NATURAL HISTORY. 85 



&quot;The greyhounds forth are brought, for coursing then in case, 

 And choicely in the slip, one leading forth a brace; 

 The finder puts her up, and gives her coursers law.&quot; DRAYTON. 



259. Why does the greyhound hunt by sight alone ? 



Because he has been 

 trained to depend upon 

 his speed, and that speed 

 is utterly incompatible 

 with the tracing of scent. 



260. Packs of hounds run by sight when the nature of the country allows them 

 to have a full view of the hare. When thus running they nearly double their 

 speed, but are liable to lose ground by being thrown out in consequence of a sudden 

 turn, or change of country ; they have to seek the scent before they can again 

 take up the running. The English greyhound, on the contrary, is called off 

 the moment he loses sight of the hare, the re -finding of which is left to the 

 spaniel. 



261. Wliy should the neck of the greyhound be long ? 



Because it is necessary that this portion of the frame should 

 correspond with the length of the legs, and thus enable the dog to 

 seize and lift the game as he rapidly pursues his course, without 

 throwing any undue or dangerous weight on the fore extremities. 

 In the act of seizing the hare the short-necked dog may lose the 

 centre of gravity and fall. 



262. Why are greyhounds less attached to their masters than 

 a/re other dogs ? 



Because the greyhound has less opportunities of forming 

 individual attachments than other dogs ; the whole purpose of 

 his life being to follow game. The keeper exercises over him a 

 tyrannical power, and the owner seldom notices him in the 

 manner which begets affection or scarcely recognition. 



263. Jf liy in coursing are two dogs employed? 



Because hares make sudden turns, by which they frequently 



