De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe DoggesCaius, John
Science
De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe Dogges
Caius, John
Dogs -- Early works to 1800
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 of their hole. Thus hauing
caught his pray he carryeth it speedily to his Master, wayting his
Dogges returne in some conuenient lurcking corner.
Minor hic est sagaci illo, strigosior, & erectiore aure. Corporis
figura leporarium spurium diceres, si major esset. Et quamvis eo
minor multò sit, uno tamen die tot potest capere, quot justum equi
onus esse possunt. Dolus enim illi pro virtute est, & corporis
agilitas.
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.
Of the Dogge called the theeuishe Dogge in Latine _Canis furax_.
[Canis furax.] Huic similis canis furax est, qui jubente hero noctu
progreditur, & sine latratu odore adverse persequens cuniculos,
cursu prehendit quot herus permiserit, & ad heri stationem reportat.
Vocant incolæ canem nocturnum, quòd venetur noctu. Sed hæc de iis
qui feras insequuntur.
The like to that whom we have rehearsed, is the theeuishe Dogge,
which at the mandate and bydding of his master steereth and leereth
abroade in the night, hunting Connyes by the ayre, which is leuened
with their sauour and conueyed to the sense of smelling by the
meanes of the winde blowing towardes him. During all which space of
his hunting he will not barcke, least he shoulde bee preiudiciall to
his owne aduantage. And thus watcheth and snatcheth up in course as
many Connyes as his Master will suffer him, and beareth them to his
Masters standing. The farmers of the countrey and uplandishe
dwellers, call this kinde of Dogge a nyght curre, because he hunteth
in the darke. But let thus much seeme sufficient for Dogges which
serue the game and disport of hunting.
¶ A Diall pertaining to the
_first Section._
Dogges seruing y^e pastime of hunting beastes.
are diuided into
{ Hariers
{ Terrars
{ Bloudhounds
{ Gasehounds
{ Grehounds
{ Leuiners or
{ Lyemmers
{ Tumblers
{ Stealers
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