350 EMPLOYMENT OF THE DOG IN HUNTING, ETC. 



the greyhound which will most certainly pull down his hare 

 that is always to be prized, but he that will comply with these 

 rules most fully in the act of running her, and will, in other 

 words, score most points ; and, in effecting this, four cardinal vir- 

 tues must be combined as far as possible, consisting in speed, work- 

 ing power, bottom, and courage. It is almost impossible to obtain 

 the fullest development of these several qualities in one individual, 

 and therefore all that can be done is to sacrifice those which are 

 of the least importance. Thus, excessive speed, as shown from 

 the slips, is hardly consistent with a high degree of working 

 power, or with a capability of lasting throughout a long course ; 

 and for this reason extremely fast dogs are not adapted to down 

 countries, where the hares are not only stout but short in their 

 turns. In some localities, however, where there is no room for a 

 long course, or where the hares are weak, a fast dog, even if he is 

 not stout, and probably even if he is a bad worker, will be able to 

 win a stake ; but wherever the hares are good, and there is scope 

 for them to display their powers, there must be both bottom and 

 working power displayed in order to ensure success. The best 

 plan in breeding greyhounds is to obtain a brood bitch of stout 

 blood and good working powers, combined with as much speed as 

 possible, but still laying the most stress on the first two qualities, 

 and then put her to a dog essentially fast, but in him also looking 

 to bottom and working power, though secondary to speed. Courage 

 is essential in all greyhounds, and may be obtained equally well 

 whether the breed is fast or slow, clever in working or the reverse. 

 It must exist with bottom, but may also be developed without it, 

 some very soft greyhounds being high couraged, and going till 

 they drop from the exhaustion of their delicate frames. In look- 

 ing for these several qualities it is necessary to observe that speed 

 depends upon the formation of the body and limbs, which must 



