274 CARNIVORA. 



fitted for the pursuit of its special quarry, and contracts certain habits 

 which render it comparatively useless when set to chase the wrong 

 animal. The Scotch Deerhound is possessed of better powers of scent 

 than the Greyhound, and in chasing its game depends as much on its 

 nose as on its eyes. Although it makes use of its olfactory powers when 

 running, it holds its head higher from the ground than the Gre3'hound, 

 which only uses its eyes, because this attitude is the best in waiting to 

 pull down his game. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to procure 

 this Deerhound thoroughbred ; even the celebrated one, " Maida," pos- 

 sessed by Sir Walter Scott, was a cross with the Bloodhound. 



The Irish Greyhound (Plate XIV) is a magnificent animal, much 

 larger than the Scotch Deerhound, many of them being nearly four feet 

 high, but it resembles that variety in shape ; it is usually of a fawn-color, 

 with a rough coat and pendant ears. " Stonehenge " writes that the 

 genuine breed is extinct. They were formerly used for hunting the 

 wolf, which animal was exterminated in Ireland during the 1 st century. 



The Russian Greyhound is also gifted with the power of running 

 by scent, and is employed at the present day for the same purposes which 

 Irish Greyhounds subserved in former times. 



Many Russian forests are infested with wild boars, wolves, and bears, 

 and this powerful and swift dog is found of great use in the destruction 

 of these quadrupedal pests. In size it is about equal to the Scotch Grey- 

 hound. It is not exclusively used for the chase of the large and savage 

 beasts, but is also employed in catching deer, hares, and other animals 

 which come under the ordinary category of " game." The fur of this 

 dog is thick, but does not run to any length. 



The Persian Greyhound is slender in make ; its ears are pendulous 

 and feathered like a Setter's, the body is smooth, the tail is like that of a 

 silky-coated Setter. It is used for coursing the hare and antelope in the 

 plains, and hunting the wild ass in the rocky hill country. 



For the antelope the Greyhound would be no match, and is therefore 

 assisted by the falcon, which is trained to settle on the head of the flying 

 animal, and, by flapping its wings in the poor creature's eyes, to prevent 

 it from following a direct course, and thus to make it an easier prey to 

 the Greyhound which is following in the track. Of this curious mixture 

 of falconry and hunting the Persian nobles are passionatel)' fond. 



The African Greyhound has a silky coat of a cream color, and is 

 highly valued by the Arabs. In the Sahara rich and poor regard him as 



