438 British Dogs. 



attractive, and mark this pretty pet as fit only for the companionship of 

 women, whose tender handling alone is light enough to save from efface- 

 ment the peach bloom that seems to adorn them, and preserve from 

 destruction a frame too fragile for the rough touch of masculine hands. 



This view may arise from some unusual and unaccountable idiosyn- 

 cracy on my part, for certain it is that these most frail specimens 

 of canine flesh are almost entirely exhibited by men, rarely by women ; 

 but I must confess I always experience a feeling of relief when I see 

 such brittle looking goods as Italian greyhounds freed from the coarse 

 and heavy hands of men exhibitors. 



As the name imports, Italy is the native home of these exquisitely 

 lovely dogs ; yet it is not under the azure skies of Italy that they are 

 brought to the greatest perfection, but rather under clouds of dense 

 London smoke, and in defiance of the raw, chilling mists that surround 

 them in their Scottish home. Those sent us from Italy are comparatively 

 coarse, but, under the magic skill of English breeders, the lines of beauty 

 natural to the breed are retained and developed, all coarseness is smoothed 

 away, and the delicacy and refinement which is their inheritance improved 

 upon. 



As a breeder of Italian greyhounds at the present time I should say 

 Mr. Bruce, of Falkirk, is facile princeps, although Mr. Steel makes a 

 good second, and between them they make the Italian class at the Edin- 

 burgh shows one of the features of that gathering, for nowhere else is 

 seen classes of this kind so strong in numbers and quality, and the best 

 of winners at English shows of recent years, Wee Flower, Crucifix, 

 Eosy Cross, Bankside Lily, and others have been bred by these two 

 gentlemen. 



Mrs. Temple, of Morley Wilmslow, Cheshire, also possesses a good 

 strain, which she brought from Italy more than forty years ago, and has 

 improved upon by careful selection in breeding. This lady does not 

 exhibit and, therefore, her dogs are not so well known as they deserve to 

 be ; but several from her stock have, I understand, successfully competed 

 in the show ring. 



For a number of years there was nothing that had a chance in a show 

 against Mr. Macdonald's famous little Molly, a dove-coloured specimen, 

 diminutive in size, and of exquisite proportions. Molly lived to the very 

 considerable age of twelve years, and literally went to her grave burdened 



