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dogs' coats are impervious to rain, and in Norway they often sleep in the snow."

Some very fine benches of elkhounds have been seen at some of our English shows, and on occasions separate classes have been given for them. Lady Cathcart has generally carried off the leading prizes with the splendid and unique team she exhibits. Mr. A. W. Hicks-Beach is another exhibitor of this variety.

Jäger, the subject of my illustration, was bred by Mr. S. Hanson, by Pil ex Polka, and born in May 1896. He is a darkgrey in colour, stands 20 inches at shoulder, and weighs 50 lbs. Lady Cathcart describes him as having "dark, large, keen, brown eyes; ears carried erect; tail in a tight double twist, very thick and furry, like a fox's brush; dense, thick coat; stands very straight on his legs. A keen sporting dog, but a charming and devoted pet, most faithful to his owner. He is considered by all judges to be the most typical elkhound in the breed. He has won twenty-five first prizes, and is the sire of several winning sons and daughters."

THE PERSIAN GREYHOUND

I am indebted to Mr. H. C. Brooke for the interesting illustration of the Persian greyhound, Persian Arrow, which I am able to publish. He describes the breed as one of the most graceful of all sporting dogs, as well as one of the most ancient, having existed before most of our modern breeds were dreamt of, and being probably the original greyhound. It is certain that the greyhounds sculptured on the monuments of Egypt are a fringe-eared species, and the Afghan and Grecian greyhound both have this distinctive feature. Mr. Brooke goes on to say that "the Persian greyhound is certainly of eastern origin. The several varieties of eastern greyhounds differ chiefly in coat; thus that of the Afghan dog is far more profuse than that of the Persian, and it is more cruel and savage in disposition; getting

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on to India we find the Rampur hound, still more savage, and, as befits the climate, almost destitute of coat; in the other direction we find the Russian borzoi, with a coat suited to the country, and showing a smaller ear, as found amongst the European family, the eastern branch all having large, pendant ears."

I agree with all Mr. Brooke says except that the Rampur hound is almost destitute of coat. I kept a couple in India for coursing, and they had exquisitely fine, silky coats, which contrasted advantageously with those of my greyhounds; but they had not the courage of the latter in the chase, and always allowed the English dogs to go in first and tackle the jackal, after which they did prodigies of valour in the shape of chawing it up. The various breeds of Oriental greyhounds are grouped by Mr. Lionel Jacobs, the President of the Northern India Kennel Club, into Persian, Afghan, Barakzai, Arab, Ramour, and Poligar. Some of these carry the jacket of a borzoi, notably a variety not uncommon in the Chenab Bar, in the Punjab. Mr. Jacobs describes the Rampur hound as a hairless one, but the hound figured in the Dog Owner's Annual for 1901 (in which his article appears) is certainly clothed with a smooth coat. In Southern India the Poligar hound is sometimes naked; but some of the pariah dogs of India are hairless owing to a chronic state of skin disease. The ears of the Rampur differ from those of the Persian and Afghan in being slightly feathered. All these species of greyhounds are keen hunting hounds, but have very unreliable tempers, and are snappy and quarrelsome, and sometimes very treacherous and savage.

Persian Arrow, the subject of my illustration, is a sleek-coated pale-cream dog, about 25 inches in height, and weighing 50 lbs.

THE CIRCASSIAN HAREHOUND

Without doubt one of the most beautiful foreign sporting dogs ever seen in England is the Circassian harehound Fly, which may also be said to be quite unique in this country. I happened to see it at the Botanic Gardens Show in 1903, and gladly availed myself of the opportunity afforded me of getting something really novel for a dog-book. I am indebted to Mrs. Rous for the following description and particulars of the little dog :

The Circassian harehound Fly is, in appearance, like a diminutive deerhound, but has silkier and longer hair, of a variegated greyish tint, and a curly, bushy tail. Its parents came from Teheran in Persia, but I believe the natural home of the breed is in that part of Russia below the Caucas Mountains. The sire and dam of Fly were imported into Italy, where the dog was born about March 1900. She weighs 31 lbs., and stands 20 inches at the shoulder. Her eyes are a dark-blue with brown outlines to the pupils; ears short, and covered with smooth hair, carried neatly folded back in repose, but when excited she cocks them beautifully; tail very long, heavily feathered and ringed— when excited it has something the appearance of a circular fan; her coat is longer than the average deerhound's, inclined to be straight, and of a graduated shade of grey, with white chest and feet; she has a very long second thigh, well bent stifles, and hocks well let down; front legs dead straight; hare-footed, and rather large feet, probably adapted for running in a sandy country. She is extraordinarily fleet, and has beaten greyhounds that have won prizes, being able to turn in half the space or time of any dog she has yet been matched with. She is very gentle and playful, and an ideal dog for a lady or a child. When gamboling with other dogs she has the most graceful action, and is as agile as a cat. I have tried hard to get a dog to mate with her, but found it impossible, as I believe she is the only one of her breed in England. She has attracted great attention whenever she has been exhibited, and is much admired by every one who sees her, both for her beauty and her charmingly friendly disposition.

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