The Borzoi or Russian Wolfhound. 31 



risk is run by the loss of these dogs immediately 

 after their arrival in this country. To my personal 

 knowledge, three or four deaths have so taken 

 place. No doubt the changes of food, in their 

 manner of living, and in other surroundings, 

 bring on a complication of disorders not unlike 

 ordinary distemper. That handsome bitch, Rous- 

 salka, brought over by Mr. F. Lowe, died soon 

 after it left his kennels — it cost its new owner 

 ;^ioo; and Mr Muir's Korotai had a narrow 

 escape, lying at death's door for several days. 

 Being a dog of strong, hardy constitution, and w^ell 

 nursed, he contrived to pull through. 



The usual colours of the Borzoi are white with 

 markings of fawn in varyino^ shades, of blue or 

 slate, sometimes of black and tan. The latter is 

 not considered good, nor are the whole colours 

 which are occasionally seen — fawn and black and 

 tan. Some of the white dogs are occasionally 

 patched with pale brindle, which, however, is not 

 so well defined in its bars or shades as that colour is 

 found on our greyhounds and bull dogs. Many per- 

 sons object to the brindle or " tiger-coloured " marks, 

 and Colonel Tchebeshoff, one of the great authorities 

 on the breed, disqualifies black, and black and tan, 

 and white with black spots, as indicating descent 

 from English or Oriental greyhounds. Still, against 



