PUBLIC COURSING. 313 
sary to observe that speed depends upon the formation of the body 
and limbs, which must be of the most perfect make, as described 
under the head of the points of the greyhound at page 19; but with 
the most perfect shape there is often a want of speed, apparently 
owing to the absence of that nervous stimulus which sets the frame 
in motion. Such dogs want quickness and elasticity in using their 
organs, and though they often move elegantly, there is a deficiency 
in the rapidity of repetition in the. muscular contractions which 
constitute high speed. Hence the necessity for attending to breed, 
and to its purity, which is the only guarantee (short of an actual 
trial) that the perfect frame will give perfect action: The same 
remarks apply to working power: a dog may look to be exceedingly 
‘cleverly made, with good shoulders, and all the other parts essential 
to this faculty, and yet there may be a want of cleverness and tact, 
as well as a deficiency in courage, which will render him absolutely 
useless. But when the breed is known to be almost invariably 
good in these réspects, and the formation of the individual is good, 
there is a reasonable ground for expecting that he will exhibit 
them in more or less perfection. Nothing is more provoking than 
to find a splendidly formed dog beaten in his trial by a wretched- 
locking brute, the sole advantage attending the latter being that 
he is descended from good blood, while the former perhaps owns 
a sire and dam of well- known aad ascertained imperfect nervous 
‘organisation. 
When the youny courser determines upon getting together a 
kennel of greyhounds, he must, therefore, carefully attend to all 
these points; but, with all his care, he will be disappointed unless 
he knows how to manage them, or can entrust them to some one 
who does. Public greyhounds, as I have already explained, are 
easily spoiled by using them too frequently ; and yet they must 
have some amount of practice before they run in a stake, or they 
will inevitably be beaten from awkwardness. Some breeds are 
naturally more clever than others, and take less time in coming 
to their best; so that, if they have as many courses as would barely 
suffice in many cases, they would be past their prime. ll this, 
therefore, requires considerable practice, and theoretical knowledge 
as well; and, for this reason, the young courser should not fancy 
that he can at once compete on even terms with the experienced 
