THE SMOOTH ENGLISH GREYHOUND. 27 



ture from the type of the heam. As to the side, no comparison 

 can be more true than that with the bream, which exactly resembles 

 the amount of convexity required. The back ribs are only wanted 

 to be deep for constitutional reasons, and regardless of locomotive 

 purposes, for they are always deep enough for the attachment of 

 muscles. It is, however, found by experience that a dog of any 

 kind — and indeed a horse also — with short back ribs, is almost 

 always delicate in constitution, and hence deep back ribs are 

 demanded in both of these animals, and with excellent reason. 



The hind-quarters consist of the upper or true thigh, the lower 

 thigh, connected together by the stiple-joint, the mass of muscle 

 known as the quarter or buttock, the ' hock-joint, and the leg. 

 Between the hind-quarters and the loin are the hips or " couples," 

 and these in fact constitute the posterior attachment of the muscles 

 of the loins, whose volume is in great measure determined by the 

 width of the hips. For this reason wide ragged hips are to be 

 desired, and especially in the dog, whose body, being heavier alto- 

 gether than that of the bitch, must have proportionately stronger 

 propellers. A slight fall from the top of the hip to the haunch- 

 bone on each side of the tail is, I think, the most desirable line of 

 formation. Proceeding with our examination of the hind-quarters, 

 we find that for high speed there must be an increase of length in 

 the upper and lower thighs beyond the average, constituting what 

 is called " well-bent hind-legs ; " but not only must this shape exist, 

 but the stifle-joints must also be set widely apart, or the hind-legs 

 cannot be thrust forward in the gallop, which will be consequently 

 weak and scrambling. "King Cob," whose portrait illustrates 

 this breed, was remarkable for the possession of widely-spread 

 stifles, and his grandson, "Bedlamite," possessed them in a still 

 higher degree. To this probably was owing the extraordinary 

 combination of working power and high speed possessed by " King 



