PRIVATE TRIALS. 333 



and in either case the result may be deceptive ; but if no mistake of 

 this kind is made, there is no reason why as much confidence 

 should not be placed in a private performance as in a public one. 

 It is true that the trial dog is not always to be depended on, and 

 that greyhounds at all times are uncertain animals ; but, on the 

 whole, it may be concluded that the judgment of the owner or his 

 servants is too often subservient to his hopes and fears, and that 

 in this cause is to be found the seat of the disappointments which 

 we so often hear of. There are other reasons for these private 

 trials when the dog is a puppy, consisting in the fact that practice 

 is required before he is capable of doing his best. Hence every dog 

 should course a certain number of hares before he is brought out, 

 and it is of little use at first to put him down with a trial dog, as 

 it is only wasting the powers of the latter. So, also, I believe that 

 every greyhound should occasionally see a hare, without which he 

 loses his zest for the sport and becomes slack. For these several 

 reasons every public courser should have the use of some ground 

 for his private trials, and he should take care that, as far as possible, 

 it should be of the same nature as that over which he intends 

 subsequently to run his dogs in public. 



On the day before the private trial, the greyhound should not 

 have any fast work, beyond that which he takes at play, but he 

 should be walked out for at least three hours upon meadow or 

 down land. After this he should be dressed as usual, and then fed at 

 about one o'clock, a little lighter than usual, his meal not exceeding 

 three-quarters of a pound of flesh and the same quantity of bread 

 soaked in broth or warm jelly. After feeding, he may remain in 



