THE GREYHOUND. 
202 
is employed as a pointer, and does its work very creditably, we may suppose that the 
animal is possessed of abilities which might be developed by any one who would take pains 
to do so. 
On account of its carriage-following habits, it is popularly called the Coach Dog, and, on 
account of its spotted hide, receives the rather ignoble title of Plum-Pudding Dog. The 
height of the animal is rather more than two feet. 
GREAT DANISH DOG.— Cards familiaris danicus. 
It is hardly possible to conceive an animal which is more entirely formed for speed and 
endurance than a well-bred Greyhound. Its long slender legs, with their whipcord-like 
muscles, denote extreme length of stride and rapidity of movement ; its deep, broad chest, 
affording plenty of space for the play of large lungs, shows that it is capable of long-continued 
exertion ; while its sharply pointed nose, snake-like neck, and slender, tapering tail, are so 
formed as to afford the least possible resistance to the air, through which the creature passes 
with such exceeding speed. 
The chief use — if use it can be termed — of the Greyhound, is in coursing the hare, and 
exhibiting in this chase its marvellous swiftness, and its endurance of fatigue. 
In actual speed, .the Greyhound far suspasses the hare, so that if the frightened chase 
were to run in a straight line, she would be soon snapped up by the swifter hounds. But the 
hare is a much smaller and lighter animal than her pursuer, and, being furnished with very 
short forelegs, is enabled to turn at an angle to her course without a check, while the heavier 
and longer limbed Greyhounds are carried far beyond their prey by their own impetus, before 
they can alter their course, and again make after the hare. 
On this principle, the whole of coursing depends ; the hare making short quick turns, and 
