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THE TURKISH GREYHOUND.

A small and almost hairless dog, of the greyhound kind, is met with in Turkey, but it is not common in that country, and I have never seen a specimen or even a good portrait of it.

THE PERSIAN GREYHOUND

Is an elegant animal, beautifully formed in all points, and resembling the Italian in delicacy of proportions. In Persia he is used for coursing the hare and antelope, as well as sometimes the wild ass. When the antelope is the object of the chase, relays of greyhounds are stationed where the game is likely to resort to, and slipped each in their turn as the antelope passes.

The Persian greyhound is about 24 inches high. The ears are pendulous like those of the Grecian dog, and hairy like those of the English setter, but in other respects he resembles the English smooth greyhound, with the exception of the tail, which may be compared to that of a silky-coated setter. Several portraits of this dog have appeared at various times in the "Sporting Magazine," and elsewhere, but I am told they do not well represent his appearance.

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This little dog is one of the most beautifully proportioned animals 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.

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The attempt, therefore, to course rabbits with this little dog has always failed, and in those instances where the sport (if such it can be called) has been carried out at all, recourse has been had to a cross between the Italian greyhound and the terrier, which results in a strong, quick, little dog, quite capable of doing all that is required.

The chief points characteristic of the Italian greyhound are shape, colour, and size.

In shape he should as nearly as possible resemble the English greyhound, as described at page 28 et seq. The nose is not usually so long in proportion, and the head is fuller both in width and depth. The eyes, also, are somewhat larger, being soft and full. The tail should be small in bone, and free from hair. It is scarcely so long as that of the English greyhound, bearing in mind the difference of size. It usually bends with a gentle sweep upwards, but should never turn round in a corkscrew form.

The colour most prized is a golden fawn. The dove-coloured fawn comes next. Then the cream colour, and the blue fawn, or fawn with blue muzzle, the black-muzzled fawn, the blackmuzzled red, the plain red, the yellow, the cream-coloured, and the black; the white, the blue, the white and fawn, and the white and red. Whenever the dog is of a whole colour, there should be no white whatever on the toes, legs, or tail; and even a star on the breast is considered a defect, though not so great as on the feet.

The size most prized is when the specified weight is about six or eight pounds; but dogs of this weight have seldom perfect symmetry, and one with good shape and colour of eight pounds is to

be preferred to a smaller dog of less perfect symmetry. Beyond 12 lbs. the dog is scarcely to be considered a pure Italian, though sometimes exceptions occur, and a puppy of pure blood with a sire and dam of small size may grow to such a weight as 16 lbs.

The black dog from which the engraving at the head of this article was taken is remarkable for a degree of in-breeding rarely seen, as will be evident from the annexed pedigree. He is of a black colour, is very handsome, and is considered by "fanciers" to be perfect in all his points. The engraving gives his proportions most exactly, but represents him as altogether too large, being in reality only 141 inches high, and 8 lbs. in weight.

Pedigrees of Mr. Gowan's "Billy," and Mr. Hanly's " Minnie.”

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DOMESTICATED DOGS, HUNTING CHIEFLY BY THE NOSE, AND BOTH FINDING AND KILLING THEIR GAME; COMMONLY KNOWN AS HOUNDS.

The Southern Hound.-The Bloodhound.-The Staghound.-The Foxhound. - The Harrier. - The Beagle. - The Otterhound. - The Terrier. - The Dachshund.

THE SOUTHERN HOUND, NORTHERN HOUND, AND TALBOT. THERE appears to be some difficulty in getting any reliable account of the original stock from which our modern hounds are descended,

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