CHAPTER X. 

 THE WHIPPET. 



With, I believe few exceptions, the whippet or snap 

 dog has not been included as a distinct variety in 

 any book on English dogs. Still, it is now, and has 

 been for some time, quite a variety of itself, and 

 amongst the colliers and other working men in the 

 north of England, including Lancashire and York- 

 shire, none is so popular or provides so much 

 amusement. 



Originally the "whippet" was a small dog — a 

 cross between the Italian greyhound and some 

 terrier or other, partaking in general appearance 

 more of the greyhound cross than of the terrier. 

 Thus, in many parts of the north, the dog is still 

 called an " Hitalian," the local pronunciation of 

 the name of that country from which it is supposed 

 the fragile toy dog first came. He is also known as 

 a " running " dog, the reason for which will be 

 obvious, and is likewise called a "snap" dog because 

 of his ability to snap or hold quickly and smartly a 

 rabbit or any other small animal. 



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