720 THE DOG. 



with difficulty, from the srnallness of their numbers, and the 

 consequent necessity of breeding from members of the same 

 family. They are generally termed Deer-hounds, but do* not 

 differ, except in superior strength and stature, from the com- 

 mon greyhounds of the country. They were a powerful and 

 agile race of dogs, with stout loins, muscular limbs, and a 

 rough wiry fur. They were of surpassing courage, could use 

 the scent as well as the eye, and were capable of making 

 amazing bounds amongst the rocky mountains where the 

 stag pursued its flight. The same race of greyhounds ex- 

 isted in Ireland before the ancient forests were destroyed. 

 But their remains only are now to be recognised in the 

 smaller race of shaggy greyhounds, which are yet preserved 

 in some parts of the country. 



With the reigns of Elizabeth and James, it has been said, 

 the ancient modes of employing the Greyhound began to be 

 disused, and the coursing of the hare gained favour. In the 

 time of Elizabeth coursing matches were established, which 

 have exercised a great influence on the British Greyhound. 

 For the regulation of these matches a set of rules, by com- 

 mand of the Queen, was drawn up by the Duke of Norfolk ; 

 and these rules were so perfect in themselves, that they have 

 continued to be the model, in the case of this class of sports, 

 up to our own times. The principle of them is, that the 

 comparative merit of the dogs shall be tested solely by their 

 power of speed ; to which end every kind of artifice on the 

 part of the dogs, as the lying in wait, or other unfair advan- 

 tage over the game, is discouraged. Two dogs only are per- 

 mitted to run at a time. The finder of the game goes in 

 front, and a person follows with the dogs in leash, who 

 slips them when the game has reached a sufficient dis- 

 tance, and on the word being given ; and it is remarkable 

 that the same practice was followed by the Celtic Gauls, 

 and afterwards adopted by the Roman sportsmen. The 

 merits of the rival dogs are determined by an umpire, accord- 

 ing to the rules, but always on the principle of giving the 



