Note 406 — CANES VENATICI. Class II.

Cæsar de B. G. L. i. 10.

Cæsar places the Segusiani in Gallia Celtica—“Hi sunt extra provinciam trans Rhodanum primi.” Why, then, may we not suppose these hounds correctly denominated by See H. Stephan. Schediasm. iv. 2.Arrian?—why may not their title be of local origin, as affirmed by him, rather than connected with their sagacious qualities, as supposed by Vlitius? who would view them as Canes Segusii vel Secutii—the latter term being applied to the Canes Inductores—“quia hominem sequentem ducit Inductor,” with which the Dutch annotator holds the Segusian to be identical. Spelman enumerates the synonyms of segutius, as seusis, sensius, &c. &c.—See Gloss. Arch. p. 114. and derives them à sequendo.Du Cange Glossar. in voce. Eccard more correctly, I think, refers to the German suchen, or rather Saxon seuken investigare, whence sucher, seuker investigator, and with a Latin termination, suchius, seucius, seusius, secusius, segusius, &c. The Spaniards, according to Wase, “have a blood-hound which is called un podenco,” of small stature, with which they “prick through the woods, or follow any chase.” Possibly Vlitius may have had this hound in his eye when he interpreted the Canes Segusii as Inductores.