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CHAPTER XVII. 

 THE BORZOI, OR RUSSIAN WOLFHOUND. 



BY M.^JOR BORM.'\N. 



' The lady's hound, restore the hound. Sir Knight.' 



'The hound,' said Gawaine, much relieved; 'what hound?' 



And then perceived he that the dog he fed, 

 With grateful steps the kindly guest had found. 



And there stood faithful. ' Friend,' Sir Gawaine said, 

 ' What's just is just J the dog must have his due. 

 The dame had hers, to choose between the two.' " 



— BuLWER Lytton. 



OF the many foreign varieties of the 

 dog that have been introduced into 

 this country within recent years, 

 there is not one among the larger breeds 

 that has made greater headway in the 

 public favour than the Borzoi, or Russian 

 Wolfhound.* Nor is this to be wondered 

 at. The most graceful and elegant of all 

 breeds, combining symmetry with strength, 

 the wearer of a lovely silky coat that a 

 toy dog might envy, the length of head, 

 possessed by no other breed — all go to 

 make the Borzoi the favourite he has 

 become. 



He is essentially what our American 

 cousins would call a " spectacular " dog. 

 Given, for example, the best team of 

 terriers and a fifth-rate team of Borzois, 

 which attracts the more attention and 

 admiration from the man in the street ? 

 Which does he turn again to look at ? 

 Not the terriers ! Add to this that the 

 Borzoi makes a capital house dog, is, as a 

 rule, affectionate and a good companion, 

 it is not, I repeat, to be wondered at that 

 he has attained the dignified position in 

 the canine world which he now holds. 



In his native country the Borzoi is em- 

 ployed, as his English name implies, in 

 hunting the wolf and also smaller game, 

 including foxes and hares. 



* Although commonly known as the Russian 

 Wolfhound, this dog belongs of course to the Grey- 

 hound family, Levner, running dog. 



Se\-eral methods of hunting the larger 

 game are adopted, one form being as follows. 

 Wolves being reported to be present in the 

 neighbourhood, the hunters set out on 

 horseback, each holding in his left hand a 

 leash of three Borzois, as nearly matched 

 as possible in size, speed, and colour. 

 Arrived at the scene of action, the chief 

 huntsman stations the hunters at separate 

 points every hundred yards or so round 

 the wood. A pack of hounds is sent in 

 to draw the quarry, and on the wolves 

 breaking cover the nearest hunter slips 

 his dogs. These endeavour to seize their 

 prey by the neck, where they liold him until 

 the hunter arrives, throws himself from 

 his horse, and with his knife puts an end 

 to the fray. 



Another method is to advance across 

 the open country at intervals of about 

 two hundred yards, shpping the dogs at 

 any game they may put up. 



Trials are also held in Russia. These 

 take place in a large railed enclosure, the 

 wolves being brought in carts similar to 

 our deer carts. In this case a brace of 

 dogs is loosed on the wolf. The whole 

 merit of the course is when the hounds 

 can overtake the wolf and pin him to the 

 ground, so that the keepers can secure 

 him alive. It follows, therefore, that in 

 this case also the hounds must be of equal 

 speed, so that they reach the wolf simulta- 

 neously ; one dog would, of course, be 

 unable to hold him. 



