42 British Dogs. 



their veins. It is now nearly thirty years since I last saw a rough grey- 

 hound competing in a coursing match, and he won it. When I say it wa? 

 in a parish where every one was a courser, and that can boast the 

 production of such good greyhounds as Cutty Sark, Scotland Yet, Wigan, 

 Canaradzo, &c., it will be a sufficient guarantee that good stuff was 

 pitted against the lanky dog with hirsute muzzle, whose name I forget, 

 and who, I well remember, had his life closed on the day of his victory 

 by some undiscovered scoundrel having that night cut his hock sinews, 

 when, of course, he had to be destroyed. 



A celebrated public performer was Gilbertfield, a rough brindled dog 

 that flourished forty years ago ; but, although rough himself and the sire 

 of rough dogs that proved themselves good ones, his sire was of the 

 smooth variety. 



The shape of the rough greyhound corresponds closely with that of the 

 deerhound ; but he is not so large and powerful, averaging about 2 Gin. at 

 shoulder against 29in. or 30in. in the deerhound. That both sprang from 

 same original stock I think there can be no doubt ; the existing difference 

 gradually became established by the work to which they were kept and the 

 selections in breeding that would naturally be resorted to to mould and 

 modify the animal to the purpose for which he was required. 



In most points the rough or, as it has been called, the wiry-haired 

 greyhound corresponds with the smooth, except that he is larger boned, 

 not quite so elegant in shape, or perhaps, more correctly, wanting in that 

 beautiful finish that stamps the modern greyhound as the highest effort of 

 man's skill in moulding this plastic animal to his will. The rough, harsh 

 coat adds to this effect, and the hairy jaws make the head look coarse ; 

 this, however, it is in reality, the head being wider between the ears, 

 which are also apt to be rather large and carried in an ugly manner. 

 From its general resemblance to the deerhound, many specimens have 

 been sold as such, and, being kept as companions and crossed with deer- 

 hounds, have swelled the ranks of the latter, and helped to deteriorate 

 their size. 



I believe there are still to be met with in Wales specimens of the 

 rough greyhound ; I have no personal knowledge of them, but, from 

 information furnished me, I believe they in all respects correspond with 

 the Scotch, and are no doubt descendants of the dogs that rid the 

 Principality of its wolves. 



