24 Varieties of tJic Dog. 



one which ahiiost every good greyhound exhibits. Its 

 absence betokens great weakness and a want of endurance ; 

 for though the dog may be fast without it, he is seldom 

 capable of continuing his speed. 



The hind quarter is the main element of progression, 

 and upon it in a great measure depend the speed and 

 power of the greyhound. As in all other cases, size is 

 power; and the greater the length and size of the hind 

 quarter, so will be the power of propulsion. This length 

 is variously displayed : sometimes the hind leg being long, 

 but straight ; whilst in others it is more or less bent in two 

 places — the stifle and hock. It will generally be observed 

 that when the part of the leg below the hock is compara- 

 tively short, the bones above that part are bent at the 

 stifle, and the whole hind quarter is long, without raising 

 the back from the ground, as would be the case with the 

 same length of limb in a more straight fonii. As far as 

 my observation goes, the bent hind quarter is the more 

 favourable form ; but I have seen many good dogs with 

 very straight stifles, and there can be no reason why these 

 should not serve the purpose of propulsion as well as the 

 bent ones. But though they can propel as well, and 

 perhaps even better under some circumstances, they are 

 quite useless unless they are accompanied by a low fore- 

 quarter ; for if otherwise, the fore-leg is too long in pro- 

 portion, and the power of working and killing is at a very 

 low ebb. 



Two essentials are required, — speed and working 

 power. Now, speed may be given from length of hind 

 quarter, whether that length is usually in an extended or 

 in a bent form, because, when in action, they both assume 

 the same condition, and are then precisely similar the one 

 to the other ; but the working power is deficient if there 

 is the usual accompaniment of the straight hind quarter — 

 viz., a long fore-leg. It will be evident that if the hind 

 quarter is straight, and the fore-leg is properly propor- 

 tioned — that is to say, short enough for the working 

 powers — the fore-quarter will appear very low, and the 

 hips will stand up far above the slioulder. 



Now, if this formation co-exists with the straisfht hind 



