Yet another interesting variety of the Greyhound group is the Circassian Orloff Wolfhound. Although we have not had many specimens in this country, yet the variety is one that is worthy of encouragement, as it has a good appearance, activity, and strength to recommend it. Some seventeen years ago there was exhibited at the Crystal Palace Show a remarkably handsome specimen of this variety in M. Zambaco's Domovoy. This was a fine, upstanding dog, straight and strong in limbs, and in contour resembling a Scotch Deerhound, though shorter in comparison to height. In colour he was a cloudy red, with a useful if not very thick coat. He was a winner at many Continental shows and a descendant from winners. His weight and measurements are thus recorded: Weight, 831b.; height of shoulder, 32½ in.; length from nose to set-on of tail, 51 in.; length of tail, 26m.; girth of chest, 35m.; girth of loin, 21½ in.; girth of head, 17 in.; girth of fore-arm, 8in.; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 11½ in.; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 9 in.; length of neck from joint to shoulders, 11½ in.; girth round neck, 17in.; girth of thigh, 19 in.; length of ear (important as showing purity of breed), 5in.; colour, fawn, mixed with black (wolf colour).

M. Zambaco, the owner of Domovoy, thus describes the variety: "The Circassian Orloff Wolfhound is the cousin of the Siberian Borzoi, but it has a few special characteristics that show it to be a distinct variety. The coat, instead of being wavy, as in the Northern animal, lies flat on the body, though it is about 2in. long. The hind part of the front legs, the thighs,and the lower partof the tail, are heavily feathered; the coat is longest about the breast, and neck, forming a sort of frill. The legs of the Circassian dog are proportionately longer than those of the Siberian; the head is shorter, and the forehead not so sloping back between the ears; the eyes are more open; the colour is dark fawn or black. This hound is faster than the Siberian, and perhaps more intelligent, though both are suitable as companions; their aristocratic demeanour and most graceful attitudes make them the richest ornamental hound of the hall and the drawing-room."

As supplementing the information given by M. Zambaco, in respect of the colour it may be stated that the Circassian Wolfhound is always dark. The colour preferred is dark tawny or black, and fawn on back and other upper parts, shading off into a creamy-fawn, almost white, on belly, lower thighs, and limbs.

Fig. 40. - Circassian Orloff Hound, Domovoy.

By some of its admirers the Circassian Wolfhound is believed to be the Siberian transported to the southern mountainous regions, and altered in colour and minor characteristics by centuries of climatic influence This theory, however, is purely conjectural, whilst the structural affinity of both Circassian and Siberian hounds with our Deerhounds and Greyhounds suggest all of them as variations merely, and alike descendants of the same parent stock; and the little light history throws on the subject points to the Greyhound of the old Celtic tribes as the origin of all.