1 70 Modern Dogs. 



champion rabbit coursers reach 4olb. in weight 

 or even more. I have known a thoroughbred 

 greyhound take part in one of the big handicaps that 

 are held during the season in the neighbourhood 

 of Manchester and elsewhere. It scarcely remains 

 for me to say that these bigger dogs are the direct 

 cross with the greyhound, and some of them are 

 built on such lines and contain so much greyhound 

 blood, as to be scarcely distinguishable from the 

 original article. 



Such dogs are fast, clever with their teeth, and 

 oftener than not run straight into their rabbit, 

 " holding " it without a turn, the one that does so 

 winning the trial, irrespective of the capacity it 

 shows for working, turning, or making the points 

 as in coursing hares. The law allowed varies from 

 anything between 30 and 70 yards, and directly the 

 rabbit is dropped the dogs are slipped, the latter 

 being done by a skilful man, specially appointed for 

 the purpose. Handicaps are made according to the 

 weight or height of the dog ; in Newcastle-on-Tyne 

 and the surrounding districts, the latter being the 

 custom the dog being measured from the top of 

 the shoulder blade to the pad of the foot whilst in 

 Lancashire and Yorkshire handicap by weight is 

 preferred. In all cases a dog has to allow a bitch 

 three yards start. These customs or rules likewise 



