INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 13 



Eagle ; ' but it will at once be apparent that there is a great differ- 

 ence between the two forms in every other particular the one 

 being light and airy, the other thick and muscular. 



There can be no doubt whatever that, cceteris paribus, the shape 

 of * War Eagle ' is not that best calculated for speed ; but the 

 racing form so much desired by all must not be calculated from 

 individual cases, and can only be ascertained by comparing a large 

 number of fast dogs with a similar number of slow ones, and then 

 we shall arrive at a frame much more open, generally more 

 lengthy, and not of such massive proportions as his ; and as a rule, 

 as we lose this shape we lose speed in proportion ; that is to say, 

 the capability of going fast will be in a ratio with the length of 

 the greyhound's limbs. But we also find that stoutness generally 

 corresponds with the thick, muscular, compact form, and therefore 

 we are led to believe that in proportion as we sacrifice the one 

 of these forms to the other shall we lose its corresponding faculty. 

 The portrait of ' War Eagle ' must, however, convince the most 

 sceptical, that speed is not inseparably connected with the opposite 

 shape to his. And though there may be a difference of opinion 

 as to his stoutness, yet his shape must show that we may hope to 

 get that quality combined with pace in the same individual, because 

 he has the form usually considered essential to stoutness, without 

 the loss of speed. 



Again, it has been supposed by many that speed to the hare is 

 incompatible with working qualities, in combination with that 

 venomous desire to kill, regardless of pain or injury, which cha- 

 racterises some breeds, and which is entirely distinct from the 



