THE BORZOI 103 



in Great Britain, and some excellent specimens are to be seen 

 at the annual shows at Madison Square Gardens. 



To take the points of the breed in detail, the description of 

 the perfect Borzoi is as follows : 



Head This should be long, lean, and well balanced, and the length, 

 from the tip of the nose to the eyes, must be the same as *m the eyes 

 to the occiput. A dog may have a long head, but the length may be 

 an in front of the eyes The heads of this breed have greatly improved 

 the last few years ; fewer " apple-headed " specimens, and more of the 

 desired triangular heads being seen. The skull should be flat and 

 narrow, the stop not perceptible, the muzzle long^ and tapering Too 

 much stress cannot be laid on the importance of the head being well 

 filled up before the eyes. The head, from forehead to nose, should be 

 so fine that the direction of the bones and principal veins can be seen 

 clearly, and in profile should appear rather Roman nosed. Bitches 

 should be even narrower in head than dogs. The Eyes should be dark 

 expressive, almond shaped, and not too far apart. The Ears like those 

 of a Greyhound, small, thin, and placed well back on the head, with the 

 tips, when thrown back, almost touching behind the occiput It is 

 not a fault if the dog can raise his ears erect when excited or looking 

 after game, although some English judges dislike this frequent char- 

 acteristic. The head should be carried somewhat low, with the neck 

 continuing the line of the back. Shoulders-Clean and sloping well 

 back, i.e., the shoulder blades should almost touch one another. Chest 

 Deep and somewhat narrow. It must be capacious, but the capacity 

 must be got from depth, and not from " barrel " ribs a bad fault in 

 ^running hound. Back-Rather bony, and free from any cavity m the 

 spinal column, the arch in the back being more marked in the dog than 

 in the bitch. Loins Broad and very powerful showing plenty of 

 muscular development. Thighs-Long and well ^eloped, wto 

 good second thigh. The muscle in the Borzoi is longer than in t 

 Greyhound. Ribs Slightly sprung, very deep, reaching to the elbow. 

 Fore-legs-Lean and straight. Seen from the front they should be 

 narrow and from the side broad at the shoulder and narrowing graduaUy 

 down to the foot, the bone appearing flat and not round as in th 

 Foxhound. Hind-legs The least thing under the body when standing 

 still, not straight, and the stifle slightly bent. They should, of course 

 be straight as regards each other, and not " cow-hocked," but straight 

 hfnd legfimply I want of speed. Feet-Like those of the Deerhound, 

 rather long. The toes close together and well arched Coat-Long 

 silky, not woolly ; either flat, wavy, or curly. On the head ears, ai 

 front-legs it should be short and smooth; on the neck the frill should 

 be profuse and rather curly ; on the chest and the rest of the body, the 

 tail and hind-quarters, it should be long; the fore- egs being well 

 feathered. Tali-Long, well feathered, and not gaily earned tt 

 should be carried well down, almost touching the ground. Height- 

 Docs from 29 inches upwards at shoulder, bitches from 27 inches 

 upwards. (Originally 27 inches and 26 inches. Altered at a general 

 merttag of the Borzoi Club, held February, 1906.) Faults Head short 



