42 FIRST DIVISION OF THE 



before the head of the deer, and, sometimes darting his talons into his 

 head, disconcerts him, and enables the greyhound speedily to overtake and 

 master him. The chace, however, in which the Persians chiefly delight, 

 and for which these greyhounds are mostly valued, is that of the ghoo- 

 khan, or wild ass. This animal inhabits the mountainous districts of 

 Persia. He is swift, ferocious, and of great endurance, which, together 

 with the nature of the ground, renders this sport exceedingly dangerous. 

 The hunter scarcely gives the animal a fair chance, for relays of grey- 

 hounds are placed at various distances in the surrounding country ; so 

 that, when those by which the animal is first started are tired, there 

 are others to continue the chace. Such, however, is the speed and en- 

 durance of the ghoo-khan that it is seldom fairly run down by the grey- 

 hounds, its death being usually achieved by the rifle of some horseman. 

 The Persians evince great skill and courage in this dangerous sport, gal- 

 loping at full speed, rifle in hand, up and down the most precipitous hills, 

 and across ravines and mountain streams, that might well daunt the boldest 

 rider. a 



The Persian greyhound, carried to Hindoostan, is not always to be de- 

 pended upon, but, it is said, is apt to console itself by hunting its own 

 master, or any one else, when the game proves too fleet or escapes into the 

 cover. 



THE ITALIAN GREYHOUND 



possesses all the symmetry of the English or Persian one, on a small scale. 

 So far as beauty can recommend it, and, generally speaking, good-nature, 

 it is deservedly a favourite in the drawing-room ; but, like the large grey- 

 hound, it is inferior in intelligence. It has no strong individual attach- 

 ment, but changes it with singular facility. It is not, however, seen to 

 advantage in its petted and degraded state, but has occasionally proved a 

 not unsuccessful courser of the rabbit and the hare, and exhibited no small 

 share of speed and perseverance. In a country, however, the greater part 

 of which is infested with wolves, it cannot be of much service, but ex- 

 posed to unnecessary danger. It is bred along the coasts of Italy, prin- 

 cipally for the purpose of sale to foreigners. 



In order to acquire more perfect beauty of form, and more activity also, 

 the English greyhound has received one cross from the Italian, and with 

 decided advantage. The speed and the beauty have been evidently in- 

 creased, and the courage and stoutness have not been diminished. 



It has been said that Frederick the Great of Prussia was very fond of 

 a small Italian greyhound, and used to carry it about with him under his 

 cloak. During the seven years' war, he was pursued by a party of Aus- 

 trian dragoons, and compelled to take shelter, with his favourite, under 

 the dry arch of a bridge. Had the little animal, that was naturally ill- 

 tempered and noisy, once barked, the monarch would have been taken 

 prisoner, and the fate of the campaign and of Prussia decided ; but it lay 

 perfectly still, and clung close to its master, as if conscious of their mu- 

 tual danger. When it died, it was buried in the gardens of the palace at 

 Berlin, and a suitable inscription placed over its grave. 



a New Sports. Mag. xiii. 124. 



