306 THE ITALIAN GREYHOUND 



resorted to. This, of course, was calculated to do 

 away with the graceful outline and high-stepping 

 action, without which none should be deemed to 

 approach perfection, and it was well that the Italian 

 Greyhound Club, on its foundation in 1900, set itself 

 strongly against the outcross business, and prevented 

 the breed from being ruined. Personally I much 

 prefer a dog of medium size~; he is less fragile 

 and more companionable in my opinion, .and is 

 certainly not too large for a room. 



The Italian Greyhound has undoubtedly been kept 

 as a pet by the ladies of his native country for some 

 centuries, pictures affording ample evidence upon this 

 point, and also proving that the type has changed 

 but little. The Court ladies of France in the seven- 

 teenth and eighteenth century were also devoted to 

 him, if we may believe the paintings by Watteau. 

 The fashionable colour varies a good deal from time 

 to time. It is purely a question of one's individual 

 taste. Some modern judges do not care for white, 

 while others prefer it. You may also have black, 

 golden or silver fawn, blue, cream, or mouse. 



The horrible apple-head, so common to the toy 

 varieties, which is regarded more or less as a sign 

 of degeneracy, seems to be disappearing, giving place 

 to the more correct, and certainly far more pleasing*, 

 greyhound shape. 



Much stress is laid upon the action, which, to 

 some extent, should resemble that of a high-step- 

 ping hackney. It gives an air of playfulness which 

 otherwise would be lacking. Mrs. Scarlett, who has 

 had so many good specimens, warns us that the 

 little creatures require careful handling lest a limb 

 should be fractured. For this reason children should 



