30 British Dogs. 



side of some exposed place and during a driving mist, they would then 

 candidly confess that the wiry had the day. 



" I have stated that 28in. was a good size for a deerhound 

 by that I meant for work ; for the show bench an inch or so higher 

 might do, but avoid too much in that quarter, as then, in the majority 

 of cases, a weak loin is the result. Thanks to the kindness of a friend, 

 who, I believe, took the measurements at Birmingham show, 1873, I am 

 enabled to give the measurements, &c., of many of the most famous dogs 

 and bitches of the present day. 



Loin, 

 in. 

 20* 

 23 

 23* 

 22 

 22 

 23| 

 26 



" There were seven dogs over 30in., whereas the second prize dog was 

 only 2 Gin. 



" Somerset, who since that time has made his mark in the show yard, 

 measures : Height, 29|in. ; girth, 35in. ; loin, 26|in. ; and length, 5ft. 9in. 



" The above are the only measures I have been able to obtain ; but are 

 sufficient to show that, as a rule, it is not an overgrown hound that the 

 young exhibitor has to look to to obtain honours. Search for an active 

 dog, with good legs, strong loins and haunches, a nice sloping shoulder, 

 and a hard coat, and such a one will take a deal of beating." 



It is but fair to state that in a letter on the above article the owner of 

 Morni, whilst admitting that his dog has not a hard coat, accounts for it 

 by the fact that, being a favourite, he was allowed to sleep in warm rooms 

 on soft carpets and was also periodically washed. This undoubtedly 

 tends to soften the coat in all dogs. He further quoted McNiel, of 

 Colonsay, to show that there are pure deerhounds with coats of a soft 

 texture, but all sportsmen;will agree with ' ' Senex ' ' that the harsh hard coat 

 is the most useful one. " Senex " has not referred to colour, so we, with 

 his approval, add that this varies from red wheaten to dark and many 

 shades of grizzle. 



The measurements given by " Senex " we are now enabled to supplement : 



