The Borzoi or Russian Wolfhound. 307 



Here, many classes had been provided, the result 

 being, an entry of about fifty. These included a 

 splendid team from the "Imperial Kennels," most of 

 which belonged to the Grand Duke Nicholas. How- 

 ever, three were actually the property of the Czar, 

 including a beautiful bitch called Lasca, and a 

 couple of dogs, Oudar and Blitsay. Oudar was a 

 particularly fine hound, and though in bad condition, 

 consequent on his long journey from St. Petersburg, 

 he stood well with the best of our previously 

 imported dogs, and in the end gained second 

 honours in perhaps as good an open class as was 

 ever seen anywhere. He stood 30^in. at the 

 shoulders, and scaled about 1051b. 



Most of these Russian dogs were sold, some of 

 them for high prices, Oudar realising ;^20o, the 

 bitch already named as much, and the then Lord 

 Mayor of London was presented with a handsome 

 specimen. Their " caretaker" had instructions to 

 sell the lot, but none for less than ^^20 apiece. The 

 strains in this country have been improved by these 

 importations, and any fears as to degeneracy from 

 inter-breeding may now be set at rest. Another big 

 dog of the race was Colonel Wellesley's Damon, 

 3ofin. at the shoulders, and about iiolb. in weight, 

 but when we saw him he did not quite equal in 

 symmetry and general excellence such dogs as 



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