DOGS. 699 



white, so that white frequently predominates, short ears with but little feather on them or on 

 the legs. The south country Irish Water Spaniel is uniformly of a pure liver color, with the 

 whole coat consisting of short, crisp curls; ears long and well feathered, the distance from 

 the point of one ear to the point of the other sometimes measuring two feet; the body is 

 laro-e and heavy; legs strong; tail not feathered and carried slightly down. These dogs are 

 generally from twenty-one to twenty-two and a half inches in height. The head of the best 

 specimens is crowned with a well denned top-knot that comes down to a peak on the forehead. 

 Those from the South of Ireland are most prized, they being very intelligent and easily 

 trained. 



The English Greyhound. The term hound, as formerly used, included all dogs of 

 the chase, or those used in securing game, but as used at present, it denotes only dogs that 

 follow game by scent or sight, such as the different varieties of the Greyhound, the Bloodhound, 

 Staghound, Foxhound, Beagles, Terrier, etc. The Greyhound is noted for beauty and grace of 

 form, and great speed, and for ages has been employed in the chase, having been a great 

 favorite with the wealthy and higher classes from the earliest historic times. The 

 Greyhound seems generally to lack the affection, sagacity, and courage possessed by some 

 dogs, although numerous instances might be cited in individual cases in which they evinced 

 these qualities in a remarkable degree. 



The English Greyhound is generally conceded to be the finest of this breed of dogs, 

 being beautiful in form, possessing great courage and a fair amount of intelligence. They 

 are kept principally in this country for their beauty, fleetness, and for hunting hares, rabbits, 

 and similar small game. The points of the Greyhound were given in the familiar doggerel 

 rhyme published in 1496, by Wynkynde Warde, who was a printer and writer of that time. 

 The lines show the comparison between this breed of that time, and the present: 



Headed lyke a snake, 

 Neckyed lyke a drake, 

 Footed lyke a catte, 

 Tayled lyke a ratte, 

 Syded lyke a bream 

 And chyned like a beam. 



Of course all due allowance should be made for exaggerating the different points; for 

 instance, every snake s head is flat and broad with the nose compressed, while the head of the 

 Greyhound, though somewhat flat at the top, is .cpmparatively circular in its transverse 

 section, and the nose is triangular. &quot; Sides like a bream, and back like a beam,&quot; we 

 understand to mean great depth and breadth of chest, combined with a strong back. The 

 foot resembles that of a cat in being round in form. The most fashionable colors at present 

 are maltese or black, though very good specimens are seen of red, fawn, brindle, and white. 



The Deerhound, or Rough Scotch Greyhound. This is a noble and valuable 

 animal, but at present rarely&quot; pure-bred. It is larger than the pure Greyhound, often attaining 

 a height of twenty-eight inches, and weighing over eighty pounds. They have great speed 

 and strength, and are used in deer hunting. They are always courageous, intelligent, and 

 docile. 



The Foxhound. The modern Foxhound has been very carefully bred during the 

 last two or three centuries, and consequently the breed has attained a high degree of per 

 fection. It was produced by a cross between the old English hound and the Greyhound. 

 They are noted for great power of scent, fleetness, courage, and endurance, and always cry 

 out when on the scent, the tone of the dog usually indicating whether the scent is sure or 

 not. Thus, if not quite sure, the note is given at intervals and undecidedly; but if sure, they 

 run open-mouthed in full cry. A pack of hounds on the track of game, in full, umited cry, 



