12 THE GREYHOUND. 



The translator of Arrian "would rather seek the origin 

 of the English name in the prevailing colour of the dog," 

 in which the numerous commixtures of colours forming the 

 various shades of grey predominate. " Stonehenge " leans 

 to this view; and he also points out that "no other breed 

 has, I believe, the blue or grey colour prevalent." The 

 blue colour is, however, common to the Great Dane. 



Again, it has been sought to trace the name to the grey, 

 the old name for the badger hence Grey-hunde, or Badger- 

 hound; but although the suggestion comes from so high 

 an authority as Skinner, I cannot but think it entirely 

 fanciful, for a dog of the Greyhound type is not needed 

 for such slow game as the badger. 



Gesner spells the name Grewhound; and Golding in his 

 translation of Ovid uses the contraction of that compound, 

 Grewnd, which is common enough : 



And even as when the greedy Grewnde doth course the sillie haro, 

 Amiddes the plaine and champion fielde, without all covert bare. 



In the south of Scotland the Greyhound is still commonly 

 called the Grew ; and in " Guy Mannering," Dandie Dinmont 

 includes in the list of his dogs, "six Terriers, twa couple 

 of Slowhounds, five Grews, and a wheen ither dowgs." 



The Greyhound having been always kept for the chase, 

 would naturally undergo modifications with the changes in 

 the manner of hunting, the nature of the wild animals he 

 was trained to hunt, and the characteristics of the country 

 in which he was used; and having always, until very re- 

 cent times, been restricted to the possession of persons of 

 the higher ranks, he would have greater care, and his 

 improvement be the better secured. That his possession 



