THE IRISH 



ro. 



so agile, that they baffle the best hounds, and get away fairly into cover, from whence 

 the Greyhound, working only by sight, is unable to drive them. 



Naturally, the Greyhound of pure blood is not possessed of a very determined char- 

 acter, and it is therefore found necessary to give these creatures the proper amount of 

 endurance by crossing them with the bull-dog, one of the most determined and cour- 

 ageous animals in existence. As may be supposed, the immediate offspring of a bull- 

 dog and a Greyhound is a most ungainly animal, but by continually crossing with the 

 pure Greyhound, the outward shape or the thick and sturdy bull-dog is entirely merged 

 in the more graceful animal, while his stubborn pertinacity remains implanted in its 

 nature. 



The skeleton of the Greyhound is a curious one, and when viewed from behind, 

 bears a marvelous resemblance to that of the ostrich. 



GREYHOUND.-Cafl/s famlliarls. 



The narrow head and sharp nose of the Greyhound, useful as they are for aiding the 

 progress of the animal by removing every impediment to its passage through the atmo- 

 sphere, yet deprive it of a most valuable faculty, that of chasing by scent. The muz- 

 zle is so narrow in proportion to its length, that the nasal nerves have no room for 

 proper development, and hence the animal is very deficient in its powers of scent. 

 The same circumstance may be noted in many other animals. 



THE IRISH GREYHOUND is a remarkable fine animal being four feet in length, and 

 very firmly built. Its hair is of a pale fawn color, and much rougher than that of the 

 smooth English Greyhound. 



