, allowed to

conclude that

same

tripartite distinction

of Canes Venatici

was acknowledged
the

by the Cilician poet,

tic authorities cited

as

? ^

we have already traced in The latter did not escape

more systema-

the notice of the

1.

In addition to tbis triple view, a farther distinction of the canine race

is

founded
is

by Oppian on purity and commixture of blood.

The mongrel

or

mixed breed

again

divided into two varieties, the one constituted of dogs of diflferent countries crossed

with each other

tigers,' lions,

the other of dogs crossed with various wild animals,

;

BijpoiJLiyrj,

as

wolves, and foxes

whence

in the opinion of the ancient cynegetical

writers originated

many

varieties of hybrid
;

races

which

later

experiments have

proved

to

be founded

in fable

with the exception of those produced between the

It is not improbable that the latter hybrid

wolf and dog, and the jackal and dog.

production
KiSes of

may have
;

given rise to the fabled progeny of the dog and fox, the oAwTrethe Canis aureus and

Xenophon

as

common dog
litter

readily breed together

but
to

we have no

very well authenticated case of a

from the Canis vulpes and dog

ille

which assumed cross, the attention of John Hunter, " magnus

naturae inda-

gator," had been directed before his death, but not advanced to actual experiment,
as in the

other crosses of the wolf and jackal with the domestic dog.

Dr. Caius,

2 E

218

APPENDIX.

learned writer of the Venatio Novantiqua, himself an experienced

and ardent sportsman

classification of others

but he has not corroborated the earlier

with the more recent evidence of the poet of

to

Anazarbus
401.)
a,s

indeed, he seems

view the Oppianic hound (Cyn.

to

i.

sagaci-celer,

and the Vertragus as unknown both

Pollux

and Oppian.

The

Cilician gives

a decided preference

to those canine tribes

which are

specifically pure in their breed

cjtvXa

novo^vKa

and enuknown

merates, without any attempt at classification,

to him, under their geographical appellations
:

all

the tribes

Oppian. Cyneg.
L.
I.

Tlaiovis, kva6vioi, Kapes, Qp^'iKes, ''Wrjpes,

3{i7.

'ApKuSes, 'Apyeioi, AaKeSaifiSyioi, TeyeiJTai,

'Savpofxd.Tat,
iierffoi

KeAroi, Kprires, 'M.dyvriTes,

'EireioJ,

t' Aiyvirroio iroXvipafj-adotiTiv

eV

oxGuiS

^ovKoKiwv oipoi, AoKpol, x^po'^oi T MoAofferof.

But
poet,

if

the kennel-master acted on the principles laid

down by
his

this

and his Latin predecessor, Gratius, and crossed

pack with

irreconcilable varieties out of different families, belonging to difi'erent

countries, (and that he did so

we have evidence

in the irregular

and

ill-disciplined muster-roll of Ovid,) although the

file

names on Oppian's
any

might remain, the animals must have been so changed by the

qualities," that a genuine breed of

" superinduction of opposite

one variety must have been most rare.

tion of heterogeneous forms

To

this general

amalgama-

and qualities

in the

canine race, must be

attributed the custom of applying the terms Molossian and Spartan

Venatio Novantiqua,

it is

true,

speaks of the vulpi-canine cross as an established one,

"

quasi protritum
latter,

aliquid," says Vlitius,

ita

" quod ego rumore tantiim," continues the

"

et vix

conipertum habeo,"

but of

this,

more anon.

2.

Of

these the most important are hereafter mentioned under the same or difTlalovis, are

ferent

names: The

Pannonians

the

AiiarSvtoi

probably identical with the

Luclan. adversus

Tuscan

and those of the town of Tegea, (where Lucian tells us, the inhabitants exhitiie

bited the hide of

Calydonian boar

SelKvvffiv

Teyearai tov Ka\vSa>viov rh

Sf'pyuot,)

Indoctum.

must of course be considered Arcadian sub-varieties.

character.

The

rest are of the

Molossian

Instead oCEireiol Bodin and Belin de Ballu read 'Afiopyo); but of the
of the Cyclades, I

hounds of Amorgos, one

know

nothing.

APPENDIX.
to the

219

Canes

bellicosi

ami Canes sagaces respectively, gregatim

the
Hist. Animal.

dogs of Epirus and Sparta being held the best of their several classes.^

And,

for the

same reason, a

true Molossian or Spartan of pure blood

must have

fallen to the lot of

few of Dian's

vi^orshippers.

Aristotle

L. IX.

c. I.

speaks with praise of the Spartan and Molossian cross,^ but awards
the highest price in the Spartan kennel to the purest blood
:

and
in

Themistius, in his

first

oration, states

it

as an

acknowledged rule

breeding, that the kennel be supplied from bitches of the purest and

most unadulterated blood.

Even

after the introduction of the Vertragus,

and the commixture

of his breed with the older varieties of sporting dogs

P. Angelii Bargeci L. v.

Preecipites pedibus catulos liabuere sagaces,

the

names derived from Sparta and Molosse were

still

kept up, and

prostituted in

many

instances on most degenerate brutes.

With

regard to the original geographical distribution of the three

sagaces, and celeres, and of their respective

varieties of bellicosi,

chases,^ the most prevalent opinion of continental writers,

who have

1.

Under

the sanction of antiquity, and scarce inferior to the purest poet of the

Augustan age, loannes Darcius comprehends under the terms Moiossi and Lacones
all

dogs of chase

Quae generosa canum soboles, quis cultus alendo

Sit catulo,

J.

Darcii

unde suos Epirus

sibi

clara MoJossos,

Veniisini

Canes.

Audacesque

commendet Sparta Lacones,

Diva
2.

refer.

Such was the Pard of Ercole

Strozzi

Pardus ad haec genitrice Lacon, genitore Molossus,

Csesar.

Borgia;

Non extrema canum

3.

fama, et spes acris Opunti.

Ducis Epiced. per H.Strozam.

M. Desmoulins

is

of opinion that the modern numerous races of domestic dogs

must be

referred, each in its

own

country, to diflferent unreclaimed species

and

if

Bulletin Universel.

so, allowing

somewhat

for emigration

with man, and somewhat again

for crosses

among the

varieties of

each region, we must suppose thac those, which manifest

remarkable distinctive qualities, derived them originally from the wild indigence of

220

APPEN DIX.
Rome,
is

devoted their attention to the Cynegetica of Greece and

that the last mentioned originally

came from Gaul,

the sagacious

from Greece, and the bellicose from Asia.

War-dogs of pure blood

becoming more rare
crossed with the sagacious

are nearly extinct in the British islands, and are

on the continent of Europe

being

much

and swift-footed

tribes.

Vlitius, himself a

Dutchman, naturally
the

espouses the Belgic origin of the Belgic, or, more correctly speaking,
Spelnianni
Glossar. p. 113.

the Celtic dog.

Spelman, on the contrary, claims him

;

for

honour of Britain
sorts of hellicosi

and, in addition,

and sagaces

we have always deemed some indigenous of this country. Mr. Whi-

taker, in his History of Manchester, gives to the ancient Britons the

old English hound, or talbot, as the parent stock of the celebrated

sagacious hounds of our island

this

and

it is

found, by experience, that

dog degenerates

in

every other part of the world

a strong preThe
earliest

sumptive proof of his being indigenous of Britain.

record of the greyhound allots him to Gallia
tation in considering
sive disclaimer of
Venationis Cervinae Leges.
;

and we have no

hesi-

him of Celtic

origin, notwithstanding the offen-

Savary of Caen
Gallos aon bsec infamia tangit.

No

exclusive national claim can be

made

for the
its

pugnacious

tribe,

almost every nation of antiquity having had

particular variety

of which none surpassed the Britannus and Molossus, natives of

regions remote from each other, unconnected, probably, in
lineage, and united alone in untaraeable ferocity of character.
their

The
Certaine
tlie Cyneo^eticallPoem.&c.

translator of Gratius, after enumerating the various sorts of

*'

the British hound, greyhound, and mastiff, (which he calls

genu, or native of England,") observes

Served to be famous
in

"

indi-

all

these dogs have de-

adjacent and remote countries, whither they

are sent for great rarities, and ambitiously sought for

by
to

their lords

and

princes, although only the fighting dogs

seem

have been

known
not so

to the antient authors

and perhaps

in that

age hunting was

much

cultivated

by our own countrymen."

each particular region.

Exclusive of the jackal, he considers that there are three

wild species in Europe, and Western Asia, which have contributed to produce the
varieties of our

domestic dog, at present known.

Ari'ENDlX.

221

CANES VENATICl.
CANES BELLICOSI
or

Class

I.

PUGNACES.
Gratii Ilalieut.
vs. 98.

Quibus est auducia prceceps.

Tho type of
tude in

this class is given

by Gratius
^
:

in

the following lines,

lati-

which must be taken as a general description, requiring some

its

application to individuals

Sint celsi vultus, sint hirtee frontibiis aures,

Gratii

Cyneg

Os magnum,
Cauda

et patulis agitatos morsibus ignes

ilia

vs. 269.

Spirent, adstricti succingant

brevis,

ventres,

longumque
nimis,

latus, discretaque collo

Caesaries,

non pexa
:

non

frigoris ilia

Impatiens

validis turn surgat pectus ab armis,

Quod

roagnos capiat motus, magnisque supersit.

EflFuge, qui lat^ pandit vestigia plants.

Mollis in

officio, siccis

ego dura lacertis

Crura velim, et solidos haec in certamina calces.

By

its

side

we may
it

place

its

counterpart in Greek

for,

notwithto

standing the Oppianic sketch has been appropriated

the Albanese,
certainly

by Bodinus
light, as

may be viewed

in

a broader

picture in outline of the

to individuals
dovpoi
SffffOl
S'

whole pugnacious family, without reference

av6' erepoi, rolaiv fnveSriios oXktj,

r]\)yiVi'lOlS,

Oppian. Cyneg.
L.
I.

KOl TavpOtCTLV iTTiXpO-OV

413.

KoX avas vfipKTTripas iTrdi^aures oKerruai'

S<T<T0t /urj5e

Xeovras iovs rpiiovffw dvuKras,

^aTpe<p4es, irpuveffffiv iotK6Tes a.Kpo\6(poi(Ti.

(jifxuTipoi ixkv tcuTi irpoadnrara,
vivei. eiTicrKvvloKn fifaScppva,

Zeiva

S'

vTrepBe

Kal TrypJecrey
diruiraTs'

6(pda\fj.oi X'^poTrfiO'iv

vKoariK^ovTis

pivhs

anas Xiaios, Kparephv

defias, ivpea vuna'

ft-ivos

KpaLTTfol 5' ov TiKiQovcriv,

arhp

evSodi iroAA^j'

Kal ffdivos &(ppa<TTOV, KpaSir] Kal Gvfihs avaiSris,

1.

We

may suppose

the muzzle in this class more or less truncated, and the capa-

city of the cranium

diminished.

But the sketches of physical structure

are too

superficial in tlie ancient cynegetica to

found a classification on the principle of

M.

F. Cuvier.

222

APPENDIX.
introduction of a third, more recent portrait, will be justified

The
by
his

the chaste Latinity of Peter Angelio, and the faithful accuracy of

pen
Hie
tibi

P, Angelii
'

ingentes tauros aggressus, et ursos

'

Sistat, et imposito fugientes vulnere tardet

Cui

sumtiJEe

pendent aures, cui laxa superne

Labra

fluant, cui vultus atrox, cui

maxima

cervix,
:

Obtusumque caput, pressumque ante omnia rostrum

Praiterea magnique pedes, unguesque recurvi

Molle solum, sublime femen, suppressior alvus

Ipsaque rectorum longa internodia crurum
:

Spina duplex, pingues lumbi, color helvus,' honestuni

Pectus

et e patulis efflet qui naribus ignem,

Latratu quoties s^lvas implevit, et amplo

Pectore conceptas subitus decurrit ad

iras.

Turn vero splendent

oculi,

collumque tumescit,

Et caudam crebro

villosa in terga retorquet.

The quarry

of these savage hounds consisted of animals more fero-

cious than their assailants

such as

Gratii Halieut.
vs. 73.

Trahit in prseceps non sana feiocia mentis,

Following the order of the poetical manual, to which we are

indebted for our
first-cited outline of the race, the

Mede and

Celt

arrest our earliest attention, followed

by the Ser, Lycaonian, Hyrca-

nian, Briton, Molossian, and others:

Gratii
^^*

Cyneg.
^^^'

magna

indocilis dat praslia

Medus,

Magnaque

diversos excollit gloria Celtas.*

The Persian appears

to

have been a connecting link between the

pugnacious and sagacious classes, though his neighbours of Media

De Quad.
Vivip. L.

Dio^.
III.

Aldrovandus explains color helvus as " medius inter rufum et album "

fawn.

2.

Tbe

epithet
;

" diversos" may

indicate remoteness of birth-place as explained

by Johnson

or difference of character as hinted

by Wase

Gallia

being

far

distant

from Media, and the Celtic dog being sagacious as well as pugnacious, and therefore
tliffering

from the

"

indocilis

Medus," whose character was

that of

mere truculency,

unredeemed by the

least sagacity.

APPENDIX.
itiul

223 The Persian was a

llyicania were a jmroly savage breed.

mongrel variety
Perses in ulroque paratiis.
Ejusd. vs. 158.

The
which

character of the " indocilis

Medus" we may

infer

from iElian's

description, already cited, of the

men and
latter

horses of the country

at the conclusion he also extends to the dogs

ravra

roi kuI

De
^^

Natur;i
\^^

Trept TtHy

kvvwv iireKn
size.

voe'iv fioi.

The

were

fierce,

impetuous,

jjj^ ^

and of great
There
is

evidently no connexion between the Celtic of Gratius

and
same

Kvyes KeXrtcat of Arrian,

though deriving their name from the

source,

and seemingly of the same country.

The former
in-

were originally perhaps the only varieties of the canine species

mates of the kennels of Gaul,
Gallia

cum pridem

coleret devota

Dianam,

Savary Venat. Cervin. Leges.

the sagacious
therein
;

and swift-footed hounds being subsequently admitted

until the older

but not

mode

of hunting ferocious animals

with savage dogs had fallen into disrepute, from the superior attraction of the

improved

style

or into disuse, from the gradual

ex-

tirpation of beasts of prey.

driven into remote fastnesses,

As the latter disappeared, or were we may suppose the more timid and
;

fugacious creatures supplied their place

ratio of the others'

and, multiplying in the

diminution, afforded abundant quarry to the

the chien

Vertragus,

and the archetype of

courant of modern

France.

How
fable of

beautifully are the

more innoxious sports of sylvan

life,

and

superior claims of the hare

and deer hunt, touched by Ovid

in the
:

Venus and Adonis.

The goddess

of love turns huntress

Per juga, per sylvas, dumosaque saxa vagatur

Nuda

genu, vestem ritu succincta Dianae

;

Ovid. Metam. L. X. 537.

Hortaturque canes

tutaeque aniraalia prsdae,

Aut pronos

lepores, aut celsum in cornua cervum,

;

Aut

agitat

damas

a fortibus abstinet apris.

Raptoresque lupos, armatosque unguibus ursos

Vital, et armenti saturates cajde leones.

Te quoque,

ut hos timeas (si quid prodesse

'

monendo

Possit) Adoni, monet.

Fortisque fugacibus esto,'

224
Inquit
'
;

APPENDIX.
'

in

audaces non est audacia tuta.

.

Parce meo, juvenis, temerarius esse perfclo

'

Neve

feras,

quibus arma dedit natura, lacesse

'

Stet milii ne

magno

tua gloria.

Noa movet

fetas,

'

Nee

facies,

nee quee Venerem movere, leones

'

Setigerosque sues, oculosque animosque ferarum.

'

Fulraen habent acres in aduncis dentibus apri

'

Impetus

est fulvis et vasta leonibus ira.'

No

wonder that the Celtic people by degrees discontinued the

warlike chase, fraught with innumerable perils, and substituted the

harmless pursuit of fugacious quarry, with keen-scented and swiftfooted hounds, according to the injunctions of the meretricious queen
to her disobedient

" sweete boy

:"

Sir

A. Golding

Pursuing game of hurtlesse

Qj. gtagges

sort, as

hares

made lowe

before,

Ovid's Melam.

with lofty heades, or buckes

;
field sport.

which,
*

in the

days of Arrian, constituted their principal

Julius Pollux, in his Ononiasticon, mentions the Celtic war-dogs,

also includes KeXroJ in the muster-roll of his first cyneis

and Oppian
getic.i

It
;

probable that they were a-kin to those of ancient

are told

Britain
Strabo L. IV.
P*

for

we

by Strabo, who lived soon

after Gratius,

that the exports from this island to Gaul consisted of ep/uarn, Kal
avbpaTToba, Kal Kvves eu^uets Trpos
rets

Kvvr^yeTtas.
to'is

KeXrot be Kal vpoi

Tovs TToXefjiovs ^pwJTa/, Kal tovtois, Ka\

e7rt)(wptots.

AVhence

it

appears that

the

Celts had native

Canes Venatici which they

In
this

employed

in

war," as well as those imported from Britain. ^

1.

Belin de Ballu appears to consider the Oppianic KeXroi Segusian hounds of

scent, and not war-dogs.

See his Animadversiones

all

in

Oppian. L.

i.

vs.

373. Did the

poet inchide under the term KeXrol

the various sorts of hounds supposed indi-

genous of Celtica

the war-dogs,

the Vertragi, Segusii, and hybrids of Pliny?

No
and

country of antiquity affords such numerous varieties of the canine species as Gaul

and

as the inhabitants are

by the Greeks called Ke\To!, by the Romans

latter, Celta;
;

Galli,

sometimes synonymously with the

so

may Oppian, an

eastern Greek,

include under the term KeXroi the various subdivisions of the canine tribe, througliout
the whole territory of Gaul, however distinguished by earlier writers, either as indi-

genous of peculiar
2.

localities, or characterized

by dissimilar qualities. by Jaqucs du

The

high antiquity of the Canes Venatici of Gaul, espoused

1'

i:

I)

225
;

adaptation of canine ferocity the Ccltiv were not peculiar

dogs,

but as

thus applied,
it is

can scarce

be considered

in

their

sporting

character,
instances

unnecessary to multiply citations.

Let the few

hereafter

adduced

suffice

on

this

head.

Whether

these

Celtic dogs are the Gallic hybrids of the natural historian I cannot

say

" hoc idem," says Pliny, "

e lupis Galli,

quorum greges suura

Ilium
in

L.

vm.

c.

40.

quisque ductorem e canibus et Lyciscam habent.

comitantur,
teria."
forest,
illi

venatu

Emend.

parent.

Namque

inter se

exercent etiam magisin

There were whole packs of these dogs

every chase or

"

that

had

for their leader

some particular demi-wolf, which

the rest accompanied in hunting, obeyed, and were directed by;

keeping an order among themselves of government and mastership."

Gratius mentions, in the next place, the Ser, the Lycaonian or

Arcadian, the Hyrcanian, and the union of the

tiger.

latter

with the

Sunt qui Seras alant, genus intractabilis

irte

Gratii Cyneg.

At contra

faciles,

magnique Lycaones armis.

'

The
and

Serae

were a nation of Ethiopia near the origin of the Nile,

also

of India between the Indus and

Hydaspes
according

but " the

famous Serse were a people of Asia, the farthest

to the east

beyond Wase's

China towards

Scythia without Imaus,"

to

geography of Gratius.

As

the poet does not record the fame of the

Canes Indici under

their usual

denomination,

Seric dog as the redoubted Indian

" genus

we may

consider the

intractabilis ir."

The Indian dog

is

noticed

by Herodotus,

Aristotle,

Xenophon,

Diodorus Siculus, Strabo, Plutarch, Pollux, iElian, Athenaeus, The-

Fouilloux in the
courans,
et

first

chapter of his Venerie

les

" De
to.

la race et antiquite
will

des chiens

qui premierement

aroena en France,"

amuse such of

my
La Venerie de
Jaques du

readers as

may

think his work worth referring

Deducing the breed from the

kennel of Brutus, (the son of Sylvius, the son of Ascanius, the son of J2neas) under

whose

fostering care les chiens courans et Uvriers

were exported from the Trojan

with
its

territory, Fouilloux exhibits the very vessel of transportation,

canine cargo

aboard.
3. It is a generally received opinion that the

pugnacious and sagacious dogs of

Britain were constantly exported to Gaul

practice continued within his knowledge.

and Janus Vlitius remarks that the same

Venatio Novantiqua.

2 F

226
mistius,

APPENDIX.
and Phile, among the Greeks; and by Pliny, Solinus, and dog induced Xenophon
elai

Quintus Curtius, among the Latins.

courage of
Xenophon.
this

to

The size, strength, speed, and recommend him for boar and
says this
qualities

deer hunting

yap

((T^upa!, fueynXai, nobtvKeis, ovk iid/v^oi,

;

experienced sportsman
^lian. de
*

and

iElian

adds to

his

good

keenness of sight or scent

Qripiov ayndal, K.

in tracking

ewyevels Kal

ix^l f^orayfun'ai

L.

viii. c. 1.

T.X.

J. Pollux,

on the authority of Nicander,

;

derives the Canes Indici from Acteeon's pack

Ovid.
'
'

who,

when they
herili,"

Metam. had recovered from

'

their

madness,

"

satiatse

sanguine

passed the Euphrates, and wandered into India.

distinguishes

He

particularly

L.

V. c. V. 39.

them from

the

Hyrcanian, with which they have

been by some historians

iElian. de Nat,

confounded.

Both the last-mentioned

that the
lion

authors,

and

also Plutarch,

would have us believe

L. IV.

c.

19.

^^^ the
Plutarch
tius

only antagonist with

:

whom

this

courageous dog would

Plutarch.

willingly contend
;

rwv

be

aXXwy

^.djoyv

vTrepipporovvTa Travrtov, says

;

Ed

S^te^ii

and ^lian

affirms his victory over the lion

but Themis-

adds the pard to his chosen antagonists, to the exclusion of

combatants, as wolves and foxes. Fable however and history
, i

Brodaei Annot.
in Oppian. p. 43.

inferior

are so closely blended

the records ot canine biography, that

we

are

compelled occasionally to doubt.

And

did

we

not

relieve

ourselves

by

incredulity,

the marvellous tale of patient courage

narrated by iElian, as manifested by this fierce animal, would

us

make

shudder at the bare

recital.

It

is

found

in detail in the first

chapter of his eighth book de Natur^ Animalium,^ and succinctly

copied by Pollux in the

sticon.

fifth

chapter of the

fifth

book of

his

Onomaas

The
this

cruel experiment, transmitted to

us

by Dr. Goldsmith,
is

having been practised on the British Molossus,

quite eclipsed

by

more barbarous exhibition of the innate

fortitude of the

dog of

India.
test

For

in

the latter case, the

commencement of

the
tail,

inhuman
and the

of patient courage

was the amputation of the

conclusion decollation.
cut
off",

The

legs of the poor brute

were successively
lion,

one by one, without his quitting his hold of the

:

his

chosen antagonist

and when

at last the

neck was severed from the

Vulgar Errors &c. B. I.

" Wherein,"

says Sir

Thomas Brown very

some impossible."

justly,

" are contained many things

suspicious, not a few false,

AFl'K N
body, the teeth
still

1)1

X,

227
still

adhered with the trunkless, but

mordacious
credulous
iElian. de Nat.

head, (credat Judeeus,) suspended to the wound.

story-teller speak for himself:
kciI

But
rj/$

let the

TeXevTwvres

KefaXiis to Xoittov
>;

aufxa d^e7\o)* ohovres ht

Kt^aXj)
})(i}pe7ro

eiceiy)}
eic

}'ipTT]rTO rj/s

e^ "PX''* avTiXapiis, koI

Animal.
L.
VIII. c. 1.

fxerewpos

tov Xeojros, avrov fievroi tov oaKOPTOs t|

like the British bull-dog

apx;s ovK

en

ovtos.

The"dog

was memocharacter

rable for never quitting his hold

a feature

in his ferocious

remarked by Phile
tale.

in

his

iambic versification of Elian's marvellous

Travrhs
t)S

Kwhs

ixeyiatos, 'IvZhs iras kvwv.

rpe'juet,

De

Animal.

ovSf Thv \fovTa irap6vTa

Proprietate.
p. 148.

De

cane Indico.
avOiffTarat Se, Koi (T<ppLya irphs

tV y.a.xr\v,
avvrSfiois,

Kol To7s jSpuxiJ^yUoTs

avQvXaKTU

eyKUfievov Se Kaprfpe7 rhv avddSrj.

Kol SaKViTai
fifv,

avTiSuKvei Se irXiov.

Tf\os Se TOV TevovTos aiirhy apTrdcras,

^iiTTeL

Kara

yrjs, Kal (nrapdrrei,

a7ro/f(5\|/j?

koI 6\lpei.

K&v

Tis eireXdwv

t6 aKe\os
irp\v

7$

rhv /Meyav dyxoi'Ti, Kal

rh

yevvdSav,

fi6\is & veKphs VTravri(Tei

arojxa..

In the scarce plates of Stradan, engraven by Galle, there

is

picture of the Canis Indicus, as I conceive, fighting with the ele-

Venatioues Ferarum, &c.

pi. IV.

phant and

lion.

The annexed
it,

quatrain,

by Kilian

Duffla^us, suffi-

ciently explains

but

is

not worthy of citation.

The following
be read with
his congener,

poetical portrait, however,

pleasure, whether

by a

far better scholar, will

viewed as delineating the Indian, or

the Albanian

si

aliqua e sylvis sese fera nobilis altis

Offeret, et

campo

belluin committit aperto,

laetatur

Hercul. Stroz Csesar. Borgife Ducis Epiced.

(Degeneris neque eniin

sanguine praedas)

Vim

canis egregiam, atque acres mirabere pugnas.

inter deserta
irasci in

Vidimus assuetos

ferarum
cornua tauros.

Nequicquam immanes

Sternere ludus apros, nee totam excandet in iram.

Si rigidis

pugnent infonnes unguibus

si

ursi.

Gaudet atrox magni fremitura

forte leonis

Audiat, et celeri rapitur per devia cursu,

Ac

formidando metuendus obambulat

hosti,

Villosas

donee cervici adnisus

inhasret,

Sanguineaque feram morientem extendi! areni.

228

APPENDIX.
Acriiis exultans vastus in pra;lia barros

Provocat, et tantam (dictu mirabile) niolem

Sternit
;

at

ingentem procumbens
trahit, garritu

ille

ruinam

Per dumosa

tesqua sonoro

Dissultant, gliscitque gravis venantibus horror.

Bodin supposes Oppian

Cynegetic,
vs.

to allude to the

Canis Indicus

in

his 1st

413.

but as the poet does not mention any name,

and particularly

specifies

a want of speed

in

the dogs he describes, I

(if it

should rather refer his sketch to the Molossian or true Epirote,

must have a particular application,) than

I have no doubt, however, that
description of the pugnacious
it
is,

to the

Indian or Albanian.

as already stated, a general

type,

and therefore includes both

Indian and Molossian.

Many

of the anecdotes of the Indian dog are promiscuously told

;

of the Albanian, Iberian, and Hyrcanian

cult to point out

and

it

certainly

is diffi-

any

distinctive characters

between them.
is

Of

the

latter I shall presently

speak, in the rotation in which he

recorded

by Gratius.
lars,

The Albanian and Iberian

are undoubtedly consimi-

strongly impregnated with the Molossian cast

natives

of the
are

Asiatic district indifferently called Iberia and Albania.

celebrated by modern travellers as
Hist. Natur.

They

much

as

by

classic

historical

L. VUI.

C.

XL.

and cynegetical writers. Pliny does not name the country of the dog " inusitatai magnitudinis " given to Alexander by a king of Albania
;

though

it

would be a

fair

conclusion that the dog

was of

1.

To

this

dog Priscian alludes

in his Periegesis, vs. 706.

Poeta; Latini

Hie sunt Albani bellaces marte feroci;

Minores.

Unde
,,

canes nati superant genus

omne ferarum.
inde
:

Tom. V.P.I.
Wernsdorf.

^, J Magnus Alexander niissum

-1 usibi viderat

Victorem barrique canem, rapidique leouis

and John of Salisbury celebrates the race

breed losing nothing of
its

in

his Policraticus
tiie

the merits of the

lustre,

but rather gaining, in

fortiores
:

prose narration

De

Nugis

" Albani quidem

ferarum

in

Asi^ canes habent leonibus

bestiolas

eos virtute canum, et sua;

illis

Curiahum

gentis artificio, quasi imbelles

fortior, nulla

populantur.

Canibus quidem

nulla

animosior est.
eis virtutem

Hos

Hercules, tergemino Gerjone victo, ab

Italia trajecit in

Asiam,

qua leones sternerent, quasi hereditariam dere-

linquens," Sec.

APPENDIX.
the

229
StraboL. xv.

same country

as the king.

Yot

Strabo, notwithstanding he

commemorates the prowess of

hirly notes that those

the Albanian race of dogs, particu-

presented to

the

king of Macedonia were

Indian

and he

is

supported by Phitarcli, Diodorus Siculiis, and

Julius Pollux, differing

somewhat

in

the historical detail.

is,

SolMius,

for the most part a copyist of Pliny and Strabo,

it

on

this occasion,

may

be,

mistaken

in

assigning
:

to

them an Albanian

origin.

Speaking of the Albanese, he says

feris

"

A pud

hos populos nati canes

C.J.
"c.

Solini

anteponuntur, frangunt tauros, leones prcmunt, detinent quid:

xv.

quid objectum

quibus ex causis meruerunt etiam annalibus tradi.

sos,"

Legimus petenti Indiam Alexandro, k rege AlbaniE dono duos misand again, " Hoc genus canes crescunt ad formam am<!t:c.

plissimam,

terrificis

latratibus ultra rugitus insonantes."

May we

Vide Bodini
Oppian.
p. 63.

not reconcile these statements the Latin historians

the

by considering the Albanese dogs of

Greek

Pliny, Solinus, and Curtius the Indians of authors Strabo, Plutarch, Diodorus, ^lian, and Pol?

lux

and

the Albania of the former, the India of the latter

The
Strabo L. xr.

inhabitants of Albania and India were both excessively addicted to

hunting

djjpevriKoi re /cat avrol Ka)

is

c'l

nures avriuv

eh

v7tp(3o\iiv.

The Iberian dog

Nemesian the
spised

mentioned by Julius Pollux, Oppian, and

merely saying the breed
is

latter poet
;

not to be de-

by sportsmen

Nee tibi Pannonics stirpis teninatur origo, Nee quorum proles de sanguine nianat Ibero

Neniesian.
J
&

and the former recommending

'2,apfiaTiK6v

it

to

be crossed with Sarmatian blood,

Oppian. Cyneg.
L.
I.

re itoaiv (popiois nphs 'l^7}pi5a

vviJ.<pT]v,

397.

Darcius records the strength, courage, and velocity of the Albanian

breed
;

AdJe etiam Albanos,

qui

quantum
,

viribus apris

Occursare valent, fulvosque jequare leones,

Darcii V enusini

Canes.

Lt vasto indomitos certamine frangere tauros,

Aligeras tantum cursu pra;vertere damas

and two
as

lines

below mentions the dogs, " quos dives Iberia pascit,"

from the Albanese
is,

if distinct

which,

if

Asiatic, they certainly

resembled.

It

however, possible, that Darcius

may

allude to

230
European Iberia, or Spain.
of Oppian's Iberian dogs
Brodaei Ann<itationes
in
is

APPENDIX,
Indeed, the geographical appropriation
doubtful in the opinion of commentai.

tors.

Brodaeus assigns the Iberian horse of Oppian (Cyn.

;

vs. 284.)

Oppian.

to

Asia
in

but the people mentioned by the poet under the same

name,

connexion with the Celts,

in

the episode at the conclusion

of his second Halieutic, are evidently inhabitants of

Jones's Oppian's
Halieutics.

And
tic

again

his description of the tunnies

Western Europe. " rushing from th' Atlan-

deep," into the Mediterranean, and of their subsequent capture

its

along
Oppian.
Halieu't.

shores, places the Iberians a second time in the

West

TovcrS' ^Tot Ttp&Tov fiev 'lp7}p'iSo5 evSodiv

a\iJi.r)s

L. HI. C23.

avipes aypwcTcrovcTt

filrj

KOfi6covTes''lfiripes.

