The Somerset reporter., 1889-11-21
The Greyhound as a Hunting Dog.

The greyhound II becoming popular
dog in America, AMI c0ur-iag cln3s are
being formed throughout the country,
dpes being Imported at great expense.
10 certain regions u California the hare
exists Ia tDyFtads snd the ranches keep
lne greyhounds 70 run them off 50 Il is
natural that Californlans should belieye
MAT they have some Of the fastest dogs
In the country. "Silk has caught hare
within one hundred and fifty feet Of the
start, and as for 'House,n now fat and
heavy, have run the fastest horse
could find against her, and -he was al
ways just ahead, looking back as II To say
why don't you Gomez The Race Of the
dogs is illustrated by the fact that two Of
them when running in a vineyard can
into collision; light and slender a the an
mais were, one dogs neck was broken
ana tie other hound was seriously injur.
ed.
Cour.ing i BY no means new sport
Not only Is it an old English custom bn,
even In the ancient carvings Of Thebes
We see the greyhound. Among the an
GENTS chasing the the hare with these
dogs was considered noble sport, for
the greyhound has an aristocratic meio.
and Is the type of refinement and culture
terially from the methods Of the hunt
described, asd often derenerates into A
sport carried on simply for gain. Il was
first. organized as a sport by Thomas.
Duke Of Norfolk in the time OF Elizabeth
and the old rules are To some extent fol
lowed in England to-day In these, the
various efforts of the dogs ini turning the
mare count, aud numbers Of dogs contest
one with another, TO finish. In Amer
ica' coursing clubs rarely, if ever, run the
dogs IN narrow Enclosures as it is thought
unsportsmanllke not 10 give the hare
every advantage. Certainly. such is the
spirit OF the sport in Southern California
The hare runs a. fast as the dogs, but
as he lacks their endurance he takes them
up slopes and over rough country, dis
playing great cunning. one hare. which
have chased number Of times, inyari-
ably ran in wide circle, finally leading
the dogs among the rocks and escaping
in thick grove. This little animal is
indebted TO me for much exercise, and |
have no doubt he enjoyed the running.
Inc hare being smaller aud lighter can
turn more quickly, and the best dog is the
one that can most adrotly meet these
quick changes of direction. The pack is
rushing along when the hare suddenly
turLs at right angle; poor dogs overruu
and take wide turn and, before they
can recover, the hare is far away Still.
a good dog will lose but little. Once my
dog had almost caught hare, when the
cunning animal darted to tree and be-
gan to run around it in circle, while
stopped and looked on. Mouse could not
make the turns so quickly, and apparently
soon became dizzy, for, as the hare ran
m tyaa
rased at my laughter Another time
saw Jack turn suddenly, dodge Mouse's
snap at him, aud dart between her leg.
and away.
The greyhound, running by sight alone.
shows remarkable sagacity in following
the game, leapiDg into the air, as We have
seen, looking Sharply about, and using
us Intelligence in marvellous way
When hare Is caught, he is killed ill.,
stantly and tossed into the air, the othe.
dogs recognizing the winners rights and
rarely making an attempt to touch the
game after the death
Besides being shapely and beautiful,
the greyhound has both courage and at.
lection. 1t will run down deer or
wolf as quickly as hare, and is ferocious
in It's anger with large foe. NY dogs
are remarkably aifectionate and Intelligent
extremely sensitive to kindness or rebuke
The moment the house is opened in the
morning, Mouse. il not forbidden, rushes
up stairs, pushes open my door, and
greets me as if we had been separated for
months. Then she will dart into my
dressing-room and reappear with shoe,
or leggin, If she can lind it, and preseLt
it to HE, wigging her tail and saying
plainly, Come, it's time to be up q fine
day for a run =,
The death of the hare is not considered
an important feature, the pleasure being
derived from watching the movement. Of
the dogs, their magnificent bursts of
speed, the turns and stops, their strategy
in hundred ways, and especially from
the employment of riding over the finest
winter country in the world.