5. Hind Quarters (Value 20)

These are of "more importance than the fore quarters, and are composed of three separate divisions, varying greatly in total and comparative length in different individuals. These three divisions are - the true thigh between the hip and stifle joints; the false or lower thigh, answering to the leg of a man, and situated between the stifle and hock; and, lastly, the leg, between the hock and foot. The first two of these divisions should be nearly equal in length, and in most well-proportioned greyhounds are each about one-fifth longer than the lower arm; whilst the leg, from the hock to the ground, should bear about the same relation to each of the thigh bones as the fore pastern does to the arm - that is to say, it should be about one-half, generally rather more than less. Many good greyhounds vary much in these proportions; and the stifle joint is often placed far from midway between the hip joint and the hock - generally it is a little nearer the hip - but I have seen it much lower than the mid-point, but never in a greyhound of good pace and performance.

With a greyhound thus formed, having both the upper and lower thigh bone one-fifth longer than the lower arm, with the hock also placed a little above the level of the knee, and the top of the shoulder-blade only the length of the thigh bone above the elbow, it follows either that the top of the hind quarter will be considerably higher than the fore, or that the hind legs will be bent at the hock and stifle joint considerably out of the straight line. Either of these forms is conducive to speed; but the latter is the more elegant, and also appears to be the best calculated for preserving the equilibrium in the turn. If the hind legs are straight, and yet the back is level, the fore legs must be long, or else there can scarcely be sufficient speed. This form is, however, inferior to the bent hind legs, and correspondingly short anterior extremities. The type of the best formation is seen in the hare, in which there is a still greater disproportion; and as the greyhound has to cope with her in speed and working, he must to a certain extent be formed upon the same model, and so he really is when the proportions are carefully examined in a skinned hare. In the portraits of Mr. Randell's Ruby and Mr. Brown's Bedlamite (given in "The Greyhound'1), the best form of stifles may be seen.

The latter dog himself possessed remarkably developed stifles, which have been transmitted to many of his descendants, and on which I believe much of their success has depended. This peculiarity consists in the stifles being set on wide apart, so that they can be brought well forward in the stride without any difficulty. Good bony stifles and powerful hocks are essentially requisite for the attachment and leverage of the various muscles; and unless these are large and powerful in the haunches and thighs no greyhound can be of first class powers. This point is, however, so well known, that it is scarcely necessary to insist upon it".

6. The Feet (Value 15)

6. The feet (value 15) of the greyhound are met with in two varying but useful forms, namely, the catlike and the hare foot. In the former case they are round and close with upstanding knuckles, and by many people they are much preferred. Such toes are, however, very likely to "break down;" and for use the hare foot, longer and flatter, is by many coursers preferred. In any case a flat open foot is to be discarded.

7. The Tail (Value 5)

7. The tail (value 5) should be fine and nicely curved; but this point is only to be looked at as a mark of good breed.

8. The Colours (Value 5)

8. The colours (value 5) preferred are black and red, or fawn with black muzzles. Black-tan is very rarely seen, but almost every other colour is occasionally met with. White greyhounds are by many disliked, being considered delicate; but I do not know that this objection is founded upon reliable premises. The brindled colour is also supposed, without reason, to be a mark of the bulldog cross, as I am satisfied it existed before there is any evidence of that cross having been used.

The relative value of these several points varies a good deal from those of dogs whose breeding can chiefly be arrived at by external signs - e.g., the stern, colour, and coat in the pointer and setter. Here the pedigree is well known for many generations; and therefore, although the breeding may be guessed at from the appearance of the individual, it is far better to depend upon the evidence afforded by the Coursing Calendar, or, if that is not forthcoming, to avoid having anything to do with breeding from the strain.

"In measuring a dog I should take only the following points, which should be nearly of the proportions here given in one of average size:

"Principal points: Height at the shoulder, 25in.; length from shoulder point to apex of last rib, 15in.; length of apex of last rib to back of buttock, 13in. to 15in.; length from front of thigh round buttock to front of other thigh, 21in.

"But to be more minute, it is as well to measure also the subordinate points as under: Circumference of head between eyes and ears, 14 1/2 in. to 15in.; length of neck, 9in. to l0in.; circumference of chest, 28in. to 30in. in condition; length of arm, 9in.; length of knee to the ground, 4 1/2in.; circumference of the loin, 18in. to 19in., in running condition; length of upper thigh, 10 1/2in.; lower thigh, 11m.; and leg from hock to ground, 5 1/2in. to 6in.

" In taking these measurements the fore legs should, as nearly as possible, be perpendicular, and the hind ones only moderately extended backwards".

The specimens selected to illustrate this chapter are Riot and David, which were perhaps the best greyhounds for all Kinds of ground which ever ran, not even excepting the two treble winners of the Waterloo Cup, as they were not tried over the downs. Riot was the property of Mr. C. Randell, of Chadbury, and was not only the winner of seventy-four courses in public, with the loss of only ten, but she was also the dam of several good greyhounds. David had also the same double distinction, but was not quite so celebrated in the coursing field as the bitch. He had, however, the advantage at the stud, as might be expected from his sex, and a goodly list of winners are credited to him. Curiously enough, both were bred in the same kennel, from which they were transferred as whelps, in the case of the bitch, to Chadbury, and in that of the dog to Mr. W. Long, of Amesbury, both distinguished in the south as public coursers, and pitted against one another in many a stake.

I might point to the numerous descendants of Beacon and Scotland Yet, and to Cerito and Master McGrath, as having been more successful oyer the plains of Altcar; but I believe that no strain of blood has done more over all sorts of ground than the combination of Bedlamite and Blackfly in Riot, and that of Motley and Wanton in David, and again in his son Patent.