THE GREYHOUND 109 



sented with prick ears, but occasionally the true rose ear is 

 shown. 



All writings in connection with Greyhounds point to the 

 high estimation in which the dog has always been held. Dr. 

 Caius, when referring to the name, says " The Greyhound hath 

 his name of this word gre ; which word soundeth gradus in 

 Latin, in Englishe degree, because among all dogges these are 

 the most principall, occupying the chiefest place, and being 

 simply and absolutely the best of the gentle kinde of Houndes." 



It was not until the reign of Queen Elizabeth that coursing 

 in England was conducted under established rules. These 

 were drawn up by the then Duke of Norfolk. The sport 

 quickly grew in favour, and continued to increase in popu- 

 larity until the first coursing club was established at Swaffham 

 in 1776. Then in 1780 the Ashdown Park Meeting came into 

 existence. The Newmarket Meeting in 1805 was the next 

 fixture that was inaugurated, and this now remains with the 

 champion stakes as its most important event. Afterwards 

 came the Amesbury Meeting in 1822, but Amesbury, like 

 Ashdown, although for many years one of the most celebrated 

 institutions of the description, has fallen from its high estate. 

 Three years later came the Altcar Club. But it was not until 

 eleven years after this period that the Waterloo Cup was in- 

 stituted (in 1836), to win which is the highest ambition of 

 followers of the leash. 



At the present time the run for the Waterloo Cup, which at 

 the commencement was an eight dog stake, is composed of 

 sixty-four nominations, the entry fee for which is 25. The 

 winner takes 500, and the cup, value 100, presented by the 

 Earl of Sefton, the runner up 200, the third and fourth 50 

 each, four dogs 36 each, eight dogs 20 each, and sixteen dogs 

 10 each. The thirty-two dogs beaten in the first round of 

 the Cup compete for the Waterloo Purse, value 215, and the 

 sixteen dogs run out in the second round for the Waterloo 

 Plate, value 145. The winner in each case taking 75, and 

 the runner up 30, the remainder being divided amongst the 



