The Italian Greyhound. 337 



stamp we have now, and their appearance in the 

 picture is sufficient proof that such dogs were 

 fashionable very early in the seventeenth century, for 

 James came from Scotland to be King of England 

 in 1603. 



It has been said that the Italian greyhound was a 

 native of the South of France as well as of the 

 country from which it takes its name. Never par- 

 ticularly numerous in England, it was more so once 

 than is the case now, and when it was utilised to 

 cross with the terrier in the North of England for the 

 purpose of providing dogs for ''running races " and 

 for " coursing rabbits," it was not difficult to procure 

 specimens, especially in Lancashire and in parts of 

 the Black Country. Many of these " running dogs " 

 were not more than i2lb. or i/|.lb. in weight, and I 

 have seen such that must have contained at least 

 three parts Italian greyhound blood. Some of the 

 original crosses produced little dogs scarcely strong 

 enough in the jaws to hold a rabbit, but such could 

 go at a rare pace for from one hundred to a couple 

 of hundred yards. These were again crossed with 

 the terrier, and in due course the variety now 

 acknowledged as the " whippet " was produced, i 

 am alluding to the smaller-sized " whippet/' for the 

 larger specimens are undoubtedly the product of the 

 ordinarv greyhound and some other variety, bred 



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