TOY-TERRIERS. 225 



sold are either crossed with the Italian greyhound or the King 

 Charles spaniel. If the former, the shape is preserved, and there 

 is the greatest possible difficulty in distinguishing this cross from 

 the pure English terrier; indeed, I am much inclined to believe 

 that all our best modern toy- terriers are thus bred. They have 

 the beautiful long sharp nose, the narrow forehead, and the small 

 sharp eye, which characterise the pure breed; but they are 

 seldom good at vermin, though some which I have known to be 

 half Italian have been bold enough to attack a good strong rat 

 as well as most dogs. Many of these half-bred Italians are used 

 for rabbit- coursing, in which there is a limit to weight, but it is 

 chiefly for toy purposes that long prices are obtained for them. 

 When the cross with the spaniel has been resorted to, the fore- 

 head is high, the nose short, and the eye large, full, and often 

 weeping, while the general form is not so symmetrical and com- 

 pact ; the chest being full enough, but the brisket not so deep as 

 in the true terrier or in the Italian cross. 



IV.— THE ITALIAN GREYHOUND. 



This little dog is one of the most beautifully proportioned ani- 

 mals in creation, being a smooth English greyhound in miniature, 

 and resembling it in all respects but size. It is bred in Spain 

 and Italy in great perfection, the warmth of the climate agreeing 

 well with its habits and constitution. In England, as in its 

 native country, it is only used as a pet or toy-dog, for though its 

 speed is considerable for its size, it is incapable of holding even a 

 rabbit. The attempt, therefore, to course rabbits with this little 



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