SevTfpa Se 'Po5avo7o napa (rrofxa 6r]priT^pis

KeXrol,

k. t. \.

hovrever, w^hether Asiatic or European,

fication that the

it

is

sufficient for our classi-

dogs vpere of the pugnacious class.

representative of the classical Albanese occupies a
district

The modern
more extensive

than his ferocious prototype,

vfIio vpas
;

conhis

fined to the region

between Colchos and Armenia

in

whereas

descendant

is

found

Macedonia,
in his

Illyria,

Chaonia, and Epirus.

Of the
rius

classical

Albanian,

character of a dog of war, Vale:

Flaccus has

left

us the following very animated description

Valerii Flacci

Insequitur Dranga;a phalanx, claustrisque profusi

Argonaut.
L.
VI. 107.

Caspiadae

queis turba canuni non segnius acres

:

Exilit ad lituos, piignasque capessit lieriles

Inde etiam par mortis honos

Inter avos, positusque virum

turnulisque recepti

nam

pectora ferro

Terribilesque innexa jubas ruit agmine nigro

Latratuque cohors

quanto sonat horrida Ditis

coiiiitatus

Janua, ve! superas Hecates

ad auras.

And

the fame of his tribe, as spread over these countries at large,

is

celebrated by the chaste poet of Barga in his 5th Cynegeticon, with

the same song, decies repetita, of leonine and elephantine quarry
P. Angelii
Bargjei Cyneg.
:

Quid

tibi si,

quarum concursu exhorruit Argo,

Cceruleis sparsas

adeam Sjmplegadas

undis,

L. V.

Cappadocumque
Alque
iter

eras, et inhospita Colcliidos arva,

:

ad duros contendam pergere Iberos

Caspiaque Albanis quondam regnata tyrannis

AlM'l'.NDIX.
Littoral et extrenii prsetcrvehar ostia

231
Sami

quales, quantosque canes,

quam

fortia bello

Pectora, quiim cert;\ prolem virtute valentem

Inde legam

sola ilia uros, sola ilia leones

Invadit, sola aggreditur dignata elepliantos.

Opportunity

offers,

in

introducing the dog of Arcadia to the

reader's notice, of speaking of the semiferous race of lupine dogs, the

denii-wolves of the ancient Cynegetica.^

The

cross of the wolf

its

and

dog

is

of considerable antiquity; indeed the belief of

existence

may be

traced very generally through the popular works of the

classic ages.

Under

the Spartan dog, in the second class, I shall

again allude to hybrid dogs, and refer to Mr. Hunter's paper on the
subject in the Transactions of the
present,
is it

Royal Society of London.

At

may

be stated that the cross of the wolf and domestic dog

an established one, and that the breed, so obtained, has been car-

ried forward for

many

generations.

Aristotle,

I believe,

first
;

re-

marked the sexual

truth, but too

intercourse of these congeners in

Cyrene

and,
Vulgar Errors,
^'

from the fact as stated by him. Cardan (" a great inquirer after
greedy a receiver of
it,"

according to Sir

Thomas

type.2

Brown,) inferred the gradual degeneration of wolves into the canine " Ut lupos et canes," says Brodeeus in Oppianuni, " mutu6
Diodori,
Ovidii,
('

coire fatear,

Deque lupo concepta Nape,') ac

the mule
is

complurium
and
ass,

facit auctoritas."

As

born from the horse

remarks Galen, so a mixed breed

may be

generated from

the wolf and dog.^

The

race of old reported to have been sprung

1.

Arcadia boasted not these as her only ferine crosses

all

^v\a

Bripo/xiyri

for in the

Find. Pyth.
-L" i'*

country of Lycaon, too, in

centaurs, lords of
tlie

their glory, rode the arparhs OavfjicwThs of senii-hunian

^^'

chase, around

mount

Pholoij,

a/xcpl

irdSos *oA.o7js ave/iuSeos &ypia (pv\a

[ji.sv

Oppian. Lyneg,

OTipo/xiyrj, fiepSirwv

in'

l^x'ias,

l^v6<piv 5e

'imriDV rifii^p6Tccv,

2.

Scaliger denies the

inference

" Possunt

quidem

lupi

mitiores

fieri,

sed

Exercitat.
^*'^*

nunquam lupinam formam,

novo cultu raitescunt."
3.

et totalem feritatem exuent,

quemadiuodum

et

plantae

Both these hybrid productions

by the misanthropic Agrippa, in his 73rd chapter, de Agricultura.

......

are alluded to, in his

wonted
.

strain of dissfust,

^^*

'

^* '^g"PP* de Incert. et
g^ g^j^^

Yg^^ ^

232
from the
latter

APPENDIX.
connexion was that of Arcadia, the Lycaonian
;

thence called, peradventure, hycas by Simonides, and Lycisca by

Scaliger.

Virgil and

Ovid

" Mista
name
;

lupo canis est signata voce Lycisca."

origin,

That the Lycas of the canine epitaph was of lupine

conjecture from the
lities

we may

but the Cean poet specifying other localife,

as the scenes of his hound's exploits in

Tr)y

and Pollux calling

her AvKaba

QeTra\r)v,

some other kennel may put forward a

;

claim, instead of that of Arcadia, for the honour of the breed

the

or

name may be merely an

;

appellative distinction, unconnected

is

with lineage

still

the monumental elegy

deserving of citation

Simonides
einendatus, ex Polluc. Ononi. L_ ^^ ^j^

t]

aev koI (pBiufvas, \evK offrea

toiS' ivi Tu/i/3y

lorKU erirpoueeiv drjpa^, &ypot(T<ra '*

Tav

5'

(xpeTav

/ ow(v

fjLeya Xlri\tov,

,,,,,

AvKis.

ar api5r]\os

''Ocraa KiOatpwvSs olopSfioi (TKOTriai,

Gratius contrasts the docility of Lycaonian dogs, the Teyej/roi of

Oppian, with the intractability of the Indian,

Cyneg.
160.

vs.

j\^t

contra faciles magnique Lycaones armis.

The breed of
Ovid.Metam.

the northern part of Peloponnesus, having been of

great note, and the son of Pelasgus (" notus feritate

Lycaon

")

having been converted into a wolf

the

first

subject,

it

may

be, of

Vide Pausan.

the dogs indifferently called Arcadian and Lycaonian, were probably, says C. Wase, " heirs of his own body naturally

lycanthropy

begotten."

Many Arcadian hounds

are found in the Ovidian pack,

among
Euripidis

the mistaken pursuers of the unfortunate son of Aristaeus

{%v wfioffiroi (jKvXaKfs, &s idpi-^wro,
SLecrndffavTO Kpelffcrov' iu Kvvrjytais,)

possessed of great speed and resolution

1.

In

tlie

rare tract of Jean de Glamorgan,

j'ay
la

I find

a practical remark to

tlie

point

La Chasse du Loup.

" Noterez que

veu quelquefois que

veulent
saillir et

les

levriers font difficulte de prendre

una

Joupe cliaude, ains

covrir

comme une

cliienne

mais

s'il

y a aux

cours quelque bonne levriere, rile la prendra par envie et jalousie."

A
hide ruiint

I' 1' I.

1) 1

233
Ovid. MeSani.
L. 111.209.

alii rapidfl velociiis

aurS,

I'amphagiis, et Dorceus, et Oribasus, Arcades omnes,

A'ebrophouosque valens, et

triix

cum

Laelape Tlieron,

Et pedibus Pterelas,

et naribus utilis

Agre,

H^la;usque fero nuper percussus ab apro,

Deque lupo concepta Nape, pecudesque

Et
substricta gercns Sicyouius ilia
et

secuta

Poemenis, et natis comitata Harpvia duobus,

Ladon

Et Dromas,
Et
niveis

Canace, Sticteque,
villis

et Tigris, et Alee,
atris,

Leucon, et

Asbolus

Free valid usque Lacon, etcursu fortis Aello,

Et Thous,

et

Cyprio velox cum

fratre Lycisca.

The

poet elsewhere bestows on the hound of Arcadia the local epi-

thet of Maenalian, from

Mount Msenalus
Artis Amator.

Maenalius lepori det sua terga canis.

L.I.

Is

it

not probable that some of the hounds of chase, bestowed by

the Arcadian

God

on the Goddess of hunting, were culled by

his

goatish majesty from the kennels of the country of Lycaon, where

sporting ardour the brace of pie-balled Pan himself the leash of long-eared and the spotted hound
gratified his
?

t]v

5"

o yiveifiTTis Suo fxiv Kvvas

5'

^jxicrv

-mffovs,
pa.

Callimacti.

rpiis 5e TrJp' ovariovs, eva

ai6\ov'

o'i

Xiovras

H.

in Dian,
vs. 90.

avTovs av fpvovTiS,
iiKKov iTi ^(iovTas

'Sre

Spd^aiVTO Sepdaiv,
av\iov.

eV

The

other seven which

Pan

contributed to Dian's pack, being

dacriToves

avpawv, and destined for more timid quarry, are placed

fleetest

under the Spartan family, of which they were the

members.
Golding's Ovid's Metaro.
13.

Whether
Golding

all

the dogs " of Areas kinde," as sings Sir Arthur

" worke very pleasant and delectable," were demi" gaunt as any grewnd," I cannot take on myself to wolves, and
in his

III.

decide

but

it

is

fair inference,

from the evidence adduced, that

all their ferocity, in

lupi-canine crosses predominated, in

the kennels

of Arcadia

not indeed

to the exclusion of canine indigence of pure

blood, but enough to give a ferine character to the general type.*

1. Blondus, in his

'

Libellus de Canibus et Venatione,' remarks on the breed of

this cross

demi-wolves, as they are called by Shakespeare, that

was

not had recourse

234

APPENDIX.
reported to have increased
the tiger
:

his natural ferocity

The Hyrcanian, savage as he was, is by engendering vi^ith

Sed non Hjrcanae
Tanta;
/v

Giatii

vs

Cyneg. 159

satis est veheraenlia genti

N

suis petiere ultro fera

semina

sylvis.

Dat Venus accessus,

et blando foedere jungit.

Tunc
Ausa

et niansuetis tuto ferus errat adulter

tigriin

In stabulis, ultroque gravis succedere

caiiis, niajure tuiit

de sanguine foetum.

And

to the subsequent generations of this cross

Bargaius gives speed

in pursuit,

and courage

in attack

P. A. Bargaei
J
^'
'

Sic itaque imraanes duxere e tigride mores

'

Hyrcani, quibus exuti post deinde nepotes

Sive ursos, sive
illi

apros videre niinaces,

Accurrunt celrres, et aperto marte lacessunt.

The breed
The Goveruour. entitled

of Hyrcania, having escaped the notice of Aristotle and

his copyist

Pliny,

is

of course omitted

by

Solinus,

(whose work
in

Polifhistor,

however
is

" mervaylous

delectable"

the

opinion of Sir
Aristot. Hist,

Thomas Elyot,
is

a mere breviary of the twice-told

naturalist,)

tales of the

too credulous

Roman

but the same fabulous

L. vui. C.28.

union with the tiger

recorded by them as the parent stock of the

Indian dog.

May

not the Indian and Hyrcanian, though separated

to in his days, because

it

was not wanted

its historical

" tanta
notoriety.

feritate et astutii

non egemus :"

Wase's
Illustrations,
* ''
*

^^^

Wase

bears testimony to
lie,

" From the experience of this

country," says

"

that semi/era proles, or whelps, that

is verified,

come of the commixture of

and
this
ill

a bitch with a dog-wolf,

called anciently

/(/cisctp ;

quality they

find inherent to that sort of dogs, that they can

Gratii

Cyneg.

from preying upon

cattle

by no way of bringing up be restrained

'

sed prajceps virtus ipsa venabitur aula'

by which they
is a

vs. 107.

have merited
that behalf,

to be

esteemed criminal before they be whelped; and there

straitly enjoins, that if

law in

which

any bitch be limed with a wolf, either she

:

must be hanged immediately, or her puppies must be made away

this

may

serve to

avouch somewhat,

all tliat

character which Gratius gives of the seraiferous mongrels,

of his Hyrcanian and the Tiger."'

Parry's
1st

By
of
^^
'^^

the occurrences which took place at Melville Island, recorded in the

Appendix

Voyage
\ni
ei

ofCapt. Parry's 1st Voyage,

we

have clear proof that even an undomesticated wolf,

dix

natural and wild state, will have intercourse with a domestic dog.

APPENDIX,
by Athena^is and Pollux, have been deemed
rite ?'
is

235
identical

by the Stagithe " fera

Deipnosopb.
L. V.
c. 8.

To the tiger-cross of Irak, the compound epithet Xeoirojutyets

by the learned grammarian
first

applied

just cited, as

if

Pollucis

semina" of the

connexion were leonine.

The

ferocity of the

Onomast.
L.
V. c. V.

39.

breed, contrasted with the timidity of the stag, affords an argument

to Lucretius

against

the

Pythagorean doctrine of a promiscuous

transmigration of souls

Quod

si

immOTtalis foret, et mutare soleret

Corpora, perniistis animaiites moribus essent:

EtFugeret canis Hyrcano de semine saepe

Lucretii L. III. 748.

Cornigeri incursum cervi, &c.

By

the archbishop of Thessalonica the Canes

cTr/cr/j/ua

Hyrcani are men-

tioned amongst the

kwCjv

yevr]

of bis commentary on
either of the

Homer
;

(ad Iliad, p.) but they are not found in

poems

nor,

indeed, do I

remember

in the Iliad or

Odyssey any dogs

distinctively

marked by

their geographical appellations.

The
the

plaintive wailing of the old nurse,

Carme, over her daughter,

nymph

Britomartis,
iWo(p6vov BpnSixapriv, ivcrKOWov
VTOi7]0iis
vtt'

ris

wore MiVais
Kp'jjrjjs,

H.

in Dian.

fpani KaTeSpafiev ovpea

vs. 190.

The

contiguity of India to Hyrcania, and the latter abounding with tigers, raay
tale

be the cause of the same

cross of India, as

being told by Aristotle and Pliny of the tigri-canine

that of Hyrcania.

by Gratius of

Both are of course purely

to pastoral property,

fabulous.

Whatever

loss the fierce

is still

dog of Irak may occasion

herds and flocks

be
Sed

to

be cherished for his superior prowess in the savage

hunt

prsece'ps virtus ipsii

venabitur aula

Gratii Cyneg.
crescet
fecit,

llle tibi et

pecudum multo cum sanguine

tibi

vs. 1G7.

Pasce tanien, quaecunque domi

crimina

Excutiet silv^ magnus pugnator adepta.

The people

of Hyrcania fostered their savage race of dogs for the express purpose,

De
-q
.

curand.
affect,
*

amongst others, of devouring the bodies of the dead

as being discontinued
tianity.

a practice noticed by Theodoret

after their conversion to

Grsc.

by them and the Caspians

Chris-

Sno

236
in

APPENDIX.
refers very

one of Virgil's minor poems, amended by Heyne,

pathetically to the companionship of the

Hyrcanian

dog" in the

moun-

tainous chase

Titus

to

climb the highest promontory top

Andronicus

Act

II. sc. II.

though associates from a Cretan kennel would have been more

place
Cirisvs.307.

in

Nunquam ego

te

summo

volitantem in vertice mentis

Hyrcanos interque canes agmenque ferarum

Conspiciani, nee te redeuntem amplexa tenebo.

De

Venat.

fjjg

Locrian dog,

much esteemed by Grecian

in

sportsmen,
;

is

particularly

employed by Xenophon

the boar-chase

but I knovr

not to which of the territories called Locris he should be appropriated,

nor whether

common

to all.

Nor do

I find in

him properties

suffi-

ciently characteristic of the family of bellicosi to place

him here

with confidence

and yet I no where

AoKpol

see

him used

in pursuit of timid

fugacious quarry. 1

Oppian (no authority

for classification)

intro-

duces him between the Egyptian and Molossian

Oppian. Cyneg. stand
jiovKoXiwi' ovpoi,
little
^(^apoTroi re
is

here then
name

let

him

MoXotrffoi.

The following
its

beautiful

epitaph of

Anyta

admitted, merely because

of Locris

subject, the fleetest of musical hounds, bears the

Anyta
Epidauria.apuJ
ScriptoresGreecos fllinores.

ii\eo Syiirore Ka\ crb -KoXippi^ov irapa. dd/xvov,

AoKpl <pi\o(j)66yycDV uKvraTa aKvXaKoiv,

Tolov iXacppi^opTi reaS eyKdrdero KiiXtf
iov aiiei\tKT0V iroiKi\6oiLpos eX'^*

Oxford, 1829.

for

am by no means

convinced that the

title is

any thing more

than an individual appellative (unconnected with locality) bestowed

Numismata
Siciliffi

1.

The

hare on the reverse of Locrian numismata cannot be considered as proof of

et

Magnae

Gra;cia2

the pursuit of such quarry being the popular diversion of the country, nor as militating
against the Locrian hound's introduction here
;

T. XXVI. T. XXXV.

for the

same impression occurs oa

other coins

on those of the

Falisci, a colony of

Argos, and others

having reference
sports

to historical

or mythological subjects,

unconnected with the

field

of the

country.

APIM', N

I)

IX.

237
pet.

by a Grecian lady, perhaps, on a valued

Darcius of V^onusiiim

places the Locrian with the Arcadian, and others of the pugnacious
class.

Sunt et Locrenses

catuli, sunt

Arcades, atque

Joan. Darcii
\^eniisini

Cjpria quos

Salaniis,

quos dives Iberia pascit.

Canes.

The

Carthaa,inian

poet

alone

has

commemorated

the

"

acres

catuli" of Libya, his native country.

Quinetiara siccfE Libyes in finibus acres

Gignuntur

catuli,

quorum non

spreveris

usum

Nemesian. Cyneg. vs. 128.

and from

hira probably, Fracastorius (a learned physician of

Verona,

who wrote

a short

poem

of some merit, " de cura canum," eleven

centuries later,)

may have

derived the Canes Libyci of his Alcon,

recommended

for the

savage chase.

Nam rabidas

si forte feras te

cura tenebit
;

H. Fracastorii
Alcon.

Venari, et variis caput objectare perSclis

Spartana de stirpe

tibi,

de stirpe Molossii
acresque Britannos
prajlia Celtas

Qusere canes, Libycos

illis,

Pannoniosque truces,

et

amantes

Adde, nee Hyrcanos, nee Seras sperne

feroces.

It cannot be granted to

Conrad Gesner that the Libyan of the

;

African poet

is

the

Metagon of Gratius
of identity.

nor

is

the resemblance
sufficiently clear

between the former and the Egyptian of Oppian

to
justify

an

inference

Indeed

our

materials

for

forming a judgment are far too scanty.

the

" Incola

arundiferi Nili" of Natalis

know no more of Comes than we cull from De

^lian and Solinus,
naturalist reports ol
ol

We

the credulous historians of the Egyptian dog,

relative to his fear of crocodiles.
fiev
Tioi

Venatione L.I.

The former
to.

^lian. de
Nat. Animal. L. VI. c. 53.
Polyliistor.
C.

aWoi

Kvyes Kai eXe'iv, Kal avi'^^vevcrai

beivuTaroi,
k. t. X,

drjpia ao(poi'

be Alyviv-

(pvye'cu

"

Nilo nunquam

nisi

currentes

lambitant..

dum

a crocodilis

insidias

cavent," adds the author of

XV.

the Polyhistor.

The Pannonian breed of Canes

employed
in

bellicosi,

of high courage, were

actual
at the

war,

as

well

as

its

mimicry the chase.

riaioves stand

head of Oppian's long catalogue, and, upon

238
his

APPENDIX.
principle of omnifarious commixture, are

recommended

to

be

crossed with sagacious Cretans

Oppian.Cjneg.
L,
I.

eirtfi'KTy^o riaiotri

KprJTas.

395.

The Veronese poet makes a twofold

Pannonia
first class,

distinction of the dogs of

entitled

in

his

cynegetical

effusion,

A Icon,

In the

he places the Pannonii truces, as already cited, adapted

for the chase of fierce

prey
:

in

the second, Pannonii agiles, for

timid, innoxious quarry

H.

Fracastorii

Si vero parvos lepores, capreasque fugaces

Alcun.

Malueris, timidosque sequi per devia cervos,

Delige Pannonios agiles, volucresque Sicambros.

The Pannonii
their

truces

are

noticed by Julius

Pollux, and also

the
.Epirote
v.

consimilars

of

Magnesia

both

evidently of

breed.

The former
Kal

are also mentioned

by Nemesian, Cyneg.

126,
kuI

iElian characterizes the Magnesiau war-hounds as

aypioi,
t'TV)(lv
cifxeiXiKToi
;

(pojSepoi re,

and states that the horsemen of

to the field

Magnesia, 1

in the

Ephesian war, were each accompanied

first

with a Canis Venaticus, the dogs collectively

assaulting the

enemy, backed by the pedestrian

iEIian. Var.

soldiers,

and

lastly

by the cavalry;
eraparroy
t})v

who

did not charge

till

the canine warriors

are merely
vs. 37'2.

TrpoTrrjbun'Tes

Hist. L. XIV.
c. 46.

Trape/jfioXi'iv.

The MayvrjTes
first

named by

the poet of

Ana-

zarbus, in his

Cynegetic,

Of

all the

pugnacious dogs of the classic

file,

the most

renowned

were those bred on the continent of Epirus, and denominated, from

De
C.

Nat. Anim. L. vit,

1.

Oi Maidi'Spy irapoiKuvvres MayvriTes.

The same

are mentioned

by

iElian, in his

work de Natura Animalium, in conjunction with the Hyrcanians,

to battle

as being attended
eirt-

XXXVII.
KovpiK6v.

by canine

auxiliaries

Kal

-^v

Kal tovto av^jxaxi-iibv ayaObv avrols Kol

And

Pliny, speaking of the Coloplionii and Castabalenses, says they had

Plin. L. vni.
c.

" cohortes canum

fidissima auxilia, nee stipendiorum indigna."

40.

J. Darcii

His Colophoniacae
Auxiliis,

(si

vera est fama) phalanges

Venusiiii

hostem valido fregere duello

Canes.

Infaustoque olim cecidissent Caspia marte

Agmina,

ni tali defensa coborte fuissent.

Al'PENDlX.
one of
its

239
:

principal districts, Molossian

of which Aristotle records

two

varieties, the

one for ordinary hunting, the other for guarding

flocks, houses,
sistent

and property.

The

fabled origin of the breed

is

con-

with

its

high repute in the kennels of antiquity.

For, on the
the Hpifor

authority of Nicander,
rote

we

are told

by Julius Pollux, that

Onomast.

was descended from the brazen dog, which Vulcan wrought

life

Jupiter, and animated with all the functions of canine

Koi

^vxh"

fi'Be'ls

dZpov eSw/ce Ait.

Of

this

Molossian prototype the fortunate proprietors were, suc-

cessively, Europa, Minos, Procris,

and Cephalus

and,

somehow

or

other, as he passed from kennel to kennel, amidst heroines

roes, or whilst in

and he-

the temporary keeping of Diana,

(who seemingly
Ovidian La^laps.

bestowed him on Procris,) he was metamorphosed into a wolfgreyhound, under the name and character of
thje

See Class

iii.

Vertragus.

The

pro\Vess of the

Canes Molossi rendered them most useful

;

auxiliaries in the field of battle

and they were equally prized

in

the contests of the circus and amphitheatre.

Their war praises are

sung by the classic muse of Darcius,

of

in a style

worthy the purest age

Koman

literature, nor

are their other merits forgotten

by

this

accomplished poet
Divers^ veniunt prsEstantes dote TMolossi
Uiversi ingeniis, uon omnibus omnia pra;stat
J\atura, at vario ludit discruinne

J. Darcii

.,,.,...

morum, &c.

Venusini Canes.

But our
sources.

citations

must be made from writers of an

earlier date,

and

the character of these dogs derived from coeval, or at least original,

The attachment and

fidelity of Epirotes to their masters

formed a remarkable feature of

tells us the soldiers

their tribe

so much

so, that Statius

of Molossia wept over their faithful canine

com-

panions, slain in war

1.

^lian

tells

us of a war-dog, perliaps an Epirote, (TvarpaTiurTjv Kvva

wiio so

De

Naturrl

distinguished himself with bis Athenian lord at the battle of Marathon, as to be '

honoured with an

effigy

on the same tablet with his master.

Animahiiin L. VII, c xxxviii

240
In Epiced.
1 ileti Ursi.

APPENDIX.
gemit inter bella peremptum
Parthus equum, fidosque canes flevere Molossi

a manifestation of kindly and

congeners of an earlier
date,

affectionate feeling, of

which

their

on the authority of Tryphiodorus,

were
Tryphiodori

totally

unworthy
of 8' v\doi'Tes

uypla
vs. G08.

KOirTOiievoiffiv

en avopaaiv uSvpovro

vi)\iis, ov5'

a\iyt^ov eovs ipvovns AvaKras.

In the capacity of dogs of war, they do not

fall

under

my
On

plan

nor indeed as ohovpol, nor as fighters in the Venatio of the amphitheatre,

do they

strictly

come within

this

arrangement.

these

points of their character the reader will find illustrative anecdotes in

Julius Pollux, Pliny, and Solinus.

As
we

dogs of the chase, their strength,

size,

and undaunted courage,

wild animals
;^

enabled them to contend with the most

terrific

and

are assured that the lion himself has been mastered

by the dog of

Epirus

the

tiger,

pard, panther, and boar, have yielded to him.

the

The
De
L.

epithets
resolution.

applied to

Canis Molossus
;

all indicate

his

fire

Nat. Anim.
III. c. II.

and

iElian calls him Ov^xiKwraTos

Virgil,

" acremque

Molossum," (Georg. in.); and Seneca uses the same epithet, " teneant acres lora Molossos," (Hippolyt. Act i.) But there is

much difference of opinion whether he was an open or close hound, when employed in the field.- To the latter conclusion I am induced
to accede from the following passage
of-

Statins,

1.

For a

fine representation of the

Canis Molossus Venaticus, see

De

la

Chausse,

JMuseum Romanum, Tab. lxiv. and Montfaucon Antiquite expliquee, Chasse au

Sanglier,

Tom.

iii. pi.

179.

Several hunters are returning from the chase with the

in his

Magister Venationis, bearing

hand a shield

a cart drawn by oxen conveys a

dead boar, on which

lies

a huge dog apparently killed in the fray, and by the side

to.

walks a second hound of the type alluded

See also the Venationes Ferarum of

Stradanus and Galle, plate viii. and the Genii hunting, from Maffei, at the beginning
of this Appendix, where a IMolossian-like hound
boar.
2.
is

on the point of seizing a wild

Lucan has "ora

levis claniosa

Molossi"

and Claudian " Molossi latrantes"

Adrian has
fallen, in his

and

into the error of his poetical predecessors Cardinal

APPliNDlX.
muto
legit arva

241
Achill. L.
ii.

Molosso

Venator, videat donee sub frondihus liostem.

On

the trail of his

game

I believe

him

to

have been a mute limier or

Venationis

limehoinul, (whence Savary's term echemylhus,) and never to have

opened

untu the quarry had started trom

in

its lair

being even at that

His
sire,

Leges. L.

i.

time less noisy

his
is

bark than the purely sagacious breeds.

clearly indicated
to

silence or closeness

by Gratius, where he orders

the yelping Etolian

dam

be crossed with a Molossian

vanas tantum Cal_ydonia linguee

Cyrieg. vs. 196.

Exibit vitium patre emendata Molosso.

Will not the praises of Lydia, of Martial's well-known epitaph,

place her

among

the savage inmates of a Molossian kennel

Amphitheatrales inter nutrita magistros

Venatrix sylvis aspera, blanda domi
:

Martial.
{i'^T*

^^*

Epigr. 70.

Lydia dicebar domino

fidissiiua dextra,

Qui non Erigones mallet

liabere

canem,
s^ecutus

Nee

qui Dictsek

Cephalum de gente

Luciferse pariter venit ad astra Dese.

Non me

longa dies, nee inutilis abstuiit astas,

:

Qualia Dulicliio fata fuere cani

Fulmineo spuniantis apri sura dente

pereiiipta,

Quanlus erat Calydon,

ant,

Erymanthe, tuus.

Nee

queror infernas quamvis cito rapta sub uuibias,

potui fato nobiliore mori.

Non

Venatio ad Ascanium Cardinalem

as if the

Molossi were remarkably latrant,

:

whereas closeness of mouth was

Cardinal of
St.

their

more

distinctive quality

unless indeed this

Chrysogonua

refer to
:

two different

sorts of Molossi, the

one latrant,

the other mute and sagacious

Deducunt
.

alii

canum phalanges.
.

Poetaj Tres,
P' ^^'
^'^"*

Latrantes abeunt simul molossi , -^ Mox indaginis unicae sagaces

.

Aid.

1534.

for

he subsequently

slips

some boar-hounds, "perinvia

lustra tnussitantes,"
;

and
the

others again are distributed

latter

about the covert by the harbouiers or huntsmen

being denominated "feros molossos."

2 H

242

APPENDIX.
will, at least, assign her to the

her education and her quarry

ter-roll of our first class.

mus-

But
was
Canes
last

of the Canis Molossus Venaticus, enough

matchless as he
its

for stoutness, before

bellicosi

Britain

was discovered and

race

of

brought into competition with those of Epirus, he at

to yield the

was compelled

palm of

ferocious hardihood to the

:

British bull-dog, and to

Gratii Cyneg.
vs. 179.

succumb

to his superior prowess

At magnum cum

venit opus,

promendaque

virtus,

Et vocat extreme pra^ceps discrimine Mavors,

Non

tunc egregios tantum admirere Molossos.

The second
associations,
Luciani
Tugitivi.

variety of the Epirote noticed

is

by

Aristotle, though
its

out of the pale of this epitome,

worth recording from

classical

and because

it

possesses in an

eminent degree the

canine qualities lauded by Lucian, ro (pvXaKTiKov, to ohovpiKoy, koI to

(piKohktJTTOTov

De

NaturCv

the

"

tarn fida custodia,

tamque amans dominorum

Deor. L. 11.63.

adulatio, tantumque

odium

in externos " of Cicero.

To

this I give

the

name

of Canis Molossus Villaticus, and include under the title

the ohovpos, olKO(j)v\a^, nvXawpdi, TpcnreSevs, ostiarius, pastoralis, pecuarius, &c.

;

names derived from

the different uses to

which the dog

:

De Re
L.

Rust.

was applied. " amplissimi

Let the Villae Custos of Columella be our type

corporis,
vasti latratus canorique,

ut

prius

auditu

VII. c. 12.

maleficum, deinde etiam aspectu terreat, et tamen nonnunquam, ne

visus quidem, horribili fremitu suo fuget insidiantem,^

&c."

Here

we

place

the

sharp-toothed watch-dog of Hesiod's agricultural

injunctions

Opera
vs.

et Dies.

(/cal
fii]

Kvva Kapxctp6SovTa ko/jluv

0"'

/xt)

<pei5eo (t'itov

602.

iroTi

riiu.ep6K0iT0S avrip arrh xpi]ixar

tArjTai,)

Metamorph.
L. VIII. p. 553

here, the
saeviores,

" canes rabidos

et

immanes,

et quibusvis lupis et ursis

quos ad

tutelae praesidia curiose coloni fuerant

alumnati,"

1.

Refer to

Surflel's

translation of

Maison Rustique, good

reader, if

you Lave

it,

and smile at the portraiture of the watch-dog, the joint execution of 7ny medical
brethren,
p. 1C8.

" Charles Stevens and John Liebault, Doctors of Pliysicke."

C. 27.

APPENDIX.
of Apulciiis
;

243

here,

the pastoral dogs of Varro (Geopon. L. xix.

c. ii.)

c. I.) Froiito

(Geopon. (L. xix.

and Varro (De lie R. L.

ii.

c. IX.)

