THE SMOOTH ENGLISH GREYHOUND. 29 



not duly exerted, even if that pain does not amount to the extent 

 necessary to produce actual lameness. Before the time of train- 

 ing and actual coursing, the feet seldom are called on sufficiently 

 to test their capabilities in this direction, but as soon as work 

 begins and is carried to the required extent, the thin sole wears 

 away and the dog becomes footsore. Hence the first desideratum 

 is a hard horny covering to the pads and stopper; which latter 

 shoidd also be strongly connected to the back of the pastern, or 

 it will be torn away during the turns, in which it greatly assists 

 by grasping the earth. On this point, therefore, there is a full 

 agreement among greyhound breeders, bxit on the exact shape of 

 the foot most desirable there is a considerable difference of 

 opinion. The question is, whether a cat-like foot with the toes 

 well arched, and a set of pads arranged almost in a circle, as in 

 the cat, is to be aimed at, or a more oval formation, with the toes 

 less arched, such as exists in the hare. Most coursers prefer the 

 former, but a long experience leads me to think that they have 

 often carried their desires in this direction too far, and that a 

 foot supported almost entirely on the toes will break down 

 sooner than one in which the central pad takes its due share of 

 weight. Anything, however, is better than a flat, widely sprawling- 

 foot, such as generally is met with in puppies reared without a 

 proper amount of liberty and its accompanying exercise. 



The tail in a well-bred greyhound is even more thin, taper, 

 and bony than that of the rat, to which it is compared in the old 

 rhyme. It should be large at the root, then suddenly tapering 

 for an inch or two till it attains the size of a large thumb, after 

 which it should gradually be reduced till it becomes as small 

 as an average little finger. In its whole length it should be 

 covered with short hair, so as to show no fringe whatever. It 

 should fall close to the quarters for three-quarters of its length, 



