Since the early 17th century, Braques have dwelled in France. They were, at first, of an ancient gun dog prototype, very near the scen-thound. Many forms were apparent, some of which, like the Braque Poitou, have disappeared. Others, such as the Braque Francais and perhaps the Dupuy, have survived to the present day. Several stories concern the Dupuy's origin— and the truth may never be known. Since he is quite houndlike, however, he may go back to the earliest prototype from the hounds of Haut-Poitou. It is known that the breed existed in Poitou before 1808. Legend has it that the breed obtained its name from gamekeepers named Dupuy, who supposedly created it. The story goes that the Dupuy brothers (Homere and Narcisse) kept Braque Francais. A liver/white ticked bitch of theirs named "Miss" was crossed with a dog named "Zidar." Zidar was a sloughi levrier, a Sloughi type of Greyhound, brought from Africa by Monsieur Roy, a Lieutenant with the 33rd artillery regiment, garrisoned at Poitiers. The Dupuy is big (the tallest of the French Braques), racy and elegant, with tight skin, very little stop, the ram's muzzle and a narrow head. His chest is deep and narrow, and there is an arch to the loin. All of these traits are reminders of the classic scenthounds of France, with a hint of the sighthound. Nevertheless, his modern use is for the gun, and he has an excellent nose and good speed over flat open terrain. He is still referred to as le braque levrier or Greyhound Braque. His temperament is described as lively and intelligent, yet dignified. The tail is left intact. He can have patches, ticking or even a mantle of chestnut on his white coat, and the standard warns against the fault of the tan "tri" markings which are a stamp of the hound. A written standard was published in 1963, but few specimens remain of this unique French breed.