;i

and here too those, in general, of the poet of Syracuse, the

to,

canine guards of flocks and herds, so prettily alluded

stance of Lauipurus,

in the

in-

by

the goat-herd

boy of the eighth Idylliuni,

/lev,

<^ei5ei

tSv

ep'Kpuv, (pelSev,
n^,
'6ti

\vKe, ruiv TOKiiZuiv

Theocrit. Idyll.
VIII. 63.

ju7)5' aS'tKei

fnKKhs (uv iroWoicriv o/xaprfw.

'''"
;

S)

hd[j.irovpe Kvuiv, ovrco fiadvs virvos ex^'

ov xph KOifiacrOai fiadiais avv

iraiol vefiotna

and the milk-fattened ban-dog of Claudian,

sic pastor

obesum

Claudian. in

Lacte canem ferroque

ligat,

pascitque revinctum,

Dum

Eutropium. L.I.

validus servare gregem, vigilique rapaces

Stc.

Latratu terrere lupos,

The
K. 183.
is

notices in
fj.'.

Homer

of these dogs are numerous; (see Iliad.

302. p. 109.) and their watchfulness, as nightly centinels,

sung

in classic

hexameters by the poet of Venusium

illis,

Uberior tamen est

et fortior inde

J.

Darcii

Laudis causa venit, moUi quod tempora somno

Veniisini

Canes.

Pauca

terunt, seu flaramigero det lumina curru

Phoebus, seu niveas agitat Latonia bigas,

Somnifero obliquum volvens jubar axe per orbem.

Sed

vigili

domino

curil,

raroque cadente

Lumine
Neve

prospiciunt, et herilia

murmure circum
furl,

Claustra freraunt, ne sint nocturne pervia

lupo, tut&que greges statione quiescant.

Pitiscus tells us, on the authority of Eustathius, that

it

was

cus-

1.

The answer
sheep
elfii

of the Canls Pastoralis (ore (puvrjevra

^vra ^ua)

to tlie dissatisiya>

fied

is

beautifullj illustrative of his services in the

economy

of pastoral life:

ydp

6 koI vfias avras

vfiels

d^wv,
ei /ktj

wcrre n-fjre inrep avdpunruv kKitrTeaQai, fii\re virh Xvkoov

Xenopbou Memorab.
L.
II. c. VII.

aprrd^ecrdai' iirel
<pofiovjxevai
fJLT]

ye,

iyw

Trpo<j)v\dTTOi^i

vfias, ouS'

t-v

ve/xeaOai hvvaiade,

air6\T}<7d

thereby making good

his claim to a share of his master's

food.

244
Pitisci

APPENDIX.
to

Lexicon

tomary with the ancients

have porter-dogs

"

nioris erat atriensirpaTreiiies

ntiqiut.

Yms fores servari a canibus,"

of

such were the rrvXawpoi and

and offered on

Homer,

the attendants at the door of Telemachus, Kvyes Trobas

apyoi, (Odyss. v. 144.)

the house-dogs of Patroclus, nine

slain,

in

num-

ber
;//'.

of whom

two were

his funeral pile, (Iliad.

173.) and the Kvres wfxrjaral of

Priam

laceration of his dead

body

ttoXIov re Kapj],

whose anticipated reckless ttoXwv yeveiov by

re

the TTvXau/poi,

is

pleaded by the aged king to deter his ill-fated son

j^'.

from contending with Achilles. (Iliad,

69.)

Such too were the

gemini custodes of Evander, which followed their rustic king to the

dormitory of his Trojan guest, (^neid. L. viii. 461.)"

As

an attribute of the porter-dogs, speed was utterly unnecessary,

:

though given to those of Telemachus, above cited

generally possessed
it

and that they

not

is

implied, I think, in the question of

Ulysses to Eumjeus, as to the character of the " unhoused, neglected

Odyss. L. XVII.
ei
i)

" Argus

ov ffdcpa olSa

S^ Kol raxvs fCKe Ofeiv enl

elSe'i

rcfSe,

avTcos oToi re rpaTre^jjfs ki5v6s avhpuiv

S'

yiyvovr', ayKdtris

'iveKev Kop-iovcnv

&vaKrS.

Ulysses Aldrovandus, Spelman, and Ducange, have

left

us the

many

titles

of the watch-dogs of the classic and middle ages, in their

respective works.

See Aldrovand. de Quad. Digit. Vivip. L.

ii.

1. Statues

and pictures of Kvvis

fpovpoSS/jLoi

were sometimes exhibited on the

entrance doors, or walls of vestibules

of

which kind were the dogs wrought of gold

and
the

silver

by Vulcan

for Alcinous, Au/jia <pvXa(Tffi(iivai fxeyaXiiropos 'AA/civJoio and

Canis Catenarius of Petronius Arbiter

"

ad sinistram intrantibus non longe ab

ostiarii cella, canis

ingens catena vinctus in pariete erat pictus, superque quadratS,

liteia

scriptum,

CAVE CAVE CANEM." Even

Mercury himself was some-

times there exhibited

thief.

upon

the principle, I suppose, of setting a thief to catch a

2. Aristotle alludes to Porter

dogs

in his

Nicomachean Ethics, L.

vii.

c.

vi.

introducing them in a very pertinent illustration of the difference between inconti-

nency of anger, and incontinency

though
iStv

as

to pleasure

anger seems to

listen

to

reason,

it

does not hear

ypocpricrr) ,

it

distinctly,

&c.

KaQdinp

ol Kvves, irp\v ffKi^^MT&ai ei (pihos,

ixSyou

xiKaKTOvaiv

o'lnuis 6 6ufj,hs,Siit Oep/xSrriTa u. r.

X.

1' !

EN D1\

245
Tlie

Canis Epithcta
title otco0u\o$,

and the Glossaria of Spclniaii and Dncangc.

derived from the office of the animal,

Sn

crov TTpoixaxftctt Kol (pvAdrTfi ri]P Bvpav,

Aristopli
V^espa*.

occurs in a pretty epigram of the Locrian poetess on the picture of a

Grecian lady

but

is

there probably applied to a domestic pet,

Nossis
Locrissa.

calvoi Kiv a' iaiSolcra Ka\ olKO(p6\a^ ffKv\dKaiva

Seairoivav (leXaQpuv oloixeva iroOoprjv.

A pud

To
refer
;

the " hylax in limine" of Virgil (Eel. viii.)

tristes

canum
the
all

excubia; " of

Horace (L.

lll.

the Od. IG.)

xi.)

" vigilum
need not

Poetas Graecos Minores.

nor indeed to the Catenarius of Seneca (de Ira, L. in.), nor

of Artemidorus (Oneirocrit. L.
ii. c.

^t'ffyLitos

To say

that

these passages afford

far.

instances of Molossian Canes custodes,

would be going too

They merely exemplify

in

the use to which

trusty, vigilant individuals of the pugnacious canine race

were ap-

plied,

and the functions they performed,

of

the rural and domestic

economy

G reek

and

Roman

households.

Horace, however, par-

ticularly specifies Epirotes in the capacity of house-dogs

alta Molossis Personuit canibus "

" domus

Salir.

L.

ii.

S. VI. vs. 114.

as

if

they were the usual custodes

his pretty fable rests

of patrician houses.

For much of the point of

on the sumptuousness of the town-house, wherein dwelt the citymouse, joint-tenant with a biped lord, " in locuplete domo," the
appointed place of rendezvous for the rustic friend.

To
"

the

same

tribe, for

want of a more appropriate one, (unless the

file,)

reader would place them on a Libyan or Egyptian

I assign the

exquisitior custodia" of Massinissa, the canine guardians in

whose

protection he

deemed himself more

Hos Maurusiacus

safe than in that of his fellow-

men

sibi

Massinissa paravit

J. Darcii

Custodies, honiiiium fidei diffisus, et isto

Non

Venusini Canes.

sibi

conducto sua sccptra

satellite cinxit.

" Parum fidei in pectoribus hominum reponens," says Valerius Maximus, " salutem suam custodi^ canum vallavit." ^

L. ix.

c.

13.

1.

On which

the indignant historian observes with warmth, " quo tani late patens

Valerii

iiuperium

quo tautus liberorum numerus?

quo denique

tarn arcta

benevolentid

Maximi

L. ix.

246
But we
are going

APPENDIX.
beyond our prescribed bounds, and must return
Cynegetieon of the Faliscian
;

to our text-book, the

viho next intro-

duces to notice the Canes bellicosi of the British

of native growth.

isles,

a parent stock

We

have no information of any source from

whence
De Quad.
Digit. Vivip.

these could have been imported into Britain, and, as Strabo

states that they

were exported from thence into Gaul,

it

is

inferred

that they were indigena.

Whether

the Canis bellicosus Anglicus

L.

III. c.

via

of Aldrovandus, or the Canis Mastivus,

^i
is

omnium maximus, animosus

lines of Gratius,

Hist. Animal,

pugnax

of

Ray, be alluded
Possibly the poet

to in the following

doubtful.

may

include both breeds, as the ani-

mal combats of the

Roman

amphitheatre were supplied by the Pro-

curator Cynegii with the finest specimens of our war-dogs, without

reference to minute distinctions
Gratii C^'neg.
vs. 174.
;

Quid

freta si

Morinum, dubio

refluentia ponto.
?

Veneris, atque ipsos iibeat penetrare Britannos

O
Si

quanta

est merces, et

quantum inipendia supra

non ad speciem, mentiturosque decores

;

Protinus

(haec

una

est catulis jactura Britannis.)

At magnum cum

venit opus,

promendaque

virtus,

Et vocat extreme prajceps certamine Mavors,

Non

tunc egregios tantum admirere Molossos

Their hardihood

in seizing the bull

is

celebrated

by Claudian

in

the well-known verse,

De

Laudibus
L.
III.

Magnaque taurorum

fracture colla Britanns.

Stilic.

In the early authentic record of the Canes Venatici of Britain

by
iMagstrr of
(ffiamr.
c.

the royal sportsman,

Edmund

de Langley, three sub-varieties of

our Canis bellicosus are enrolled,

<<

in addition to the mastiff:

Alaunt
tlie

is

a maner and natre of houndes and the good Alauntz

,

XVI.

fol.

G7.

ben

which men clepyn Alauntz

ventreres.

gentil.

Other there byn that

men clepyn Alauntz

cherie.^

Other byn Alauntz of the bo-

constricta

Romana

amicitia,

si

ad

hffic

tuenda nihil canino latratu ac morsu valentius

duxit?"
1.

The duke

considers alauntz

primarily

derived

from Spain, not natives of

APPENDIX.
" Thei that ben
siontilo
sliiild

247
jirey-

be nmile and shape as a

hoiintlo evyii of alio thingcs sauf of the hevcd, the

whiche shuld be
iBajistrr of
c.

greet

and short," &c.

" Commonly Alauntz byn stordy of here

owyn
have.

nature and have not so good witte as

many

other lioundes

([Same. XVI. fol. 67''.

For

if

man

prik an hors the

Alaunt wil gladly rcnne and

at sheep at

bite the hors.

Also

thei renne at

oxen and

swyne and

to alle othere beestis or to

men

or to othere houndes for

vt^ise

men hav

seyn Alauntz

sle

her niaystir, and in alle maner

Alauntz byn

inly fell and evol undirstondyng and

more

foolish

and more sturdy

than eny other maner of houndes," &c.

" That other nature of Alauntz

bene shapon as a greyhounde of
greet lippes

is

clepid ventreres, almost thei

fol.

68.

ful shap, thei

hav grete hedes and

and greet

eeris.

And

with such

men

helpeth

hem

at

the baityng of a boole and atte huntynge of a wilde boor.

Thei

holde fast of here nature but thei byn hevy and foule and ben slayn

with wilde boor or with the bulle and

it is

nat ful grete losse," Sec.

" The Alauntz of the bocherie byn good

for the
it

is

soch as ye

may

alle

day

good tounes that byn called greet bochers houndis," &c.

boore whedir

" Thei

see in

fol. 681".

baytyng of the bulle and huntyng of the wilde

be wt. greihoundis at the tryste or wt. rennyng

houndis at abbay with inne the coverte," &c.

The

first

and second of the above sub-varieties appear

in their veins

to

have had

some commixture of Celtic blood

which the greyhound

indeed the name of

by

Ventreres receives a ready solution in the Latin term Ventraha,

is

designated, according to Barthius, in an

Britain

" As men clepyn greihoundes of England of Scotland and of Bretayn

alauntez and
the houndes for the

Minshaei

right so the

hawke cometh out

quee Albania dicitur,

of Spayn."

Emendat.
p.

Minsheu deduces Alani " a regione quadani Epyri,

advecti creduntur hi canes."

unde primum

451.

But they probably were bull-dogs

in the

common

acceptation of the term.

The
Thrace

reader will

r^uvenesccnce under the type

:"

remember the Alauntes of Chaucer, on which Dryden has bestowed of greyhounds, attendants of " the surly king of

Ten

brace, and more, of greyhounds,

tall

snowy

fair,

Palaraon and
Arcite. B. J.

And

as stags, ran loose,

for

and cours'd around

his chair;

A match

pards in

flight, in

grappling for the bear.

248
ancient

APPENDIX.
MS.
of Gratius, where the more usual reading
is

Verlraha

(Veltracha.)

Viewing the " canes gravioribus

contain

aptee

morsibus" of Britain to

only two principal indigenous sub-varieties, the bull-dog

may
his

be adduced as an animal of the most ferociously brutal aspect,

in

and most invincible courage

congener as

the creation. i

The

mastiff surpasses

much

in size, as

he

is

inferior to

him

in

ferocity.-

See Caius de Canibus Britannicis.

To

these

truculent dogs, eixpvels

irpos

Kvyrjyeatas,

according to

Strabo (L. iv.), as well as resolute in war, our rude ancestors were
beholden for the destruction or expulsion of beasts of prey from these

Cuvier Regn.

1. It

has been observed by an eminent living naturalist, that the cerebral capacity of
is

Animal.

the bull-dog

sensibly smaller than of any other race

and

it is

doubtless to the
all

decrease of the encephalon

every thing relating

fitted

to

we must intelligence. He is
tliat

attribute his inferiority to

others, in

scarcely capable of any education, and is

for nothing

but ferocious comba).

In the ancient translation of Caius's

libellus

by Holinshed,

this savage brute is sketched to the life, as

"an huge dogge

little

stubbome, ougly, eagre, hurthenous of body (and therefore but of

terrible

swiftnesse,)

and feareful

to

behold, and more fearse and

fell

then any Archadien curre."

Nor
Description of
Biitaine.

is

our estimate of Ids might in conflict weakened by Raphael's statement that

at
al,

" alone and wythoutanye help

parde, and last of
2.
al

he pulled downe

first

an huge beare, then a

a lyon, each after other, before the Frenche King in one day."
is

B.

III. c.

13.
in

Amongst the
tall

coins of Cunobelin

a representation of a dog, probably of this

sufficient strength

Pegge
vs. X. p.

Arcliffiolog.

native variety,

enough, according to Pegge, and of

"

to carry

156.

a lady."

And

in Thoresby's

Museum

is

a British coin " exhibiting a dog under a

man
iMagetfr of
c. XVIII. fol.

on horseback." (p. 338.

mastiff
is

The

at present principally

used

in this

country as a watch-dog
office
is

and such
maistre's

appears to have been his vocation of old.

"His

for to

kepe

his

09.
beestis,"

says

Duke Edmund, " and

kepen and defenden
at

his maistre's hous.

and

it is

a good nature of

houndis

for thei

cherlich nater and of fuule shap &c."

"

her power
ther

al

her maister goodes. thei byn of

for

byn many good

men

that

huntea

for profit of housold as for to gete fflesh.

Also of maystifs and of alauntis ther byn

of

many good for

the wilde boor;"

but

"

it is

no greet

maistrie

ne of grete redynes

the huntyng that thei do for here nature ys not tendre nosed in harde nor in sandy

nor in dusty grounde."

to

For the etymology of the term mastiff, the reader

is

referred

Dr. Caius, Winsheii, Skinner, and Holinshed

and

for that

of ban-dog, a variety

of the same, to Skinner in voce.

The Mandaiarius,
Caaes Mastivi.

Sarcinariufi,

Difensor, &c. of

Caius, the custos curlis, imstoraiis, porcarUius,

ttrsaritius,

caieiialus, &c. of Spel-

man and

others, are all probably

APPENDIX.
islands.

249
Blount's

The wolf and

1

the wild

boar yielded to their prowess;^

and they are thence sometimes called

tenures.

11

.11^ anes
(.

luporarii in

ancient

Ancient Tenures.

Having mentioned

the bellicosi of Molossia and Britain in verses

in the

already cited, Gratius compares others to them

Athamania

sequel
Cyneg.

Comparat

Lis versuta suas

fraucles,"

vs.

182.

Acyrusque,^
Sicut

Plierecque,'' et claiidestinus

Acarnan.

Acamanes

subierunt pra'lia

fiirto,

Sic canis ilia suos taciturna supervenit hostes.

1.

The

existence of these noxious beasts of prey, in the sylvan fastnesses of our

islands, is too well authenticated by ancient records to be doubted.

Foure manere bestis of Venere there are

Book
^''

of
s.

The

fyrste of
is

theym

is

the
:

liarte

the seconde is the hare.

Alban

The boore

one of tho

the wulfe and not one mo.

On

referring to Blount's ancient tenures,

we

find

many

estates held per serjantiam,

whereby the possessor was compelled

wolves.

to furnish these

dogs for the destruction of

be thanked," in

See A. T.

p. 15. p. 52. p. 60. p. 94.

" But Almighty God

TheGovernour.
B.
i. c.

the ejaculatory language of Sir

Thomas
!''

Elyot,

"in

this

realme be no such cruel

xviii.

beastes at present to be pursued

See Wase's Illustrations,

c.

vi.

"

of the Styles of

Hunting

different from the

English, both Antique and Forreigne."

Mr. Ritson,

in a

posthumous work on the Celts, has

left it

on record that " the

of Spanish dogs in a
fit

Blemoirs of
^}^^

Britons, in the last decade of the eighteenth century,

made use

Celts or

war with the IMaroon negroes

pose."
2.

having no longer any of their own

for the pur-

r>

if 1

In Pliny's animated description of the Indian or Albanian dog's assault, we obHist. Natur. L. viii. c. xl.

serve the crafty wiles or fraudes of the Illyrian and Acarnanian breeds. " Horrentibus

quippe per totum corpus

villis,

ingenti primiim latratu intonuit

illinc attifici

mox

inruitassultans,
esset,

contraque belluam exurgens hinc et

iiifestans
licosi

dimicatione qua
afflixit."

maxime opus
Indeed
all

atque evitans, donee assidua rotatum vertigine

the bel-

thus attack their prey

but
"

generally in silence.

The Indian was

latrant, it

seems, the Acarnanian mute.

Athamania, called also Illyricum, bordered on Thessaly and Acarnania.

3.

Acyrus, saysWase,

is

suspicious of corruption ;" ,which Gronovius proposes

Geography of
Oratius.

to

amend by reading Epirus,

4. Pherce

Vlititis substitutes

Taygetus, and Heinsius Argivus.

in

was situate between Demetrias and Pharsalus

opeos XaXKoiSouloLO. I

Thessaly, near the lake

Bccbe

virh (TKOiririu

am

not aware of the dogs of these several

its

Anollon. Bhod.
L.
i.

places being mentioned by any other author.

Pheras was probably celebrated for

vs. jO.

250
J. Vlitii

APPENDIX.
varieties of the clog of

These were perhaps very cunning and savage

Laconia, and classed
in

Venatio Novantiqua.

consequence by the poet with the family of

to that of

pugnaces
Wase's
Illustrations

though more properly belonging

nare sagaces.

The words of Gratius

are of doubtful signification,

either means, as the
in

and the passage

may be
of

corrupt.

He

British dogs excel in

is

Gratius.

courage, so do the
thetical

Athamanian

cunning

which
or

his usual

anti-

mode of

stating opposite qualities

in

else,

as the British

dogs surpass the Molossian

stoutness, so they equal the

in

AthamaIt
is

nian, Thessalian, and Epirote

subtlety.

This

interpretation

accords with the

known
two

properties of the British bull-dog.

districts,

singular that dogs of

Acarnania and Etolia, adjoining

each other, and only separated by the river Achelous, should have

been of such opposite qualities

the sportsman's phrase, so open.

the former

so mute, the latter, in

CANES VENATICI.

Class

II.

CANES SAGACES.
Claudian. de Lauil. Stilicon.

Ha
The multitudinous varieties
by which they are united
in

nare sagaces.

L.

III.

of this class have one

the

common

quality,

same family, and which Gratius

its

terms " venandi sagax virtus," diversified in

phenomena, and

operative under great dissimilarity of external shape.

breed of game
dess the local

for,

being one of the

of Pheraea
:

many haunts

of Dian,

it

bestowed on

tlie

God-

name

Callimach. H. in Dian. vs. 25 'J.

1.

This class appears

to

answer to the second of

to

M.

F. Cuvier, having the head

and jaws shorter than those proper

our third class of pedibus celeres, but not so

much

truncated as in the canes bellicosi.

The

parietal bones, in such types as are

supposed to resemble those of antiquity, do not approach each other above the temporal fossae, but widen so as to enlarge the cerebral cavity of the forehead.

1
A PPEN
1) 1

251

Of
by

the larger and

in the

more powerful

varieties the type is given

by
and
of

Xenoplion

tliird

and fourth chapters of

fifth

his Cynegeticns,
:

Julius Pollux in the

book of

his

Onomasticon

that

the smaller and more

nimble sorts will be found hereafter

in the

examples of the Canis Petronius of Gratius, and the Canis Agassicus

of Oppian.

The names

of the hounds, principally derived from the

countries of which they were supposed to be indigenous, have been

already enumerated.

Their mode of hunting

is

faithfully struck off

by the Latin poet of the Halieutica, a fragment of disputed authorship, heretofore attributed to

Ovid, but latterly

to

Gratius
Ilalieutic.

Qu^

nunc

elatis riiiiantur naribus auras,

vs. 100.

Et nunc demisso qu<eruut

vestigia rostro,

Et produnt clamore feram, doniinumque vocando

Increpitant.

Quern

si

collatis effugit arrais,

Insequitur tumulosque canis camposque per omncs.

In our descriptions of the pugnacious

class,

we

followed, where

able, the order of the Faliscian's Cynegeticon,

filling

up lacunaj,

when apparent, from extraneous sources; we have no such text-book by which to

for

but, in the present class,

regulate our progress, and

must be beholden to the Greek and Latin Cynegetica, collectively,

an arrangement of the individuals of
this class in

such sequence,

as the scale of their importance in the kennels of antiquity

to justify.

may seem

And

first,

and foremost, we place the well-known hound

of Lacedeemon.

The Spartan dog,

in its

two varieties of Castorian and Foxite, was

Xenophon
Cj'neg. c.
Pollucis
III.

employed by Xenophon

for the

common

purposes of hunting.^
7w epyu) juaXtara avras

The
bie-

Kaaropiai were so called on Koorwp

(pvXa^ey
;

yitrdels

Onomast. L. v
or, in the

words of the Onomasticon, because they were

c. V. 3!i.

K.aaTopos dpcfifiara, *A.ir6X\u)vos to hwpov.

Nonni
H^ojuat 4k SirapTTjs erepovs Kvvas, oiis hrvraXKii.

TiWiwv is

epcuTtt ffJLhs Koipvetos

'AnSWuy.
bk kvvSiv kcu aXwirei^wy kyevov-

Dion\sic, L. XVI.

The

aXuTreKibes

had

their

name bion

^^' ^^"^8'

1.

Perhaps Xenoplion's to 5e

7eVjj

rwv kwoov

eVri Zuraa

may

not.

have so confined
ajl
'

an application as here stated.

The KaarSpiaL and

aAwireKtScs

may comprehend

the Canes Venatici of the Athenian's day collectively

at least all

such as were used

by him

in hare-hunting at Scillus.

252
to;

APPENDIX.
Castor, according to Nicander, having united the dog to the

fox,

and produced a hybrid

sort of sporting

hound of great repute.

Natalis

Comes
i.

Castorides venatori gratissima tiirba.

de Venat. L.

But

as

if

Castor and Pollux, being twin brothers, born whh-i

I.)

fiiij,

(ApoUon. L.
first

possessed a

common

identity, the

honour of having
is

initiated the canine race in the pursuit of

game,

indifferently
it

awarded

to both.

Oppian, we have already seen, bestows

on

Pollux, and Xenophon on Castor

stotle considers all the
Ktbes

" ovo prognatus eodera."

to

Ari-

Canes Laconici
all

be of the sort called uXw^-e-

Hist. Animal,

not that they were sprung from the fox and dog, but were fox-like appearance and on the same authority, we hold that the dogs AaKaithe bitches of a Spartan kennel were superior
in
:

to

vai Kvves ai 0)/Aetat eu^i/eorepat tujv apperiov eiai.

Although the eloquent compiler of the Cynegeticus distinguishes

his harriers, as

above stated, into Castorian and Foxite hounds, he

:

notes no characteristic peculiarities in either

but Themistius, the

Paphlagonian philosopher, induces us to believe that each possessed

Oratio xxvii.

the

distinctive

features of a particular family

eTcpov

fxev

koXXos

Ka(TTopib(i)v

Kvvwv, erepov be uXwneKibtjy.

Vlitius's fanciful
into

emenda-

tion of the text of the

Onomasticon has led him

an

error,

and

produced the monstrous birth of a third variety, which he ascribes to

Julius Pollux, called aXuTreKiKacTTopes
;

but which that learned man's

work

will not admit.

tribe the swiftest, perhaps, their

Of the whole Spartan

pibes of

were the Kvyotrov

of La-

Callimachus

deriving

name from Cyxosura

conia
Dives
et

Statii

Orchomenos pecorum,

et

Cynosura ferarum.

Thebaid. L. iv.

They were

the gift of the Arcadian

God Pan

to
:^

Diana, and pos-

sessed sagacity of nose equal to their speed of foot

With some

of the descendants of the KwoffovplSes, the latrant sagacious Lacoiini

lie

of the

modern Votizza, Mr. Ilobliouse reports that

his

enjoyed the sport of coursing

through
Albania, Letter

with
SVII.

Grecian

host

in

the Morea.

See Journey

I
Ai'i'r.Knix.
liTTi
vaffffovas
S' *^5/c6

253
Callin.ach.

It

avpawv KwoffovplSas,

, ^ al pa oicu^ai

in Dian. vs.DS.

&Ki(Trai ve$povs re koL ov

nvovra Xaywhu,

Ka\ koi'ttjv t\d,(poio, Kal vffrpix^s tvda KaKial

<n)ixrit>ai,

Kal ^opKhs iv^ Ifx"""' ^TWaff^ai

and near a-kin

favoured Cyrene
:

to them,

we may

suppose,

if

not of the same blootl,

to her

were the brace presented by the worshipful Agrotera

much-

'Yiprits

dijpTjTTJpe Svai

Kvve, tois tvi Kovpri

efifiop'

Ejusn. vs. 207.

irapa Tvfj.fiof 'Ico\kiov

ai8\ov.

But of

fable,

enough

The Spartan's shape,

his

qualities,

and

style of
in the
is

hunting, singly and in pack, are fully described

third, fourth,

by Xenophon

and sixth chapters of

Manual.

The quarry
viz. the hare,

here

that of

which the Athenian was most enamoured,

with
But

which the woods and parks of

for the boar-chase the

his Scilluntian retreat

is

abounded.

hound of Lacedaemon

also employed.

To
Xenophon de

the Indian, Cretan, and Locrian dogs, the sportsman,

successfully

who would

combat the savage boar, must add

the choicest indivi-

duals of the Spartan kennel.

And

in this chase,

he will find one of

the latter hounds most useful as a Umier,^ to follow up the trail to the boar's couch in silence, and then, with the rest of the pack, to

bay the

started quarry

Fulmineus seu Spartanis latratibus actus,

"'"* Italici de
2<"'

^ Cum

sylvam occursu venantura perdidit, hirto

,..,.

bello
i.

Punico L.

Horrescit saevus dorse, et postrema capessit

Praelia,

candentem mandens aper ore cruorem

geraens

Jamque

geminum contra venabula

torquet.

Julius Pollux, on the authority of Nicander, has transmitted to us

Onomastic,^

subordinate varieties of the Spartan, entitled MjweZfliWes from

laus,

Mene-

Harmodii from Harmodius, and others from other persons, and

Virgil applies the epithets Taygetan to the

places of inferior note.

1.

limehound

ri

5e kvwv eVl

tJ

-koXv acpi^erai toirov v\wSr) Ix^evovau

..

'

Xenophon de
Venat,
c. x.

iveiSav

8' a(piK7)rai iirl Trjv

(wrjv, v\aKTe7, k. t. A.

254
Propert. L.
II.

APPENDIX.
from the " juga longa Taygeti " which traverse Laconia, a
:

race,

favourite resort of the Sylvan Goddess

Virgil. Georg.

vocat ingenti clamore Citliasrou,

L.

III.

43.

Taygetique canes

and
Ejusdem
vs.

Amy clean, from

the birth-place of Castor and Pollux

omnia secum

343.

Armentarius Afer

agit,

tectumque laremque,

Armaque Amycleeumque canem, Cressanique pharetram;

a local epithet also found in a supposed fragment of Pindar, cited

by Plutarch, Quaest. Conviv. ix. 13. 748. and admitted amongst the
Fragmenta ex Hyporchematibus. Vol.
1007.)
ii.

of Heyne's edition. (Oxon.

But a few words, before we proceed

oXwTreciSes.
Bulletin Universe!.

farther, on the lineage of the

Modern

naturalists,

with the exception of Mons. Desmoulins, are

is

pretty generally agreed that the Canis aureus

the real origin of

the domestic dog.

And

if so,

being a native of Asia Minor, and

not suppose him to have been the
?

of a dirty fulvous colour,

cross,
latter

may we
of a

from which the foxite hounds of Xenophon were bred

The

had more or

less

ferine

aspect, and fulvous colour,

softened

down by
Still

the admixture of hair of a different hue about the

muzzle.

tawny was the predominant colour

"fulvus Lacon,"

(Hor.)
Pliilosoph.

Mr. Hunter denies the existence of a genuine

and fox are of
different species,

foxite, as the

dog

Transact. Vol. 77. p. 24.

and

will

not produce together.

Guldenstadt allows the jackal

may

be the Thos of Aristotle.

o'

May

he not also be the Thos of Gratius, and " Cat

translator
?

mountaine"^ of his

May

not Hagnon's pack,^

Illustrations

' '^ tetm borrowed, according to Mr. Douce, from the Spaniards, wlio of Shakspeare. cat gato-montes.
'

call

the wild

'

"'

'

2.

Ilagnon Astylides
6

as

the Cretans used ayvelv, according to Ilesychius,

for 6 Kwriyus.

for

a7t',

wyvwv may stand

See Wernsdorf, Excursus in. ad Gratii

242.

V.

215.

PoettE Latini Minores,

Tom.

i.

p.

APPENDIX.
Hagnon
magiie, tibi Divoin concessa favore,

255
Gratii
vs.

Cyneg.
250.

derived from a Tlioaii cross, and otiier such semiferous comraixtures,

be founded

in fact

Hie et semiferam
Fiiixit.

Thoum

de sanguine prolem
virtus,

Ejusdem
vs. 263.

Non

alio

major sua pectore

Seu

norit voces, seu tiudi ad pignora Martis.

Thoes commissos
Et subiSre

(clarissima faiiia) leones

astu, et parvis

domuere

lacertis.
fateri

Nam

genus exiguum, et pudeat quara infornie

Vulpini specie, &c.

May

not these possible tales have given currency and belief to the
fictitious,

supposed, impossible,

engendering of the fox and dog, and

1

the breed of semi-wild aXwireKihes

Aristotle
and that

says roundly,

when

animals resemble each other in size, outward character, and time of

gestation, they

may

breed together
ol

it

positively happens

with the dog, fox, and wolf

ofioiujs

be QiLes, says the Stagirite also,

KvioKovrat toIs

kvctI, kciI tiktovcti tvcjjXu, k. t. \.

and

therefore,

by

his

own

canons,

may

engender with dogs.

