74 Modem Dogs. 



sight of its opponent, until the judge and goal are 

 reached. This plan is frequently adopted, as some 

 of the very best dogs, after competing repeatedly 

 under the ordinary system, become either careless 

 or quarrelsome, and refuse to " try," contenting 

 themselves by running alongside an antagonist, and 

 losing the race by a head, and the owner's weekly 

 wage and more at the same time. 



Some time ago, Mr. T. Marples, the present editor 

 of the British Fancier, wrote an exhaustive article 

 on coursing and running by whippets. He says 

 that " at times, especially in winter, when snow 

 has to be cleared from the ground which is harder 

 than usual, many of these dogs run in what are 

 called ' stoppers ' leather gloves that are placed 

 over the claws of the fore feet, the latter being apt 

 to be injured by the suddenness with which the dogs 

 stop at the end of the race." These are, of course, 

 only required where the racing is done on a cinder- 

 path, and would be quite out of place on grass 

 during rabbit coursing. 



As to handicapping, the same writer tells us that 

 as a rule a dog I5lb. weight is taken as the basis of 

 the handicap, and he is given or takes three yards, 

 according to size, irrespective of the allowance for 

 sex alluded to earlier on. However, when the dogs 

 "reach about 27lb. in weight, they are pretty much 



