36 DOMESTICATED DOGS. 



extent as in those breeds where they may be expected as the 

 rule rather than the exception. A straight back is often met 

 with, but an arched loin is to be preferred. 



The elbows should be set low down, so as to give a long true 

 arm. • They should neither be turned in nor out ; but this extends 

 to all breeds. The stifles should be set widely apart, and should 

 be large both in width and depth. They should be set on high, 

 so as to coincide with long upper thighs. 



The quarters should be muscular, but not heavily so ; in this 

 part, however, the deerhound is seldom overdone. The lower 

 thighs should be well clothed with muscle, exhibiting a large 

 " calf." The legs, both before and behind, should be straight and 

 bony, the pasterns being required to be large and strong. 



The feet are generally rather long than cat-like, but the latter 

 formation is generally desired by the deerstalker. My own 

 opinion, as in the greyhound, is against the very round foot,, 

 with extremely arched toes. There should be plenty of hair on 

 them, in any case. 



The colours preferred by breeders are dark blue, fawn, grizzle, 

 and brindled, especially the blue brindle, in the order given 

 above. There should be no white, but a small white star on 

 the chest, or a white toe or two, should not be regarded as 

 considerable defects. The faWn-coloured dog is preferred with 

 dark brown tips to his ears, but many excellent strains are with- 

 out this shade. The coat varies greatly in different strains, some 

 having it as hard as in the wire-haired terrier, while in others it 

 is intermediate between wool and silk, with a few hairs showin" 



O 



through. The body generally is clothed with this rough and 

 almost shaggy coat, but there is no fringe on the legs and very 

 little even on the tail. The jaws are furnished with a decided 

 moustache, but the hair composing it should be so soft as to stand 



