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CHAPTER VIII. 
CROSSED BREEDS. 
1. Retriever : (A) The Curly-Coated ; (B) The Wavy-Coated—z. Bull-Terrier 
—3. Lurcher—4. Dropper—s. Dog and Fox Cross. 
ALTHOUGH many of the breeds which have been enumerated in the 
preceding chapters were most probably originally the produce of 
crosses between distinct varieties, yet at present they are continued 
by breeding from a sire and dam of the same kind, whereas, with 
those which we are now considering, there is constantly a necessity 
for having recourse to the original breeds. Tor instance, some 
breeds of the greyhound are known to be crossed with the bull, and 
the identical animal with which the cross first commenced is well 
ascertained, as in the case of Sir James Boswell’s “Jason,” Mr. 
Etwell’s ‘ Eurus,” &c.; so also with the foxhound, though here the 
particular cross is not so well ascertained, but it is admitted to have 
taken place within the last century. Yet these are not called 
mongrels, and the breed, instead of being despised as such, is more 
highly prized than those of the pure strain which formed one side 
of the parent stock. The term mongrel may more properly be 
applied to those chance crosses which occur from accident or neglect, 
the bitch selecting her own mate, and being guided by caprice, 
without reference to the fitness of the match in regard to the 
progeny resulting. Hence we see the monstrosities which disgrace 
our streets—animals which might puzzle the most learned in dog- 
lore to say in what proportions they are allied to recognised 
varieties of the species Canis, but which are sometimes highly 
valuable in point of utility, and are often broken by the poacher to 
perform the most difficult feats. Indeed, it often happens that a 
poaching labourer—who is the worst kind of poacher—selects some 
mongrel in preference to a better-bred dog, in order to escape notice; 
