De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe DoggesCaius, John
Science
De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe Dogges
Caius, John
Dogs -- Early works to 1800
Another sort of dogges be there, in smelling singuler, and in swiftnesse
incomparable. This is (as it were) a myddle kinde betwixt the Harier and
the Grehounde, as well for his kinde, as for the frame of his body. And
it is called in latine _Leuinarius_, _a Leuitate_, of lyghtnesse, and
therefore may well be called a lyghthounde, it is also called by this
worde _Lorarius_, _a Loro_, wherwith it is led. This Dogge for the (11)
excellency of his conditions, namely smelling and swift running, doth
followe the game with more eagernes, and taketh the pray with a iolly
quicknes.
Of the Dogge called a Tumbler, in Latine _Vertagus_.
This sorte of Dogges, which compasseth all by craftes, fraudes,
subtelties and deceiptes, we Englishe men call Tumblers, because in
hunting they turne and tumble, winding their bodyes about in circle
wise, and then fearcely and violently venturing upõ the beast, doth
soddenly gripe it, at the very entrance and mouth of their receptacles,
or closets before they can recouer meanes, to saue and succour
themselues. This dogge vseth another craft and subteltie, namely, when
he runneth into a warren, or setteth a course about a connyburrough,
he huntes not after them, he frayes them not by barcking, he makes no
countenance or shadow of hatred against them, but dissembling
friendship, and pretending fauour, passeth by with silence and
quietnesse, marking and noting their holes diligently, wherin (I warrant
you) he will not be ouershot nor deceaued. When he commeth to the place
where Connyes be, of a certaintie, he cowcheth downe close with his
belly to the groũd, Prouided alwayes by his skill and polisie, that y^e
winde bee neuer with him but against him in such an enterprise. And that
the Connyes spie him not where he lurcketh. By which meanes he obtaineth
the sent and sauour of the Connyes, carryed towardes him with the wind &
the ayre, either going to their holes, or cõming out, eyther passing
this way, or running that way, and so prouideth by his circumspection,
that the selly simple Conny is debarred quite from his hole (which is
the hauen of their hope and the harbour of their health) and
fraudulently circumuented and taken, before they can get the aduantage
(12) of their hole. Thus hauing caught his pray he carryeth it speedily
to his Master, wayting his Dogges returne in some conuenient lurcking
corner. These Dogges are somewhat lesser than the houndes, and they be
lancker & leaner, beside that they be somwhat prick eared. A man that
shall marke the forme and fashion of their bodyes, may well call them
mungrell Grehoundes if they were somwhat bigger. But notwithstanding
they counteruaile not the Grehound in greatnes, yet will he take in one
dayes space as many Connyes as shall arise to as bigge a burthen, and as
heauy a loade as a horse can carry, for deceipt and guile is the
instrument wherby he maketh this spoyle, which pernicious properties
supply the places of more commendable qualities.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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