The Borzoi or Russian Wolfhound. 297 



captured being let loose on the snow. First a very 

 noted hound was slipped to show how one could per- 

 form single-handed. The start given to the wolf 

 was about 200 yards, and in about 600 yards the 

 hound had got up, and in the next instant had taken 

 hold by the neck, and both seemed to turn head 

 over heels in a mass. The next course two hounds 

 were slipped, and these ran up to the wolf one on 

 each side, catching him almost at the same moment; 

 the foe was then powerless, and seemed to be as 

 easily muzzled as a collie dog. 



" I remarked to my host that I did not think the 

 hounds seemed to go quite as fast as our grey- 

 hounds, and he replied, 'No, they do not. We have 

 tried them, and the greyhound is the faster ; but 

 none of your breeds have the hold of our hounds.' 



"The plan of a regular hunt was fully described 

 to me. It is decided to draw a reed bed, and verv 

 quietly a mounted chasseur with three wolfhounds is 

 stationed on some vantage ground near. Other 

 points are guarded in the same manner, and then 

 the head huntsman rides into the covert with a pack 

 of foxhounds. The oldest wolves will break covert 

 at almost the first cheer given to hounds ; but the 

 younger ones want a lot of rattling. However, the 

 keen eyes of the men and hounds soon detect wolves 

 stealing away ; the three hounds are then slipped, a 



