THE GREYHOUND. 147 



devoid of imagination, as many suppose. I have often seen 

 an old courser, in his dreams, work himself into almost a 

 frenzy while pursuing an imaginary jack-rabbit; jump to 

 his feet, and then appear to feel very silly when he has 

 found that he was merely dreaming. 



There can be no doubt that the English, Scotch, Persian, 

 Russian, Grecian, and Italian Greyhound, the Irish and 

 Siberian Wolfhound, the Scotch Deerhound, and the 

 Whippet, are but varieties of the same breed. Stonehenge 

 classifies and divides the English Greyhounds into the 

 Newmarket, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Wiltshire. These, 

 however, seem to amount to distinctions without differ- 

 ences. 



None of the native American dogs, so far as known, in 

 any way resembled the Greyhound. The native wild dog 

 of Australia is built on the same lines as the Greyhound, 

 but is nearly extinct, being now rarely, if ever, met with. 

 In Africa, India, Ceylon, and other tropical countries, the 

 ordinary breeds of hunting dogs, especially the Pointer, 

 the Foxhound, and Bloodhound, deteriorate rapidly, both 

 physically and mentally, losing strength and energy; but 

 such climate seems to have but little, if any effect, on the 

 Greyhound. These dogs seem equally at home in high 

 altitudes, being capable of great and continued exertions, 

 even as high as timber line. 



In shape and form, the modern Greyhound is far supe- 

 rior to that of olden times, if we may judge by the por- 

 traits and engravings handed down to us. In elegance of 

 form, the improvement has been very marked, especially in 

 the beauty of the head and neck. 



The qualities desired in this, the most elegant, the hand- 

 somest of his race, are speed, courage (without which 

 he is not worth kennel-room), strength, stanchness, and 

 endurance. He must have an affectionate disposition, but 

 must also have plenty of vital force, dash, and spirit. 



It is a general supposition that the Greyhound is entirely 

 devoid of the power of scent. This is a great mistake, as 

 can be attested by anyone who has ever hunted them, gen- 



