152 



ARRIAN 



Cfiap. XXXII. has more bottom than the bitch ; 2 and, because he can run 

 through the whole year, is a much more valuable acquisition : 

 and as good bitches abound, but it is no easy thing to meet 

 with a thorough-good dog, the latter is on this account more 

 precious : and again, it is fortunate if bitches preserve their 

 speed to the fifth year,^ whereas dogs retain theirs even to the 



Sophoclis 



Ajax Flagell. 



vs. 2. 



Markham's 

 Countrey Con- 

 tentments. B. I. 

 p. 47. 



The Countrey 

 Farme. c. xxii. 



Sir W. Scott. 



gender, and the former would certainly have been more appropriate to the sex of the 

 person represented. The gender is changed by the poet in a marked way : 



KOI vvv eVJ aKrjpais ae vavriKois SpSi 

 Aiavros, tvOa, rd^iv iaxo.Ti\v ^X^h 

 viXai KwrjyeTovfTa, Koi fierpovfievov 

 tX'^V TO Keivov veoxO'PCX^'} ottws ifSps 

 eSfr' evSov, fXr ovk tvdov ei 5e a' e/c^e'pet 

 Kwhs AaKaivrjs Sis ris eiipivos fidais. 



This opinion, therefore, of the superiority of the bitch over the dog seems to have 

 prevailed in the kennels of antiquity ; and such, I believe, is still entertained by 

 sportsmen. " It is an old received opinion," observes the author of Countrey Con- 

 tentments, " amongst many men of the leashe, that the greyhound bitch will ever 

 beate the greyhound dogge, by reason of her more nimblenesse, quicknesse, and 

 agillity ; and it is sometimes seene that a perfect good bitch indeed, hath much 

 advantage of an ordinary dogge : but if the good dogge meet with the good bitch, 

 there is then no comparison, but the dogge will be her master, inasmuch as he ex- 

 ceedeth her both in lengthe and strengthe, the two maine helpes in coursing ; for her 

 nimblenesse is then no helpe, sith a good dogge in the turne will loose as little ground 

 as any bitch whatsoever." See also The Countrey Farme, c. xxii. by Markham, 

 ed. 1G16. The earliest edition, of IGOO, does not contain Markham's additional 

 remarks on coursing, but merely Surflet's version of " Maison Rustique." 



2. "Ap^-qv 5e 6r]\e[as Stairoviiadai afiiivaiv. Aristotle remarks, in the Spartan tribe 

 of dogs, that the bitches are longer- lived than tlie dogs, in consequence of the latter 

 working harder than the former, Sib. jh iroi'(7v rotis a^ptvas fiaWov. " Whereso- 

 ever," says Markham, " the course shall stand forth long, the good dogge will beat 

 out the good bitch and make her give over." 



3. A« 6ii\eicu (jlIv ayoeirriThv, k. t. \. I am not aware of any difference having been 

 observed by coursers, in the duration of the comparative speed of the dog and bitch. 

 It is not inability to run that disqualifies a greyhound (generally in his tliird year 

 from the period of entrance) for appearance on the coursing field, but a propensity, 

 acquired by experience, to skulk and run false : 



Experience sage the lack of speed supplies. 

 And in the gap he seeks — his victim dies. 



