THE ITALIAN GREYHOUND. 249 



Mr. Walton's whippet, as shown in the engraving of the poodle published with the 

 article on that dog in the Appendix, marks a high order of mental power, and a like 

 degree of obedience, founded on love for his trainer, since no severity would lead to 

 its execution. These whippets are so quick and clever as to cope with the short turns 

 of the rabbit ; but they are not fast enough for the hare, and the sport for which 

 they are bred is confined to the artisan and mining classes of the districts in which 

 it is the fashion. 



The points of the Italian greyhound differ only in proportional value from 

 those of its English congener ; colour, size, and symmetry being in the former more 

 especially secured than in the latter. 



POINTS OP THE ITALIAN GREYHOUND. 



Value. 



Head 5 



Neck 5 



Ears and eyes 5 



Legs and feet 10 



25 



Value. 



Fore quarters 10 



Hind quarters 10 



Tail 5 



Coat 5 



30 

 Grand Total 100. 



Value. 



Colour 15 



Symmetry 15 



Size .. .15 



45 



1. The head (value 5) if possible, should be as snakelike as that of the English 

 greyhound, but such formation is now never met with. The nearer it approaches to 

 it, however, the better. In all recent exhibits the skull is more or less round, and 

 the face, though still pointed, too short, with a tendency to turn up. 



2. The neck (value 5) is long and elegant, resembling closely its larger 

 congener. 



3. The ears and eyes (value 5). Many modern prize takers are deficient in the 

 proper shape of the ear ; but this should not be overlooked, for it still exists in the 

 breed as an exact counterpart of the English greyhound's corresponding organ, 

 though always somewhat enlarged in comparison with the body. The eye is much 

 larger proportionately, soft and languishing; but it ought never to weep. The 

 colour of the iris is usually a dark brown. 



4. Legs and feet (value 10). These should be exactly counterparts of the large 

 breed. 



5. Fore quarters (value 10). Here again I must refer my readers to " The 

 Greyhound," in " Dogs of the British Islands," Part II. 



6. Hind quarters (value 10). As with the two last sections, the only difference 

 lies in comparative value, the English dog's points being estimated from the work- 

 man-like point of view, whilst the Italian is regarded from the artistic standpoint. 



7. The tail (value 5) is somewhat shorter than the English dog's ; but it must 

 be gently curved in the same tobacco-pipe way, and should be fine in bone except at 

 the root, as well as free from hair. 



8. The coat (value 5) should be short, soft, and silky. 



9. The colour (value 15) of the Italian greyhound is largely to be taken into 



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