LURCHER
.—The dog so called is rough and wirey haired, with ears erect, but dropping a little at the points: they are above the middle size, of a yellowish or sandy red color; and of great speed, courage, and fidelity. They were originally produced from a cross between the SHEPHERD'S DOG and the GREYHOUND, which, from breeding in and in with the latter, has so refined upon the original cross, that very little of the shepherd's dog is retained in its stock, its docility and fidelity excepted. Thus bred, they are neither more or less than bastard greyhounds, retaining most of their perfections, but without their beauty. They are the favorite dogs of inferior or small FARMERS, as they act in the nominal capacity of a SHEEP DOG; but can occasionally trip up the heels of a LEVERET three parts grown. They are also the constant companions of the most professed and notorious POACHERS, being so admirably adapted to the universality of the service required: they equal, if not exceed, any other kind of dog in sagacity; and are easily taught any thing it is possible for an animal of this description to acquire by instruction. Some of them are very little inferior in speed to well-bred greyhounds: HARES they frequently run up to; RABBITS they kill to a certainty, if they are any distance from home: if near a WARREN, the dog invariably runs for the burrow, by doing which, he seldom fails in his attempt to secure his aim. His qualifications go still farther; in nocturnal excursions he becomes a PROFICIENT, and will easily pull down a FALLOW DEER, so soon as the signal is given for pursuit; which done, he will explore his way to his master, and conduct him to the GAME, wherever he may have left it. In poaching, they are individually instrumental to the destruction of hares; for when the wires are fixed at the meuses, and the nets at the gates, they are dispatched, by a single word of command, to scour the FIELD, PADDOCK, or PLANTATION; which, by their running mute, is effected so silently, that a harvest is obtained (according to the stock of the country) with very little fear of detection.