2O British Dogs. 



insuperable : this is probably what is often meant by condition and 

 quality. 



The judge must, however, as already said, consider, and, if need be, 

 describe, not only the general appearance of the animal and the impression 

 he conveys to his (the judge's) mind, but, as it were, take him to pieces, 

 assessing the value of each particular part according to its fitness for 

 the performance of the special function for which it is designed, and 

 under the peculiar conditions in which it will have to act ; and, having 

 done so, he will find his first opinion confirmed precisely in the ratio of 

 his fitness to judge. 



Before taking the points of the greyhound one by one, I must give 

 the description of a greyhound, as laid down in the doggrel rhymes of 

 the illustrious authoress of "The Book of St. Alban's," Dame Juliana 

 Berners or Barnes, somewhile Abbess of Sopewell, and since described as 

 " a second Minerva in her studies and another Diana in her diversions." 

 It would be sheer heresy to write of greyhounds without introducing Jier 

 description, so universally has this been done ; I therefore give it in full, 

 which I have never seen done by any of our modern authorities. In 

 doing so, I must confess there are two lines that to me are somewhat 

 obscure. I, however, venture to suggest that in his eighth year he is 

 only a lick ladle fit to lick a trencher, and in his ninth year cart and 

 saddle may be used to take him to the tanner. 



THE PROPERTIES OF A GOOD GREHOUNDE. 



A grehound shold be heeded lyke a snake 



And neckyd lyke a drake, 



Footed lyke a catte, 



Tayllyd lyke a ratte, 



Syded lyke a teme, 



And chynyd lyke a beme. 



The fyrst yere he must lerne to fede, 



The second yere to felde nim lede, 



The thyrde yere he is felowe lyke. 



The fourth yere there is none syke. 



The fyfth yeare he is good enough, 



The syxte yere he shall hold the plough, 



The seventh yere he woll avaylle 



Grete by tches for to assay lie, 



The eygthe yere licke ladyll, 



The nynthe yere cartsadyll ; 



And when he is comyn to that yere 



Have him to the tannere, 



For the best hounde that ever bytche had 



At nynthe yere he is full badde. 



To begin the detailed description with the head which includes jaws 



