THE GEEYHOUND. 119 



vogue. Either form may be qualified to do its duty, if there is only the power of 

 straightening the line in the arched back; but if permanently arched it becomes 

 what is called the ' wheel back,' and the power of extension in the gallop is very 

 much limited. Since the time of Bedlamite, who was very drooping in his quarters, 

 and possibly partly in consequence of the attention which he drew to this point, the 

 very level back is not so much in fashion, and the arched loin, coupled with the 

 Bedlamite quarters, is much sought after." 



5. Hind quarters (value 20). These are of "more importance than the fore 

 quarters, and are composed of three separate divisions, varying greatly in total and 

 comparative length in different individuals. These three divisions are the true 

 thigh between the hip and stifle joints ; the false or lower thigh, answering to the 

 leg of a man, and situated between the stifle and hock ; and, lastly, the leg, between 

 the hock and foot. The first two of these divisions should be nearly equal in length, 

 and in most well-proportioned greyhounds are each about one-fifth longer than the 

 lower arm; whilst the leg, from the hock to the ground, should bear about the 

 same relation to each of the thigh bones as the fore pastern does to the arm that is 

 to say, it should be about one-half, generally rather more than less. Many good 

 greyhounds vary much in these proportions ; and the stifle joint is often placed far 

 from midway between the hip joint and the hock generally it is a little nearer the 

 hip but I have seen it much lower than the mid-point, but never in a greyhound of 

 good pace and performance. With a greyhound thus formed, having both the upper 

 and lower thigh bone one-fifth longer than the lower arm, with the hock also placed 

 a little above the level of the knee, and the top of the shoulder-blade only the length 

 of the thigh bone above the elbow, it follows either that the top of the hind quarter 

 will be considerably higher than the fore, or that the hind legs will be bent at the 

 hock and stifle joint considerably out of the straight line. Either of these forms is 

 conducive to speed ; but the latter is the more elegant, and also appears to be the 

 best calculated for preserving the equilibrium in the turn. If the hind legs are 

 straight, and yet the back is level, the fore legs must be long, or else there can 

 scarcely be sufficient speed. This form is, however, inferior to the bent hind legs, 

 and correspondingly short anterior extremities. The type of the best formation is 

 seen in the hare, in which there is a still greater disproportion ; and as the grey- 

 hound has to cope with her in speed and working, he must to a certain extent be 

 formed upon the same model, and so he really is when the proportions are carefully 

 examined in a skinned hare. In the portraits of Mr. Eandell's Euby and Mr. 

 Brown's Bedlamite (given in "The Greyhound"), the best form of stifles may be 

 seen. The latter dog himself possessed remarkably developed stifles, which have 

 been transmitted to many of his descendants, and on which I believe much of their 

 success has depended. This peculiarity consists in the stifles being set on wide 

 apart, so that they can be brought well forward in the stride without any difficulty. 

 Good bony stifles and powerful hocks are essentially requisite for the attachment 

 and leverage of the various muscles ; and unless these are large and powerful in the 

 haunches and thighs no greyhound can be of first class powers. This point is, 

 however, so well known, that it is scarcely necessary to insist upon it." 



