66 NATURAL HISTORY OP THE DO6. 



THE PERSIAN GREYHOUND. 



The Persian greyhound is one of the most beautiful dogs 

 with which we are acquainted. There are two varieties of 

 this dog : one of a tan color, with very light golden-colored 

 hair upon the hams and under-surface of the tail ; the hair is 

 very long, and disposed in fan-like form, while the coat upon 

 the rest of the body is close and short. This is a most pow- 

 erful creature, and frequently exceeds thirty inches in height 

 at the shoulder. The other variety is furnished all ov 

 body with long silky hair, of the length of from five to eight 

 inches, according to the purity of blood, and the ears are feath- 

 ered like those of a spaniel. This latter dog seldom exceeds 

 twenty -eight inches in height ; and is far less powerful than 

 the preceding : his color usually black, relieved with tan. 



The greyhound of India, called sometimes the Bringaree 

 and Polygar Dog, is identical with the first-mentioned vu 

 These dogs are all inferior in speed to our European grey- 

 hounds, but they answer very well for Eastern sport. They 

 are usually employed in hunting the jackal a sport in v, hi< -h 

 they prove very effective. It not unfrequently happens, 

 ever, that the jackals unite in a body, and turn on their as- 

 sailants, in which case, unless the sportsmen be well up wit!: 

 their dogs, the latter stand a fair chance of being torn to 

 pieces : hence, too high a rate of going is not considered as 

 a desideratum, but rather the contrary. 



The Persian greyhound diners from all the varieties of 

 rough greyhound in his hair, it being of a soft, silky texture, 

 like that of the spaniel. In disposition, the varieties present 

 a striking difference the black variety being docile and gen- 

 tle as the spaniel, which lie so closely resembles : the tan v.t- 

 riety, fierce and intractable, but yet amenable to training a 

 process, however not required by the other. 



I have been told by English sportsmen, who have resi- 

 ded in India, that the smooth, fan-tailed variety of eastern 

 greyhound, is a match for the Caracal or Persian lynx, and 

 can kill that very formidable animal, single-handed ; while 

 the other s*nniel-like variety is only fit for hare-coursing ; 

 and, as 'Ihomson says 



" Poor is the triumph o'er the timid hare," 

 and for that purpose far inferior to our own smooth breeds, 



