Page:The Hare.djvu/165

Rh tells us that, 'intent on obtaining as much perfection in the breed as possible, he introduced every experimental cross, from the English lurcher to the Italian greyhound. He it was that first thought of the cross with the English bulldog, in which he persevered in opposition to every opinion, until, after breeding on for seven removes, he found himself in possession of the best greyhounds ever known up to that time; and he considered that this cross produced the small ear, the rat tail, the fine, thin, silky coat, together with that quiet, innate courage which the high-bred greyhound should possess—preferring death to relinquishing the chase.' The above remarks bear out my theory that when public coursing was first established good hares were more than a match for the average greyhound, and even in my experience I have seen fair public runners completely outpaced on many occasions.

However, Lord Orford set the example as regards breeding for pace. But it would seem that there is a limit even to the pace of a greyhound; and proof thereof is to be found in the fact that if the weather is favourable to the hare—and it may be mentioned here that the hare suffers terribly in bad weather—the best of the species can set the best greyhounds at defiance, and run them to a standstill if the country be an open one, or escape to covert, provided there be