The Greyhound. 235 



Major Topham's pure white dog Snowball, up to 

 the close of last century, was said to be the best 

 greyhound yet produced, and was a cross between 

 the Norfolk and Yorkshire strains, each equally 

 fashionable at that time. Snowball won ten pieces 

 of plate and forty matches, and his owner accepted 

 every challenge that was made for him to run^ 

 irrespective of the kind of country, rough hills, 

 abounding with fences, or otherwise. Whether the 

 greyhounds of that day had greater staying powers 

 than those of the present time, or were not so- 

 handy with their teeth, or the hares were stronger, 

 we know not, but Snowball's chief performance was 

 in a course '' extending over four miles without 

 a turn, including a hill half a mile (sic) in height^ 

 twice ascended." He is said to have won this trial 

 with his sister, whom he beat, killing the hare close 

 to Flexton. A dog like Master McGrath would have 

 saved himself such a long trial by reason of his 

 extraordinary skill with his teeth. Now, a greyhound 

 must not only be fast, but a "good killer," to prove 

 of extraordinary merit. Courses of four miles, ''up 

 and down a high hill twice," would quite preclude 

 any modern greyhound getting to the end of a stake^ 

 w^hen perhaps he might have four or five courses to 

 run before being returned the winner. Major, a 

 brother to Snowball, and both out of Czarina. 



