Part 10

OBJECTIONABLE FEATURES.—Yellow or white eyes; prick-ears; dish-face; long, separated toes; lightness of bone; weak back; straight stifles; undershot or overshot.

THE HOUND (HARRIER).

ORIGIN.—Is little else than a small-sized English foxhound. By some considered to be cross of “Southern hound” and beagle.

USES.—Hunting the hare, sometimes foxes and deer.

SCALE OF POINTS, ETC.

Value. Head 10 Neck 5 Shoulders 10 Chest and back ribs 10 Back and loins 10 Hind quarters 15 Elbows 5 Legs and feet 20 Color and coat 5 Stern 5 Symmetry 5 --- Total 100

The points are same as those of the English foxhound, except that the head is wider and heavier, nose longer and broader, ears set farther backward, not rounded.

HEIGHT.—Sixteen to twenty inches.

THE HOUND (ITALIAN GREYHOUND).

TRIXIE.]

ORIGIN.—Little is known of the origin of this breed beyond the fact that Italy and the south of France are supposed to be where it originated.

USES.—A purely pet dog, exceedingly delicate and fragile.

SCALE OF POINTS, ETC.

Value. Head 15 Neck, ears, and eyes 15 Legs, feet, and fore quarters 10 Hind quarters 10 Tail and coat 10 Color 10 Symmetry 20 Size 10 --- Total 100

HEAD.—If possible should be like the English greyhound’s, but such formation is now rarely met with. In all recent exhibits the skull is more or less round, and face, though still pointed, is too short, with tendency to turn up.

NECK.—Long and elegant, resembling closely its larger congener.

EARS AND EYES.—Ears an exact counterpart of the English greyhound’s, though always somewhat enlarged in comparison with body. Eyes much larger proportionately, soft and languishing, but should never weep; color of iris is usually a dark brown.

LEGS, FEET, AND FORE QUARTERS.—Same as the greyhound’s.

HIND QUARTERS.—As with the last two paragraphs, the only difference lies in comparative value, the English dog’s points being estimated from the workmanlike view, while the Italian is regarded from an artistic standpoint.

TAIL.—Somewhat shorter than the English dog’s, but it must be gently curved in same tobacco-pipe way, fine in bone, except at root, as well as free from hair.

COAT.—Short, soft, and silky.

COLOR.—Largely to be taken into consideration, and is consequently estimated at a high figure. Fawns are now far in the ascendant, and to no other color should the full value be accorded. A small star on breast or white toe takes off a point or two, according to extent of white, but in all cases toe-nails should be dark.

SYMMETRY.—Must be carefully estimated, as a want of elegance in detail or of combination in due proportion alike lowers the value of these points separately to a very low ebb. It is a high-stepping little aristocrat.

SIZE.—Bitch for modern successful exhibition should be little over 5 pounds, nor should the dog exceed 7 or 7½ pounds.

THE HOUND (OTTERHOUND).

ORIGIN.—Nothing positive is known about it, but probably a cross of Welsh harrier, “Southern hound,” and a terrier, though some say it is of bloodhound extraction. The breed is very old.

USES.—For hunting the otter and other water-animals.

SCALE OF POINTS, ETC.