120 THE DOGS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 



6. The feet (value 15) of the greyhound are met with in two varying but 

 useful forms, namely, the catlike and the hare foot. In the former case they are 

 round and close with upstanding knuckles, and by many people they are much 

 preferred. Such toes are, however, very likely to "break down;" and for use the 

 hare foot, longer and natter, is by many coursers preferred. In any case a flat 

 open foot is to be discarded. 



7. The tail (value 5) should be fine and nicely curved ; but this point is only 

 to be looked at as a mark of good breed. 



8. The colours (value 5) preferred are black and red, or fawn with black 

 muzzles. Black-tan is very rarely seen, but almost every other colour is occasionally 

 met with. White greyhounds are by many disliked, being considered delicate ; but 

 I do not know that this objection is founded upon reliable premises. The brindled 

 colour is also supposed, without reason, to be a mark of the bulldog cross, as I am 

 satisfied it existed before there is any evidence of that cross having been used. 



The relative value of these several points varies a good deal from those of dogs 

 whose breeding can chiefly be arrived at by external signs e.g., the stern, colour, 

 and coat in the pointer and setter. Here the pedigree is well known for many 

 generations ; and therefore, although the breeding may be guessed at from the 

 appearance of the individual, it is far better to depend upon the evidence afforded 

 by the Coursing Calendar, or, if that is not forthcoming, to avoid having anything 

 to do with breeding from the strain. 



" In measuring a dog I should take only the following points, which should 

 be nearly of the proportions here given in one of average size : 



" Principal points : Height at the shoulder, 25in. ; length from shoulder point 

 to apex of last rib, 15in. ; length of apex of last rib to back of buttock, 13in. to 

 15in. ; length from front of thigh round buttock to front of other thigh, 21in. 



" But to be more minute, it is as well to measure also the subordinate points as 

 under : Circumference of head between eyes and ears, 14|in. to 15in. ; length of 

 neck, 9in. to lOin. ; circumference of chest, 28in. to 30in. in condition ; length of 

 arm, 9in. ; length of knee to the ground, 4|in. ; circumference of the loin, 18in. to 

 19in., in running condition ; length of upper thigh, 10|in. ; lower thigh, llin. ; 

 and leg from hock to ground, 5|in. to 6in. 



" In taking these measurements the fore legs should, as nearly as possible, be 

 perpendicular, and the hind ones only moderately extended backwards." 



The specimens selected to illustrate this chapter are Biot and David, which 

 were perhaps the best greyhounds for all kinds of ground which ever ran, not even 

 excepting the two treble winners of the Waterloo Cup, as they were not tried over 

 the downs. Riot was the property of Mr. C. Randell, of Chadbury, and was not 

 only the winner of seventy -four courses in public, with the loss of only ten, but she 

 was also the dam of several good greyhounds. David had also the same double 

 distinction, but was not quite so celebrated in the coursing field as the bitch. He 

 had, however, the advantage at the stud, as might be expected from his sex, and a 

 goodly list of winners are credited to him. Curiously enough, both were bred in 

 the same kennel, from which they were transferred as whelps, in the case of the 



