38 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



Countries some years ag;o by the Dutch painter 

 Aug'iiste Le Gras de Blaricum, has a lean, slen- 

 der shape, as if sculptured. In England they 

 train their best greyhounds to course in the 

 great races that take place annuall)-, at which 



Russian GREvnouxr) (Bakzoi) Licbkdka 



is won, among other prizes, the Waterloo Cup. 

 Less important courses are run by whippets, — 

 small greyhounds raised here and there among 

 the people in view of these races. 



The Scotch hound with wiry hair (the deer- 

 hound), which formerly hunted the deer and 

 is now found chiefly in the mountain- 

 ous parts of Scotland as the pleasure 

 dog in the castles of the great land- 

 lords, is of very ancient origin and 

 closely allied to the Irish wolfhound, 

 a large dog with rough hair, coarsely 

 built, and with mastiff blood in his 

 veins. In Russia, where they still use 

 these long-haired hounds in hunting- 

 wolves, which the dogs pursue in packs 

 at full gallop, the animals need and 

 ha\-e strong jaws and great endurance. 

 The Russian wolfhoimd, pi-opcrly so 

 called, is rather more refined, has wa\'- 

 ing hair, and is bred in Russia under 

 the name of Barzoi. In France, Eng- 

 land, Germany, Holland, and America he is 

 exclusively a pleasure dog and in very many 

 ways is the most graceful representative of his 



race. He has an elegant shape and is extremely 

 cautious towards children and furniture, etc. 

 A Barzoi might be allowed to step upon a 

 table covered with precious china, and not a 

 piece would be broken. Very decided in mind 

 as to what does not please him, strong 

 and courageous when it is a matter 

 of defending or protecting his master, 

 the Barzoi is an excellent watchdog 

 and a safe companion for bicyclists. 

 The Dutch fanciers have imported the 

 best specimens and are raising dogs 

 that are worth their weight in gold. 



The color of the English hound is 

 black, brown, fawn, blue-gray, white, 

 or spotted. The Scotch hounds with 

 rough hair must always be blue-gray, 

 light red, or buff, without other tint, 

 except possibly a white line on the 

 chest, though even this is not desir- 

 able. The Barzoi should be white, 

 flecked with lemon, gray, or some- 

 times brown. The hair, which is soft 

 and silky, should wave along the flanks, and 

 even be curl}- here and there, especially about 

 the neck. Their long jaws are \'igorous, and 

 their intelligent eyes give constant pleasure 

 by their color and expression. The httle Ital- 

 ian greyhound bred sf)lely for pleasure, is far 



Akahian GiJEVHouxi) (Slouoi) 

 from equaling his congeners in courage and per- 

 severance. He is afraid of water, shivers when 

 it is cold, barks when he is out of humor and 



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