Galen, Hesychius,
:

and Gesner, seem

concerned

to allow the possibility of vulpi-canine issue

Caius accounts for such a birth by the " pruriens libido " of the
parties
:

even Blumenbach and Desmoulins, on the

it.

authority of others, have given credency to

Pennant reports a

case of prolific engendering of the fox and dog, on the

word of an
in

Pennant's Quadrupeds.
Daniel's
Field-Sporls.

Oxfordshire

Hunter,

woodman who assumed

till

and Daniel

cites

a second

London.

nothing
it

in natural

history of doubtful cha-

Vol.

I.

p. 12.

racter as fact,

he had put
;

to the test, denies this cross, a jtriori,

not from actual experiment

for

he did not
:

live

to

make

the

trial.

The former

crosses he fully established

see Phil. Trans. Vol. 77.

1. Caius's love of the

marvellous in natural history surpasses (considering the age

in

which he lived) that of ^lian and Albertus Magnus.

this credulous correspondent of the acute
is

Under the heads of Urcanus

Conrad Gesner notes, seem-

and Lacsena,

ingly in good earnest, that the former

the offspring of the Canis Catenarius and bear,

ita

the latter of the dog and fox, " quos, licet inimicos, pruriens tamen libido sspe
hie conjungit, ut alibi solet."

J. Caii

The

truth,

however, of

tlie latter

maybe doubted,

after

de Canibus
lirit. Libell.

the impossibility of the former.

256

APPENDIX.
not Ovid be supposed to allude to the cross of the
it

May
dog-,

Thos and

and to exemplify
?

in

the individual of Acta^on's pack

whom

he calls Thous
Ovid. Metam. L. III. 220.

Et Thous,

et

Cyprio velox cum

fratre

Lycisca.

Cyneg. L. in.
vs.

The

fanciful origin of

Oppian's Thos from the wolf and panther,

lidev

33G.

Kp(iTep6(ppova (piiXa, baffles all elucidation.

Let

the

uXwireKtbes,

then,

be considered as possible
crosses.
^

hybrids,

the produce
Philosoph. Transactions Vol. 77.

of

authenticated
little.

The

wolf, jackal,

and

dog,

all differ

but

" The dog himself," says Mr. Hunter,

Gratii Cyneg.
vs.

1.

We may

suppose the far-famed hound of Sparta, the foxife harrier,

''

vulpina

259.

specie," not very unlike the prick-eared, or at least semi-pendulous-eared lurcher of

modera days, employed by a poaching shepherd

to guard his flock,

and too often to

catch at force, KaTo. irSSas, his master's hares, or drive them into the wily laqueus or suare
Theocriti
Idyll.
I.
:

vs. 110.

(Trel

Koi

iJ.a,\a

vofx^vti,

KoX TTTUKas fidWei, koI drjpia t'

&\\a

Stci/cet.

Cowper's Task.
J3.

Shaggy, and lean, and shrewd, with pointed ears.

V.

And
he
is

tail

cropp'd short, half lurcher and half cur

too well

known by

his depredations in the

hare-warren to need a fuller delinea-

tion.

Janus Vlitius considers the Spartan a long-eared hound, and proposes

fjMKpa instead of fjuKpa in
this breed
:

to read

Zra

Xenophon's minute description of the type of excellence in

but Horace's " aure sublata" would rather favour the notion that the ear
in pursuit of

was small and prickid vp

poaching tikes
Hor. Od. L.
:

game, as we see in lurchers, and such-like

Ode

Nam

qualis HUt Molossus, aut fulvus Lacon,

VI.

Arnica vis pastoribus,

Agam

per altas aure sublatA nives

fera.

Quaecunque prajcedet

on which Dacier observes, " plus

oreilles

les chicns

sont courageux, plus

ils

dressent les

en courant ;" a quality for which a prick-eared sharp-scented lurching cur

might be praised

which

is

characteristic of the Molossus, but odious in the genuine

well-bred greyhound, with which the " veloces catuli" and "fulvus

Lacon" of the

contemporary poets of
notators.

Rome

have

been ignorantly identified by monkish an-

1'

E M) X
I

257

" may be the wolf tamed, and the jackal may probably be the dog
returned to his wild state."

All animals having been originally wild, the more a

specific class
it is

may
in

differ

from

its

prototype

in

appearance, the further

removed

consequence of variation arising from cultivation.

least cultivated, they
still

Where dogs
their original

have been

retain

most of

character, or similarity to the wolf, or jackal, both in shape

position.

and

dis-

Thus

the shepherd's dog, all over the world, has strongly

the character of these wild animals

and

so I have no doubt

had

the dog of Laconia.

The wild dogs of modern

^Ethiopia, and towards the

travellers,

as found in

Congo, Lower

Cape of Good Hope, somewhat resemble

*'

the Spartan type.

They

are stated to be

greyhound-like

in shape,

red-haired, with upright ears, rough tails, and extremely fierce."

The Dingo
varieties

of Australasia, and Dhole of the East Indies, look very

like aXwTreKibes.

The North and South-American half-reclaimed

have the elongated jaws of the semi-barbarous breeds, and

tend to prove from their general shape, their character of countenance, their quick manner, and pricked and erect ears, identity of
species in the dog, wolf,

and jackal.
:

But on

this subject

enough

let us

now

return within the pale

of the kennel of Lacedjemon.

The

true Spartan dogs of the olden

time were strong, swift, and courageous; and barked on scent of

their

game.

We

know

that they were strong, on the authority of

;"

Ovid's

" praevalidusque Lacon

and

swift,

from Virgil calling

them " Veloces Spartae

catulos," and Pindar alluding to the

same

excellence in the fragment beginning

airh

TavyiTov

/xev

AuKaivav

Apud

Athenffii

iv\ dr\pa\

Kwa

rpixeiv TrvKivdnaTov kpi7iT6i'.

Deipaosopn.
Epist. L.
c.
I.

21.

Still their

speed, like that of the Etolian of Gratius, was of a quali-

fied character,

and very much below the Vertragus.

Their strength and courage recommended them to shepherds and

herdsmen, as guardians of their flocks

the

goatherd Lacon's dog,

from

his venatico-pastoral cast, being probably, of this variety.

X
tv

a/xlf ivTl Kvuiv (piXoirol/xvLos, &x

r<fi

Xvkos &yx^^'
Sitiicei'.

Theocriti Idyll.
^'-

iraiSl

SlScom ra Orjpia irivra

IOt>-

2 K

258

APPENDIX.

Virgil enjoins feeding the Spartan and Molossian on fattening

whey,
Virgil. Georg.

for the safe

custody of cattle

Veloces Spartae catulos, acremque Molossum

L.

III.

404.

Pasce sero pingui: nunquara custodibus

illis

Nocturnum

stabulis furem, incursusque luporum,

Aut impacatos a

tergo horrebis Iberos

and

briefly runs through the ordinary chases in

;

which the canine

tribe generally are used

Ejusdein vs. 4uy.

Sape etiam cursu timidos

(.

agitabis onagros

canibus leporem, canibus venabere damas.

Saepe volutabris pulsos sylvestribus apros

Latratu turbabis agens

montesque per

altos

Ingentem clamore premes

in retia cervuin.

The
Kal

trailing quality of the Spartan,

and keenness of scent/ Plato

aicvXafces fieraOeis

refers to, in his

i'^i/eueis to.

Parmenides waTrepye al AaKaivai

XexBevra,

(Zeno

Socrati) and

Sophocles in the

prologue of the

Ajax

Flagellifer,

where the wily son of Laertes,

A'lavTi rw
aaKea(l>6p(^,
is

tracking the murderous maniac,

to a sharp-nosed Spartan hound,
Sophoclis Ajac,
ilagell. vs. 7.
e6 Se

likened

a eKcpepn

Kvvhs Aokowtjs Scttis evpivos ^dais.

Homer's kindly and vivid

would lead us
:

description of the hunting excellencies

of the faithful Argus, his keenness of sight and smell, and speed of
foot,

to place

him amongst

the swiftest of the saga-

cious class

and where can we assign him a more honourable station

?

than in a Spartan kennel

(to

I am aware some ancient Greek writer

ofnos
>/

whom
aWois

I have lost

my

clue of reference) considers this far-famed

(^vais

hound an
v

isolated variety of no particular family

koi

Kal airaffL Tonots biaaireipei Kvpas ayadovs, biroios ris Kal 6

1.

This quality Aristotle justly attributes to the length of the nostrils of the
for the distribution of the

Spartan hound, affording a more extensive surface

minute

branches of the olfactory nerves tfcwv

dacppavTiKO,'

ot

ixvKTrjpis fiaKpoi, oTov

twv \aKwviKwv,

APPENDIX.
"Apyos not

259

reducible within the pale of a general classification

;

foiuuKHl on geogiuphical distribution

but he has evidently

all

the

characteristic qualities of a genuine Spartan,

and I never heard of

any breed peculiar

to Ithaca.

"Apyos 'OSvacrrjos Ta\affi(ppovos, ov ha

Qpi^i
/tec,

ttot'

avrhs
t
\

Odyss. L. xvii,
292.

ov^ anSvjyTo'

irapos S eis

\Kiov ipriv

^X"'<''

'''^^

Se Trdpoidev ajivecTKOv vtoi ivSpes

r/Se

alyas

eV

ayporepas,

wpSKas,

TJ5e

Xayccovs.

Bred by Ulysses, nourish'd

at his board
, !

Odyssey.
jj_
;

J\P^

'

But ah

not fated long to please his lord

x vii. 348.

To him The
Till

his swiftness and his strength were vain

voice of glory call'd

him o'er the main.

then in every sylvan chase renown'd.

the vs^oods around
;

With Argus, Argus, rung

With him
Or traced the mazy

the youth pursued the goat or fawn,

lev'ret o'er the lawn.

The answer
on
his

of Eumaeus, in which he fondly dilates on the prowess

of the old dog in the better days of his youth, throws farther light

supposed connexion with a Spartan kennel

yap
Odyss. L. xvii.
*

01)

fiiv

Tj (piyeaKe /SaOeiijs fievOeaiv v\rjs

Kvd)Sa\ov

'6tti l^oiTo'

Koi ixfect

yap

TreptrfSr] ...

evidently showing that he ran on sight of

for the
thius,

his

game

as well as scetit

common
is

reading

'iboiro

is

preferable to the Sioito of Eusta:

and

followed by

Pope

in his inimitable translation

Oh

had you seen him,

vig'rous, bold
'
:

and young,

Pope's

Swift as a stag, and as a lion strong ^'

B.
;

3oO. XVII. J'

Hira no

fell

savage on the plain withstood,

None

'scaped him, bosom'd in the gloomy wood

His eye how piercing, and his scent how true.

To wind

the vapour in the tainted

dew

Spartan huntsman might value such omnifarious qualifications

el S?)

but we cannot allow such a hound,

Kal raj^vs eaKe Oieiv, within

the precincts of a coursing kennel, where speed and keen-sightedness

are essential properties, according to the modern canons of the leash

but to stoop to " the tainted green " with the sagacity of a harrier.

260
or even of a Caledonian

APPENDIX.
deer-hound, of which

Argus has been

deemed a prototype,

invalidates the claim to ehyeyeia in the breed.^

in Crete,"

Diana having been particularly veorshipped

Ovid. Fast. L. III.

Pallada Cecropice, Minoia Creta Dianam,

Vulcanum

tellus Hjpsipilaja, colit, ...

vpe naturally

look for a race of dogs deriving a local name from her

favourite
tribe of

isle.

And,

accordingly, connected with the last-mentioned

Canes Venatici, we have the Cretan and Carian, powerful,

;

quick-scented, nimble hounds

to dissever, as

whom

it

would be wrong unnaturally

peculiarities.

having no marked physical

Indeed

from their parity of character, and supposed identity of origin, the

hounds of Crete, and

De Natura Animal. L. iii.
C. II.

its

neighbouring continent of Caria, have gene-

rally been united in one family,

^lian describes the

cvrrpofos.

Kvojf Kpijcraa Kovcpr], Kai aXriKii],

By

Seneca the Cretans are called pugnacious

De

Venat.

naces

Cressae;"

and

by

Claudian,

" pug " Hirsutaeque wire-haired

Kai opei^aaiais

C. III.

fremunt Cressse."

Arrian, when speaking of the Segusian hounds of

1.

To Darcius

of

Venusium we owe

the following description of the ardour of the

Spartan pack

J. Darcii Veiiusini

Inde suos etenim Lacedaemon Achaica laudat,

Assueti quoniam sylvis, ciipidique ferarum
Praecipiti fervore ruunt,

Canes.

perque invia

lustra,

Convallesque cavas, et sentibus horrida duris

Arva, et vulnificis dumeta rigentia spinis

Dente

rotant preedas, indefessique sequuntur

est.

Quod semel emissum

Sistit,

Illos

non obvius aninis

Vicinos dirimens sinuuso gurgite coUes,

nee rapidos lato tenet obice cursus.

anhela boatu
viribus artus,

Et

licet assiduo frangantur

Ora, trahantque aegros

afflictis

Assequier tamen est animus, &c.

Solini Polyhistor.

2. Solinus

and Pliny, while they admit the religious adoration of Diana by the
soil

natives of Crete, deny to the

many

of the

common

beasts of chase.

''

Ager
cervo

Creticus," says the former naturalist,

cget.

"sylvestrium caprarum copiosus

est,

Lupos, vulpes, aliaque quadrupedum noxia nusquam educat."

APPENDIX.

261

Celtica, their unsightly aspect, their noisy howl, and extraordinary

sagacity of nose, indirectly proves the speed and keen-rscentedness of

the Carian and Cretan.

Oppian enjoins the hound of Crete

to

be

crossed with that of Pannonia, and the Carian, as if different, with

the Thracian,
(TTifilcryeo llaloffi
...

-_.., Kapas QpriiKiOiS

but,
it is

Kdtjtos,

Cyneg. L.
vs.

i.

394.

probable, the Pannonian and Thracian resembled each

as the Cretan

other as

much
and

and Carian.

Two
btairovoi

sub-varieties are recorded

Trdpnnroi

by Julius Pollux under the

so

titles

of

indefatigable character
fxayciLS
{jfiepay

the former
rets

called from their bustling,

Pollucis

vvktus toIs jjuipais ev toIs ttous tu Qrjpia

drjpiois
/xe0'

Onomast.

einXafiftdi'eiv,
I'lpj^eadai
Tijs

Kai

ttoWukis irapevvaadevras toIs

;

L. v,

c. v.

/ia^rys

the latter, from their running at the

fxi)v

horse's side
fievoi.

toIs 'iTrnois

avvBtovaw ovre irpodeovres oire

cnroXenro-

Cecropius catulus est

quem

dixere parippura.

Natalis

Comes
i.

de Venat. L.

To
_,

these the courser of

Nicomedia adds a
ano tov
, ^

third sub-variety, seem-

ingly produced
.

by
-

the union of the former

, ,

two
r
.

at bicnrovoi airo rov

Arriani

<pt\oTroviv ,

Kui ai irafiai

o^ews, kol at /uicrat utt afi<poiv

,y,

,,,,,_

the

,,

de Venat.
^.^

jjj^

Irafiai

probably answering to the Trapnnroi of the philologist.

On the
Ejusdem
^'
'
*

authority of Arrian,

we

conclude the Cretan and Carian modes of

hunting to have been the same as generally practised in Greece

as are described at large

such
hare-

by

the elder

Xenophon
Greta.
in

in his

Cynegeticus.

See Meursii Opera, Tom.

iii. c. vii.

Though not used by

chase, the

the elder

Xenophon

the

common

Cretans are recommended for boar-hunting, and were

in pursuit of deer.

sometimes employed

Kprjcrcru.

kvuv

i\a.<poi.o

kut' Ixviov e5pa/< ydpyws

by the poet by

Incert. Auctor

apud Stepliani
Schediasm.

How
Varius,

beautifully

is

their style of hunting described

" Mzeonii carminis

ales,"

in

the fragment preserved

Ilor. Lib.

i.

Macrobius
Seu canis umbrosam
c

lustrans Gortynia vallem,

.

. . . J I * Si vetens potent cervae cotnprendere lustra,

Varius apud Macrob. L.vi.

,
^

262
Saevit in

APPENDIX.
absentem, et circum vestigia latrans
nitidura tenuds sectatur odores
illara raedii,

Aera per

Non amnes

non ardua tardant,

Perdita nee serae merainit decedere nocti.

affording the Cilician copyist one of a profusion of highly poetical

similes, with
its

which he depicts the polypus, or preke, searching

:

for

beloved olive-tree
fvda
7cfcp

Oppian.
Halieut. L. iv. vs. 272.

ayXaSKap'TTOs aXhs ffx^^i" iiTTiv i\alrj

ye'iTOffiv

eV yowolcrty eiroKToiT) Tfda\v7a,

Ketdi Se irovXviroSos v6os eA/ceTOt, rivr

Kvooffffiov evpivoio

eV

txvos

Kvvhs ixlvos, Sar' eV

opearfft

6r]phs avtxvevei

(tkoM^u

fidffiy i^epeeivQiv

pivhs

vn ayye\ir)
Kol ovK

vr]fj.eprei,

Kai re

fi.iv

Siku

fidp-if/e,

ifj.drriaei',

ehv

S" iireKacrffev

&vaKTa'

&s Kol r7i\iQ6w<xav &(pap /iddev eyyhs

iXalriv

KovKinros, iKBvvn 5e fivdZv, Kol ya7av avfpiret

K07xoA-rfa)y, "irpeixvoicn
5'

'A0rjvai7;s eTre'Aacrcrej'.

In connexion with the kindred Spartans, the Cretans are briefly

See Werusdorf
in loco.

mentioned by Gratius,

an allusion being,
:

probably, intended to an

intermixture of the two allied breeds in order to produce the Metagon,i whose praises are subsequently sung

Gratii
vs.

Cyneg.
211.

At vestrum non

vile

genus, non patria vulgd,

Sparta sues et Creta sues promittit alumnos.

Wase's
Illustrations.
c. 5.

To your

higli

breed countries of dogs not base,

Sparta and Creta do conferre their race.

p.

38.

Ovid

specifies

them by name

in Actaeon's blood-thirsty

pack.

1.

This canine name

is

not found in any other Cynegeticon.

it

From

the construc-

tion put on the passage by Wernsdorf,

appears that he would derive the Metagon

let

from a Spartan and Cretan cross

Gralii

but how,

me

ask, could the

huntsman breed a

Cyneg.

mute inductor, whose

essential attribute

was
?

closeness,
litter,

"ne voce

lacesseret hostem,"

vs. 231.

from the union of two such latrant races

so bred in Actaeon's pack, was

any thing but mute, " Labros, et Agriodos,

et acutcB vocis Hylactor," as

above cited.

Wase's

interpretation of the passage

is

more correct

see

his version, vs. 211.

where

the lines of Gratius are differently rendered than in the chapter on the geography of

the poem, p. 38.

APPENDIX.
primusque Melampus
Iclinobatcsque sagax latralu signa dedere
;

263
Ovid. Metam. L. III. 206.

Gnossius Iclinobates,

Spai-tanri gente

Melampus;

and subsequently a

litter,

that

had a

sire of

Crete

And dam
as sings Sir

of Sparta,

Golding's Ovid's Metam.

B.

III.

Arthur Golding
Et patre Dictso, sed niatre Laconide
Labros
et

nati,

Agriodos, etacutae vocis H^lactor.

Ovid. Metam. vs. 223.

Indeed almost

all

the

O vidian

pack were of Cretan, Spartan, and

Arcadian blood, well chosen by the poet for the fabled chase of the " son of Autonoe,^ " falsi sub imagine cervi "
VT Tavwrpeixvoto KaB^ifievos
v\p6di (priyov,

Nonni
Dionysiac. L. V.

MvajxeVTis ivurjaev oXov Se^as lox^o.lp-qs'

6rfi\r^p 8' aK6pr]Tos adrjiiToio Oeatvris

ayphv

avvfj.(pevroio Sefias Steixerpee Kovpri?

ayxt<po.viis, k. t. A.

The whole
rian,

of the Spartan family, inclusive of the Cretan and Ca-

appear to have barked, as I have already observed, on scent of

their

game^ a

quality reprobated

by Gratius (malignum
started from his lair.

officium

!)

when shown

before the quarry

was

1.

Claudian bestows the

:

title

Molossian on the entire pack, to designate,

it

may

be, their ferocity

Sic

mons Aonius
;

rubuit,

cum Penthea

ferrent

Meenades

aut subito

mutatum Actajona cornu

In Rufinuni L. II.

Traderet insanis Latonia visa Molossis.

2.

The

stag Actajon iu the stream had spied

Dryden.

The naked

huntress, and, for seeing, died

Palamon and
:

Arcite. B.

ii.

His hounds, unknowing of his change, pursue

Tiie chase,

and

their

mistaken master slew

3.

The loud

latrancy of the tribe escaped not the notice of the bard of Avon,

who

Las cleverly appropriated

much

of the borrowed shape and KAayjii of a

modern pack

264
The noisy bark of
mute cunning of
the
Cyneg.
vs.

APPENDIX.
the Etolian breed Gratius contrasts with the

its

neighbour of Acarnania, already considered

in

first

class

'A

186.

At

clangore citat, quos

nondum

conspicit, apros

^tola quaecunque
OflScium) sive
ilia

canis de stirpe

(malignum

metus convicia rupit,

Seu

frustra niinius properat furor.

Et tamen

illud

Ne vanum totas genus asperuere per artes, Mirum quam celeres, et quantum nare merentur:
Turn non est
victi cui

concessere labori.

Too much addicted

to gladdening,

when near

the lair of his game,

(Sir

Thomas

Lucy's, perhaps, or other Warwickshire squire's) to our classic breed

:

of the olden time

Midsummer
Night's Dream.

I was with Hercules and

Cadmus
^

once,

When

in a

wood

Act

IV.

of Crete they bay'd the bear '

:

, With hounds

of Sparta

never did I hear

Such gallant chiding; for besides the groves,

The

skies, the fountains, every region near

all

Seem'd

one mutual cry

never heard

So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.

With

Angelio's description of the Cretan hounds, the

more

striking features of

which are drawn from passages already cited, I close their portraiture.
P, A. Bargffii

Est eadeni facies, et eidem proxima formas

JO'''

Corpora
Dictaeis,

niembrorum sed non asquantia molera

animus tamen, et constantia pugnax,

serus litem
si forte

Quandoquidem
Vesper,

diremit
;

et obtentis

umbrantur rura tenebris

Nusquani abeunt, nusquam

Veriim haerent
1.

vestigia pressa reiinquunt,

vigiles,

&c.
is,

The dog,

wliich sits at the foot of the noble statue of Meleager,

probably, a

representation of the animal which assisted the hero of Calydon in his attack of the

Ovid. Metam.
L.viii. vs. 272.

wild boar

("

infestae famulus,

vindexque Diance")

that had

laid

waste the domain

of his father (Eneus. (See F. Perrier, Tab. 51. and 52. ex yEdibus Picliiniis, and

Montfaucon Antiq. Expliq. Tom.

I.)

He

is

apparently a boar-hound, and per-

haps of the type of Etolia or Calydon

the names

being indifferently applied to the

Iliad ii.

same dog, from Calydon, (the rocky Calydon of the Homeric catalogue,
640.) the capital of the state, over which the sons of (Eneus once reigned.

I'l'i.

III

\.

265

the Etolian

is

not admitted into the class of Canes Bellicosi, whose

till

general character was closeness

the

game was game by

started

at

winch

time a cry, however loud, was not objected to by classic hunts-

men,

but

the dog, that roused the

giving tongue before-

hand, was strongly reprobated.

don,

Such was the faulty dog of Caly-

who needed

all his

other better qualities to counterbalance this

latrant propensity.

That he had some valuable properties Gratius

to be turned to account
:

allows, and

recommends them

by judicious

commixture with the mute Molossian's blood

vanas tantum Calydonia linguae

Cjnegeticus
^'''

Exibit vitium patre emeadata Molosso.'

'""

In consequence of the

common Canes
it

Venatici giving tongue or

opening, before the game was roused,

sportsmen
to

was customary with classic employ Inductores, mute finders, " canes tacitae,"
trail
;

(Senecae Hippolyt.,) to search out the quarry by the

Dogs such whose

cold secrecy was

meant
.

Sir

W. Dave-

By '
Nor

nature for surprise

:

"^"'^'

C^^- " stanza 30.

Wise cemperate limebounds, that proclaim no

scent,

harb'ring will their mouths in boasting spend.

These are the Metagontes of the Faliscian poet " drawing after their game " /xerctyojrcs

so

called from

Wase,

p. 79.

1.

Such

a sire

was most

likely to correct the

'*

vance linguae vitium" of the Calydonian

the

breed; and from such parentage

Astylus.

may have been deduced

Glympicus of the son of

sire, contributing,

No dam
and

could cross more appropriately with a Molossian

on her part, the important qualities of speed, sagacity, and unwearying ardour of
pursuit
;

receiving, from the

male side, courage, strength, and closeness of

mouth.
follow in

The

cited lines of Gratius, carefully perused in connexion with those

will,

which
in

the text,
;

think, warrant the parentage assigned to the

will materially
assist the

hound

question

and such a view

general understanding of a

somewhat obscure
2.

part of the Cynegeticon.

all

Without such auxiliaries

the hunter's

toil will

be fruitless, says Bargaeus

Ni tecum
Ducat

canis acer eat, qui naribus auras

p. a. Barga;i
Cyiieg.
J^.
i.

odoratas, et

nusquam impressa ferarum

:

Insistat cupide vestigia

nee tamen ullos

Latratus, vocesque hilari de pectore mittat,

Cum

latebrae

non longe absuat,

fidique recessus.

2 L

266
Gratii
vs.

APPENDIX.
mature pressantes gaudia lusu
Dissimulare feras tacitique accedere possent.

Cjneg.
207.

Steadiness and a close mouth are essential attributes of the lime-

hound
in the

tribe. 1

Gratius, Lucan, Seneca, iElian, and others, insist on

silence.

And

Oppian, seemingly forgetful of

this negative

quality

Armenian bear-hound, (whom

I consider a limehound,) incul-

cates closeness in sagacious dogs, generally, from their very puppy-

hood
ppian. Cyneg.
M'?^' v\6.eiv
(Tcyrj

e6e\oiiv, iirei /jidKa 67]pevTrip(ri

L.

I.

448.

ridiii6s

icm,

iravfloxa.

S*

Ixvevrripaiv.

They The

are to be taught

it

with their names, and other matters of

kennel discipline.
limiers of classical antiquity,

more numerous perhaps than

the reader
traces of

may
in

suppose, are found widely distributed.

We

gather

them

Homer,

Lucretius, Virgil, Pliny, Gratius, iElian,

Seneca, Nemesian, Oppian, Silius Italicus, and others.

The Belgic

hound of the poet of the Second Punic

or limier
:

War

is

certainly an inductor

Silii Italici
2''o

de B. P. L. X.

'^^ canis ocultos agitat

quum

Belgicus apros,

Erroresque

ferae sellers

per devia mersk

Nare

legit, taciloque

premens vestigia rostro

:

Lustrat inaccessos venantum indagine saltus

Nee

sistit, nisi

concepturii sectatus odorem,

Deprendit

spissis

arcana cubilia dumis.

And

it

strikes

me, that the Gelonian and Umbrian of Gratius, the

Tuscan of Nemesian, and the Armenian bear-hound of Oppian, are

all varieties

of limehound.

Of
is

the Metagon, already mentioned,

there can be no doubt

he

clearly of the class described

by the

Greek poet of the Halieutics:

Oppian. Hal.
L.
I.

(TKvXaKes Se

ffvvefiiropoi jjyefiov^es

18.

KUwSaKa
evp^iv

ffrifialvovcri,

koI lOvyovatP &vaKTas

eh oOtV

1.

See the mode of breaking-in the limier, chien de

ii.

raid, in J. Savary's rare

work, Venationis Cervinae Leges, L.

sub

initio.

AVVEN D1X

267

The Homeric
sus,
in the

inductors occur in the boar-hunt of

Mount Parnasdistinguishes

van of which Ulysses,

ohrafjievai /ue/iaws,
:

himself, with the sons of

Autolycus

ol 8' is fiiiaaav 'Ikhvov iiraKTripes' irph 5' &p'

avTuv

OJyss. L. XIX.
435.

'vC'? ipevfuivTes

Kvves

ij'iaav,^

k.t.A.

and the abstract phraseology of Lucretius

tice of

affords a second early no-

them

turn fissa ferarum

De Rerum
canum
vis

Ungula quo
Ducit.

tulerit gressuni, praemissa

Matura L.
6b4.

iv.

The

first

limehound

in

the annals of sporting

was Glympicus,

tutored in the art of harbouring

by

the Boeotian

Hagnon, a hunts-

man

immortalized by Gratius
Sed primurn celsa lorum cemce
Glympice,
te silvis egit Boeotius

ferentera,

Gratii
vs.

Cyneg.
213.

Hagnon,

Hagnon

Astylides, Hagnon, quera plurima semper

Gratia per nostros

unum

testabitur usus.

Hie trepidas
Vidit,

artes et vix novitate sedentes

:

qua propior patuit via

nee sibi turbam

Contraxit comitem, nee vasa tenentia longe.

Unus presidium, atque

Assumptus Metagon

operi spes

magna

petito,

lustrat per nota ferarum

Pascua, per fontes, per quas trivere latebras,

Prima; lueis opus
:

turn signa vapore ferino

si

Intemerata legens,

qua

est,

qua

fallitur,

ejus

Turba

loei,

majore secat spatia extera gyro.

Atque

hie egressu

jam

turn sine fraude reperto

Incubuit spatiis, qualis permissa Lechaeis

Thessalium quadriga decus, quara gloria patrum

Excitat, et

prims spes ambitiosa

coronas.

1.

The Ascrean Poet's

hunting-picture on the shield of Hercules

is

rather a chase

at speed, than trailing after leporine

game
Xayhs i]pew
Hesiod. Scut. Hcrcul.vs.302.

Toi

5' cL/ci/TroSas

^fSpes BripevTot, Kot Kapxap('iSovre KVUi npO

2G8
Sed
lie

A PFEN

I)

qua ex nimio redeat jaciura favore.

Lex

dicta officiis: ne voce lacesseret hostem,

levein prasdam, aut propioris pignora lucii

Neve

Amplexus, primos nequicquam eftunderet actus.

Jam
Ut

vero irapensum melior fortiina laborem

sequitur, juxtaque

Quum
Aut

domus

queesita ferarum,

sciat, occultos et signis arguat hostes

effecta levi testatur gaudia cauda,

Aut ipsa infodiens uncis

vestigia plantis

Mandit humum, celsasve apprensat naiibus auras.

Et taraen, ut ne prima faventem pignora
Circa
fallant,

omnem,

aspretis medius qua clauditur orbis,

Ferre pedem, accessusque, abitusque, notasse ferarum

Admonet,

et, si forte loci

spes prima

fefellit,

(Rarum opus)

incubuit spatiis ad prospera versis,

Intacto repetens prima ad vestigia gyro.

We

here see the limier's style of harbouring portrayed to the

life

Hist. Nat.

falling

on the
it

trail

coining to

a fault

recovering the scent and

is

following

up

to the lair.

The harbourer of more modern days

;

the inquisitor of Pliny's short sketch

" Scrutatur

vestigia atque

L.

VIII. c.

XL.

persequitur, comitantera ad feram inquisitorem loro

vis^

trahens

qu-A

quam

silens et occulta, quara significans demonstratio est !"

But

of

all descriptions in
is

the range of classical literature the most exqui-

sitively beautiful
^

Elian's

no

painter can surpass this graphic

hunting-piece
rpj^g

TrporiyeiTat rov KvvtfyeTOV (6

Trjs fu)vrjs

kvuv 6

dripariKos) ifxavn
(cat (Titjirwv,

Aniraalium
.

fxaKpw irpoarifx^evos, Koi pivrfKarei,

I.

e'xwv eyKpaTws

VIII. c.

^^ ^^

^^
is

hound's busy manner,

his steady search,

even where

there

no game,

his burst of silent joy at catching

if

a scent,

his

salutation of the harbourer as

successful,

sympathizing in his glee at being

to

his

drawing on up

the boar's couch,

the

start

and

final

pajan of exultation and victory, are all described in masterly

style.

