220 Modern Dogs. 



litter, there is no other conclusion to arrive at, that 

 they are one and the same variety. At any rate, 

 they are allowed to be so in this the land of 

 their adoption. 



Considerable interest was taken in the extra- 

 ordinary collection of this hound that appeared at the 

 Agricultural Hall, Islington, in February, 1892. 

 Here, many classes had been provided, the result 

 being an entry of about fifty. These included a splendid 

 team from the " Imperial Kennels," most of which 

 belonged to the Grand Duke Nicholas. However, 

 three were actually the property of the Czar, including 

 a beautiful bitch called Lasca, and a couple of dogs, 

 Oudar and Blitsay. Oudar was a particularly fine 

 hound, and though in bad condition, consequent on 

 his long journey from St. Petersburg, he stood well 

 with the best of our previously imported dogs, and in 

 the end gained second honours in perhaps as good 

 an open class as was ever seen anywhere. He stood 

 3o^in. at the shoulders, and scaled about ic5lb. 



Most of these Russian dogs were sold, some of 

 them for high prices, Oudar realising ^200, and the 

 bitch already named as much. The Lord Mayor of 

 London was presented with a handsome specimen, 

 and most of these Imperial dogs were sold. Their 

 caretaker had instructions to sell the lot, but none 

 for less than 20 apiece. The strains in this 



