THE GREYHOUND 



95 



latter, and heavier boned, yet lithe and supple withal ; his whole 

 conformation gives an impression of speed, just as his blinking, half- 

 closed eye, as he lies pretending to sleep, impresses one with his 

 intelligence and cunning. His coat is rough, hard, and uneven; 

 his ears are coarse ; and altogether there is an air of vulgarity about 

 him. No yelp, youf, or yowl from the Lurcher. Steady at heel, 

 or keeping watch at the stile till the wire is in the meuse and the 

 net across the gate ; then, at a motion of the hand, and without 

 a whimper, he is round the field, driving rabbit and hare into the 

 fatal snare. 



Lurchers will run by either nose or sight, as suits them, but 

 always cunning. Let them start a hare they will probably make 

 for the meuse and meet poor Wat ; but their great game is, with 

 crouching, stealthy step, to pounce on him in his form. All 

 Lurchers will retrieve their game. They vary greatly in general 

 size and shape, as they do in colour ; but an ideal Lurcher is an 

 animal with a heavyish Greyhound conformation, with just enough 

 of the Collie to make him look intelligent, and in colour, red, 

 brindle, or grizzle. 



