It is scarcely within the region of imagination to conceive an animal which is more entirely formed for speed and endurance than a well-bred greyhound. Its long slender legs, with their whip-cord-like muscles, indicate extreme length of stride and rapidity of movement; its deep, broad chest, affording plenty of breathing room for the large lungs, - all certify 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 express-like speed. The principal avocation of this animal is in coursing the hare, and exhibiting in this chase its marvellous swiftness and thorough endurance to fatigue.

In actual speed the dog far surpasses the hare, so that if the latter animal were to run in a straight line she would soon he snapped up by the swifter bound But the hare is compelled to practise duplicity, as she knows her success of escape depends upon it; she will therefore turn an angle to her course with such suddenness, that the heavier and longer-limbed Greyhound is carried far beyond his prey by his own impetus, before he can alter his course and again make after the hare.

This, then, is the principle upon which the whole system of coursing depends, the hare making short quick turns; and some are so crafty that they frequently baffle the best hounds and get away fairly into cover, and in such cases the chase is over, because the greyhound works only by sight is a good deal rougher in its coat than the English prototype. The Glengarry breed measures twenty-eight inches, and thirty-four inches in girth. Sometimes these animals are designated Deerhounds. Each, however, from being constantly employed in the chase of either deer or hare, becomes gradually fitted for the pursuit of its special quarry, and contracts habits which render it comparatively useless when set to chase the wrong animal The Scotch Deerhound is possessed of better powers of scent than the English dog, and in pursuing its game depends as much on its nose as on its eyes. It is also curious to note that although it makes use of its powers of scent when running, it holds its head higher from the ground than the greyhound, which only uses its eyes.