The Borzoi or Russian Wolfhound. 213 



the kennels of the Borzoi hounds, and the value 

 placed upon them in their native country. He says : 



In the south of Russia, from which I have just returned, I had 

 the good fortune to be the guest of a keen and well-known 

 sportsman Mr. Kalmoutzky, who, since coming into the inheritance 

 of a magnificent property of something like twenty square miles, 

 has built kennels which I should say are not surpassed in any 

 country being very large in size, and as near to perfection in 

 detail as can well be imagined. The lodging houses, numbering 

 three, are benched on two sides, and at each end there is a room 

 for a man ; three kennelmen being allowed for each kennel, two 

 of them on duty night and day. This gives nine kennelmen to 

 the kennels and, with five other officials, the number of men 

 employed on it are fourteen. It is necessary to have men in 

 attendance at all times, as the wolfhounds are very quarrelsome, 

 and terrible fighters. Each kennel has a large yard of more than 

 three quarters of an acre. In addition to the above there are 

 commodious kennels for puppies (and these buildings are 

 heated with hot air), cooking houses, and a hospital. There is 

 telephone communication from all the kennels to Mr. Kalmoutzky's 

 house, and he expects everything to be in readiness for a hunt in 

 ten minutes from the time he sends his orders. 



In the kennels above described can be seen perhaps the finest 

 pack of wolfhounds in the world, numbering twenty-two couples. 

 They form a magnificent collection, their owner having spared no 

 expense in getting the best to be found in Russia, and of the oldest 

 blood. Some of them have cost ^"300 each; and the estimated 

 worth of the pack is considerably over ^5000. 



A perfect wolfhound must run up to a wolf, collar him by the 

 neck just under the ear, and, with the two animals rolling over, 

 the hound must never lose his hold, or the wolf would turn round 

 and snap him through the leg. Three of these hounds hold the 

 biggest wolf powerless ; so that the men can dismount from their 

 horses and muzzle the wolf to take him alive. 



