Note 397 — CANES VENATICI. Class II.

Synopsis Methodica Animalium Quadrupedum.

Under the Canis venaticus sagax, ferarum indagator et sectator, the primary definition of Ray, we may place the modern sub-varieties; the Sanguinarius seu furum deprehensor of Ray, the Leverarius of Caius, and Venaticus minor of Ray.

The Sanguinarius, or blood-hound, is the Canis Scoticus, ane Sleuth-hound, of Gesner’s Appendix; briefly therein described from Hector Boethius; and answering to the Inductor of the Classical ages more nearly than to any other ancient type. He is beautifully described by Somerville, and faithfully by Caius, and Holinshed; nor is 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 vulpem atque leporem, variatis vicibus sequi student,”) is the Canis Scoticus sagax, vulgò dictus ane Rache of Gesner’s Appendix; “the racche the whiche that men clepen the Rennyng hounde” of the Mayster of Game, c. xiiii. fo. 62.

Of the third sub-variety I shall presently speak under the Agassæus.

Countrey Contentments, Booke i. c. i. Glossar, in voce.

For further particulars the reader is referred to Gervase Markham’s clear, accurate, and entertaining portraits of “the slow,” “the middle-sized,” and “nimble hounds,” copied by this laborious compiler from the earlier work of Duke Edmund of York, above cited. He may also consult Ducange’s Canis latrabilis.