20 DOGS 



The English Greyhound 



These dogs, witli their slender long legs, their whipcord 

 muscles, their length of stride and rapidity of movement, 

 and their broad deep chests, prove that they are capable 

 of long-continued exertion. Their principal use is for 

 coursing, and the only chance the hare has of escaping is 

 to turn and turn about. The greyhound having very long 

 legs cannot stop all of a sudden, which gives the hare 

 some very little chance of escape ; and if the latter once 

 manages to get into a wood the chase is up, as the grey- 

 hound only hunts by sight. 



Colonel Hutchinson writes that in Persia and in many 

 parts of the East greyhounds are taught to assist the falcon 

 in the capture of deer. 



There are three other species of greyhounds — the 

 Scotch, Irish, and Italian. The Scotch has a greater 

 power of scent than the greyhound, but this breed is 

 becoming extinct. The Irish greyhound is of great size 

 and very strongly built, and the hair a pale fawn colour ; 

 but this breed is rare. The Italian species is diminutive, 

 and requires the greatest care and attention, and is quite 

 a woman's dog. They are fearfully susceptible to cold, 

 and should never be allowed to go about uncovered in the 

 winter months, as the cold weather easily affects their lungs. 



The points of a greyhound are : head wide behind and 

 snake-like in appearance; neck like a drake's and ex- 

 tremely long, which gives it great power of reaching its 

 game whilst running. 



The Italian Greyhound 



The beauty of the Italian greyhound, with its delicate 

 grace, its shyness, and its timid helplessness, classes it 

 pre-eminently among ladies' pets ; its delicate limbs and 

 fine coat unfit it to be out of doors without a coat 

 except on a hot summer's day. It is of a most gentle and 

 affectionate disposition. The points of this greyhound are 



