THE COMMON GREYHOUND. 



The Greyhound contributes much to the health of his mafter, by inviting 

 him to wholefome exercife, at the fame time that he puts him readily in 

 pofTefTion of an elegant and nutritious dim for his table. He is ufed for that 

 kind of fport which is called Courting the Hare; and to this he is particularly 

 well adapted, by the extraordinary length of his legs, and the flendernefs of 

 his body; to which may be added, the length and fharpnefs of his nofe, 

 which enable him to cut the air in running, in the fame manner as the fharp 

 bills of birds affift them greatly in flying ; the length of his tail is alfo of 

 lingular fervice to him in turning and guiding his courfe, and for thefe 

 purpofes he ufes it like the rudder of a fhip ; and fo neceffary is this part of 

 the animal, that, if it is cut off, he is thereby rendered unfit for the courfe. 

 The acute fenfe of fmelling which fome Dogs, and particularly Hounds, 

 poffefs in fo eminent a degree, is denied to the Greyhound ; but this ap- 

 parent deficiency is amply fupplied by a wonderful fharpnefs of fight, which 

 he enjoys in a degree far fuperior to any other Dog. Could the Greyhound 

 fmell as well as he can fee, it would be impoffible that any Hare mould ever 

 efcape him, fo great is his fpeed ; but as he only hunts by the fight, if the 

 Hare is fortunate enough to reach a covert before £he is overtaken, fhe faves 

 her life; but this good fortune flie feldom experiences, if the country is 

 tolerably open. A Hare will, indeed, fometimes efcape from a young, 

 inexperienced Greyhound, by fuddenly fquatting behind a clod of earth, and 

 fullering him to dart over her, when, infiantly altering the direction of 

 her courie, the Greyhound is foon bewildered and lofes fight of her ; but an 

 old, experienced Dog is not to be impofed on; fhould the Hare venture to 

 attempt fuch a deception with him, aware of the trick, he infiantly feizes his 

 prey, and puts an end to her life and her fears. It is obferved that the 

 Greyhound barks but feldom, perhaps from an inftinc"tive confcioufnefs that 

 it would affright the Hare, and facilitate her efcape. 



There are three varieties of this kind of Dog. 1. The Common Englifh 

 Greyhound, ufed for courting, of which we have jufl been fpeaking. 2. The 

 Oriental Greyhound, which is tall, flender, has very pendulous ears, and the 

 tail is covered with very long hairs. 3. The Italian Greyhound, which is 



