VARIETIES OF THE DOG. 35 



11 I have myself bred up," says he, " a swift, hard-working, courageous, 

 sound-footed dog. He is most gentle and kindly affectioned, and never 

 before had I any such a dog for myself, or my friend, or my fellow- 

 sportsman. When he is not actually engaged in coursing he is never 

 away from me. On his return he runs before me, often looking back to 

 see whether I had turned out of the road, and as soon as he again catches 

 sight of me, showing symptoms of joy, and once more trotting away before 

 me. If a short time only has passed since he has seen me or my friend, he 

 jumps up repeatedly by way of salutation, and barks with joy as a greeting 

 to us. He has also many different tones of speech, and such as I never 

 heard from any other dog. Now really I do not think that I ought to be 

 ashamed to chronicle the name of this dog, or to let posterity know that 

 Xenophon the Athenian had a greyhound, called Horme, possessed of the 

 greatest speed, and intelligence, and fidelity, and excellent in every point." 



The greyhound has within the last fifty years assumed a somewhat dif- 

 ferent character from that which he once possessed. He is distinguished 

 by a beautiful symmetry of form, of which he once could not boast, and 

 he has even superior speed to that which he formerly exhibited. He is no 

 longer used to struggle with the deer, but he contends with his fellow 

 over a shorter and speedier course. 



The rules for breeding and breaking-in of greyhounds are very simple. 

 The utmost attention should be paid to the qualities of the parents ; for it 

 is as certain in these dogs as in the horse that all depends upon the breed- 

 ing. The bitch should be healthy and of good size ; the dog muscular, 

 stanch, and speedy, and somewhat larger than the bitch. Both should 

 have arrived at their full vigour, and with none of their powers beginning 

 to fail. Those as much as possible should be selected whose peculiar 

 appearance bids fair to increase the good qualities and diminish the bad 

 ones on either side. The best blood and the best form should be diligently 

 sought. Breeding from young dogs on either side should, generally 

 speaking, be avoided. With regard to older dogs, whether male or 

 female, there may be less care. Many greyhounds, both male and female, 

 eight, nine, and ten years of age, have been the progenitors of dogs pos- 

 sessing every stanch and good quality. 



On no consideration, however, should the bitch be put to the dog before 

 she is two years old. Little can be done to regulate the period of restrum ; 

 but the most valuable breed will be almost invariably that which is pro- 

 duced during the spring, because at that time there will often be oppor- 

 tunity for that systematic exercise on which the growth and powers of the 

 dog so materially depend. A litter of puppies in the beginning or even 

 the middle of winter will often be scarcely worth the trouble or expense of 

 rearing. 



The age of the greyhound is now taken from the first day in the year ; 

 but the conditions of entry are fixed at different periods. It seems, how- 

 ever, to be agreed that no dog or bitch can qualify for a puppy cup after 

 two years of age. 



One principle to be ever kept in mind is a warm and comfortable 

 situation, and a plentiful supply of nourishment for the mother and for the 

 puppies from the moment of their birth. The dog that is stinted in his 

 early growth will never do its owner credit. The bitch should be abun- 

 dantly supplied with milk, and the young ones with milk and bread, and 

 oatmeal, and small portions of flesh as soon as they are disposed to eat it ; 



D 2 



