some of them are as good in legs and feet—­points which are of the greatest importance.  Though it is not quite in accordance with the standard laid down by the club, it will be found that most judges favour dogs which are about 17 lbs. weight, and bitches which are between 15 lbs. and 16 lbs., the 20 lbs. mentioned in the standard of points, without variation for sex being considered altogether too heavy.  Appearances are sometimes deceptive, but these dogs are rarely weighed for exhibition purposes, the trained eye of the judge being sufficient guide to the size of the competitors according to his partiality for middle-size, big, or little animals.

The South Durham and Yorkshire Show at Darlington has the credit for first introducing classes for Whippets into the prize ring.  Previous to this it had not long been generally recognised as a distinct breed, and it is within the last twenty years that the Kennel Club has placed the breed on its recognised list.

The following is the standard of points adopted by the Whippet Club:—­

* * * * *

HEAD—­Long and lean, rather wide between the eyes and flat on the top; the jaw powerful yet cleanly cut; the teeth level and white.  EYES—­Bright and fiery.  EARS—­Small, fine in texture and rose shape.  NECK—­Long and muscular, elegantly arched and free from throatiness.  SHOULDERS—­Oblique and muscular.  CHEST—­Deep and capacious.  BACK—­Broad and square, rather long and slightly arched over the loin, which should be strong and powerful.  FORE-LEGS—­Rather long, well set under the dog, possessing a fair amount of bone.  HIND-QUARTERS—­Strong and broad across stifles, well bent thighs, broad and muscular; hocks well let down.  FEET—­Round, well split up, with strong soles.  COAT—­Fine and close.  COLOUR—­Black, red, white, brindle, fawn, blue, and the various mixtures of each.  WEIGHT—­Twenty pounds.

CHAPTER XX

THE FOXHOUND

There is plenty of proof that Foxhounds were the very first of the canine races in Great Britain to come under the domination of scientific breeding.  There had been hounds of more ancient origin, such as the Southern Hound and the Bloodhound; but something different was wanted towards the end of the seventeenth century to hunt the wild deer that had become somewhat scattered after Cromwell’s civil war.  The demand was consequently for a quicker hound than those hitherto known, and people devoted to the chase began to breed it.  Whether there were crosses at first remains in dispute, but there is more probability that the policy adopted was one of selection; those exceptionally fast were bred with the same, until the slow, steady line hunter was improved out of his very character and shape.  At any rate, there are proofs that in 1710 hounds were to be found in packs, carefully bred, and that at that time some of the hunts in question devoted attention to the fox.