CHAPTER VI 

 Dogs Used in Sport (Continued) 



GREYHOUNDS SCOTTISH DEERHOUNDS IRISH WOLF- 

 HOUNDS BORZOIS WHIPPETS 



Greyhounds. — This is certainly, whether quite in his 

 present form and appearance or not, one of the most 

 ancient breeds, and believed to have been kept by our 

 forefathers in the earliest part of the Christian era. It 

 is said to have been introduced into this country in the 

 days of Elfric, Duke of Mercia, and manuscript paint- 

 ings exist of a Saxon chief, his huntsman and a brace of 

 Greyhounds in the ninth century. Although not gen- 

 erally credited with much more intelligence than to 

 view a hare and run after it until he catches it, or it gets 

 away, I mention later on in this book, some tales of his 

 sagacity which I believe are well authenticated, and will 

 now give a detailed description of the breed: — 



Points of the Greyhound. — Head, narrow and fine, 

 with sufficient muscle; nose should be straight (not 

 curved, many, otherwise good, are spoiled by " Roman 

 noses"); nasal sinuses not developed; eyes full and 

 bright, full of life ; senis erect, small, well shaped ears ; 

 neck long, slightly curved; chest capacious, plenty of 

 " lung power," deep rather than wide; shoulders deep, 



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