The Greyhound. 25 



through an astonishingly small meuse. The necessity of sufficient bone, 

 big, strong joints, and muscular legs, is apparent where such violent 

 exertion is called for, and the round, cat-like foot, is a necessity of speed. 

 No one would have the wheels of a fast-going gig made as broad 

 in the tyre as that of a four-ton waggon. The soles are required hard 

 and tough, that they may stand the wear and tear of rough ground and 

 stony lanes, if these come in the way ; the strong claws give the dog 

 purchase over the ground. 



The loins must be strong ; a greyhound weak there might be fast for a 

 spurt, but would prove merely flashy, being neither able to endure nor 

 yet good at his turns. When Markham says " short and strong fillets," 

 he means the loin the term being used in speaking of the horse not the 

 fleshy part of the thigh, which the term might apply to. The hips must 

 be wide asunder, and the hind legs straight as regards each other, " not 

 crompying as an oxe " that is, as we now express it, not cow-hocked 

 but they must be bent or sickle hocked ; the thighs with immense and 

 well developed muscle, the same strength of bony and muscular develop- 

 ment is needed as in the fore legs, and especially there should be no weak- 

 ness below the knee. The dog should stand rather wide behind and higher 

 than before ; the slight width gives additional propelling force, and the 

 higher hind quarters additional speed and power in racing up hill, as 

 hares invariably do if they can, unless there is temptation of a covert 

 near, a fact quaintly expressed in the " Book of St. Albans " : 



" Tell me," Maystre, quod the man, " what is the skyll 

 "Why the Haare wolde so fayne renne against the hill ? " 

 Quod the Mayster, " For her legges be shorter before 

 Than behind; that is the skyll thore." 



In respect to the tail, all agree it should be long and fine. Markham 

 says : " An even growne long rat's tail, round, turning at the lower end 

 leashward, and full set on between the buttocks." The " Mayster of 

 Game" says : "A catte's tayle, making a ring at eend, but not to hie." 

 The tail, no doubt, acts as a rudder, and as such must play an important 

 part in swerving and turning. 



Colour in greyhounds should go for little, but many have a prejudice in 

 favour of a special fancy, although experience proves that there are good 

 of all. In the hunting poem by "Gratius," as translated by Wase, we 

 are told to 



Chuse the greyhound pied with black and white, 

 He runs more swift than thought or winged flight. 



