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HEAD. The head is narrow in proportion to its length, and long in proportion to the body, tapering but slightly from the temples to the end of the muzzle; thus (when viewed from above and in front) having the appearance of being flattened at the sides, and of being nearly equal in width throughout its entire length. In profile the upper outline of the skull is nearly in the same plane as that of the foreface. The length,

from end of nose to stop (midway between the eyes), should be not less than from stop to back of occipital protuberance (peak). The entire length of the head from the posterior part of the occipital protuberance to the end of the muzzle should be 12 inches, or more, in dogs, and 11 inches, or more, in bitches.

SKULL. The skull is long and narrow, with the occipital peak very pronounced. The brows are not prominent, although, owing to the deep set eyes, they may have that appearance.

FOREFACE.- -The foreface is long and deep, and of even width throughout, with square outline when seen in profile.

EYES. The eyes are deeply sunk in the orbits, the lids assuming a lozenge or diamond shape, in consequence of the lower lids being dragged down and everted by the heavy flews. general tone of colour of the animal, varying from deep hazel to yellow. The eyes correspond with the The hazel eye is, however, to be preferred, although very seldom to be seen in red-and-tan hounds.

EARS. The ears are thin and soft to the touch, extremely long, set very low, and fall in graceful folds, the lower parts curling inwards and backwards.

WRINKLE. The head is furnished with an amount of loose skin, which, in nearly every position, appears superabundant, but more particularly so when the head is carried low; the skin then falls into loose, pendulous ridges and folds, especially over the forehead and sides of the face.

NOSTRILS.-The nostrils are large and open.

LIPS, FLEWS, AND DEWLAP.—In front the lips fall squarely, making a right angle with the upper part of the foreface; whilst behind they form deep, hanging flews, and being continued into the pendant folds of loose skin about the neck, constitute the dewlap, which is very pronounced. These characters are found, though in a less degree, in the bitch.

NECK, SHOULDERS, AND CHEST.-The neck is long; the shoulders muscular and well sloped backwards; the ribs are well sprung; and the chest well let down between the fore legs, forming a deep keel.

LEGS AND FEET.-The fore legs are straight, and large in bone, with elbows squarely set; the feet strong and well knuckled up; the thighs and second thighs (gaskins) are very muscular; the hocks well bent and let down, and squarely set.

BACK AND LOIN. The back and loin are strong, the latter deep and slightly arched.

STERN.-The stern is long and tapering, and set on rather high, with a moderate amount of hair underneath.

GAIT. The gait is elastic, swinging, and free, the stern being carried high, but not too much curled on the back.

COLOUR.-The colours are black and tan, red and tan, and tawny; the darker colours being sometimes interspersed with lighter or badger-coloured

hair, and sometimes with white. A small amount of white is permissible on chest, feet, and tip of stern.

Ch. Chatley Blazer, the hound which illustrates this section, is the property of Mrs. Oliphant, by whom he was bred from Chatley Bellman ex Chatley Chantrees in July 1898. He is the largest bloodhound on the show-bench, black and tan in colour, of very sound constitution, with great power, courage, and endurance; great bone, good legs and feet, galloping shoulders and powerful loins. His head properties are exceptionally good and characteristic of the breed. His weight is 116 lbs. Blazer holds the Hunt Club's certificate for proficiency in tracking, and has been hunted regularly for four seasons. He crowned a winning show career by carrying off the Kennel Club's championship in 1903.

The two bloodhounds represented in the frontispiece by Mr. C. H. Desmond are Ch. Hordle Hercules and Hordle Zephyr, the property of Mr. S. Mangin, of Hordle Grange, Hampshire.

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THE BORZOI

AN aristocrat of aristocrats, the borzoi is at once the noblest looking as well as the newest addition to our bench of sporting hounds. He came with an Imperial halo about him, for amongst the earlier specimens introduced into this country were some from the Czar's kennels.

The Russian wolf-hound, like its Irish prototype, bears a great affinity to the greyhound. Except for its fleecy coat and feathered tail it is practically built on greyhound lines with certain modifications. The chief

of these is in the head, which differs in outline and conformation so much that it is practically distinct from any other breed of hound. The veriest tyro having once seen it can recognise a "borzoi head," with its thin, narrow, Roman-nosed contour, and its long fine muzzle. And yet the grip of these hounds is far in excess of what you would give them credit for, and the boast of their masters in their native land is that we have no hound so tenacious of holding on to its quarry. Perhaps it would be more correct to ally the borzoi to the Asiatic greyhound, the hounds of Persia and Afghanistan, generically, notwithstanding that the Russian has kept the delicate and lightly carried ear-perhaps at the expense of a skull too narrow to contain much brains. Truth to tell, the borzoi has acquired a character of

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