The Gelonian breed

timid and sagacious

is

very cursorily mentioned by Gratius, as

Arma

negant contra, martemque odere Geloni,

.
,

Sed natura sagax

and

is

recommended
spiritless

to

be crossed with the tigrine Hyrcanian

whence

Gelonian bitches have derived that courage and

in

pluck, of which they stood

need

AVVEN

I)

269
CJr.uii

traxerc aninios dc patre GeloiKi'

Vvnv".

Ilyrcano.

vs. 11)5.

'I'lio

l^mbrirtii li;ul

iimch of the Gclonian character

timorous and

soft

but remarkably keea of nose.

in

AVishiug to incorporate every

good quality

the same mongrel breed, Gratius ejaculates

fugit adversos

At

idem quos reperit hostes

fides,

Gratii

(.'yiieg.

Umber.'

Quanta

utinam

et solertia

nans,

vs 171

Tanta foret

virtus, et tantura vellet in arniis

Silius Italicus notes

the sagacity of the

Umber, and seems

contrasted

to

indicate

his

closeness

of mouth

in

the

barking

of

the Spartan,

Ceu pernix cum densa

Nare sagax

vagis latratibua implet

exiarit

Silii
r.

Ital.

dc
iii.

Venator dumeta Lacon, aut

Umber

runico L.

e calle feras perterrita late

Agmina

praicipitant volucres forraidine cervi.

But

his habits

are

most vividly sketched

in

an elegant simile of

Seneca's Thyestes, vi'here Atreus, exulting in his artful entrapping of

his brother, (as a w^ild beast

enveloped
)

in the hunter's toils in

plagis

clusa dispositis fera,

self-gratulation,

exclaims

a strain of ill-dissembled

venit in nostras raanus

Senecas

Tandem Thyestes
Sic,

venit, et totus

quidem.

-r

4<)''

Vix lempero animo,

vix dolor frenos capit

cum

feras vestigat, et longo

sagax

Lore tenetur Umber, ac presso vias

Scrutatur ore; diim procul lento

suem

Odore

sentit, paret, et tacito

locum
propior fuit;

Rostro pererrat: preeda

cum

Cervlce tola pugnat, et gestu vocat

Dominura raorantem, seque

retinenti eripit.

The

Virgilian

Umbrian,

to

which ^neas

in

pursuit of

Turnus

is

1.

" Umber

is

here," says Wase, " the liracco of Italy

and

rous, so their bore is not very courageous.

rosior

Whence

the poet,

'I'huscus aper gcnc-

as their

dog

is

timo-

Umbro."

270

APPENDIX.
may be
taken to signify any

likened in the last book of the ^neid,

Canis venaticus, and not that of Umbria particularly

Vii-oilii i?Lneid.

Inclusum velutisi quando flumine nactus

L. XII. 749.

Cervum, aut puaiceee septum formidine pennse,

Venator cursu, canis
et latratibus ixistat

Ule autem,

insidiis et rip^ tenitus

:

aha,

Mille fugit refugitque vias

Haeret hians,
Increpuit

at vividus

Umber

jam jamque

tenet, similisque tenenti

est.

raalis,

morsuque elusus inani

The

true Urabrian, I conceive,

foot
;

was mute

certainly

so,

until his

game was on
bria
this

as were all the other finders spoken of.

But

another reason against the dog of

is

Maro being

the native

dog of

Um-

the

poet would never have compared the brave and

victorious iEneas to a notoriously timid animal,

idem

quos repperit hostes " while

him
;

who "

fugit

ad versos

the hero

was dealing death and

destruction on all sides of

-3Lneas

Virgil,

^neid.

mortem contra praesensque minatur

si

L. xii. 760.

Exitium,

quisquam adeat
;

terretque trementes
et saucius instat.

Excisuruiu urbem minitans

If the character of the hounds of

Umbria be such

as stated, on the

authority of the ancient Cynegetica, the epithet " audaces " bestowed

on them by the Latin poet of Barga must be unmerited

P. Aneelii
Bargffii

Celtis velocibus

Umbros,

Cyneg.

Audaces Umbros,

et odoris naribus acres.

L. V.

Barthius, erroneously in

my

opinion, identifies the Tuscan dogs of

first

Nemesian with the

Cynegetic
(vs. 413.).

fierce

Molossian-like animals of Oppian's

To
is

the passage already cited under the Canes

Bellicosi, the reader

referred, for the purpose of comparison with

the following from the Carthaginian poet

Nemesian. CvHeg.vs. 231.

Quin

et

Tuscorum non
sit

est

extrema voluptas
licet obsita villo,

Seepecanum:

forma illia

Dissimilesque habeant catulis velocibus artus

Haud tamen injucunda dabunt

Naraque
et odorato

tibi

munera

praedse.

noscunt vestigia prato,

cubilia monstrant.

Atque etiam leporum secreta

Oppian's boar and lion-killers have very

little

resemblance to these

A pp F.N nix.
indices of

271
Iiaro,

t\\v

form or scat of the timorous

is

The

latter

|)oi>t

rc-

conimends the Tuscans (whom he

the
title

also supposed to designate

under

of Ausonians in his

first

kcnnel-roll) to be crossed with the

Spartan race
Tvp(Tr)vh

ytveBXa M-Kuiffi

Oppian. Cynrg. L. I. TS. 395.

The Armenian bear-dog was a

of the East for tracking bears
trovKxJs
v^ loptfs,

sort of

lyemmer used by sportsmen

;i

ox^os
>

Paivovcrt

ravvaKia fievOea
>..
'

hpvfxoov,

avTOAvyois

aw
\

eupipeacri Kxiveaaiv,

Oppian. Cyneg. L. IV. vs. 350.

'[)(yM iif(TTev(T0VT

oXoiav TrovXiirXava OrjpSiv.

aW'

6it6t

adp-fi<T(i)cri

Kvves

arnxij'ia

Tapacov,
b)j.aprri

fffiroVTai, (TTJ/Se'as

re noSriyeTeovcrtv

p7vas fiiv Tavaas

e^oirlffci) 5" eiirep

crxeSfiflei'

x^P'^^^ ridivres,

Ti vedrepov aOprjcretav

^X^^> iifeiySfievui 66pov avriKa Kayxo-^^f>''''res,

XtlGSfievoi

Tov KpSaOev tir^v

(TTifiiris,

5' els

&Kpov 'iKuvrai

fvirKaveos

6rip6s

re iravaloXov ew^v,

aiirlx' 6 fifv OpciffKei ira\diXT)S airh 07jpr)T^poy,

oiKTpa jUO\' vKaKSuv, Kexo-pripi-^vos f^oxa

OvjjlSv.

The poet concludes

mountain

this part of his description

with a singularly

beautiful simile of a bare-footed little damsel in joyful search of

violets, (discovered

by

their grateful odour,

and plucked

for

the decoration of her head,) with which she returns singing to the

home of her peasant parents

&s Kvvhs
IolvOt] 6viJ.hs

Bpacrvs. aiirap eiraKrrjp

KOI /xaXa )uv Gdvovra fiirtffdfievos reXafnuffi,

KayxaXoiop TtaKii'opaos

fBr] fieS' ofiiKov eralpuv.

The

biKTva

and

apKves, the

SeT/xa TroXvxpoov of the

feathered line,

and the other instruments of the savage chase, combine to secure the
ursine quarry.

See Oppian. Cyneg.

iv. vs.

354 ad

vs.

424.

1.

close-mouthed hound, probably, with

much

of the pugnacious disposition of

our

first class,

added to his sagacity.

prey,

Many

of the limehound tribe, at least those

used in
spirit

trailing after fierce

so,

must have had a strong dash of the same daring

not

however, the uncrossed Umbrian and Gelonian.

272
Having already noticed

APPENDIX.
the

wary employment of

the

mute

finder

to search out the lair of animals at the subsequent proceedings.^

obnoxious to the chase,

let us

look
set,

When
the

the nets

and snares were

the
it

game found, and

That
this

started

by

Canes ductores, the attendants,

?.t

seems, slipped the latrant pack, which were held in couples

hand.

was the ordinary routine

others.

is

proved by Xenophon,
of Scillus does

Lucan, Seneca, and

not, indeed,

The Greek sportsman

first

say that the dog

slipped should be

mute,

but

merely quick-scented.
lity of closeness in

Lucan, however, particularly states his qua-

the lines of his Pharsalia, where he likens the

naval tactics of Octavius, " Illyricze custos Octavius undee," to the

wily stratagems of a huntsman preparing

for

the

attack of his

game
LucaniPliarsal. L. IV. 437.

Sic

dum

pavidos formidine cervos

:

Claudat odorata; metuentes aera pennse

Aut

dura dispositis attollat retia varis

Venator, tenet ora levis clamosa Molossi;

Spartanos Cretasque ligat; nee creditur

ulli

Sylva cani, nisi qui presso vestigia rostra

Colligit, et praeda nescit latrare reperta,

Contentus tremulo monstrasse cubilia

loro.

and Seneca implies the same,

Senecse Hippolyt. Act. I. 30.
at vos laxas

Tacitis canibus mittite habenas

Teneant acres lora Molossos,

Et pugnaces tendant Cressse
Fortia trito vincula collo.

At Spartanos (genus

est

audax

Wase's
Illustrations,

1.

" The hunting used by tbe ancients was much

is

like that
at force,

way which

is at

pre-

sent taken with the Raindeare which

seldome hunted

or with hounds, but

&c.

c. vi. p. til.

onely drawne after with a blood-hound, and forestall'd with nets and engines.
did they with
all

So

beasts

and therefore a dog

is

never commended by them for

his layre,

opening before hee hath by signcs discover'd where the beast lyeth in

as

by

their

drawing

stifle

our harbourers are brought to give right judgment.

There-

fore I

doe not finde that they were curious in the rausique of their bounds, or in a

composition of their kcmiell and pack, cither for dccpenesse or lowdnesse, or sweet-

nesse of cry like to us,"

Sec.

1'1'F.

N l)l\.

273

Aviduiiujue fernc) nudu cautus

Propriore liga.

Vcniot tempiis

Cum
Nunc

latratu cava saxa sonent

demissi nare eagaci

Captent auras, lustraque presso

Quarant

rostro.'

1. t))j

The Canis

ductor, or lime-hound of the middle ages, the ffxfii^aar^s and ynivv-

of ancient glossaries,

"

qui odorisequa nare spelaja ferarum, et diverticula depreto, if

Lendit," was strongly allied

not identical with, the Sleut-hound of Scotland,

the blood-hound, lyme-dog, or limer (from the lyam or leash with which he was led)

of authors, employed in the pursuit of animals of chase, and the discovery of murders

and ambuscades.

See the Glossaries of Spelman and Ducange, in voce.

Skinner defines the

Limmer "

Hybris,

i.

e. canis

vilior

ex cane sagace venalico

Etymolog.
Ling. Anglic.

cum Molosso

copulato prognatus,"

and

such probably was the parent stock of this

much-famed dog.

than the Sleut-hound " propter velocitatem

Tiie Lorarius of Caius

must have been a more nimble cmimal

et gravius feram urget, et citius capit."

De

Canibus

Britannicis
Libellus.

The Lymer
of aiUC,

is fully

treated of in

c.

XX. et seqq.

De Langley's curious manuscript intitled iJHagSlcr Much also will be found relative to him in the Book of
and Blome
of
:

Vcnatioius
Cervina; Leges

St. Alban's, Fouilloux, Turberville,

and he

is

particularly described

by

L. H.

the Latin poet of Caen, under the

title

" Canis
is

armillaris."
:

The

following portrait by the poet of Barga

worthy of exhibition

Ille

qiiidem multa virtute insignis, et usu

si

P. A. Bargjei Cyneg. L. v.
est,

Vcnaudi, saltum

quando ingressus apertum

trahit.

Evinctus loro dominum

Atque ubi signa

Invenit, aut auras acer persentit odoras,

Pergit iter, rostrum et pressa vix

tollit

ab herb^.

Hue

illuc
:

volvens oculos, et singula solers

Scrutatur

donee subter virgulta latentem

Conspexit leporem, et constrata cubilia fronde.

Turn vero gressum caudi blanditus, et ore

Accelerat,

montemque omnem

latratibus implet.

He

is

the " Praevius

it

loro catulus devinctus " of Vaniere's Praediura Rusticuni,

L. XVI.

Great, however, as was his celebrity in the sporting field of the classic and
till

middle ages, and even

a century and a half ago,

syrchand

to

and

fra.

G. Douglas's
Palace of

To hunt

the harte, the bare, the da, the ra,

Honour.
the Limier, in a state of pure blood, is considered almost extinct.

274
Hitherto
dogs, most

APPENDIX.
we have
said nothing of the race of sagacious hunting-

commonly known by

the

name of hounds,^

the Petronius

of Gratius,2 the 'Ayao-trevs of Oppian, and the Segusian of Arrian,'

The Petronius belongs

Gratii Cyneg.
V8.

to the family of fleet sagacious

at te leve si

hounds

qua

199.

Tangit opus, pavidosque juvat compellere dorcas,

Aut

versuta sequi leporis vestigia parvi

Petronios (sic faraa) canes, volucresque Sicambros,

Et pictam macula. Vertraham delige

falsa.

Ocyor

aifectu mentis piunaque cucurrit,

Sed premit inventas, non inventura latentes

Ilia feras
;

quas Petroniis bene gloria constat.

We here see the distinction between

opened as soon as they
roused,
is

the harrier and greyhound, the

former running on scent, the latter on sight.*

hit

That the Petronii

it

upon the

trail

of their game, before

was

much

regretted

by the poet

Ejusdem
vs.

Quod

si

maturo pressantes gaudia lusu

207.

Dissimulare feras tacitique accedere possent

Minsli?ei

1.

Hound

is

sometimes applied

to all dogs, as if

Minsliew's and Junius's derivation

:

Emend,
voce.

in

of the term were correct

kvu'iSiov

dim. a kvcov

but in England the term most

commonly

signifies a

hunting-dog, to which sense the A. S. huntian, hent-an, to pur-

sue, to search after, affords a

2.

more probable

root.

The etymology

of the term Petronius

is

not of easy solution.

By

critics it

has
this

been fancifully derived from the firnmess, strength, and hardness of the feet of
variety of

dog

in consequence of

which he was enabled to run over rough and rocky

Gesner mentions a tributary stream of the
Spelman, in
his Glossary, gives
;

Hist. Nat.

ground without injury

kvuv

tvirovs.

L. 1.255. Gloss. Arch. p. 114. Ejusd. p. 7.

Tiber called Petronia, " quod per petras fluat."

Peirunculus as a synonym of Petronius, citing the above passage of Gratius

and

under Acceptor, explains Petrunculus

Spanish use Perro, says Wase, as their
3.

in

a marginal note by

" a

bracket."

The

Wase's

illus-

trations.

common

appellation of a dog.

Arrian. de Van.
c. III. in not.

Schneider substitutes 'Eyovcriai

e|, sex.

for 'Eyovfflat, (spirilu tnutato)

the Latin term

them unto,

being Segusii, as
4.

^.eyovclai, Blancard.
for

" Greyhounds are onely

;

the coursing of

all

sorts of

wilde beasts by main

Bwiftnesse of foot

they doe not any thing more than their eies govern
all

being led by a natural instinct or hatred which they beare to

The Countrey
Farme, by G. Markhara.

beasts."

" Hounds

sorts of wilde

are tliose

which by vertue of their

scents, smells, or noses,

do

find out all

manner of wilde beasts," &c.

See the distinctions of

the two races ad-

mirably drawn by G. Markham, p. 673. of Surflet's version of La Maison Rustique.

APPENDIX.
lllis

275
liabetis,

omnc docus, quod nunc, Metagontes,

;

Constaret sylvis

sed virtus irrita

damno

est

Herein, however, they strikingly resemble their modern representatives

;

for,

with Ducange, I readily grant that the Canes Petronii

"

ii

sunt quos vulgfk chiens courans appellamus."

Whoever has

heard the din of the fox or hare-chase,

whilst the babbling echo mocks the hounds,

Repljing
shrilly to the

Titus Androni'^

well-tuned horns,

'

As

if

a double hunt were heard at once,

will grant that

no Petronian pack could have been more noisy on

the

trail

than their modern representatives.

The Britannus sagax,

,

"

the

hound sagacious on the tainted

^/^

green,

next clamis our attention.

Of

the Britannus bellicosus

Pope's Essay on Man.

we

have already spoken under the

appear to have been known

first class.

The

earlier cynegetical
:

writers are silent on the subject of British hounds

in Italy
till

nor do they

towards the decline of the

into Celtic

Roman

empire

when, having been introduced

in

Gaul,

their merits

became gradually known

southern Europe.

And
Encyclop6die
sur les Cbasses,

here, in spite of the

French encyclopedists, (the copyists of Messieurs

D'Yauville and Le Verrier de la Conterie,)

who

gratuitously assume

" qu'en general

les

Anglois n'ont pas autant de noblesse que beaux chiens Francois, " and that where the breed is improved,
les chiens

P*

^'^^'

as they allow
to

it

to

be

in

some

cases, the amelioration

is

attributable

Norman
;

crosses,

we must, with our native

fair

poet, claim the

palm

for Britain

In thee alone,
Is

land of liberty!

Somervilie.

bred the perfect hound, in scent and speed

unrivall'd, while in other climes
fails, a

Chace, B.

i.

As yet

Their virtue

weak degenerate

race

By
by

name, British hunting-dogs (as

distinct

from the pugnacious

class) are

mentioned by the poets of Carthage and Anazarbus alone;

the former,

where singing the

praises of difterent canine breeds,

;

'

the merits of the blood of distant countries

276
Nemesian. Cyneg. vs. 123.

APPENDIX.
Sednon Spartanos
Pascendum
tantucn,
:

tantumve Molossos

catulos

divisa Britannia mittit

;

Veloces,' uostrisque orbis venatibus aptos

by the

latter, in the

conclusion of his

first

cynegetic, vs. 467, here-

after cited.

Of Nemesian's "

veloces," probably not of the saga-

cious class, I shall, in the sequel, speak.

In the absence of any

not consider him indi-

assigned habitat for the Petronius,

may we

genous

of Britain 1~

Our happy

isle

has ever been famous for excel-

lent breeds of hunting-dogs, for skilful sportsmen,

fleet

and horses both

and patient of the chase.

All the Celtic nations indeed, and

to the

our ancestors

among

the rest, were passionately addicted

diversions of the field, considering the prosecution of such laborious

callings a kind of apprenticeship

and

initiation for war.

Thence the

superiority of the Celtic breeds of sporting-dogs,

and more especially

of the Britannus sagax and Britannus bellicosus.

perhaps, the former

With

the latter,

may have been

sent to Italy

by the resident
kennels

Procurator Cynegii, as worthy of admission into

for at this early period I believe there

Roman

were only these two native

In the
field of battle, in

varieties of the canine race in

Britain.

public spectacles, and in the wolf and boar-chases, the bellicosus,

the rival of the truculent Epirote, stood pre-eminent
:

and
*'

in

the

ordinary hunting of timid and fugacious quarry, the hound

naribus

1. It is

mj

opinion that these veloces were greyhounds,

soil, into Britain,

which iiaving been exto Italy

;

ported from Gaul, their native

were thence again sent

and therefore
apphcation

have notliing

to

say ahout them here.

it

The passage

is

not of easy

some
some

commentators interpreting
to another
:

as having reference to one variety

of hound, and

Ovid. Metam. L, III. vs. 255.

pars invetiit utraque causas.

See some further remarks under the Vertragus of Class

2.

III.

Of what

country were the Canes Petronii indigenous?

Vlitius claims

them,
re-

without proof, for Belgium

port

denies

all

knowledge of them

to Italy,

beyond mere

unceremoniously dissalluws the pretensions of Gaul and,

But the
latter, in

for reasons equally

inade<iuale, those of Britain.

my

opinion, has as well-founded a

claim to the breed as Belgium.

1> 1'

EN

I)

277
For hideousness of
;

utilis,"

acquired an oarly

name and

character.'

aspect, and ugliness of shape, both

were remarkable

Si

non ad speciera, mentiturosquc decores

:

Graiii
:

Cyneg.

Protiniis

biTc

una

est catulis jactura Britannis

vs. 177.

notification of Ovid's contemporary,

which may be interpreted

of the sagacious with as

much

truth as of the pugnacious sorts.

Modern

ingenuity has taught British hounds of chase to pursue

many
culi

varieties of prey.

" Alius

leporis, alius vulpis, alius cervi,

J. Caii de Cauibus Britau.

Libellus.

alius platycerotis, alius taxi, alius lutraj, alius mustelae, alius cuni-

tantum odore gaudet."

for

differ,

adaptation to

The dog does not himself necessarily and possibly, the old different game
;

English Talbot was the parent stock, whence

all

the sub-varieties, at

present found in the kennels of Great Britain, originally sprung,"

modified in shape and character by judicious breeding, and careful

management

as to quarry

1.

Under the Canis

veiiaticus sagax,

ferarum indugator

et sectator, the

primary

Synopsis

Me-

definition of

Ray, we may place

of

the

modern sub-varieties; tbe Sanguinarius stu

of Caius, and Venaticus

thodica Animalium Quadru-

furum deprchensor

Ray, tbe Leverarius

minor of Ray.
Sleuth-hound, of
;

pedum.

The Sanguinarius,
Gesner's Appendix
;

or blood-hound, is tbe Canis Scoticus, ane

briefly therein described

from Hector Boethius

to

Jind

answering

to the Inductor of the Classical ages

more nearly tban

faithfully

any other ancient type.

He
nor

is is

beautifully described

by Somerville, and

by Cains, and Holinslied

Tickell's sketch, in his fragment on hunting, unworthy of perusal.

The second

sub-variety of the British

hound of chase, the Leverarius,

harrier or

fox-hound, (" sunt ex his," says Caius, "qui duos, ut vulpera atque leporem, variatis
vicibus sequi student,")
is the Canis Scoticus sagax, vulgb dictus ane Rache of " the racche the whiche that men clepen the Rennyng hounde "
c.

Gesner's Appendix
of the

iHagsttr of (TJamc,

xim.

fo.

62.

Of

the third sub-variety I shall presently speak under the Agasseeus.

is referred to

For further particulars the reader and entertaining

portraits

Gervase Markham's

clear, accurate,

Coiintrey

of" the slow," "the middle-sized," and "nimble hounds,"

Contentments,

copied by this laborious compiler from the earlier work of

Duke Edmund

of York,

Booke

r.

c. i.

above
2. I

cited.

He may

also consult

Ducange's Canis

liitrnhilis.

Glossar. in voce.

am happy

to refer to the

Historian of Manchester, in corroboration of this

tail

opinion.

Skinner derives the name of the Talbot from the position of his
reflex^ prasditus, credo ab

JOtyniolog.

" Canis caud&

A.

S,

Tagl, nobis Tail, cauda,

et

Buiun

Liug. Anglic.

extra, ultra, foras

3.

"
!

Ancient sportsmen were equally aware with

their

modem

descendants of the

278
Somerville's

APPENDIX.
strong, heavy, slow, but sure,

Chace, B.

i.

Whose

ears down-hanging from his thick round head.

Shall sweep the morning dew ; whose clanging Awake the mountain echo in lier cell, And shake the forest the bold Talbot kind Of these the prime, &c.
:

voice

The hounds of Theseus would be

correctly placed, from the de-

scription of our great dramatic poet, under the old English breed.

With

it

they have more points in

;

common

than with their fabled

progenitors

Midsummer
Night's Dream.

My hounds
So

are bred out of the Spartan kind,

flew'd, so sanded,

and

their

heads are hung

;

With
Slow

ears that

sweep away the morning dew

Crook-knee 'd, and dew-lap'd,

in pursuit
;

like Thessalian bulls;

but match'd in mouth like bells,

Each under each.

cry

more tuneable

Was

never halloo'd

to,

nor cheer'd with

kom,

In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly.

The vigorous and

fleet

Leverarius being a supposed representative

of some ancient types, I cite the masterly picture of Somerville for

the purpose of comparison with the classic poets of the Chase
Somerville's
Cliace, B.
i.
:

See there with countenance blithe,

And

with a courtly grin, the fawning hound

;

Salutes thee cowering

his wide opening nose

his large sloe-black eyes
J03'
;

Upwards he
Melt
in soft

curls,

and

blandishments, and humble

His glossy skin, or yellow-pied, or blue,

In lights or shades by nature's pencil drawn,
Reflects the various tints
;

his ears

and legs

necessity of keeping hounds,

when once entered, steady

to their particular

game.

Plutarch
field

(irpl iroKvirpayixoavvTis)
:

alludes to the attention they paid to this point of

discipline

ol

Kwrjyol Toits c/cvAa/cas ovk itcaiv iKxpetreffOai ko2 StdKeiv iracrav

avaKpovovai, KaQaphv aiiToiv koX &KpaTov (pvKar-

oS/AT/f,

aWa Tois

pyrripcriv 'd\Kov(n Kal

Xenophon

Tovies th ala6r}pLov (Trlrh uiKelov epyov,

Xenophon, passionately enamoured of the

riot,

De

Venat.

hare-chase, would not allow his harriers to turn aside, and run
Sia<p6opa

after foxes

C. VI.

yap ^eyiWij,

Kal iv T<f ^i6vTi

06 ttots irdpiiaiv

it is

fatal to their steadi-

ness.

APPENDIX.
Fleckt here and
tlicre, in
;

279

gay enamell'd pride,

his
in

Rival the speckled pard

rush-grown

tail
;

OVr his broad back On shoulders clean,

His round

bends

an ample arch

upright and firm he stands

cat-foot, straight

hams, and wide-spread thighs,

And

his low-dropping chest, confess his speed,

hill,

His strength, his wind, or on the stecpy

Or far-extended

plain

in

every part
skill

So well-proportion'd, that the nicer

Of Phidias

himself can't blame thy choice.

The Talbot, whose

repute

portrait

is

also sketched
is

by

the Latin poet of

p. A. Bargnei Cyneg. v.

Barga, as well as by the authors cited,

at present fallen into dis-

his slowness of foot being scarce

compensated by

his keen-

ness of scent.

The

fleeter Leverarius,

whose consimilarity with the

Gratian Petronius almost approaches to identity, was apparently

unknown
the elder

for he holds it quite impossible (like to M. A. Biondi Xenophon in regard to the fair capture of the hare with his
;

aXuTreKibes at forct) that

any hounds should have speed

sufficient to

De

Canibus et
bellus.

run

down a
for

fox, without the aid of wily instruments of destruction. ^

But

the largest varieties of Somerville's last picture are found a the arch-felon, " vulpem captare

match

dolosam,"

the

only

approach to the modern mode of pursuing whom, which the classics

afford,
is

in the fourth

book of Oppian's Cynegetics, where the

Kvves

aoWkes are evidently a

pack of hounds, though we look

in vain for

the well-mounted hunters

KepZii
5'

ovre \6xoi(nv

aXdifftfios,

ovre fipSxoiffiv,

Cyneg. iv
vs. 448.

ovre

\lt>ois' Setvi]

yap

iirtcppoffwiytn vorjffai,

1.

The
in

difficulty of

capturing the fox

is

indicated, according to Bochart,

by mylho-

loo-ists,

the fable of the Teumesian fox, the " altera pestis" of Bceotian Thebes,

Hierozoicon L. III. c. XIII.

Ovid. Met. L. VII. 763.

which, in the song of Sir Arthur Gelding,

wrought
Him
That
all

the bane of

many a wight.

The

countrie folke did feed

Golding's
Ovid's

with their cattle and themselves, untill (as was agreed)

the youthful! gentlemen that dwelled thereabout
fields

Metam. Booke seventh.

Assembling, pitcht their corded toyles the champion

throughout.

But

net, ne toyle

was none so hie that could his wightnesse stop,

He mounted
And even
as

over at his ease the highest of the top.

let slip their

Then every man

grewnds, but he them

in daliance

all

oustript

nimbly as a bird

from them whipt, &c.

280
Seiv^
S'

APPENDIX,
avre Kd\ua Ta/xeiv,
virh S' (ifjifiara

Kvaai,

Ktxi irvKiVolffi ^6\ui(rti'

oAkt^tJcoi

Oavdrow
ap' eKeivoi

aWa Kvves iiiv &eipav ao\\4es,

oi/S'

KOI Kparepoi wep idvres avainaneL Safida-avro.

Ill

no case does he

fall

an easy prey to the disturbers of hiscunningly-

wrouaht latibulum
C^neg.
vs.
III.
juaA.' apri'ios

iv irpairiSecrai,

450.

Kol irivvri] vaiet itvudrois ivl (paiXeioiatv,

fTTTaTTvAovs ol^affa SSfiovs, TprjTds t6 KaKias

rr]\6d' air' aW7]\cov,
a/xcpl OvpTj KoxSciii'Tes
ixi] fjLiv

BripiiTopes

&vdpes
dyoovrai'

vnh

.Gpox'SefftriJ'

apyaXir] yevveffcri Kal avria Sriplffaadai

Qjiptxi t' apeiorepoiffi,

Kal aypevrfipffi Kvviaaiv.

Even when, with

no
Martial. Epigr. L. X. Ep. 37.
little

the din of huntsmen

and hounds, driven into

still

nets,

the entangled felon, according to Martial,

fights

it

out, to the

discomfiture and injury of his canine antagonists;

Hie olidam clamosus ages
in retia

vulpem,
*

Mordebitque tuos sordida prajda canes ...

Identical with the least of the

hound

tribe of the British isles, the

Canis venaticus minor of Ray's Synopsis, and Charleton's Onomasticon, is the

Oppianic Agassaeus ; the derivation of whose name has

iHagstrr of
antf.
c. VIII. fo.

1.

"

Men

taken

hem

withe boundes," says

De
hem

Langley, "withe greihoundes,

withe his teethe as the mascles

43.

withe haies and withe pursnettis, but he kitteth

of the wolf dooth but nat so sone."
2. Lonicer's ratio vulpinandi in his
'

venatus et aucupium' shows in

:

its

accom-

panying most spirited engraving the foxchase of three cenluries ago

Venatus et

Callida versuto capitur stratagemate vuipes

Aucupium per
J.

Novit enim dubias mille dolosa

vias,

&c.

A. Lonicer.
For the merits of the fox-chase, and
Elyot's
'

its

" commoditie of exercise," and

for

see Sir

Thomas

The Governour,' Book

i. c.

xviii.

" the

flying of this chase," see

Sliort Treatise of

Hunting, compyled

for the

Delight of Noblemen and Gentlemen,

be states " that the author hereof

by

Sir

Thomas Cockaine, Knight

wherein

hath killed a foxe distant from the covert where hee was found foureteene miles aloft
the ground with hounds,"

a run that would be deemed

pretty good, I suppose, even

by the modern descendants of any Nimrod knight.

AIM'F.

NDIX.
little.'

281

puzzled Brodajus and ofhor classic commentators not a

the hint that 'Aya(T(Tfi)s
nia,

With

Hmdit^ns in
p. 4o.

may
is

ho connected with As;assa of Macodothe Tliraciau /Igessus, and

Agasus a port of Apulia,

no reason

Agalhia a

city of Phocis,
his

alleged

why

a British doj^ should deduce

name from

countries and places so remote.

in this

Of

the existence of
Ritteralmsius
"'

such a tiny hound of chase

to have been aware.

country, Rittershusius seems not

British dogs,

he remarks, are exceedingly

4-*.'
ii.

'

keen-scented, but he cannot divine

being,
in his

why

called small, fiawv yeros,

days at

least,

of great size.

Brodasus, too, ignorant of

any other than the Britannus of Claudian, cannot reconcile the

**

Anglici canes prodigiosee statura; " of this poet, and his

own

experience, with the portrait of the Oppianic 'Ayaaffevs."

It
is

scarce necessary to observe that the dog in question has no

affinity

with the Agasajus of Dr. Caius,

who

very absurdly borrows,

for his gazehound, a

name

previously engaged by a totally different

dog

as if to gratify his etymological

Agaszeus, a gaze, a

gazehound " neque

mania by connecting the terms

enim odoratu, sed proiste

spectu attento et diligenti feram persequitur

canis

gazehound)

(Agasaius, a
qudd
J. Caii

etsi

non sum nescius etiam apud Latinos Agasa^i vocareperiri"

bulum

inter

canum nomina

" Agasa^um

nostri abs re

de Can,

hitento sit in feram oculo vocant."

