ITALIAN GREYHOUND. 45 



The attempt, therefore, to course rabbits with this little dog has 

 always failed, and in those instances where the sport (if such it can 

 be called) has been carried out at all, recourse has been had to a 

 cross between the Italian greyhound and the terrier, which results 

 in a strong, quick, little dog, quite capable of doing all that is 

 required. 



The chief points characteristic of the Italian greyhound are 

 shape, colour, and size. 



In shape he should as nearly as possible resemble the English 

 greyhound, as described at page 28 et seq. The nose is not 

 usually so long in proportion, and the head is fuller both in width 

 and depth. The eyes, also, are somewhat larger, being soft and 

 full. The tail should be small in bone, and free from hair. It is 

 scarcely so long as that of the English greyhound, bearing in mind 

 the diiference of size. It usually bends with a gentle sweep up- 

 wards, but should never turn round in a corkscrew form. 



The colour most prized is a golden fawn. The dove-coloured 

 fawn comes next. Then the cr:am colour^ and the blue fawn, 

 or fawn with blue muzzle, the black-muzzled fawn, the black- 

 muzzled red, the plain red, the yellow, the cream-coloured, and 

 the black ; the white, the blue, the white and fawn, and the white 

 and red. Whenever the dog is of a whole colour, there should be 

 no white whatever on the toes, legs, or tail ; and even a star on the 

 breast is considered a defect, though not so great as on the feet. 



The 8i%e most prized is when the specified weight is about six or 

 eight pounds ; but dogs of this weight have seldom perfect sym- 

 metry, and one with good shape and colour of eight pounds is to 



