NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DOG. 55 



nble for deer-coursing, by the effects of breeding too long 

 within the degrees of consanguinity, or, perhaps, from having 

 Ixvii crossed with some other breed, most probably the lurch- 

 er, or the smooth greyhound. Under these circumstances I 

 do not think any description of him necessary: his height sel- 

 dom exceeds twenty-seven inches ; his color is usually white, 

 or gray, though often brindled. 



Tin: LUKCHKK is a mongrel, bred from greyhound and any 

 other doiy, usually the shepherd's dog, or terrier ; though for 

 deer-stalking, uflen the bloodhound or foxhound. They are 

 not creditable followers, being in greater demand by poachers. 

 This dog will be noticed in his proper place as a mongrel. 



THE RUSSIAN GREYHOUND. 



The true Russian greyhound is a dog of tremendous size 

 and power cl --mbling the Highland dcerhound in 



every physic :i quality ; but I am sorry to say, far inferior to 

 him in courage. Two of these dogs will not unfrequently 

 race alongside a wolf for many hundred yards, before either 

 of them can make up his mind to grapplo with him. A wolf 

 is, however, a vrry formidable customer ; and a dog might be 

 a little shy of experiencing the power of his tusks, while he 

 would run gayly into a door ; I therefore think that the Rus- 

 sian greyhound would prove a good cross for the purpose of 

 improving our Highland stock. 



The Russian invyhotm'! stands from twenty-eight to thirty 

 inches at the shoulder. The Kmperor lately presented a 

 leash of these dogs to her Majesty, which, in the public prints, 

 were stated to be three /'/v/ hi<^!i ! It appears, however, that 

 this was intended to apply to the height from the ground to 

 the top of the head the height at the shoulder being not 

 much over thirty inches. 



This is the same as the Tartarian dog ; the same with that 

 mentioned by Dr. Clarke, as having been met with by him on 

 the confines of Circassia ; and is, without question, derived 

 from the ancient dogs of Epirus and Albania the same source 

 whence we perhaps obtained our Irish wolf-dog. Colonel H. 

 Smith says that the Russian greyhound is " usually white, 

 with black clouds :" judging from such as I have seen, I should 

 say that the color is usually an iron or sluty gray : where 

 any cloudings appear, I should suspect a cross with the Great 

 Dane or French Matin. 



