There is no more elegantly shaped pet dog than the Italian Greyhound. The beauty of form and exquisite delicacy of frame that distinguish a good specimen of this breed, together with the exceedingly graceful action and attitudes he assumes, attract the dog-lover and compel his eulogies. This pretty variety is so delicate in appearance that it seems fitted only to be a pet and companion for ladies, and as if the peach-bloom of his coat might be sullied by the rough and clumsy touch of masculine hands. Liliputian though he is, the Italian Greyhound is quite an aristocrat amongst dogs. His style of motion shows that he is no plebeian; indeed, although his movements are to some extent a compromise between an affected mincing gait and the prancing action of a high-spirited horse, of the two styles there is a tendency to that of the "high-stepper." In play, the Italian Greyhound is seen to perfection, the graceful attitudes assumed being very striking. When in repose, this dog has a habit of crossing the fore legs in a manner observed in few other breeds, and in running he seems often to step gingerly, and to plait his legs. This peculiar action is quite a characteristic of the variety.

As the name implies, Italy is the native home of these exquisitely lovely, though frail-looking, little pets. As originally imported to England, they were larger in size than now bred here, and were, indeed, occasionally used to course rabbits - a purpose for which our exhibition specimens are wholly unfitted. The dogs brought from Italy are also rather large and coarse, and it is not under the azure skies of their native home that those dogs have been brought to the greatest perfection, but rather under clouds of dense London smoke, and amongst the raw, chilling mists that surround them in their Scottish homes.

As a breeder of Italian Greyhounds for many years, Mr. W. Bruce, of Falkirk, was by far the most successful, and in his own hands and those of various other exhibitors his stock supplied the best of our show specimens and a very large proportion of the prize-winners. Among these, in years gone by, were Wee Flower, Crucifix, Rosy Cross, and Bankside Lily. Later came Bankside Flower, Bankside Daisy, Bankside Beauty, Bankside Jewel, and many others that may safely be called the nearest to absolute perfection possible, at any rate at that time.

In "Stonehenge's" original work, "The Dog in Health and Disease," published 1859, there is given the pedigree of a then celebrated Italian Greyhound - Mr. Gowan's Billy, considered by the fanciers of that day as perfect in all points. Billy was an unusual example of close breeding, his grandsire, g.-g.-s., g.-g.-g.-s., g.-g.-g.-g.-s., and g.-g.-g.-g.-g--s., being the same dog - Mr. Anderton's Bill, imported from Italy. Mr. Gowan's Billy was a pure black, a colour very seldom seen in an exhibited Italian Greyhound.

In the early days of our public dog shows Mrs. Burke, of Bamsbury, London, frequently took prizes in this class, winning at Birmingham and London shows, year after year, with Sil-vey, Silvery, and Sophy. Later on, and for a number of years, there was nothing that had a chance in a show against Mr. Macdonald's famous little Molly, a dove-coloured specimen, diminutive in size, but of exquisite proportions. Molly lived to the very considerable age of twelve years, and literally went to her grave burdened with honours. Exceptionally good as she was, many specimens shown by Mr. Bruce have been almost as good as Molly, and it is quite certain that competitors now are much superior, as a whole, to those Molly had to meet in her time.

Her late Majesty Queen Victoria was amongst the admirers of these graceful little dogs, and owned several typical specimens at one time or another, some of which have been handed down to posterity by means of the talented brush of the late Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A.

Amongst others who have been known as exhibitors of good specimens have been Mr. James Fletcher with Wee Flower; Mr. W. Macdonald with Duke and Molly (the latter, never beaten in competition, was certainly the best seen up to that time, and her owner refused a hundred guineas for her in 1871); Mr. J. J. Pirn with Bismarck; Mrs. Briggs with Venus;

Fig. 128. - Miss Mackenzie's Italian Greyhounds Champion Stellio and Vino.

Mr. J. S. Day with Crucifix, Rosy Cross, and Wee Wee; Mrs. Bligh Monck with Duke, Duchess, and Jessie; Mrs. Giltrap with Countess and Romeo; Mr. G. Butler with Wykham Duke, Duchess, Beauty, etc. In later years came Miss Mackenzie (who has shown a great number of specimens), Mrs. Cottrell-Dormer, Mr. Hulland, Mrs. Philip Turner (who has taken many prizes with specimens mostly having the prefix of Larkfield). Lastly there are Mrs. Scarlett, Mrs. W. Matthews, Mrs. G. Burger, Miss Bowick, Mrs. G. Raper, and Miss Ada Wood. Wykham Silver and Contessa, belonging to the last-named, are two of the best of recent years.

The variety has now the advantage of a club of its own, and during the last two or three years there has been a marked increase in the entries at the shows providing classifications and judges acceptable to the fanciers of this formerly much neglected variety, so that, although at one time its popularity was at a very low ebb, it is now in a fair way to recover its prestige.

As anecdotes respecting these dogs are few and far between, the following, related by Youatt, may be of interest: -

"An Italian Greyhound was such a favourite of the late Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, that he used to carry it with him on nearly all occasions. During the Seven Years' War Frederick, being pursued by a party of Austrian dragoons, was compelled to take refuge under the dry arch of a bridge while the soldiers passed by. He bore his favourite in his arms, and had the little animal once growled or barked, the monarch would have been discovered and taken prisoner, and the fate of the campaign and of Prussia at once decided. But the dog lay quite still and quiet, clinging to its master in fear and trembling, as if conscious of the dangers to which they were exposed. Thus was the King saved from discovery - the only instance, perhaps, in the world where the fate of an empire depended on the bark of a dog! When, years after, the little creature died, he was carefully buried in the Palace Gardens at Berlin the King placing him in the grave with his own hands. Over his remains there was, soon after, placed an inscription telling all the world of his devotion and faithfulness."