The Borzoi or Russian Wolfhound. 209 



later the same exhibitor benched an excellent 

 example of the race in Cossack, a grandson of 

 Molodetz, already mentioned as having belonged 

 to the Prince of Wales, and being from the Imperial 

 kennels. Perhaps the earliest appearance of all on 

 the bench was in 1863, when the then Duchess 

 of Manchester showed a very big dog of the variety 

 at Islington, and bred by Prince William of Prussia. 

 I have the authority of Captain G. A. Graham for 

 stating that this hound was 31 inches at the 

 shoulders, quite equal in size, as he was in 

 power, to some of the best specimens now on our 

 shores. 



Thus, after all, this fine race of dog is not quite 

 such a modern institution in our country as would 

 be imagined, though the earlier strains, I fancy, 

 must have been lost, possibly on account of the 

 inter-breeding consequent on an inability to obtain 

 a change of blood. Communication between the 

 eastern and western divisions of Europe is much 

 more rapid and easier of accomplishment than in the 

 early days of dog shows. 



Advancing a few years, Lady Charles Kerr occa- 

 sionally sent some of these Russian hounds to the 

 exhibitions, but most of them were small and some- 

 what light and weedy far from such powerful 

 animals as the best that are with us to-day, and 



[VOL. I.] p 



