S22 CARNIVORES. 



size, that no detailed description is necessary. The animal is, indeed, thoroughly 

 adapted for extreme speed, the long slender limbs, with their wire-like muscles, 

 giving the utmost possible length of stride, while the smooth coat, sharply-pointed 

 head, elongated neck, and thin tail are calculated to offer the least possible 

 resistance to the air. The long muzzle and neck are, moreover, necessary to enable 

 the greyhound to seize a small animal like a hare when running at speed. We 

 may further notice the great depth of the chest, calculated to afford ample room 

 for the lungs, and the small size of the abdomen. The extremely attenuated 

 muzzle is of itself sufficient indication that the greyhound cannot hunt solely by 

 scent, as it is too small to contain space for the large extent of surface in the 

 cavity of the nose necessary in dogs that hunt in this manner. 



At one period the greyhound bacame too weak in the jaws to kill its prey, but 

 this defect was remedied by crossing with the bull-dog, the bull-dog blood being 

 gradually eliminated until the proper combination of strength with speed was 

 attained. The head of the present breed should be broad and flat between the ears, 

 without that arching characteristic of other breeds of dogs. The eyes should be 

 of the same colour as the coat ; and the ears always now fall at the tips, although 

 there was an old-fashioned breed in which they were erect. The length of the 

 neck should be approximately equal to that of the head ; although it is not very 

 easy to say in a living animal where the neck ends and the chest begins. Much 

 importance is attached by breeders to the formation of the fore-quarters of the 

 greyhound, the best strains having the shoulder-blades of great length, obliquely 

 placed, and well clothed with muscle, and likewise the upper arm (humerus) of 

 considerable relative length. Of not less importance is the conformation of the 

 hind-limbs, in which the upper and lower leg should be of great relative length, 

 so that the whole limb should be much bent at the junction of these two segments. 

 Then, again, the hind-limbs must be set rather wide apart at their lower 

 extremities, to allow of their being brought forward with the utmost celerity in 

 running ; while in the haunches the attention of the breeder is especially directed 

 to the development of sufficient width. That the foot-pads should be hard and 

 horny, to withstand the wear and tear of racing over hard and rough ground, is 

 self-evident, but there is some difference of opinion as to the precise form of foot 

 which is most desirable. The tail should be entirely devoid of any fringe of long 

 hairs, and, while thick at the root, should at first taper somewhat rapidly, and 

 afterwards more gradually. It should hang close to the hind-quarters for the 

 greater part of its length, terminating in an upwardly -inclined curve, which 

 generally forms about three-fourths of a circle. Colour is regarded as of but minor 

 importance in determining the " points " of a greyhound. A uniform coloration, 

 such as sandy or slaty grey, is, however, generally preferred to a mixture. 

 Italian Grey- This is kept purely as a pet, and may be regarded as a miniature 



hound. O f the English greyhound. Its proportions are most elegant, and its 

 speed considerable ; but so delicately is it made that it is incapable of pulling down 

 even a rabbit. The muzzle and tail are relatively somewhat shorter than in the 

 English greyhound ; while the eyes are proportionately larger and softer. There 

 are several colours, among which a golden fawn is the most valued ; next to this 

 comes a dove-coloured fawn, after which come cream-colour and the so-called 