Camden

has fallen into the same error with Caius, and confounded

1.

Nor

is

the etymology of the English terra Beagle of more easy solution. Skinit

ner derives

from the French bugler, mugire

and Menage thinks, as the hounds

origin.

were sent from Britain into Gaul, the name may be of British
derivation
is

second

proposed by the former philologist,

cani piccoU

founded on

the

diminutive

Skinner Ftvmolog. Angli*'^"*

stHture of the dogs

Ital.

Canes miuores.

May
some

not a third possible

source of the

name be found

in the barbarous root bigla, vigilia, excubiae,

from the

Greek
in

Bi'yAa, a Latino

vigilia?

The watchful

tricks of

of our terrier-beagles

a rabbit-warren, and Oppian's grapliic sketch of the 'Ayatrffeus, his wiles, &c.

favour the notion.

2.

Janus Vlitius, who, as Wase remarks,

"owns England

to

have been the school

from which he took the dictates of his learned commentaries," relates the following
anecdote of the tiny beagles of his day
exiles, et parvi, ut tres simul
:

" Sunt enim

agassa.>i

illi

adeo aliquando
ii

Venatio Novautiqua.

leporem in cubili suo invadentes viderim invitos

prsedl

su^, cui mordicus inha;rebant, nihilominus eluctante relinqui.

Et ipse binos nutrivi

adeo delicatos

et tenellos, ut

manu

un;-.

totos circuniambirem.

Sed

hi

commcnsales

potius, et lusui magis,

quam ad venatum

idonei habentur."

2 N

282

APPENDIX.
;

the Agasseus of Oppian with the gazehound of Britain

and even

Ray has made

Synopsis Ani-

the gazehound a variety of the Canis venaticus sagax,

distinguished from his supposed consimilars of the

malium.
Coiintrey

running on sight of his "

game " qui aspectu

i

same family by
i
i

feras insequitur."
,

ConI.

From

the following portrait,

T/f compared with that drawn by Marki

tentnients, B.

y^^^^ ^^, ^^^^ decide the identity of the Agassaeus

and Beagle

Oppian. Cyneg.
'

tan

5e'

ri

aKvKaKwv ytvos

&\Ktfj.ov Ixvevriipuv,
efifiev' ootSTjj"

'*

**

Pathv, arap fieydXris avrd^iov

Tous rpdcpev &ypLa cpvXa Bperavwv alo\ovwTuv,

avTap

iiriKXifiriv <T<pas

^kyaaaaiovs 6v6/irivav

rwv ^T0(

fityedos jxfu o/xoiiov ovridavolai

Tpairf^riecrffi KVPttrffi,
ofj-fiacri

KIx^ois oiKiSioun

yvphv, a.(rapK6TaTov, XaffiSrpixov,

vwOiS'

a\\' ouixf(Tffi TtSSas KeKopvdfievov apya\eotffi,

Koi
Ba/xivo'is

KwoSovcrii' aKax/J-efov lo(j)6poi(n.

iffriv ^Ayacrtrehs,

{i'lveai S'

aZre fiaKicrTa rravf^ox^s

iravdpiffTos, eVel

Kol

(TTifiiT)

Kara ya7av Uvtwv

dXAct Ka\
outt/i'

IfX''""'

fvpffJ'Cai iJ.4ya

5r) ffocphs,

XSfio)V rjepiTjf fji.d\a

cTTjjujf faffflai

ivrpiiiv.

Let the reader compare these

little

pet-like,

weakly, crooked, lank,

wire-haired, dull-looking creatures, keen however, and excellent of

nose, with his

own

experience of the beagle's type and properties,

and the representations of authors.^

The poet

gives

some amusing

instructions for breaking

in

the

puppy of the Agassaeus

EJHsd. V8. 489.
wpivdjj, (ppt/xda

avTap Sy'
T6

o7i|/a

Xayoof'iTjs vir' avTfjirjs,

Txria

/LiacTTe'iiei

re Karb, x^ovhs, k. t. \.

1.

clever representation of a pack of small, long-eared, beagle terriers at their

is

wonted sport of rabbit-catching

given by J. Stradanus, in his 38lh plate, with an

explanatory quatrain by K. Dufflaeus

Venationes Ferarum.

Callidus effossis latitare cuniculus antris

-x

generare solet.

Verum

persaepe catelli
:

Anglorum
Illusum:

celeres fallunt pecus

ore prehendunt

prsdam venatorique

niinistrant.

A VP

F,

N U1X

283
in

comparing
her
first

his restlessness to that of a

young woman

travail with

child,
0)1 8*

Sre Tis Kovprf ZiKarov

irepi ju^i/a <Tf\i\vrii

Ejusd. vs. 493.

irporroTdKOS \oxill(riv

iir' wSli>e<T(Ti rinrfiffa,

k. t. \,

The
the

praises of the little beagle have been celebrated in

Greek and
is

Latin, verse and prose.

Amongst

the modern poets, he

found
title

in

Album

Dian^e Leporicidae of Jac. Savary, under the

" ululatorum ordo minorum"

placed in the kennels of
insular,

"gens Britain

of
I-'b.

parvis devota feris;"

sufficiently

and

n.

p. 18.

still

marked by her

geographical

position,

and the staunchness of her canine

breed, but, unfortunately for the loyalty of Savary 's

own

country-

men, no longer
spirit

exclusively/ characterized
:

by the

traitorous, regicide

of her inhabitants

Insula quos gignit septein vicina trioni,

Terra canum laudata

Perfidi^,

fide,

damnata virorum

Regisque

sui

execranda cruore, &c.

He

is

also mentioned

by Angelinas Gazaeus

see the Lagographia

we
shall pre-

Curiosa of Paullini.

Of the Greek

portrait of Arrian

sently speak, under the Segusian dog.

It

is

to

Gervase Markham, our " English master of economical

philosophy," as
description of
*'

Wase
the

calls him, that

we

are indebted for the fullest

glove;"

" bred,"

little

beagle, which

may

be carried

in

a man's

says Gervase, " for delight only, being of cuin

rious scents,
tiring,

and passing cunning

their hunting, for the

most part

but seldome killing the prey, except at some strange advan-

tage."

" Their musicke

is

very smalle, like reeds, and their pace Countrey Con-

like their body, onely for exercise,

and not

for slaughter."

*^'

J"^"

^^.

The Segusian dog mentioned by

Arrian, in the third chapter of his

Treatise on Coursing, as a sorry brute, quick-scented, with a pitiful

and dolorous whine, instead of bark

rough and unsightly, and the

entire chapter of his

more high-bred the more ugly

last variety.

I believe to be identical with the

The Bithynian has devoted an

to
is

entertaining and original manual

Kvvei
:

a description of the 'Eyovalat

derived from a Celtic people,^

whose name, he

tells

us,

1.

Cesar places the Segusiani

priiui."

in Gallia Celtica

" Hi sunt extra provinciani trans

Rhodanum

Wljy, then,

may we

not suppose these hounds correctly deno-

Cspsar de B. L. I. 10.

G.

284
amongst

APPENDIX.

whom

they were

first

bred, and held in repute for their

nasal sagacity.

For a
is

full

description of these smaller hounds of

;

Gaul, the reader

referred to the cited chapter

and attached

to

luy translation of the same, he will find a few illustrative notes.

The remarks of Belin de Ballu, in nuni, show strange misapprehension

Aniinadvers. in

his

Animadversiones

in

Oppia-

of the ancient distinctions in the

Oppian.Lj'neg. 1. 373.

Celtic kennels.

The
*'

chiens courans of modern France are not the

vveprpayoi Kvres of the younger

'Ej-yovmai

Xenophon
pili

nor are the latter's

instar
velleris

the

genus canum, quorum

ovium

crispantur," as incorrectly stated

by

this

most learned editor of the

are rather the highs of the

Greek poet of the chase.

present

The Segusians

day

perhaps the bassets, a small variety of terrier-beagle,

used

in rabbit-huntina:.!

Seell.Sleplian, Scliediasm.
IV. 2.

minated by Arrian

wliy may not

Canes

their title

be of local origin, as affirmed by him,

?

rather than connected with tlieir sagacious qualities, as supposed by Vlitius

who

would view them

Canes Inductores

as

Seg^usii vel Secutii

" quia hominera sequentcmducit Inductor," with which the Dutch

Spelman enumerates the synonyms

the

latter

term being applied

to the

annotator hulds the Segusian to be identical.

oi segutius, as seusis, sensius, &c. &c.

See

Gloss. Arch. p. 114. and derives

them a

Du Gauge
Glossal',
ill

sequendo.

Eccard more correctly,

I think, refers to

the

German
&c.

suchen, or rather

Saxon seuken investigare, whence sucker, seuker investigator, and with a Latin
termination, suehius, seucius,
seusius,

secusius,

segusius,
is

The

Spaniards,

according to Wase,
stature, with

''

have a blood-hound which

called

un podenco" of small
Possibly

which they "prick through the woods, or follow any chase."

this

Vlitius

may have had

hound

in his eye

when he

interpreted the

Canes Segusii

as Inductores.

preface to

1.

'there

is

no variety of sagacious dog, no style of hunting,

to

which the prefatory

tlie

Reader.

encomiums

of

Wase

are

more

strict!}'

applicable,

(however quaint the language in

"
It is

whicli they are conveyed,) than the beagle tribe, and their various chases.

admirable," says this friend of

Edmund
bim

Waller, " to observe the naturall instinct of

it

enmity and cunning, whereby one beast being, as

were, confederate with man,

by
is

whom
itselfe

he

is

maintained, serves

in his designes
fly

upon others.

curious

mind

exceedingly satisfy'd to see the game

before him, and after that hath withdrawn

it

from his sight,

to

see the whole line where

hatii pass'd

over with

all

the

doublings and cross-works, which the amazed beast hath made, recover'd again, and
all

that

maze wrought out by

it

the intelligence wliich he holds with dogs

this is

most

pleasant, and, as

were, a master-piece of natural magique," &c.

15. i. c.

See also Gervase

Markham's Countrey Contentments,

iv.

A 1* ! E N D X
I

285

CANES VENATICI.

Class

III.

CANES CELERES.
H<E pedibus
celeres.

Claudian. de
laud. Stilicou.

This

class, 1

by

far the least

numerous of the three, contains only

;

L.

III.

the Vertragusor Vertraha,- and possibly the Sicamber

of

whom

have nothing to communicate

of the latter

being neither mentioned

If he be, as has

by Xenophon, Pollux, Oppian,

nor Neraesian.

been supposed, a Belgic hound, he cannot be the boar-hound of Silius

Italicus, without losing his claim to admission

on our present

file.

No

Can is Venaticus can be

his

enrolled here,

who

runs otherwise than

on sight of

game

it is

his characteristic

property

1.

The

swift-footed dogs
first

of our
;

tliird

class are included,

we may

suppose, in

M.

F. Cuvier's

division

having the head

much

elongated, the parietal bones

insensibly approaching each other, and the condyles of the lower jaw placed in a

horizontal line with the upper cheek teeth.

2.

Having had an opportunity of consulting Conrad Heresbach's "Thereutice"

since the earlier part of this

work was printed

off, I
:

epitomizer's description of the greyhound type

leporarios et emissarios vocant ac vertagos;

" aliud genus Venaticorum, quos hos quserimus, qui corpore procero,
sint

may here

subjoin the learned

Thereutices l^orapendium,

ag^li et expedite, cruribus prioribus excelsioribus, capite longiusculo,

neque carnoso

sed

levi, cruribus

brevibus atque erectis, oculis niicantibus, pectore toroso, casteria

expeditis membris, nisi quod clunes latiusculos habentes raagis probantur, et caud^

long^ et

levi,

non

hirsuta.

Vidimus tamen e Norwegia

et insult Thulje adductos

pemicitate non vulgari, qui etcauda et corpore toto villosi erant.

sagacitatem sed ad velocitatem usurpantur.
pernicitate et robore

Veriim

hi

non ad
siuiul et

Ejus generis sunt Britannici,

valentes, nisi

quod corpore vasto,

cervis persequendis magis

idonei."

The

latter are doubtless

Caledonian deer greyhounds.

3. This property, I allow, is impaired in certain

modern individuals

of the Celtic

family, hereafter mentioned, in

whom

the admixture of nasal sagacity indicates im-

purity

of blood,

and degeneracy from the parent stock.

The

lines

of Gratius,

descriptive of the greyhound's speed, and keenness of vision, have been already cited

under the Sagacious

class

Englished by Wase, (totidem versibui, the good man's

:

only poetical merit) they run thus

chuse the grayhound py'd with black and white,

He
runs more swift then thought or winged flight;
in view, not hunts in traile,
faile.

A Poem

of

But courseth yet

In which the quick Petronians never

Hunting, &c. Enf;li'>hed by C. Wase, Gent. 1054.

286
Gratii Cyneget.
^'-

APPENDIX.
premit inventas, non inventura latentes
Ilia feras.

^0^-

and therefore the Belgian

Canis occultos

agitat

cum

Belgicus apros
:

must be banished from

hound.

hence to the sagacious class

amongst the

inductores of which division, I have already placed him as a lime-

The
in the

best description of the type of the present class will be found

copious

Manual of Arrian,

c. iv. v.

and

vi.

introduced by the
r?/r

memorable summary
anap

at the conclusion of c. ill.

^e Ibeav, kuXov
k"a<

Ti "^ij7]hu. etai, Kara, re tovs 6(j)daXfiovs ai

yeyraioTarai avTwv

Kara to

auifxa

Kal rt]V Tpi^a Ka\ Ti]v

f]

ypoaV

ovtid tois re TroiKiXais eirardel

TO TroiictXoy, Kai ocrais olttX^

i\hi(TTov

Kai avTi], Kai kaTiv XP^*^ ecriv a7ro(TriX/3et

deafta avbpi dnpevTiK^.

And
goes
;

the following of Nemesian,

who

may

be designated the poet of the pedibus celeres, as Gratius of the

bellicosi, is correct as far as it

Nemesian.
Cyneget.
vs.

Elige tunc cursu facilem, faciiemque recursu,

jjon humili de gente canem.

lOG.

...,., Sit rigidis, multamque gerat sub pectore lato

Costarum sub
fine decenter

Sit cruribus altis,

prona carinam,

QuEe sensim rursus

sicc&. se coiligat alvo,

Renibus ampla

satis vadis,

diductaque coxas,

Cuique nimis molles

fluitent incursibus aures.

Nor must
to

I omit the beautiful and minutely faithful portrait of the

it

Greek poetof Anazarbus, though aware that

has been appropriated

a variety of the ware sagaces, and that Rittershusius does not

allude to any supposed resemblance to the Celtic dog in his

tary on

commenerudite
the

Oppian.

Bearing

in

mind, however, that

this

scholar had only the writings of

Xenophon and Pollux, and

scanty lines of the Faliscian

give

and African poets,

;

to aid his attempt to

name and place

nare sagaces,

to a doubtful animal

had no

authorities to

consult, particularly dedicated to the pedibus celeres in opposition to

the

to

whose cause, and that of the

bellicosi,

the

Greek Cynegetica were exclusively, and the Latin principally confined, (for the treatise of

Arrian was at that period undiscovered

in

the Vatican,)

and

therefore could not assimilate the Oppianic

;

hound
this

to the Celtic type

am

not at

all

surprised that he has left

in

resemblance unnoticed.

Subsequent commentators following

his footsteps, the Celtic

dog has been as entirely disregarded on Op-

pian 's page, as

if

he had been never admitted on his muster-roll.

APPrNDIX.
The
courser, I

287

am

confident, will recognize

l)is

many

of the features, as

well as the wonted quarry, of

extract;

favourite hound, in the following

which,

if it

cannot be exclusively appropriated to the Ver-

tragus of Celtica, will assuredly admit only the swiftest of the saga-

cious class to a participation of

its

type

fir^KeSauhv Kparephv Sf/xas, &pKiov ijSe Ka.pr]vov,

Kov(pov ivykr)uov, Kvaval (niX^oiev OTrdnrai'

Oppian. Cyneget. i, vs. 401.

Kapxapov, iKTobiov re\4doi

(TTdfjia,

^aia

S'

vrripBev

uijara \eiTTa\4oi(n iripKTreWoipB^ vfievecrcn'

Seip^ fir]Kfdavi], koI ari]Qea vepOe KpaTUia,

ei/pfa'

TO! Trpoadev 5e t'

oM^orepai irJSe taroiv,

bpQoreviis kuKcov ravaol SoAiXT^pees idrol,

cupees wfioirXaTai, irKevpwv iiriKcipcna rapah.^
ocr(j>ies fSffapKoi, fiij irloves'

avrhp Sriade
ovpi].

ffrpicpv^ t' iicrdStSs

re tt4Koi dokix^ffKios

Toloi fxev Tavao'uTLU i(poir\i^oivTO SpSfioicri

SSpKois,

r)5'

i\d<poi(Tiv, a,e?<A6iroSl

re Xa7Cii^.

The advocate of the

long-eared, 1

Celtic

hound may

allege, in support of his in-

terpretation, that such ancient dogs as ran on scent

were more or

less

being so represented on the monuments of antiquity

if

and may ask how the small ears of Oppian's dog,

interpreted of

the sagacious class, are to be reconciled with the representations of

Tempesta, Montfaucon, and others, and the down-hanging ears of

modern Canes Venatici of the keen-nosed class? Again

cian

astheCiliby

was a

perfect adept at versifying with the materials furnished

his predecessors,
it

and certainly made the best use of

their labours, is

not improbable that he should have altogether omitted the Celtic

greyhound, so faithfully portrayed by the younger Xenophon, (with

whose description that of the poet

in

no essential point

differs,)

and

have mentioned two varieties of sagaces and one of

entire neglect of the Vertragus type
?

bellicosi, to the

The

deficiencies, if any, of his classical predecessors

have been

judiciously and tastefully supplied

by the elaborate pen of Bargaeus

1.

Xenophon's

foxite has small ears, (unless with Vlitius

if

we read 5to
stiff

fiaKph,)

and

Arrian's Celt large, down-falliug ears, as

broken

small and
112

ones being deemed

a blemish in the greyhound.

But

iu other respects the ears of the

Oppianic houud
Celtic.

closely resemble Arrian's type, and also Nemesian's

both confessedly

See

Arriau de Veaat.

c. v. 7.

aud Nemesiao. Cyneg.

vs.

288
P. A. Bargffi Cynegel. L. v.

APPENDIX.
Sin autem tete oblectant, qui prEeniia cursu

Certa petunt, celerique fug^ lata a^quora verrunt

Elige quos vultus tristes, demissa(jue cervix

Oruat, et argutum supra slant lumina rostrum

Nigra quidetn, sed quee multo splendore coruscant.

OUis

OS ingens ad tempora

pene

dehiscit,

Lataque frons tenues consurgere suspicit aures.

Ac

veluti coluber frigus perpessus in altis

latebris

Terrarum

hyemes

effugit aquosas,

Moxque

adeo sub vera novo jam sole calente

Exiit, et multo se suscitat improbus sestu,

Ac

si

forte aliquem propius persensit

euntem,

Explicat iuimensos orbes, atque arduus eifert

Cervicem, et rigido

summum

capite aera findit.

Vergat humi propior stomachus, lateque patescat

Pectus
:

et
:

baud

longis insistant cruribus armi'

suis extantia costis

Sublimes

tum prona

Et

lateia, et

lumbis qua jungitur alvus obesis,

Pressa animis calidum ostendant, et viribus acrem.

PrsBcipue clunes inter
Ilia demittant
si stricta

supremos

caudam, quae currat ad imum

Tenuis, ubi extrema vix tandem in parte residat

Et parvuni sese sinuans

deflectat in

orbem.

At

vero tereti pronat vestigia planta.

Quae spatiis digitos nusquara discludat apertis,

Et multucn
Leelapis

solidos paulatim curvet in ungues.

baud aliam formaru mirata vetustas

&c.

Esse

refert,

Let the

kvcjv

KcXtikos of

Anian be

the classic prototype of the

^

modern greyhound

the

Canis Gallicus of Ovid

whose
is

style of

1.

For a beautiful image of the Celtic greyhound the reader

iii.

referred to

Pere

Montfaucon, L'Antiquile expliquee. Tom.

Liv. iv. pi. 176.

A medallion

from the

arch of Constantine exhibits the Emperor Trajan with his huntsmen, accompanied

by
has

a type of

this

dog, the most elegant which antiquity has transmitted to us.

for the

It

been copied on stone

preceding work by Messrs.

Day and Haghe

But
I have

who have
from

added to our embellishments Chrysis and Aura from an ancient gem

Lajlaps
catuli

Tempesta

and some spirited outlines

my

from the antique.

most pleasure

in referring

readers to the genuine Celtic exemplars

the veloces

of the
artists.

Townley

collection of the British

Museum,

faithfully lithographed

by the same

This beautiful group of greyhound puppies, in white marble, was found by Mr. Gavin

Hamilton

in the year 1774, at

Monle Cagnolo,

part of the villa of Antoninus Pius,

A'^ia

near the ancient Lanuvium, beyond the " lucus et ara Dianfe," of the

Appia.

second, nearly similar, was discovered at the same place, and purchased by Visconti

A PP

EN
in

1)

289

coursing
simile

is

sketched to

tlio

life

the well-known, and often-cited

Ui

canis in vacuo leporem

;

cum

Gallicus arvo
ille

Viiiit

et hie

prsedam pedibus petit,

salutem

Ovid. Metam. L. I. vs. 533.

Alter inhajsuro similis, jam jamiiue tenere

Sperat, et extento stringit vestigia rostro
;

Alter in ambiguo

est,

an

sit

deprensus, et ipsis

IMorsibus eripitur; tangentiaque ora relinquit.

As when
Bounds
She

th'

impatient greyhound, slipp'd from

far,

o'er the glebe to course the fearful hare,

Dry den's Ovid's Metara. B. I.

in her

speed does

all

her safetj lay.

And

he with double speed pursues the prey;

for the

Vatican Museum.
is

Of an

earlier date,

however, than these most interesting

groupes,

the medallion

selected as the frontispiece of the present work.

it it

For
till

although the triumphal arch, whence

was

originally copied,

was not erected

about A. D. 300. that arch was a piece of architectural patch-work, made up of the
spoils of earlier structures

its

medallions and principal ornaments being derived from

one 200 years older, commeraorative of Trajan's victories over the Dacians and Parthians,

amongst the former of whom, on

first
;

the authority of Arrian, deer-coursing

was

ao established sport in the beginning of the second century.

or at the very close of the

About the

latter period,

century, the medallion of the frontispiece was probably

if

wrought

whereas the Monte Cagnolo groupes,

executed expressly

for the decora-

tion of Antoninus's villa,

I

were half a century

later.

know

of few other authentic representations of the oviprpayos Kvoiv

unless the
JMorell. T.

varying type of Dian's canine attendant, on antique gems, lamps, coins, relievos,

xv.

&c. (the most beautiful o^whicii

is

on the Sicilian coins of Augustus Cajsar);

'l^ei 6i}p-l]Teipa Trap'

20. 21. &c.

5'

KVUV

Callimach.
II. iu

'ApT/xt5os, 7]T(ST6 0oT)s 2x6 iroMffiTai iyptis,

Delum.
228.

vs.

txviaiv, ovara

avrrj^

dp6a iJ.d\\ altu krotixa Oe^s

i;7ro5e'x0at

6^oKXi)v

..

approach, in any instance, near enougli to the courser's hound to be deemed a likeness

sometimes a

beagle, sometimes a foxite, at other times a greyhound, let the

reader compare the outlines of Beger and

La Chausse, seemingly

of the Celtic type,

with the lop-eared harrier of Visconti and Guattani, (^Dlana ed Ecate combatlono coi
Giganti,) and the prick-eared lurcher of the same authors, {Diana ed Apollo,) and
then decide on the admissibility of the effigy in this place.

Museo Chiara
monti. T. xvii.

T. xviii.
Goltzii

To

the medallion of Vaillant, of small dimensions, but of singular beauty, exhibiting

Numis

a brace of greyhounds in the act of seizing a deer

copied here
isle of

in outline as a vignette

mata Grsciae.
T. xviii.
f.

may be added

four impressions of the

same hound,

in four different attitudes,

most

7. 8. 9. 10.

elegant and characleristic, on coins or medals of the

Cythnus, one of the Cy-

clades; and a stag pursued by a greyhound, in Recueil d'Antiquites,

Tom.

i.

p. 219.

2 o

290

APPENDIX,
O'erruns her at the sitting tura, and licks

His chaps in vain, and blows upon the

flix

She 'scapes, and

for the

neighbouring covert strives.

if

And
Pausanias in
Boeoticis.
c.

gaining shelter, doubts

yet she

lives.

And

again, in the fable

;

of Laelaps, the far-famed

" grewnd " of

XIX.

Bceotia

Ovid. JMetani. L. VII. vs. 781.

Toiler 60 capioque novi spectacula cursus

Qua modo

deprendi,
est

modo
:

se

subducere ab ipso

Vulnere visa fera

nee

liniite callida recto.

In spatiumque fugit; sed decipit ora sequentis,

Et

redit in

gyrum, ne

sit

suus impetus hosti.

:

Imminet

hie, sequiturque pareiu

similisque tenenti

Non
Golding's Ovid's Metain. Seventh booke.

tenet, et vacuos exercet in a'era morsus.

I gat

me

to the

knap

Of

this

same

hill,

and there beheld of

this strange course the hap.

In which the beaste seemes one while caught, and ere a man would thinke.

Doth quickely

give the

grewnd the

slip,

and from his biting

s^hrinke.

And

like a wilie foxe

he runs not forth directly out,

all

Nor makes

a winlas over

the
still

champion

fields about,
lips,

But doubling and indenting

avoydes his enmies

And
To
Doth

turning short, as swift about as spinning wheele he wips,

disappoint the snatch.

The grewnd pursuing

;

at a inch
still to

cote him, never loosing ground

:

but likely

pinch,

Is at the sudden shifted off

continually he snatches

In vaine

for nothing in his

mouth save onely

aire

he catches.

Nor

will the reader of

modern Cynegetica

forget the vivid sketch of

:

Pterelas's course by the Latin poet of

Venusium

J. Darcii

Ve-

Ocyiis insequitur Pterelas, cursuque citato

Intervalla facit
lati

nusini Canes.

decrescere campi.

Jam

propior propiorque rnicat,

rostro,

jam captat

hianti

Surama pedum

jam

terga fugacia stringit.

lUe pavet, flesoque obliquat tramite cursus,

Et dubia trepidans formidine, jamque

Fataque momento

teneri

Se putat, et rursiim tangentis ab ore recedit,

sibi

prorogat, jemula donee

Rostra levis mergat miserando in corpore victor,

Fulmineus
Spina subit

victor,

gemino cui tramite lumbos

&c.

graciles,

The many

portraits of these classical

and semi-classical Cynege-

tica will be fitly closed

with the following elegiac verses on a Canis

APPENDIX.

291

Venatrix, whose characteristic attributes, pathetically written on a

nionumontal stone by an unknown hand, but at once aj)plied by us

to the Celtic type,

exemplify
:

in the

entombed a few of the anecdotes

of Arrian's

Horme

Epitaphium Canis Venatricis.

Gallia

me

genuit,

nomen mihi

divitis

undae

Poeta; Latini Minores.

Conclia dedit, formw noniinis aptus honos

Wernsdorf.

Docta perincertas audax discurrere

silvas,

Tom.

1.

p. 121.

Collibus hirsutas atque agitare feras.

Non

gravibus vinclis

unquam consueta

teneri,

Verbcra nee niveo corpore sasva

pati.

IMoUi namque sinu dumiui dorninajque jacebam,

Et noram in Et
plus,

strato lassa cubare toro.

quam

licuit

muto, canis ore loquebar,

Nulii latratus pertirauere meos.

Et jam

fata subi, partu jactata sinistro,

Quam nunc

sub parvo marmore terra teget.

The

early history of the greyhound

is

confounded with the Epi-

rote, as if they

had a common lineage

from their being

a mistake which has arisen considered equally of Grecian origin whereas the
Fable, however,
Boeotia,i

greyhound has no connexion with ancient Greece.

assigns

them a common descent from the L^laps of

also sprung other dogs of classic fame.

from
:

whom

The

history of this

celebrated hound, and the lineage and geographical distribution of

his descendants, are particularized in the

Cynegeticon of Bargaeus

Ilium autem specie, preestantem animisque saperbum

Cynthia

dilectee dederat

pro munere
:

Nympba:

P. A. Bargiei Cyneget. L. v.

Ipsaque mox juveni JEoMdss

Fulcra
tori, et dulceis

genialia postquain

iterum conjunxit amores,

Jucundumque

sinu fovit coraplexa niaritum.

Cujus ope innunieras sylvis praedatus, et agris

1.

" The

first

greyhound," says Topsel, (translating what Pollux had related of the

Molossian,) " was that of Cephalus, fashioned by Vulcan in Monesian brass, and

History of Fourf"Otea Beasts,

f.

when he

liked his proportion, he also quickened him with a soul, and gave hira to Ju-

piter for a gift,

cris,

who
to

gave him away again to Europa, she also to

JNIinos,

Minos

to

Pro-

others, p. 115.

and Procris

Cephalus,

6cc.

292
Ille feras,

APPENDIX.
ne tanta olim sublata periret

Aiit morte, aut sterili

mox accedente

senect&,
virtus
:

Et caderet simul extincto cum Lselape

Subjecitque canem, sobolemque e matre recepit

Optalam, Cretseque ultro concessit habendam.

Inde autem vobis auct^ jam prole nepotes
AUatosGraiffi

primum

accepislis Amyclas,

Tempore quo gemini

fidissima pectora fratres

Nunc

lepores canibus, cursu nunc dorcadas acreis,

in littore

Et nunc Tsenario cervas

agebant

iEripedes cervas, quibus baud velocior unquara

Evolat JEoliis aquilo dimissus ab antris.

Nee

fuit ipsa diu tarn

magni rauneris expers

:

Epirus.

Miscere genus monstravit

at oUis

Ingentes animi, solersque industria crevit.

Arrian, from whose

Manual of Coursing

purposely abstain to

quote at length, because the reader can refer to

my

translation with
title

De

Venatione.

little

trouble,

calls the

greyhound by the barbarous

is

of ovep-

rpayos kvuiv,^ expressly stating that he

so denominated

in the Celtic

H. Stepbani
Scliediasm.
*

The etymology
it

of tbis harsh-sounding terra is

;

more readily elucidated by

latter of

tracing

in the Celtic, than in the Latin language

from the

which Henry

^^*

Stephens, on the authority of Turnebus, attempts a fanciful derivation. " Vertragus

Fertragus

Ferlrahus ex eo nimirum
does not, however, attach

quod feram
j\

trahat ad

dominum,

litera

lo-

cum

litersB

h accipiente, sicut tragulam nomen

trahendo habere grammatici

affir-

mant."

He

much

faith to the derivation,

though favoured

by Martial's Epigram,
Martial. Epig.
*

'Non sibi sed domino venatur Vertragus acer,

*

IllEesura

leporem qui
it,

tibi

dente feret

Adr. Turnebi Adversar.

and Turnebus himself, when proposing

audaciam, et risus excitaturam."

says

"

Scio ego jocularem istam visum

it is
!

iri

Ridiculous enough assuredly

it

The greyhoulid
the bearing of

very rarely brings the hare to his keeper, often devours

his

besides,

game

to

his master is not peculiar to

this

dog, Oppian mentioning the same

quality in the 'Ayaixffevs

Cyneg. L.
vs.

i.

Koi 'yevvaraiv k\(iiv ^SpTov ixiyav avTidcrmv

g^, <p4poi fj-oytoiv re, ySapuffJ/xecos re ireXd^ui.

aH.
Seeing that
to

this derivation could

not be upheld, young Gerard Vossius endeavours

adapt his etymology

it

to the little light

which Arrian himself throws upon the name,

But we
shall

deriving

from veertigh or veerdigh, nimble.

approach nearer to the

APPENDIX.

