CHAPTER XII. 



THE BORZOI OR RUSSIAN WOLFHOUND. 



There is no dog of modern times that has so 

 rapidly attained a certain degree of popularity as 

 that which is named at the head of this chapter. 

 A dozen years ago it was comparatively unknown in 

 England ; now all well-regulated and comprehensive 

 dog shows give a class or classes for him, which are 

 usually well filled, and cause quite as much interest 

 as those for our own varieties. Indeed, the Borzoi is 

 a noble hound, powerful and muscular in appearance, 

 still possessing a pleasant and sweet expression, that 

 tells how kindly his nature is. He is one of the 

 aristocratic varieties of the canine race, and the 

 British public is to be congratulated on its discern- 

 ment in annexing him from the Russian kennels, 

 where, too, his reputation is of the highest. 



In the early days of our dog shows. Borzois, 

 then known as Siberian and Russian wolfhounds, 

 and by other names, too, occasionally appeared on 

 the benches. Most of them were similar in type to 



