THE SMOOTH ENGLISH GREYHOUND. 23 



The head should be wide between the ears, measuring in a 

 full-sized dog 14^ inches in circumference between the eyes and 

 ears. It is generally described as snake-like, that is to say, it 

 should be broad and fiat, not arched or domed, as is the case 

 with many other breeds. Many of the old-fashioned strains had 

 very narrow heads, but either the cross with the bulldog or the 

 selection of wide-headed sires and dams has led to the general 

 possession of wide heads by the best strains of modern times. 

 As a consequence, great determination and cleverness are dis- 

 played, and the puppy now is often at his best before the end of 

 his first season, whereas in olden times it was often two or three 

 years before the old-fashioned dog could be relied on either for 

 working or killing powers. Those celebrated bitches, " Mocking 

 Bird " and " Cerito," were useless in their first seasons, but such 

 an occurrence is now very rare, and at the end of half-a-dozen 

 courses the young greyhound is as clever in turning and killing 

 as he ever will be. This is especially the case with the bitch 

 puppy, who is generally at her best some months before her 

 brother of the same litter. The jaws should be long and lean, 

 tapering to a point, and of even length, neither "pig-jawed" nor 

 underhung. Good strong teeth, meeting level together, are also 

 to be desired. As to the eye, it should be keen, bright, and of 

 moderate size, the colour, varying according to that of the coat. 

 The ears are now always falling, small in size, thin and soft in 

 texture. Formerly several good strains were noted for prick ears, 

 but such a formation is now extremely rare, and as no fashionable 

 strain exhibits it, breeders ignore it altogether. The last strain 

 of note in which the prick ear was shown was that of Dr. 

 Brown, the celebrated Scotch owner of " Heather Jock," "Eufus," 



&c. 



The neck, like the head, has been compared to that of another 



