22 DOMESTICATED DOGS. 



this speed sufficiently quickly to follow the turns of the hare 

 without too great a loss of ground. These three qualities must 

 be combined in the dog to obtain success, for if any one is abso- 

 lutely absent, or even proportionately so as compared with the 

 best average, the chance of winning the series of courses neces- 

 sary to get through a stake is extremely small. Beyond these 

 qualities, to the possession of which the shape of each individual 

 is to a great extent a reliable guide, there must also be an 

 inherent nervous or mental power which shall give the desire to 

 display them. These nervous qualities are, without doubt, to a 

 limited extent dependent on the size of certain parts of the 

 brain ; but we are not, I think, in possession of sufficient data to 

 lay down laws with reference to these organs, and in practice we 

 must be content with apportioning a smaller value to the form 

 and shape of the head than it deserves from theoretical prin- 

 ciples. Undoubtedly a bad shape is more likely to succeed, in 

 competition with an average dog, when combined with a highly 

 organised brain and a determined will, than the very best form 

 of propelling powers if there is no desire accompanying them to 

 lay these powers out. But practically no one can with certainty 

 foretell from the examination of the head whether or not, in any 

 particular instance, its possession will develop a strong will or 

 not ; and consequently it is idle to lay too great a stress upon that 

 which cannot be defined with exactitude. The following points , 

 are therefore laid down on the above basis : — 



VALUE 



Head, . IO 



Neck, . IO 



Chest, shoulders, and forelegs, 20 

 Loin, side, and back ribs, 1 5 



VALUE 



Hind-quarters, and legs . 20 



Feet, . 1 5 



Tail, . . s 



Colour and coat, . . 5 



Total, . . 100 



