624 The Dog Book 



put in front of his mouth. There are other points in the rules such as dis- 

 qualification if a dog stops and declines to continue the course or refuses 

 to fence or jump, but these are seldom applied with the class of dogs which 

 are now put in slips. 



The form of the greyhound is so well known that it has become custom- 

 ary to give but little description, the one exception being Stonehenge, who 

 was the authority of his day upon the greyhound and published a most elab- 

 orate description full of explanations and references, which we do not need. 

 Condensed it may be made to read as follows : 



Descriptive Particulars 



Head. — Fairly wide between the ears, no stop, or brow, good length of 

 muzzle, which should be fine provided it still shows strength. Eyes bright 

 and indicative of a dog of spirit. Ears small, thrown back and folded, ex- 

 cept when excited, when they are carried semi-erect. Teeth very strong and 

 of good length and even in front so as to hold a hare well. 



Neck. — Long, slightly arched and widening gradually into the shoul- 

 ders. 



Shoulders and Forelegs. — Shoulders cannot be placed too obliquely. 

 Fore-arm of good length, held in line with the shoulder and the elbow 

 neither turning in nor out but moving freely in line with the point of the 

 shoulder. Fore-legs perfectly straight, neither looking light nor too heavy 

 in bone, but in keeping with the build of the dog. The leg should be twice 

 as long from elbow to fetlock joint, or knee, as from the latter to the ground. 



Chest. — ^Neither too wide nor narrow, "neither too small for wind, nor 

 too wide for speed, nor too deep to keep free from the irregularities of the 

 ground when racing" but a happy medium. 



Loins and Back Ribs. — Good length from shoulders to the back rib, with 

 these ribs well sprung and deep to afford good attachment for the broad 

 mass of muscles of the loins, on which depend the movement of the hind- 

 quarters. These muscles should also show great depth. A slight arch in 

 the back is permissible, but not to the extent of losing length or being a 

 wheel-back. 



Hindquarters. — Powerful and muscular and showing great length by 

 reason of well bent stifles. The hindquarters should spread somewhat, and 

 appear wide at the hocks, but they should be perfectly straight fore and aft. 



