266 FOSTER NURSE. 



above six or seven, if no nurse could be procured. A bad 

 greyhound is worse than useless, and one good one is therefore 

 better than a dozen bad ones. Now, every breeder knows how 

 much the after growth of the puppy depends upon his size and 

 strength at weaning time, and it is impossible to make up by 

 any care and attention for the check given by an insufficient 

 supply of mother's milk. The next question to consider is, the 

 propriety of selecting any nurse for your whelps which is not 

 of the greyhound breed. This is a much-vexed question, many 

 breeders supposing that the mental and physical qualities of the 

 nurse are imbibed with her milk. I have, however, seen so many 

 instances of first-rate greyhounds suckled by sheep-bitches, bull- 

 terriers, spaniels, and even pointers, that I do not hesitate to 

 recommend my readers to take the first good nurse that comes to 

 hand, regardless of breed. But it must be remembered that 

 though a little terrier will do for a brace of puppies well enough 

 for two or three weeks, yet after that time the milk does not come 

 fast enough for the power and size of their mouths, and therefore 

 they fall off in health and strength rapidly. A larger bitch, say 

 of 20 Ibs. to 30 Ibs. weight, is therefore desirable if possible, and 

 will suckle as many as an ordinary greyhound-bitch, if her milk 

 is of the same age.* It has been proposed to go on supplying 

 fresh nurses as fast as the milk of the first becomes dry; but 

 the teeth of whelps at five weeks old become so sharp, that no 



* Among the numerous examples of winning greyhounds reared by foster 

 nurses of other breeds, may be adduced ' King Death/ winner of the Waterloo 

 Cup of 1864, who was brought up by a bull bitch. 