293

tongue, not from any particular people, like the Cretan, Carian, and
S[)ar(an hounds, but from his quality of speed, as sone of the Cre-

tans are distinguished by certain peculiarities of character.

Here,

however, our author's ignorance of the Celtic language has led him
into an
error.

Being unable, probably, to explain a term which

in

had reached him

a corrupt form, he falsely derived

tFjs

it

from the
in
J. Vlitii

dog's most characteristic property, utto

truth
it
is

<1)kvtt)tos

whereas

compounded of

Veil,

a plain or open country ,i the "

ar-

Venat. Novant.

vum vacuum "

of Ovid, and racha, a

hound of chase

and conse-

true root by referring to the passage of Gratius, in which the same dog

is

mentioned

under the

title

of Vertraha

At

te leve si

qua

Gratii

Cyneg.

Tangit opus, pavidosque juvat compellere dorcas,

vs. 191).

Aut

versuta sequi leporis vestigia parvi

Petronios, scit fama, canes, volucresque Sicambros,

Et pictam maculi Vertraham delige

fals:l.

Ocyor

affectu mentis pinn^que cucurrit,

Sed premit inventas, non inventura

Ilia feias.

latentes

Spelman, citing

this passage, reads

Veltrahnm, and gives

'

many synonyms

of the same
less cor-

in the column of his Gloss. Arch.

rupt.

de Canibus Veterum'

but

all

more or

The

correct term would be Veltracha, which has been changed to Velti-achus,

it is

Vcrtrachus, Vertragus, in which last form

Tpayos.

found in our readings of Arrian

velt

Oiiep-

Du

Cange suggests Velt-jaghere, campestris Venator, ex

campus, and

jaghere venator, as another probable source of Veltragus or

Glossary, in voce.

Vertragus. See his

The
Greek

reader need not be informed, that in the term Oviprpayos Arrian employs the
oh, as the

nearest approach to the

of Halicarnassus, the

initial

V whether
Marsh) as

using the

digamma

(the

of Dionysius

of Dr.

his prefixture, I leave to

others to determine.
1. From the term Veltris or Fc/fra/ius is derived the class of huntsmen denominated Veltrarii of the court of Charles the Great, "qui veltres custodiebant :" of

Spelman
Gloss. Arch.

which class, at a later period, were the masters of the leash

whom

the lords of the

manor
and

of Setene, in Kent, furnished as the condition of their tenure to

Edward

I.

II. to lead three

greyhounds when the king went into Gascony

pair of shoes of four-pence price should last"

pretii
iiij

" donee

"

so long as a

perusus fuit pari solutarum

Ancient Tenures.
pp. y and 35-

d."

Neither Blount nor Strutt appear to have been aware of the origin of

the term Vellrarius.

2.

The Saxons used

racha, and our oldest writers rache and braclie.

Thomas

the

294

APPENDIX.
un
levrier de plaine, a

Encyc.Method. quently signifies a champaign-dog,

^*

hound

Vao**^'

adapted for coursing over an open country.

The Vertagus,

or Tumbler,

(" quod

se,

dum

praedatur, vertat,"

&c.) I scarce need observe, has no

rpayos kvwv of Arrian.
Britannicis, he
is

affinity
in

whatever with the ovep-

By
;

Dr. Caius,
;

his Libellus de

Canibus

fully described

nor are his tricks forgotten by

the Latin poet of

Jac. Savary Alb. Dianas Leporicid^.
p. 5.

Caen

Seque volutantes, ludisque cuniculum

aroicis

Fallentes, prasdae colluHentesque futurae,

Informal catulos Angli solertia nanos.

The

files

of classical antiquity afford no counterpart to the British

it

Tumbler, unless

be

in

the Vertagus of Martial

a dog already

allotted to the Celtic family, as, in

tist,

some copies of the epigrammawhich have been

islands, i

written Vertragus.

It remains for

me

to mention the distinctions

made by

naturalists in the

greyhound type of our own

and

Propliesia

Rhymer, the earliest of Scottish poets, has ruches in the retinue of his elfin queen " and raches cowpled by her ran" and again in Sir Tristrem (Fytte 3rd.). " Raches

de Erseldoun.
Tboriiae

with

hem

thai lede."

See Scott's Glossary, in loco.

The

old metrical charter, granted

by the Confessor

to

Cholmer and Dancing

in

Essex, reads

Four greyhounds, and

For hare,
fox,

six braches

and wild

cattes.

And
the

the words rache and brache are of frequent occurrence in the

of St. Alban's, and our early poets.

jMagStcr of

ffiatHC, 2.

Book

See Blount's Ancient Tenures, pp.

26. and 104.

1.

The term greyhound has confounded English

commentators.
It

etymologists as
is

much

as that of

Vertragus has puzzled Latin

variously spelt

by our old
heeded

Book

of

English writers

as grehounde by Juliana Berners, " a grehounde sholde be

St. Albar.'s.

lykeasnake"
flight."

greihounde hy Chaucet, " greihoundes be hadde as swift as foul of

The Prologue.
vs. 1<J0.

Lord Berners writes ^' gray hound e ;" Junius, "graihound;" Gesner, " grewhownd ;" Harrington, " grewnd ;" and the latter contraction is of frequent
occurrence in Golding's translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses,

Booke

I.

And

even as when the greedy grewnde doth course the

the plaine and champion fielde without
all

sillie

hare,

Amiddes

covert bare.

APPENDIX.
to endeavour to trace
its

295
The mo-

connexion with Gallia Ccltica.

dern sub-varieties of our systematic writers on natural history arc

Dr. Caius's derivation of the term, as spelt by R. Brunne, and the Sopewell Prioress,
is

fanciful

enough

" a

grt quoque greliound apud nostros invenit nomen, quod

sit,

De

Canibiis

pr.Tcipui

gradus inter canes

et

prima; gcnerositatis.

Gre enim apud

nostros
.

Britannicis Libelius.
S. Cotton. Faustina, B. III. fol. 194.

gradum denotat."
"

Wlience also grebyclie of the (fflirontron IJilotJUnfllSf.

222.*

Hym

tliought that his grcbyche lay

first in

hym

besyde."
;

The gre-hound and grehound

hounds.

M.

bitch being

degree, or rank,

among dogs

and no one under the dignity of a

titled

gentleman being allowed by the forest laws of Canute to keep such

In support of the Doctor's notion,

it

may

be stated that
tlie

Gawin Douglas

uses gre for

degree in bis translation of the iEneid, and so also author of the metrical romance of Morte Arthur.
Sir

prophet of Ercildoun, and the

In the complaynt of Bagsche by

of the
; '

David Lyndsay of the Mount, a

satirical

poem

Lion King,' on court

for the

favouritism,
fied

we have
as

a farther example peculiarly apposite

hounds, speci-

by name

" doggis

of the hyest gre," were probably highland deer greyhounds,

AVliimsical therefore as Caius's tracing of the term

utterly untenable.

may

be,

we cannot view

it

as

Lyndsay's Poems, by Chalmers,

By

Skinner, 'greyhound'

is

derived from the Anglo-Saxon grighund; and he farther

sc. Grseci
si

Etymolog.
Anglican.

remarks "Minsevus dictum putat quasi Gra;cus canis, quia

omnium primi

hoc genus canura ad venatum adhibebant, quod facile crediderim

set."

authorem laudas-

know

of no authority for so bold an assertion, except the doubtful tales of

fact.

Hector Boethius, Fordun, andHolinshed, and therefore discredit the

says:
q. d. a

Dr. Hickes
Dictionar.
Island.

"Grey

canis, extat in nostro

greyhund.

Comp. ex grey

et liunta, venator."

hunting dog.

And

Junius notes

"quod

Islandis ??/ est canis."

Skinner,
et htind

on the contrary,

hints that the

dog may be a badger-hunter, " a grey taxus

Etymolog.
Anglican.

canis, q. d. taxi insectator."

Thus Hickes and Junius bestow on him double dogWell may we exclaim with
!

ship,

and Skinner degrades him to a badger-hound. Brodaeus, " Vide quo procedat etymologiarum licentia

6 joculares ineptias

!"

Broda!us in

The terms grewhound, grewnd, graihound, grayhound, Canis Grcecvs, and Grains, Grew is often used for Greek by all indicate a supposed connexion with Greece.
Douglas and Lyndsay

Oppian.
p. ]23.

(see
to
in

the Bishop's Preface to his Virgil, and the Knight's

Slill I

apology for " The Maternal Language.")

cannot believe the genuine Celtic

would, therefore, rather seek the
;

The

Monarciiie.

hound

to

have been known

anrient Greece.

origin of the English

name

the predominant colour of the dog

Grey, gray, grai.

curious remnant of antiquity in the British

Museum,

lately

committed

to the
liberal

press, (for private distribution, to the extent of one

hundred copies,) by that

editorial
is

and enlightened promoter of

his pen

classical

and British antiquarian research, both with

department
for

and purse.

Sir

Richard Colt Hoare, Bart., aided in the

;

by Mr. William Henry Black

national repository.

to

whom

also the present writer

ffiaillC,

indebted

an accurate transcript of the fflagStcr 0(

copied and collated in the same

296

APPENDIX.
the countries in

named from

which the respective

sorts

most abound,

English, Scotch, and Irish greyhounds.

is

Spelman, whose authority

speak-

entitled to weight, in his

remarks "

De Canibus Veterum,"
subjoins,

Gloss. A roll, p. 113.

ing of the " Leporarius levipes, qui ex visu praidara appetit arripit-

que, a

greyhound, Ovidio Canis Gallicus,"

as if he

" sed pro-

prie magis Britannicus ;"

deemed him of

British origin,^ a

native of our

isle, like

the inhabitants of the interior mentioned

by

De

bello

Caesar,

" quos natos

no testimony

in insult ips^,
in

memori^ proditum dicunt

dog

;"

but

Gallico. L. IV. 12.

he

cites

support of his opinion.

I do not believe

either of the three sub-varieties of the

in question

indigenous of

Great Britain

but rather that

:

all

our insular sorts originally sprang

probability of which
is

from the Celtic Vertragus

Symmaclii
Epist. L.
ri.

the

supported

by

the history of the distribution of the Celts themselves,

and the

Ep. 77.

name under which

the dogs were seut

by Flavian

to his brother

grei, caesius, leucophasus, canus.

A,

S. grcrg

which

last,
;

says Junius, might be

F. Junii

referred " ad colorem Greecis yepdvetov gruinum dictum

propterea quod Threiciam.

si

Etymolog.
Anglican.

gruem

siniulet vel imitetur, ut loquitur

Ovidius," &c.

" Quid

deflecterem gray,"

Etymolog. Anglican.

says Skinner, " a nom. Grcecus, q. d. color Greecus, ut color Baeticus ab Hispania
Bastic^, &c.

Teut.

Gruw."

The

varieties

of the grey colour, of which Werner's

nomenclature of colours gives us between twenty and thirty shades suited to our purpose, predominate in the

greyhound

tribe,

and more especially the bluish-grey and

blackish-grey, (almost peculiar to this race and the great Danish dog of Buffon,) and
all

the dingy tints

which under the epithet dun are found

line

to prevail.

Indeed

it

has

been suggested that the

fals&,"

of Gratius,

" Et

pictara

macuM Vertraham

delige

may

allude to the doubtful tint of colour, denominated grey,

in the Vertraha).

Venatio
Novaiiiiqua.

two colours variously commixed

" Videntur

(compounded of
Angli canes hos

grnt/hounds vocare," says Vlitius, " id est subfuscos, vel nigro et albo mixtos quod
nos

graw dicimus."
'<

Description of
Irelande, p. 8.

1.

The Greihounde of King Cranthlynth's dayes,"

clear that the
:

says Holinshed,

" was

not

fetched so far as out of Grecia, but rather bred in Scotland."

From Hector Boethius

it

is

Canes

Scotici

(qu. Canes Celtici) were

superior to the native dogs of the isle

" Ut Picti suos canes Scoticis, pulchritu-

dine, velocitate, laburis patientia, simul atque audacia longe inferiores animadvertis-

sent

hujusmodi generis canum cupidi, ut penes se essent, e quibus nascerentur,

Scotis nobilibus

quosdam utriusque sexus a

dono accepere

alios finite venatu,

rege

abeunte in Atholiam, a custodibus clam abstraxere, et inter eos venaticum quendam

candore
nivali,

eximia pernicitate, formS. eleganti, audentiaque supra,

communem
See also

canum

facultatera, quern Crathlintus habuit in deliciis, insignera,"

ii. c,

&c.

Fordun. Scotichron. L.

xlii. (Regnanie Diocletiano).

APPF.NDIX.
Syniniachus at
biting;

297

Rome.

Tlio Scots,

a Celtic tribe, previously inhainto Ireland during

some part of Western Europe, emigrated

isle,

the third century, and gave to that

pro tempore, the

islands,

name of
and took

Scotland.

Thence they spread over the Western

possession of the neighbouring district of Argyle, the land of the

Gael or Gaul

giving eventually their name to the Northern part of

May we
not suppose the Irish and Scotch greyto

Britain generally.

hounds

to

have been primevally derived from the same Celtic stock,

Ireland, and

accompanying these emigrants of Celtic Europe

thence to Scotland
ceived the
Celtica,
;

in

one or other of which

territories

they re-

name of Canes Scotici, from the Scotish emigrants of who accompanied them ? ^ and may not the English greyin

hound, improved

speed by careful management and judicious

breeding, as his master increased in civilization and

became more

1.

Julius Caasar says of Britain, " Maritiraa pars ab

iis

incolitur qui prffidfe ac

De

bello

belli inferendi

causa ex Belgis Iransierant."

;

Ptolemy and Tacitus confirm the sup" Proximi

Gallis et similes sunt," says
terris, positio coeli

trallico

L. iv.
ii.

posed connexion of the Britons and Gauls

the latter, " seu durante
origiiiis vi
;

Geogr. L.
Taciti

seu procurrentibus in diversa

corporibus habitum dedit.

In universum tainen jestimanti, Gallos vicinum solum

that British

Agricola.

occupasse credibile est."

lawyers learned

And Juvenal tells us, in Hadrian's reign, Greek and Roman eloquence of their Gallic neighbours
Gallia causidicos docuit facunda Britannos.

Sat. xv. vs. 111.

Indeed, from the coast of Kent to the extremity of Caithness and Ulster, the memory
of a Celtic origin

was

for centuries distinctly preserved in the perpetual

resemblance

of language, religious rites, and domestic customs and manners.

similarity of habits in the insular

As an example of
be noted that Arrian
;

and continental Celtaj,

it

may

De
c.

records the marked adoration paid

by

the latter to

Diana Agrotera

and Holinslied,
also,

Venatione xxxiii.

on the authority of

earlier historians, observes,

" Amongst other the Goddes

whiche the Scottishmen had in most reverence, Diana was chiefe,

whom

they ac-

gee Note 12. o/ the Transla' *

compted

as their peculiar patronesse, for that she

was taken

to

be the Goddesse of

hunting, wherein consisted their chiefest exercise, pastime and delite."

Not being

able to fix with accuracy the date of their irruption into Britain in the dark ages of

our early annals,

tliis

laborious chronicler

is

inclined to

consider the Celtic Scoti

" such as by obscure invasion have nestled in " Historie of Irelande," he suggests a date
inhabitancy of the Scoti on British
soil

this islande ;" but subsequently, in his

later

Description of

than the birth of Christ for the

"

<"iie> t.

(circiter

A. D. 300.), though previously

in

occupation of Ireland and the Hebrides.

2 p

298

APPENDIX.

reclaimed, be derived, through such intermediate links, from the

same parent source

The

coarser varieties of the North, and of the

;

sister Isle, are rarely seen in South Britain

and though

at first

closely connected with the Celt,

and amongst

his earliest descen-

dants, are

now

considered farther removed from the genuine type of

Celtica, the oveprpayos kvwv of the

Greek manual,
and sagaces.

in

consequence of

commixture with the canes

bellicosi

The
by

strongest evidence

we

possess of the greyhound's existence in

is

Britain, in the reigns of

Carus, his sons, and Diocletian,

afforded

the Cynegeticon of the African poet.

For although

deny that
bestowed
I readily

this

hound can be

entitled to the local epithet Britannicus,

to

on him by Spelman,
grant, at the
Nemesian. Cyneget. vs. 124.

the superseding his usual

titles,

same time, that the exported

to,

veloces of Britain, of the

Cynegeticon alluded
gj^j^j-^^j

were greyhounds.

Nemesian must be con-

almost entirely the poet of the pedibus celeres

; at

least, in

that portion of his hunting-poem which has survived the ravages of

time.

But

the usual terms

by which the greyhound

is

designated in
in

Ovid, Gratius, Martial, and Arrian, are no where found

of Carthage
veloces.
;

the poet

in place

of which invariably occur the terms caluli

latter author intends
re-

That by these terms the

hounds of the

Celtic type, I have, on a careful

perusal of his work, not the least

p. 11, I

doubt

though, when writing the note to the Preface,

the veloces, particularly specified

was
as of

inclined to view

by Nemesian

British export, as nimble harriers, rather than genuine greyhounds

and did not

in

consequence adduce the passage alluded

to,

when

there endeavouring to fix the period of the latter's introduction into

Britain.

Indeed, J. Vlitius, himself sceptical at

swift-footed
to

first

as to the na-

ture

of these

hounds, (see his remarks on Nemesian

conclusion in the progress of his anno-

vs. 124.,)

comes round

my

tations, (see his notes

on

vs. 233.).

Nearly the whole of Nemesian 's

their

instructions

have reference to canes cursores, beginning with

exportation from our

own

island

where, doubtless,

they had been

previously imported from

Gaul
^''}'^ Britannia mitlit
,

Nemesian. Cyneget. vs. 124.

Veloces, nostrique orbis venatlbus aptos

and pursuing the subject

in

the departments of breeding, feeding.

APPENDIX.
and entering of puppies
to thoir

299
remarks on those subjects

game/

(his

being essentially applicable to hounds of the Celtic type,-) he adds,

Sic tibi vcloces catulos reparare

memento
;

Nemesian,
^J'^^'g- vs.

Semper, et

in parvos

iterum protendere curas

200.

and then speaking of Tuscan dogs of scent, sagacious Inductorcs, he

contrasts their form with that of the hounds in question,
Quin
Saepe

et

Tuscorum non
:

est

extrema voluptas
licet obsita villo,

Ejusdem

canum

sit

forma

illis

Dissimilesque habeant catulis velocibus artus....

at

which point he suddenly

till

arrests his pen,

and changes

his subject,
lost,

deferring

a subsequent part of his poem, unfortunately

the

qualities of this keen-nosed tribe of hounds,

Horum

animos, moresque simul, naresque sagaces

:

Mox

referam

nunc omnis adhuc narranda supellex

milii

Ejusdem vs. 235

Venandi, cultusque

dicendus equorum.

The
and

latter subjects
slips

completed, he again takes up the

field,

cattili veldces,

them on the sporting

at the period of the year usual

with modern coursers for the commencement of their diversion, viz.

the beginning of winter
;

hiemis sub tempus aquosre

Incipe veloces catulos immittere pratis, Incipe coruipedes latos agitare per agros.

Ejusdem
^^* '^**

1.

Wernsdorf, who does not in general attempt

to

apply

liis

poet's instructions to

Poela; Latini

any

particular variety of hound, admits the Canis tiro, entered to the hare, vs. 186.

Mmores.

seqq., to be of the Vertragus type.

2.

It is

worthy of notice

that,

whereas the earlier Greek and Latin Cynegetica

in breeding for the chase

recommend heterogeneous commixture

crossing the canine

to

families of diflferent countries with each other, under the hope of improving the pure

indigente

jVemesian contends for

parity of sort,

and purity of blood,

;

supply the

greyhound kennel, (" huic parilem submitte parem," &c.)

as if aware, with the

modern

courser, that the essential attributes of the Celtic type

if

would necessarily be
Arrian's silence too,
its inapplicability

impaired,

not annihilated, by the admixture of alien blood.

on the subject of omnifarious copulation, indicates a conviction of

to breeding for the leash.

300

APPENDIX.
the view, then, here taken of the identity of these veloces

From

catuli of

Nemesian with the Verlragi of Arrian, we may conclude

some

that greyhounds had been exported from the British Isles to

more southern
latter place

state,

Rome

or Carthage,
in his

when

the native poet of the

sung their praises

Cynegeticon.

And

from the

same source, a supply of these

at

rare and valuable dogs

was kept up

Rome,

in the reign

of Theodosius,

by the instrumentality of Fla-

vian.

Inmates, therefore, of Celto-Britannic kennels, they must

have been, on the twofold evidence of Nemesian and Syramachus,

at this early period of our dark

and semi-fabulous annals.

isles,

the dogs transported from these

as rarities,

Whether by Flavian, " so-

lennium rerum largus, et novarum repertor," to grace with their " incredible force and boldnesse," the Quaestorate of his brother SymSymmachi
Epist. L.
II.

machus

at

Rome, " quos

prtelusionis die ita

Roma
;

mirata est ut

Ep. 77.

ferreis caveis putaret

advectos," are to be considered Irish or Scotch,

according to modern distinctions,

at

is quite unimportant for probably " oblatio " both were included under the same the period of the

name.

Indeed,

it is

well known, the inhabitant of Ireland bore the

name of Scotus
machus,
Claudian. de

in the age of Claudian,

who

wrote, as well as

Sym-

in the reigns of

Theodosius and Honorius,

Laud. L.

Stilic.
II.

Me quoque vicinis pereuntem gentibus, inquit, Me juvit Stilico, totam cum Scotus lernen
Movit, et infesto spumavit reinige Tethys.

and again,
Claudian. de IV. Cons. Honor, vs. 32.

maduerunt sanguine fuso

Orcades
:

incaluit Pictorura sanguine

Thule

Scotorum cumulos

flevit glacialis lerne.

That these Canes

probable
ries,
;

Scotici

were our Canes

bellicosi
in

seems highly imfor several centu-

for the latter

had been known

Rome

and could not have been deemed

I

rarities in the

days of Syrama-

chus.
Arrian. de
e'lTE

am

inclined, then, to

view them as high-bred Celtic hounds,

Tov baereos yei'ovs, eire rov \pi\ov, naturalized in these isles,

and

Venat.

c. vi.

thence again exported to

Rome by

Flavian.

From

the earliest date

of their existence, there have ever been two varieties of fleet Gallic

hounds.

As

at this time
in

we have greyhounds with rough, and

others

with smooth hair, so

in the

the days of Arrian were they distinguished

same way.

In the sixth chapter of his Cynegeticus, on the

APPEND IX.
colour of houiicls/ and
its little

301

importance to their merits, he ob-

serves that the hair, whether the

dog be of the rough or smooth

sort,

should be
the

fine, close,
is

and

soft

^by which I understand that, though

And
from these sources

dog be what

termed wire-haired, the hair must not be coarse of

texture, nor loose and shaggy.

we may

derive the existing races of England, Scotland, and Ireland, without

any necessary commixture with other blood,

haired skin.

to account for the wire-

But

the extraordinary sagacity of nose, superinduced

in

on swiftness of foot,

certain varieties of

modern Celtic hounds

at a remote

with rough coats, favours the notion of BufFon and others, that a
cross has taken place with

some
it

alien, sagacious breed,

period.

Be

this,

however, as

may, we

will consider the coarse-

haired and more powerful varieties of Arrian's Celt, the representatives of the

Lailaps,

wolf-hounds of Ireland and Scotland and the fabulous " the goodly grewnd" of Golding, presented by Dian to
-'

Ovid. Mefam.
L. VII. 754.

Procris,

quem cum sua

traderet

illi

Cynthia, currendo superabit, dixerat, omnes,

a poetical picture of an individual, whose counterpart the author had

seen, or heard of, in Celtic Gaul, or

some Celtic colony, and whose

is

eagerness in the wolf or fox chase

fully supported

by

his high-

mettled descendants;
Jaradudura vincula pugnat

Ejusdem
vs. 772.

Exuere ipse

sibi,

colloque morantia tendit.

erat
;

Vix bene missus

nee jam poteramus, ubi

esset.

1.

There

are

some curious remarks on the colour of huuting-dogs "

fit

for

to

coarse withall," in chasing of the stag, in

edit.

The Countrie Farme, B.

vii. c. 22. p.

837.

IGOO,

the reference
title

to

which

is

omitted in

my

annotations on Arrian.

2.

Under the

of

le

levrier d'attache, the

French Encyclopedia unites the Irish

;

and Scotch

varieties.
ii

"

C'eit le plus rohuste et le plus courageux des levriers

le betail,

en

Encvclop6die

Scythie on I'emploie

garder

qui n'est jamais enferrae.

On

en trouve en
:

Methodique

Ecosse, en Irlande, en Tartaric, et chez presque tons les peuples du Nord

suit le loup, le sanglier, quelquefois

il

pour-

nieme

le bufl3e

et le taureau sauvage."

The

common

English greyhound

is

le levrier

de plaine of France.

The former

sorts are

the LycisccE of Savary,

Enormesque, animis pedis

et levitate

Lydscee

Venatio
Lupifba.

Pra'Stantes, apris certare lupisque paratae, &c.

302
Scire
;

APPENDIX.
pedum
calidus vestigia pulvis liabebat
erat.

Ipse oculis ereptus

Non

ocior illo

Hasta, nee excussa; contorto verbere glandes,

Nee Gortjniaco calamus

levis exit

ab arcu, &c.

Golding's Ovid's Metam.

He
Did But

struggling for to wrest his necke already from

stretch his collar.
that where Lselaps
print
lie

tlie

band

Scarcely had

we

let

him

off

from hand,
;

Booke Seventh.

was become we could not understand

The
But

remained of his feete upon the parched sand,

clearely out of sight.

was

Was

never dart I trow.

Nor

pellet from enforced sling, nor shaft from Creetish

swift

bow.

That flew more

then he did run.

Fleming's
British

The modern Scotch greyhound

spects. i

differs

from the Irish

in

many

re-

Animals.
p. 12.

The former
;

is

rough and wiry, has a bearded snout, and

ears half-pricked

the latter has short smooth hair and pendent ears;

;

the Scotch

is

sharp, swift, and sagacious

the Irish dull-looking,

in

harmless, indolent.
the latter
is

The former

is

still

common

North

Britain,

become exceedingly

rare everywhere.

From Mr. Lam-

bert's description

of a modern specimen, the Irish wolf-greyhound

in size.^

seems to have degenerated much

1.

Gesner has introduced

into his

Appendix

a representation of the " Canis Seo,

ticus Venaticus,

quem

Scoti vocant tnie

grewhownd

id est canera
:

Grsecum

:"

and

Historia

calls it

" genus venaticum cum celerrimum

turn audacissiraura
si

nee

modo

in feras,
aflSci

Animalium ex
Boethio.
Spencer's

sed in hostes etiam latronesque praesertim

nat, aut in eos concitetur."

dorainum ductoremve injuria

cer-

See " the Complaynt of Bagsche, the Kingis auld

Beth Gelert, or hound," by Lyndsay, for a quaint description of some of the qualities of the highland The Grave of breed. Poor Cilhart, too, the luckless wolf-hound of the precipitate Llewellyn, will the Greyhound. Nor should the Ossianic Maida furnish an early example of the mountain sort.
KaAbs
fjLiv

Sffxas iarlv

by Landseer, be overlooked, as a splendid type of the race on

his blood.
is at

canvass

though not quite Celtic in

breed of Sagaci-celeres

present preserved in Scotland, between the English

:

greyhound and Leicestershire fox-hound

remarkably handsome,
fleet,

the

first

cross of which is represented to be

is

and courageous.

This race

employed

for the deer-

chase in the forest of Alhol and elsewhere.

2.

The hound

described in the Linnean Society's Transactions

in length

is

stated to have

been only Gl inches

of the purest blood

size surpassed

by an example of the Canis Grains

plurima palma,") 62 inches

and greatest speed, ("

facilis cui

De

Venatione

long,
oTTiJre

now

in

my

possession

en yap
it is

(loi ?iv,

as Arrian says of his

much -loved Horme,

rama

eypa<pov.

But

probable that the beautifully-majestic animal, which

A PPE

1) I

:3()3

The genuine

Celtic greylioinul,
is

siicli

as

ho

is

represented on the

Arch of Constantine,

the " Canis venaticus (iniius sen Grviecus"

assisted in extirpating the wolf from the sylvan fastnesses of our islands,
fore of far greater size than the writer's
&^l>riv

was

Iiereto-

Kvtuv

ry

a\ri6ii(}

yivvalosoi

whom

he

De

might farther say

in the

words of Ovid,

c.

Venatione xxxii.

non dicere posses

Laudc pedum forma?ne bono

Indeed
jMr.

prasstantior esset.

Ovid. Metam. L. X. 562.

Ray's definition of the C&nis Grains Hibernicus makes him of the greatest
whole canine race
;

size of the

" Canis omnium quos

hacteniis vidimus
et

mnximus,
attinet,

Raii Synopsis

INIolossum ipsum magnitudine superans

quod
Horum

ad formam corporis

mores

Animal.

cani Grasco vulgari per omnia similis.

usus est ad lupos capiendos."

If the reader be interested in the arcana of wolf-catching, he will find illustrations,

212. the Venationes Ferarum of Lupos Venandi Ratio of J, A. Lonicer La Chasse du 40. Turbervile's Art Loup of Jean de Glamorgan iilagstci' of (Same, 208. Venationis Lupinae Leges of Savary, &c. The of Venerie, author

and anecdotes thereof, in Oppian. Cyneg.

Strada and Galle (pi. 49.)

iv. vs.

in

c. vii.

fo.

p.

latter

turns out his whole kennel and armoury for the annihilation of this

"

fera bellua "

even the anathematized Uvrier

is

now admitted
qua

Non

hanc, quae lepori, nee

:

indulgentia cervo

Jac. Savary

Debetur, meruere lupi

fera bellua nullo

et JEtas,

Venatio Lupina.

Non stemenda modo

Non

non illam sexus

Nullaque tempestas violento a funere servet.

hic Spartani canis interdicitur usu
;

Lina placent, catapultajuvat, venabula, cippus,

Decipulae, fovete, atque podostraba, pardalianclies,

Et concurrentis vaga

vociferatio plebis.

Derived from the Irish greyhound, and not very

stock, was the

far

removed from the

original

gazehound of past days

Seest thou the gazehound,

how with glance

severe

Tickell's

From

the close herd he

marks the destined deer

Miscellanies.

How

every nerve the greyhound's stretch displays,

in

The hare preventing

her airy maze, &c.

extract

By

Dr. Cains, he

is

supposed to he

faithfully portrayed in the following

" Quod visu

lacessit, nare nihil agit,

sed oculo
et earn
:

oculo vulpem leporemque persequi-

De Canibus
Brit. Libel.

tur, oculo seligit

medio de grege feram,

:

non
si

nisi

bene saginatam
in

et

opimam

oculo insequitur

oculo perditara requirit

oculo,

quando

gregem redeat, secerAgasceum

I

nit, csEteris relictis

omnibus, secretamque cursu denuo

sit

fatigat

ad mortem.

nostri abs re

quod intento

in

feram oculo, vocant," &c.

To

this
it

portrait

can

assimilate

no dog at present known

in this country, (though,

is

probable, such

304
Synopsis Animaliiim.

APPENDrx.
;

Qf j^^y
"^

" qui
'

aspectu feras venatur, cursu velocissiraus, form^

'

corporis et incessu decorus ;"

definition strictly harmonizing with

c. ill. c. viii.

Arrian's more copious description, in

other parts of his manual.
little

sub

fine,
is

and
the

The genuine quarry

of this hound

fugacious hare

of which the historian of the Celtic chase

illustrative anecdotes.

Arrian. de
c.

supplies us with

many

That such was " the

XV. XVI XVII. startled

quarry" whereat " the gallant greyhounds," Horme, Bonnas, Cirras,2 were wont to " strain," over the champaign fields of

might be produced between the Irish greyhound and blood-hound,) nor do the classic
ages afford any counterpart to
it.
''

Hor. Od.
L.
I.

I.

