126 



BRITISH DOGS 



breed has often been a matter of notice ; and, as has been often 

 correctly remarked, the purer the breed the greater the difference. 

 Crossing increases the height of bitches, but not so much so that 

 of the dogs. I do not believe in crossing ; but, if it be resorted 

 to, the best cross, there can be no question, is that with the Russian 

 Wolfhound, a very pure bred dog, and of an analogous breed. 

 Improvement in Greyhound shape might certainly be looked for, 

 and the chief defects to be expected are the soft, silky coat and 



FIG. 37. MR. R. HOOD WRIGHT'S SCOTCH DEERHOUNDISELWOOD_DHOURAN. 



the white colour. But plenty of material is at hand nowadays, if 

 breeders will have the courage not to neglect good strains simply 

 because they are not of very large size." 



It must not be imagined that the breeders enumerated by any 

 means exhaust the list of those who are entitled to rank as among 

 the more noteworthy even. No article upon the Scotch Deerhound 

 would be complete that did not give credit to the brothers Bell, of 

 Forsjandenny, for the many fine hounds produced within their 



