De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe DoggesCaius, John
Science
De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe Dogges
Caius, John
Dogs -- Early works to 1800
Another sorte there is which hunteth the Foxe and the Badger or Greye
onely, whom we call Terrars, because they (after the manner and custome
of ferrets in searching for Connyes) creepe into the grounde, and by
that meanes make afrayde, nyppe, and byte the Foxe and the Badger in
such (5) sort, that eyther they teare them in peeces with theyr teeth
beyng in the bosome of the earth, or else hayle and pull them perforce
out of their lurking angles, darke dongeons, and close caues, or at the
least through cõceaued feare, driue them out of their hollow harbours,
in so much that they are compelled to prepare speedy flight, and being
desirous of the next (albeit not the safest) refuge, are otherwise taken
and intrapped with snares and nettes layde ouer holes to the same
purpose. But these be the least in that kynde called _Sagax_.
Of the Dogge called a Bloudhounde in Latine _Sanguinarius_.
The greater sort which serue to hunt, hauing lippes of a large syze,
& eares of no small lenght, doo, not onely chase the beast whiles it
liueth, (as the other doo of whom mencion aboue is made) but beyng dead
also by any maner of casualtie, make recourse to the place where it
lyeth, hauing in this poynt an assured and infallible guyde, namely, the
sent and sauour of the bloud sprinckled heere and there vpon the ground.
For whether the beast beyng wounded, doth notwithstanding enioye life,
and escapeth the handes of the huntesman, or whether the said beast
beyng slayne is conuayed clenly out of the parcke (so that there be some
signification of bloud shed) these Dogges with no lesse facilitie and
easinesse, then auiditie and greedinesse can disclose and bewray the
same by smelling, applying to their pursute, agilitie and nimblenesse,
without tediousnesse, for which consideration, of a singuler specialtie
they deserued to bee called _Sanguinarij_ bloudhounds. And albeit
peraduenture it may chaunce, (As whether it chaunceth sealdome or
sometime I am ignorant) that a peece of fleshe be subtily stolne and
cunningly conuayed away with such prouisos and precaueats as thereby
all apparaunce (6) of bloud is eyther preuented, excluded, or concealed,
yet these kinde of dogges by a certaine direction of an inwarde assured
notyce and priuy marcke, pursue the deede dooers, through long lanes,
crooked reaches, and weary wayes, without wandring awry out of the
limites of the land whereon these desperate purloyners prepared their
speedy passage. Yea, the natures of these Dogges is such, and so
effectuall is their foresight, that they cã bewray, seperate, and pycke
them out from among an infinite multitude and an innumerable company,
creepe they neuer so farre into the thickest thronge, they will finde
him out notwithstandying he lye hidden in wylde woods, in close and
ouergrowen groues, and lurcke in hollow holes apte to harbour such
vngracious guestes. Moreouer, although they should passe ouer the water,
thinking thereby to auoyde the pursute of the houndes, yet will not
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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