24 Varieties of the Dog. 
one which almost every good greyhound exhibits. Its 
absence betokens great weakness and a want of endurance; 
for though the dog may be fast without it, he is seldom 
capable of continuing his speed. 
The hind quarter is the main element of progression, 
and upon it in a great measure depend the speed and 
power of the greyhound. As in all other cases, size is 
power ; and the greater the length and size of the hind 
quarter, so will be the power of propulsion. ‘This length 
is variously displayed : sometimes the hind leg being long, 
but straight ; whilst in others it is more or less bent in two 
places—the stifle and hock. It will generally be observed 
that when the part of the leg below the hock is compara- 
tively short, the bones above that part are bent at the 
stifle, and the whole hind quarter is long, without raising 
the back from the ground, as would be the case with the 
same length of limb in a more straight form. As far as 
my observation goes, the bent hind quarter is the more 
favourable form; but I have seen many good dogs with 
very straight stifles, and there can be no reason why these 
should not serve the purpose of propulsion as well as the 
bent ones. But though they can propel as well, and 
perhaps even better under some circumstances, they are 
quite useless unless they are accompanied by a low fore- 
quarter ; for if otherwise, the fore-leg is too long in pro- 
portion, and the power of working and killing is at a very 
low ebb. 
Two essentials are required,—speed and working 
power. Now, speed may be given from length of hind 
quarter, whether that length is usually in an extended or 
in a bent form, because, when in action, they both assume 
_ the same condition, and are then precisely similar the one 
to the other; but the working power is deficient if there 
is the wswal accompaniment of the straight hind quarter— 
viz., a long fore-leg. It will be evident that if the hind 
quarter is straight, and the fore-leg is properly propor- 
tioned—that is to say, short enough for the working 
powers—the fore-quarter will appear very low, and the 
hips will stand up far above the shoulder. 
Now, if this formation co-exists with the straight hind 