For Dacier's explanation of the

cerva fidelibus "

catuli fideles" of

Horace

" seu

visa est catulis

le

27.

as des cliiens qui suivent

bien la bete, qui ne prennent jamais

change, so readily acceded to by the Delphin annotator, as portraying the English

gazehound,
cient Italy.

is

far too fanciful to establish

a race of these

" chasseurs u vue "

to

in an-

Horace merely gives sagacity and steadiness

deer-hounds, or possibly

the negative quality of not opening in pursuit of their game.

1.

To

this definition

Ray

subjoins,

"

nonnullis Scoticus," as

if

he considered the

Scotch greyhound of the same type

that
The

there was, in short, only one variety

the

English and Scotch being identical.

additional words would of course include

the supplementary hound of Gesner's Appendix, and probably were added with
that intent.

Arrian's work

was unknown

to the great

German

naturalist

not having been disAnimalium,

the

covered in the Vatican library,

nor indeed
till

when he compiled
That Ray,
too,

his celebrated Historia

a century later.
clear.

was unacquainted with

Greek

Manual, seems equally

Thence the strong points of resemblance

in the ancient
interest,

and modern descriptions of a dog, hypothetically the same, impart the more

and obtain the more credence, from the impossibility of a collusive adaptation of the
one to the other, and from both portraits corresponding with the images of the Celtic

hound, which have come down

gems, numismata, &c. &c.
2.

to us

on ancient monuments, the Arch of Constantine,

See Arrian. de Venatione,

c.

xviir. eSye

S>

Kippa.,

evye

Si

B6vva, kuXms ye

S>

'Opfiij.

These we may suppose to have been some of the names of the favourite
;

archetypes of the Celtic kennel

have- no evidence to adduce.

but of the particular scene of their exertions

we

Born

at Nicoraedia,

and occupied

for the

most part

with

civil

and military engagements in the East, at a distance from Celtica, properly

so called, (within the boundaries of the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Rhine, and the

Ocean,) we know not when or where Arrian became acquainted with the Vertragus.

Was

the

hound existing

in

Asia

INlinor in

the second century, seeing that he of Cilicia,

tliere,

is

no-

ticed at a later period

by the Greek poet

and the Platonic philosopher of

as colonists, at an early date

Paphlagonia

The

Celts themselves are found

district of

even in the very

which Nicomedia was the metropolis.

Stephanus of

App

I".

1)

305

Cisalpine or Transalpine Gaul, or wherever the father of the leash

slipped the " proavoruni atavi " of the courser's hound,' can admit,
I think, of no doubt.

Indeed, the field-instructions of the Cynoge:

ticus refer almost exclusively to hare-coursing

nor does

it

appear

that the author himself, sensible, as he confessedly was, of the peculiar physical

adaptation of the greyhound to the hare-course, was

ever guilty of misapplying the dog to inappropriate quarry.

red-deer, however,
is

The

noticed by him, in his 23rd chapter, as a chase

of the Vertragus, fraught with imminent danger, and needing high-

mettled hounds."

And, subsequently,
^

the

same animal

is

pursued

with Scythian and lUyrian galloways on the open plains of Moesia,

Dacia, Scythia, and Illyria
find
:

and,

in

the following chapter,

;

we

De
c.

the like diversions practised in Africa with barbs

whereby

Venat. xxiv.

Byzantium mentions
KeXroyaXarias

tlie

Tolistoboii

tdvos raXaruiv kffirepiojv fieroiK-rjaduTuu

e'/c

rris

is BtOvviav.

(See also Strabo Geogr. L. iv.)

And

other colonies

are recorded by Strabo

among

the Thraciaiis and Illyrians, KeKrovs tovs avafieniy/xi-

vovs rois re pa^'^ koI tois 'lK\vpio7s

coursers of Arrian's 23rd chapter,

the descendants of whom

I

are perhaps the deer:

whom
to

have there called Celto-Scythians

note 4.

sub

fine.

1.

Although

it is

clear,

almost

demonstration, that the greyhound was utterly

tlie

unknown
period

to ancient

Greece in the days of

elder

Xenophon,

I readily allow that

Greece may have been Arrian's

coursing-field,
;

with the hound of Celtica,

for into the

at a later

an opinion supported by Janus Vlitius

lie

south of Europe the dog

Gratii

had been introduced as a prodigy of speed

bably direct from the country of which
TTJs KfKriKTJs

" ocyor affectu mentis pinnaque" prowas indigenous,

viz.

Cyneg.

Transalpine Gaul,

^^' ^"^*

Ta\arias of Stephanus, (the Gallia Celtica of

my

annotations, without

De

reference to Cffisar's

more

limited appropriation of the term Celtica,) about the

asra.

com-

^'

Venatione ^^^ '

menceraent of the Christian

2. Tcts Kvvas

tos yevvaias,

possibly

the coarser and fiercer varieties of

tl;e

Celtic

hound

for

Arrian seems to distinguish these noble-spirited dogs from the Kvva

says,

aya6r]v,
3.

who, he

may be

destroyed by a stag.

The

Celtae with their colonies overran almost all

Europe.
;

We
in

trace

them from
tlie

the pillars of Hercules to the extreme wilds of Scythia

territory alone being, correctly speaking, Celto-Scy ths
;

the colonists of

latter

but

consequence of the

ignorance of the ancient Greek geographers as to the exact limits of either Celtica or
Scythia, (as already remarked in

my

annotations on the second chapter of the Cyneall

geticus,) the term Celto-Scythians has been indefinitely applied to

the inhabitants

of mid-Europe, from Celtica to Scythia.

4. It

was Xenophon's want of acquaintance with these African barbs, along with
all,

the Scythian galloways, and Celtic greyhounds, which led to the omission of them
in his Cynegeticus
:

v
,;,

and

to the

lacunee, thereby

occasioned, in the older hunting-

j.

2 Q

306

APPENDIX.

red and roe deer, and wild asses of extraordinary agility and en-

durance, are captured by mere boys

style of chase resembling the

Arabian onager-hunting of the elder Xenophon's Anabasis.

But

whatever innovations upon the established field-sport of the mother

country

may have been

effected in remote Celtic colonies,

by the
is

substitution of other larger quarry in lieu of the hare, the latter

alone to be viewed as the legitimate prey of the Vertragus.

treatise, is to

be attributed the supplementary one, written by the younger Athenian.

But

it is

quite problematical

whether hounds were employed

it is

at all in
:

the Cellofor,

Scythian and Libyan chases

it

indeed,

my

opinion, they were not

though

be true, that Arrian recommends picked dogs, of high courage, for the stag-course,

at the

commencement

of chapter 23,

we hear nothing

of hounds in the stag-chase,

immediately following, on the

ireSia fvr]\aTa of Moesia,

Dacia, Scythia, &c.

where

long-winded, and scrubby nags supply their place.

of the

And

again, in the onager-chase

Nomadic

tribes of Libya, barbs alone are at full

the pursuers, with boys upon their

naked backs, continuing

6r)poi(nv, Scrois

speed
'lirirot,

till

the

game be run down.

So that

ovroi roi

Kvves re aya6a\ koI

k.t.X. with wiiich the author

commences the

period immediately following the description of the vanquished onager, must in part

have a more remote reference than to the hunters spoken of in the same and preceding chapters
Scrois

Kvvfs re ayaOal referring to the Celts of Western Europe, per-

haps, and'/TrTToi to the equestriansjust before mentioned

the former

class of sportsmen

using swift-footed hounds, the latter horses alone.

This interpretation harraonizea

with Oppian's description of the horses and hunters of Libya and Mauritania, and
their chases, as already cited c. zxiv. note 8.

Oppian. Cyneg. L. IV. 51.

TotvKeu lirTeXdrai Kelvuv

^5e

iirtfiriTopes 'liriruv

Kvvas

helirovffi (plKovs,

irlawoi t' i\6aiaiv

jViroiy, TjeXiov

re jSoXp,

/coi v6cr<piv

ipwyuy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES AND VIGNETTES.

The Emperor
faucon.

Trajan with hunters and a Celtic greyhound

Medallion

from the Arch of Constantine.

L'Antiquile

E.vpliqu6e par Mortt-

Tom. in,

Liv. nr. Tab. 175.

Frontispiece.
:

Apollo and Diana

Twin-deities
&^p7]u

of the Chace

Silver coin
.
.

of

Delos.
.

GoUzii Numism. Grcec. his.

T. xviii.

fol. iii.

Title-page.

The Author's greyhound

Venal,
c.

kvwv

ttJ

aATjdeia yevvaios.

Arrian. de
Dedication page.

xxxii

Procris presenting Lfelaps and the fatal dart to Cephalus.

Metamorphos.
i7icisi.

Ovid. L. XV. ^neisformis ab Antonio Tempesta Florentino

Back of do.

Ancient implements of writing;

picture

from Herculaneum.
PI.

Antiqiiites
.
.

d'Herculanum gravees par F. A. David.

xxxiv.

p. 50.

Page

308

DESCRIPTIOiM OF THE PLATES

spoils of the Cliace
:

AND VIGNETTES.
Le Gemme Antiche
Cacciatore. T. 135.

Hunter bearing

Ancient gem.
la Cliaiisse.

figurate di Michel Angela Caiiseo de

p.

54
seu

48

Diana Aricina
denb. T.
i.

Nemorensis
p.

Ancient gem. Begeri Thesaur. Bran-l

(

GemmcB

64
:

49

Diana

in her usual hunting attire

p.

Ancient gem of

La

Chuusse.

Dianj^JI

Cacciatrice. T.61.

21

"^^
-f

Ganvmede.

Pierres Gravies d' Orleans,

:

Tome

i.

T. xii. p. 49.

*_

Celtic greyhound
fol. VII.

Brass coin of Cythnus.

Goltzii

N. G.

Ins. T. xviii.

51
:

Celtic greyhound
fol. viii.

Brass coin of Cythnus.

Goltzii N. G. Ins. T. xviii.

54
a beautiful
:

Diana Venatrix:

Cameo

of

La

C/musse.

Diana.

T.

8. p. 4.

63

Equestrian Courser

Ancient

gem

of Muffei.

Gemme

Antiche.

T. iv.

Caccia.

T. lxxi. p. 116
:

64
Goltzii

Celtic greyhound
fol.

Silver coin of Cythnus.

N. G.

Ins.

T. xviii.

IX

65

Greyhound puppies

a groups

in

white marhle in the British

from the ruins of Antoninus's Villa at Monte Cagnolo

Celtic greyhound
fol.

...
;

Museum

66

killing a hare

Ancient ring.

Gorlcei Dactyliotheca.

120
:

67
Silver coin of
i.

Diana Pergka
Brandenb.

Perga

in

Pamphylia.

Begeri Thesaur. 175

T.

p. 506.

VoTUM

seu

Donarium Dian^e Venatrici.

Tab. 33

In Hortis Mediceis.

Admifyc,

randa

Romanarum Antiguitatum

ac Veteris SculpturcB Vestigia,

Petro Sancti Bartolo.

Celtic greyhounds

176
Montfaucon L'Antiq. Expliq.
177

and deer from Vaillant.

T.

III.

Genii hunting from

Mq^ei

Gemme

Antiche.

T. iv.

Caccia di Genii.
178

T. Liv. p. 86.

Diana Venatrix
T.
I.

Silver coin of Syracuse.

Siciliae, p.

Begeri

Thesaur. Brandenb.

Numism.
:

384
Goltzii

179

Celtic greyhound
fol.

Silver coin of Cythnus.

N. G.

Ins.

T. xviii.

X.

306
In jEdibus Barberinis.

FuNEKALis PoMPA.

Admiranda Romanarum
Sfc.

Antiquitalum ac Veteris Sculpture' Vestigia,

Bartolo.

Petro Sancti

Tab. 70.

307
Canis Custos
:

^
u7.
\

/Porter or Watch-dog
i

Ancient
p.

gem

of Maffei

Gemme
315

Antiche. T. IV.

Cane, T. lxxxviii.

137

[The Plates and Vignettes are executed by Messrs. Day and Ilaghe, Lithographers
to the King, 17,

Gate Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields.]

BIBLIOTHECA CYNEGETICA.
'Oti jUfi/ ovv Kol fTtpois VTrtp TovTwv iairoi^aaTai, Ka\ws oTSa' ijui Se (fiavTw ravra, Saa olov re -^c, adpotcras, Koi irfpiPaXciiv axiTols Tip' avvi)ST) Ae'^ii', Kftfii^Kiov oiiK Ei Se Ttji Kal itAAif) (pavurai ravra AvcmfXTJ, cuTwovSaaTou iKnnvrjcrai nTrl<nVKa. XpvffSa! ahrois' 0x9:1 Se ov (pavurai, earco T<j5 irarpX Od\weiv re Kal irfpiiTteif ov "yap
ttavra vucri Ka\ct,y ouSe &|ia Soku aTtov^daai Traai irdvTa.

/Elian, de

Natuua Animalium,

Pii/f.fat.

For the amusement of such as may be desirous of consulting the Cynegetical works cited in the preceding annotations on Arrian and the Appendix, a list of their respective titles and editions is subjoined.

The author does not pretend to enumerate all the known editions of Where two or each Cynegeticon, but only those of his own library. more ot the same work are mentioned, the copy made use of is either pointed out by specification, or the name of the editor and place of In cases of disputed text, different publication are printed in italics. editions have been collated, and the most approved readings selected
for use.

catalogue are a few treatises de re Venatica which They are admitted on the authority but their imof earlier compilers, in whose bibliothecaj they appear portance to the 6>ipr]s kXvto. hijvea (Oppian. Cyneg. I. 16.) is assumed Remoteness of residence from public librarather than established. He could ries must plead for the author's unavoidable ignorance. not certify by actual examination the admissibility of any book not

Enrolled

in the

the present writer has never seen.

on

his

own

shelves.

The works

in question are distinguished

by

the

prefixture of an asterisk.

Bibliotheca Cynegetica upon the following plan was first attempted by Rittershusius in his Prolegomena to Oppian, imperfectly executed by Lallemant in his Bihliotheea Historica et Critica TherenticograpiiQn, and subsequently, but still far short of perfection, by Belin de Ballu in his prefatory matter to the poet of Anazarbus. The latter's catalogue professedly excludes all prosaic works, save those of the classic ages departing from its rule in the solitary instance Of the English Cynegeof Conrad Heresbach's Compendium.

tica, Somerville's

Chace is alone admitted, the doggrel of the Book of St. Alban's possessing insufiicient poetical pretensions, perhaps, in the eyes of a foreigner, to place Dame Juliana Berners, or the " one sumtyme scole mayster of seynt Albons," or whoever be the author of these antique canons, amongst those " qui metriee banc
materiam persecuti sunt." Proleg.
in

Oppian.

p.

xvi. Ed. 4to.

Arriani

Xenophontis Opuscula Politica, Equestria, et Venatica, cum J. G. Schneider. Oxoiiii, Libello De Venatior.e, ^c.
Xenophontis
Scripta

i.

Xcnophon.

MDCCCXVII.
Minora,
<Src.

L. Dindorf.

Lipsiae,

MDCCCXXIV, On Hare Hunting, from Xenophon, by

London,
17i3B.

W.

Blane,

Esq.

310
II.

BIBLIOTHECA CYNEGETICA.

Giatius.

Gralii, qui Au^usto principe floruit, de Venatione Lib. I. This edition of the Faliscian is contained in the rare little Aldine vohime, entitled Poetaj tres egregii, &c. Aldus, MDXxxiiii. Republished by Sig. Feyerabendius, ad calcem Venatiis et Aucupii J.

A.

Loniceri. Francoforti, mdlxxxii. Falisci Cynegeticon, Gratii

&c.

Th.

Johnson,

A.M.

Loudini, mdcxcix. Poetee Latini Rei Venaticai Scriptores, &c.

G. Kempheri.
Altenburgi,

Lugdun. Batav. MDCCXxviii,

Poetie
Latini

Minores.

J.

C.

Wernsdorf.

MDCCLXXX.

III.

A Poem of Hunting, by Gratius the Faliscian, Englished and Illustrated by Christopher Wase, Gent. London, 1G54. Arrianus De Venatione, ex interpretatione L. Holstenii.
Paris,

Anianiis.

MDCXLIV.
Arriani Tactica, Peripli, Cynegeticus, et Epicteti Stoici EnRecensione Nicolai Blancardi. Amstelodami, 1683.

chiridion, ex
K(n

APPIANOT TA 2JIZ0MENA k. t. NEO^PTTOT AOTKA ets BlENNHt TH2 AOTITPL^I, 1B09.

'RKboderra vno

\.

'ETrelepyacrdevra
eirTa.

TVfxovs

EN

Tollux.

Oppiaiius.

Xenophontis Opuscula Politica, &c. cum Arriani Libello de Venatione. J. G. Schneider. Oxou'ii, mdcccxvii. Julii Pollucis Onomasticura. Hemsterhuis. Amst. mdccvi. The fifth book, addressed to the Emperor Commodus, afltbrds much valuable information on the technicalities of classical venation. Oppiani Poetai Cilicis De Venatione Lib. nil. &c. Conrad. Rittershusii. Lugduni Batav. MDXCV. Oppiani Poette Cilicis De Venatione Libri iv. &c. Joh.
Gottlob Schneider. Argentorati,

mdcclxxvi.
Nic.
Belin

Oppiani Poeraa
Ballu.
&:c.

De

Venatione, &c. Jac.

De

Argentor. 1786. J. Brodeei Turonensis Annotationes

Basileaj.

in Oppiani Cyneg. L. Illl. mdlii, Oppiani De Venatione Libri mi. Joan. Bodino interprete,

&c.

Lutetiae,
* l^he

MDLV.

First Book of Oppian's Cyuegetics translated into English Verse, &c. by John Mawer, A.M. London, 1736. M. Aurelii Olympii Nemesiani Cynegeticon Lib. I. Aldus,
Ncmtsianus.

tled Poeta^ tres egregii, &c.)

dorf.
VII.

(The same Aldine volume as before referred to, entiNemesian also occurs in the collections of Poetic Venatici of Feyerabendius, Johnson, Kempher, and Werns-'

MDXXXIIII.

KYNOCO(I>ION.

Liber

De Cura Canum.

This work of

Deiuetrius.

which

contained in the third volume of this uncommon edition ; not to liave seen till his translation was printed off. Its principal attraction is the novel annexation of some Greek Scholia by the editor, ingenious and explanatory. Those of tlie Cynegeticus, in a few instanc<s, give a ditl'ercnt inieipretation of the text to what is given by the translator; but these are
1.

The Cynegeticus
tlie

is

writer regrets

not very important.

lU B L I

f)

1 1

F.

CA

CY N

F.

O ET 1 C A

311

])ublisheil

Demetrius of Constantinople, written about A.D. 1270. was first by Aurifaber. AVittenibergw, mdxi.v. Tlie autlior's ediot'

tions are those

tvt'uc.

Rigaltius

in tlie llci Accipitrariie Scriptores.

Lu-

MDcxil. and of Johnson, attached

to

his

Latin Poets of the

\t quel itlaistrc i3inl(amc aTtotcl Wt* iioy DMiiQlctriTC fi.^t en son tt\\\x\i per apranDue autuc.^. This Ms. is reported by the Historian of l'iUa,hsh Poetry, Vol. 1 1, p. '221. note m. to have been formerly amon^,' the Mss. of Mr. Fermor, of Tusmore in Oxfordshire.

Chace. Loudini, mdcxcix. * He 3rt DC lilcncric

noiir
\t

VIII.

CJutUainr
ifbtoirt.

<Elje Craft of ij^ontyng of jllan^'ter giotin *iPyfforD atiD It is llDilhu *;uietn tljat lucre un;ti) iltimg tivbarD tijc ;f).?cuntic. also denominated Jfc HcnCCy DC CtBCtli ailD Of cttiaiU'tr ^Q\)W Ojtfo

Sjjflorti nntr
fftorty.

The French work is unknown farDC. Ms. Cotton. Vespas. B. xil. but of CljC Craft Of CjOntjilig a faithful transcript is to the writer
:

de la Chasse de Bestes Sauvaioes et des Oyseaux de Proye. 'I'he celebrated work of Gaston Phebus, Corate de Foix, and Vicomte de Beam, written about the year 1347; first secondly, by Jehan Treperel and, printed by Anthoine Verard subsequently, by Philippe Le Noir, under the title of Le Miroye de Phebus. The author has no copy of this work. ijlje 33ocfi Of t^untyng tlje toi^iclj \i clcpjiD iilajiiSter of tlje Jpame. Ms. Cotton. Vesp. B. xii. Jli)ap.^ter of vJ3ame. Ms. llarl. 5()tU). The author's copy is a transcript of the Cottonian text, corrected by collation with the Harleian. The Boke of St. Albans. The first and second editions (148G and 149G.) being exceedingly rare, the author is satisfied to quote from Mr. Haslewood's elegant reprint of Wynkyn de Worde's edi;
;

in his possession. * Des Deduitz

Gaslonl'hebus.

lE&munt) trc Hanglfg.

XI.

Juliana Berneis, or Julyans Barnes.

London, mdcccx. Hawking-, Hunting, and Fishing, with the True Measures of Blowing, At London, printed by Edward Allde, 158G. Caesaris Borgiaj Ducis Epicedium, per Herculem Strozam ad divam Lucretiam Borgiam Ferrariai Ducera. Francoforti, mdlxxxii. Adriani Cardinalis S. Chrysogoni ad Ascanium Cardinalem S. Viti, Vicecancellarium Venatio. Aldus, MDxxxiiii. (Poetse
tion of the latter date.
tres egregii

XII.

Hercules
Stroza.
XIII.

antea

citati).

FVancoforti,

mdlxxxii.
artificiosiss.

Adrianus.
xrv. Lonicerus.

Venatus

et

Aucupium Iconibus
mdlxxxii.

ad vivum ex-

pressa, et succinctis versibus illustrata per Joan.

Adam. Lonicerum,

Francfortanum. Francoforti,

Venatus et Aucupia Johan. Stradensis et Philip. Galle. 1578. Venationes Ferarum, Avium, Piscium, Pugnaj Bestiariornm editaj a Joanne et Mutual Bestiarum, depictai a Joanne Stradano (iallaeo: carmine Illustrataj ^ C. Kiliano Dutflaio. * Belisarius Aquaviva de Venatione, Aucnpio, &c. Nap. 1519. Basil. 1571. apud Conrad. Gesner. Histor. Quadrupedum. Ad Christianissiraum Regem Gallia- de Canibus et Venatione Tu (pio omnia ad Libellns. Authore Michaele Angelo Blondo.
;
;

xr. Stradanus,
Ciallanis, et
DuffliPtis.

XVI.
Belisarius.

XVII.
JSIomlus.

312

BIBLIOTHECA CYNEGETICA.
Neo-

canes spectantia, morbi, et raedicaraina continentur, Prisca et

terica etiam exempla, a

nemine hacteniis accuratiiis scripta, insidije ferarum, et propi ietates, cum quibusdam venationibus nostri sa^culi niaximoium principum cogiiitu digi)issimis. Roraae, mbxliiii. One of the rarest of the Cynegetica of the 16th century. small thin The passages cited by the author are 4to of thirty-seven leaves.

principally from Gesner's

xviir.

H. Q.

Tardivus.

XIX. Heresbachius.

Gulieimus Tardivus de Accipitribus et Canibus Venaticis. apud Conrad. Gesner. Histor. Quadrupedum. (Auctores Gallici.) Conrad. Heresbachii Rei Tlustica? L. iv. item de Venatione, Aucupio, et Piscatione Compendium, in usum Heroum et Patrumfamiliasruri agentiura concinnatum. The latter part is noticed in the preface to Arrian's Cynegeticus under the name of Compendium Thereutice Universte, a title given it by llittershusius in his OppiaThe author's quotations are principally from nic Prolegomena.

XX.
Fracastoiius.

Conrad Gesner's Historia Quadrupedum but since the prefatory to press, he has examined a copy of the original (Spirte Nemetum cio.io.xciv). As an Epitome of Xenophon and Oppian, the appendix has merit containing brief notices of many varieties of ancient and modern hounds, their style of huntPart of the third book De Re Rustica treats of ing, quarry, ike. dogs connected with rural economy, the 0:!curus, Villaticus, Sec. Hier. Fracastorii Alcon, sive de Cura Canum Venaticorura. Fracastors poem is appended to the Poetaj Venatici Venet. mdlv. of Johnson. Lond. MDCXcix. and of Kempher. Lvgd. Bat. MDCCXXVIII.
;

remarks have been sent

Petri Lotichii Secundi Ecloga?. The author's citations are from the Poemata Omnia Petri Lotichii Secundi a P. Burmanno Secundo. Amstel. mdccliv. XXII. Natalis Coniitum Veneti de Venatione, Libri illi. Aid. Fit. Natalis Comes. Venet. mdli. also attached to his Mythologiae Libri Decern. Lugduni.
XXI.
Loticbius.

MDCV.
XXIIl. Bargaius.

Florent. apud Juntas,

in

XXIV.
Darcius.

Poemata Omnia, &c, mdlxviii. The poem De Aucupio is also cited a separate form apud Juntas, mdlxvi. Joannis Darcii Venusini Canes. Paris, MDXLiii. Francofort.
Petri Angelii Bargaei Cynegeticon.

MDLXXXII.
Joannis Caii Britanni De Canibus Britannicis Liber Ilnus. Londini, mdlxx. This Libellus is also annexed to Johnson's Edition of Gratius and Nemesian, and to Kempher's Poeta; Venatici. Holinshed's Account of British Dogs is a translation from Caius's

XXV.
Caius.

work.
XXVI.
Jaqiies

Du

MDCXilii,
in are

La Venerie de Jaques Du Fouilloux, &c. Paris, mdlxxxv. The author's references are to the latter edition, where:

Fouilloux.

contained Adjonctions a la Venerie de Jacques Du Fouilloux. Lou|) (by Jean de Glamorgan) La Chassedu Connin and an additional Essay on Cyniatrics, entitled Autres Remedes pour guarir les Chiens Malades de Diverses Maladies, &c.

La Chasse du

The Compendium of Hunting in La Maison Rustique is epitomised, according to Christopher Wase, from Fouilloux's Treatise.

Ul in,l

()

Til

V.CA

CYNI'.GKTICA.

313
xxvn.
'I'uljcrvilr,

KJll.

of Venerio or Kuntini^, tVc. Loiulon, 157 ">. of this version of Fotiilloux is nuiclMlispiited by some it is given to Turbervile, the undoubted translator of the Booke of Falconrie ; by others to (iascoigne and by a third party

The Noblo Art Tho authorshi|)

Gas-

coigiif,

13itrke.

to C.

Burke. The citations are from the edition of Kill, and generally under the name of the tirst-mentioned author. * Short Treatise of JIunting, compyled for tlie dclyght of Noblemen and (ientlemen, by Sir Thomas Cockaine, Knight. London, 15i)l. The writer has never seen the rare tract of this " professed hunter, and not a schollar." The Gentleman's Academic or, The Booke of St. Albans, \c. by G. M. London, 150'>. Maison Rustique or. The Countrie Farme, &c, translated London, 1000. into English by Richard Surflet. The Countrey Farme, &c. (as the last,) by Gervasc Markham. London, 101(5. Jewell for Gentrie, &c. London, 1014. or, The Husbandman's RecreaCountrey Contentments London, 1033. tions, &c. by G. M. * Jacobi Micylli KvvoXoyior. Latin poem mentioned by Paullini in his Cynographia Curiosa where also occur * Angelinus Gazeeus, * Ronsseus, and others the Venatio Medica of the latter being rather above the ordinary stamp of the muse of ^sculapius. De Venatione Tractatus, in quo de Piscatione, Aucupio, Sylvestriumque insectatione agitur. Auctore Alfonso Isachio. Regii, very ridiculous treatise on Piscatorial Licences, &c. of 1025. some rarity, but of no value to practical or literary sportsmen. It has been re-published, with other Cynegetical tracts of like descrip-

XXVllI. Cockaine.

xxrx.
ftlarkham and
others.

XXX.
Rlic^'llus.

XXXI.
Isacbius.

tion,

by

Fritsch.

Album

Diana? Leporicida?, sive Venationis Leporinae Leges.

Auctore Jac. Savary, Cadomaio. Cadomi, mdclv. To some editions of this poem is annexed Venatio Vulpina et Melina of the same author; but the writer's copy has it not. Capreolina?, Aprugnae, et Lupinse Venationis Cervinai, Leges. Autore Jac. Savary Cadomensi. Cadomi, mdclix. Jacobi Vanierii, &c. Preedium Rusticum. Tolosa;, MDCCXXX. MDCCXLli. The author's citations are from the latter edition. The Gentleman's Recreation in four parts. London, 1700. The Gentleman's Recreations in three parts. By R. Blome. London, 1710. The Chace. A poem by William SomervUle, Esq. To this list might be added the French Cynegetica of Gauchet,
:

XXXII. Savary.

XXXIII.
Vanierius.

XXXIV. Blomc.

XXXV.
Sonierville.

Passerat, De Salnove, De Serey, Du Sable, Gaftet, De la Conterie, D'Yauville, and others ; the Encyclopedic Methodiqne, Dictionnaire de toutes les especes de Chasses ; and the Italian Cynegetica of Scandianese, Valvasone, Raimondi, Poggesi, Gatti, and others ; to some of which the author is beholden for a few remarks. The catalogue might be am))lilied, too, by incorporating the numerous tracts on the laws of the Chase collected by Fritsch and Manwood; the notices of early British and Anglo-Saxon hunting gathered by

Pomey,

2 R

314

BIBLIOTHECA CYNEGETICA.
;

Pegge, in the Archjeologia by Strutt, in his Sports and Pastimes and by Turner, in his History of the Anglo-Saxons; and though last, not least valuable, whether we regard the novelty of such a summary, or the elegance and classic taste of its execution, the article on Hunting by Mr. Smedley, in the Encyclopaedia Metropolitana. Connected with the subject of Venation, the following works on
Natural History are referred to, descriptive of the external characters and habits of ferine animals, and their quadrupedal pursuers -Aristotelis Historiade Animalibus a J. Scaligero. Tolosae,
:

Aristoteles.

MDCXIX.
Scriptores

Rei

Rusticae.

FEnnONIKA.
Plutarchus.

Scriptores Rei Rusticae Veteres Latini. J. M. Gesner. LipMDCCLXXiii. rEfinONlKA. Geoponicorum sive De Re Rustica Libri xx. Petr. Needham, A.M. Cantabrigiee, MDCCiv. Plutarchi Opera Omnia (De Solerti^ Animalium, &c.)
sia^,

Paris,
^lianus.
Lipsia?,
Plinius.

MDCXXiv.
^liani

De Natura Animalium

Libri xvii. J,

G. Schneider.

MDCCLxxxiv.

Solinus.

Phile.

Gesnerus.

C. Plinii Secundi Historiae Mundi Libri xxxvii. J. DaleLugduni, mdlxxxvii. C. Julii Solini Polyhistor ex edit. C. Salmasii. M. Andr. Goezio. Lipsiae, mdcclxxvii. Phile De Animalium Proprietate a J. C. de Pauw. Trajecti ad Rhenum, mdccxxx. C. Gesneri Historiae Animalium Liber primus, de Quadrupecampii.

dibus Viviparis. Tiguri,

Aldrovandus.
Bochartus.

mdlix. U. Aldrovandi Opera. Bononiie, mdcxxxii.

PauUini.

S. Bocharti Hierozoicon, seu de Animalibus Sacrae Scripturas. Londini, mdclxiii. Cynographia Curiosa, &c. k Christ. Franc. Paullini. Norimbergae,

mdclxxxv.
Lagographia Curiosa, &c. k Christ. Franc. Paullini. Aug.

Raius.

Vind. MDCxci. Synopsis Methodica Animalium Quadrupedum, &c. Auctore Joanne Raio. S. R. S. Londini, 1693.

ERRATA.
P.
15.
1.

8.

108. n. 3.
117. 126. 145. 148.

for general, read genuine. 1. 2. rdxos.

5.

ex-

n. 7.

n. 4. /or Biuyer, read Bruyerinus. 1. 2. obtruncant.

Quotation from Gratius, v. 299. read levels. Quotation from Nemesian, v. 162. read complere.

Tlie autlior craves forgiveness for unnoticed a(pd\fj.aTa, errors of punctuation, accentuation,

&c. whether chargeable on himself or the typotheta;.

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