30 THE DESCRIPTIVE ANATOMY OF THE DOG. 



Circumference of chest, 28 to 30 inches in condition. 



Length of arm, 9 inches. 



Length from knee to the ground, 4J inches. 



Circumference of loin, 18 to 19 inches, in running condition. 



Length of upper thigh 10^, tower thigh 11, and leg from 



hock to ground 5J to 6 inches. 



In taking these measurements, the fore-legs should, as nearly 

 as possible, be perpendicular, and the hind ones only moderately 

 extended backwards. 



The back ribs should be well spread and deep, for unless they 

 are in this form a sufficient attachment cannot be afforded to the 

 muscles of the loins, which constitute the chief moving power in 

 drawing the hind-legs forward, and in fixing the pelvis. The 

 loins must therefore be broad, strong, and deep, and the measure 

 of their strength must be a circular one. Breadth alone will not 

 do, since the lower muscles require to be well developed as well 

 as the upper, but a good measurement round the loin is a good 

 test of power in that quarter. It was the fashion from 1840 to 

 1850 to select flat and straight backs, and these certainly are 

 handsomer than the high-arched backs previously so much in vogue. 

 Either form may be qualified to do its duty, if there is only the 

 power of straightening the line in the arched back, but if per- 

 manently arched it becomes what is called the e wheel back,' 

 and the power of extension in the gallop is very much limited. 

 Since the time of 'Bedlamite,' who was very drooping in his 

 quarters, and possibly partly in consequence of the attention which 

 I drew to this point, the very level back is not so much in fashion, 



