CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 5. CARNIVORA. 



203 



Gelert was no doubt a representative of the race of the English greyhound of his day : but the 

 breed lias sadly degenerated. Their speed, however, is rather increased than diminished, for they 

 will outstrip a hare in a straight run, coursing for that animal being now the chief use of the 

 English greyhound. They are also more slight and symmetrical in form than in earlier days, 

 but not having been obliged to contend with the wolf, or the boar, or the stag, they have lost the 

 power for which they once were distinguished. 



The Highland Greyhound, or Deer-Hound, is distinguished by his great size and his shaggy 

 hair, which almost covers his face. His limbs are muscular, his back arched, the tail lonjr and 

 curved. He carries his head high, and has a fine, majestic appearance. He sometimes displays 

 ill-temper and ferocity toward persons not of his master's family. 



The Irish Greyhound differs from the Scotch, in having shorter and finer hair, of a pale favt n- 

 color, and pendent ears. It is, compared with the Scotch dog, gentle and harmless perhaps 

 indolent, until roused. It is larger than that animal, some of them being full four feet in 

 length, and proportionately muscular. On this account, and also on account of their deter- 

 mined spirit when roused, they were carefully preserved by some Irish gentlemen. They were 





THE SCOTCH GKEYUOCXD. 



bnnerly used in hunting the wolf when that animal infested the forests of Ireland. Mr. Bell 

 says that the last person wdio kept the pure breed was Lord Altamont, who in 1780 had eight 

 >f them. 



The Scotch Greyhound resembles the English in form, but the frame is stronger and more 

 nuscular, the hind-quarters more prominent, and the coat rougher and more shaggy : the speed, 

 aowever, is not so great. 



The Russian Greyhound is principally distinguished by its dark-brown or iron-gray color, its 

 hort semi-erect ears, its thin lank body, long but muscular legs, and soft thick hair. The hair of 

 ts tail forms a spiral twist, or fan— he being thence called the Fan-tailed Dog— and as he run-, 

 saving a very pleasing appearance. He hunts by scent as well as by sight, and therefore small 



