42 THE GREYHOUND. 



These three things open competition,, cheap and rapid 

 travelling, and the Press brought coursers together and 

 made the doings of all open to all, thus stimulating 

 praiseworthy emulation and giving greater zest to the 

 sport. 



In the early days of free coursing, even Bell's Life did 

 not give more than the results of stakes and matches ; whilst 

 now no sporting paper of repute exists that does not send 

 its specialist to report on the running at all important public 

 meetings, and even the daily papers of London and the chief 

 provincial towns supply their readers with full information 

 respecting the principal coursing events. 



The National Coursing Club being the supreme authority 

 on all coursing matters framing and administering laws, 

 arbitrating on disputes, settling betting questions, and 

 with, power to disqualify from participation in the sport 

 at all meetings held under its rules those who infringe 

 or set at nought its rulings it will be well to glance 

 at its constitution and the basis on which it rests. The 

 Club consists of members elected to that position by the 

 coursing clubs of the United Kingdom which are of more 

 than one year's standing, and which have not less than 

 twenty-four members. The Club thus formed has the power 

 to elect twenty-five additional members from among well- 

 known supporters of public coursing, such members being 

 elected for five years. Ten members from those elected 

 by the several local clubs retire annually, their places being 

 filled by those clubs electing others or re-electing the 

 retiring members. The Club holds two general meetings 

 in the year for the despatch of business, revision or altera- 

 tion of rules, election of members, &c., one of these in 



