132 NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE GRECIAN GREYHOUND 



is doubtless the lineal descendant of the one sculptured on Grecian temples. It is a decidedly less 

 specialised Dog than the English breed, its head being larger, its snout shorter, and its fur longer, 

 especially on the tail. 



THE PERSIAN GREYHOUND. 



This Dog is slenderer, and has more hairy ears than the English breed. It is " much prized by 

 the Bedouin Sheikhs, and used for the chase of the Gazelle. With its elegant shape, and the long 

 silky hairs of its ears and tail, it is, perhaps, the most beautiful race of its kind."* 



THE ITALIAN GREYHOUND 



is the smallest variety of the breed, and is used almost exclusively as a pet, for which it is valuable 

 on account of its exquisitely beautiful form and its general amiability (see figure on p. 116); but, like 

 many amiable people, it is a thoroughly silly little beast, devoid of all higher canine intelligence, 

 and almost incapable of forming a strong attachment. 



In all the Dogs we have yet considered, the. brain-case is small, and, in consequence, the intelligence 

 is not of a very high order. In those of which we must now treat, the brain-case, with its contained 

 organ, is of considerable size, giving the Dog the appearance of possessing a large forehead. They all, 

 too, have great power of scent. There are, first of all, a number of Dogs consecutively grouped 

 together under the general term of " Spaniels." 



THE COCKER, 



like other Spaniels, has long hair, very long pendent ears, and an elevated tail. It is one of the 

 smallest of its kind, and is chiefly used for flushing Woodcocks and Pheasants in thickets and copses, 

 into which the Setter, and even the Springer, can scarcely enter. 



THE SPRINGER 

 is used for the same purpose as the Cocker, but is a larger, stronger, and steadier Dog. 



THE KING CHARLES'S SPANIEL 



has all the Spaniel characteristics in an exaggerated form. Its forehead is round and prominent, 

 its coat is long and fine, the silky hair of its pendulous ears sweeps the ground, and its eye is large and 

 moist. It is very small, and is consequently known almost entirely as a drawing-room pet. The 

 King Charles of the present day is an interesting example of deterioration ; for, as Mr. Youatt says, 

 "it is materially altered for the worse." The muzzle is almost as short, and the forehead as ugly and 

 prominent, as in the veriest Bull-dog. The eye is increased to double its former size, and has an 

 expression of stupidity, with which the character of the Dog too accurately corresponds. Still, there 

 is the long ear, and the silky coat, and the beautiful colour of the hair, for which characters the breed 

 is still much prized. The Spaniels which were the special pets of the heartless voluptuary after whom 

 they are named were of the black-and-tan kind. Charles I. preferred a black breed. 



THE BLENHEIM SPANIEL 

 is very similar to the King Charles ; and, like it, is almost exclusively a drawing-room pet. 



THE CHINESE PUG-DOG 



is an interesting variety, which has been produced by those indefatigable people, who love anything 

 queer, and seem to think nothing perfect until it is deformed. Dr. John Edward Grey says of 

 this Dog : 



" It is a small, long-haired Spaniel, with slender legs, and rather bushy tail curled over its back. 

 It differs from the Pug-nosed Spaniel, called King Charles's Spaniel, in the hair being much longer 

 and more bushy, the tail closely curled up, and the legs being smaller and much more slender. 

 The nose of the Chinese or Japanese Pug is said by some to be artificially produced by force, suddenly 



* Tristram. 



