Page:The power of the dog.djvu/37

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they may be in their conception, have placed on record that dogs of this formation were common. It is not unreasonable to suggest that Egypt was the home of the race, whence they were distributed by means of caravans through the further East.


When we reach the Middle Ages we are on fairly solid ground, plenty of evidence being forthcoming as to the manner in which greyhounds were used. In France deer and wolves were hunted with them, but the fact that they were differently employed in this country leads Turbervile to write an original chapter upon the subject. "We here in England," he says, "do make great account of such pastime as is to be seen in coursing with Greyhoundes at Deare, Hare, Foxe, or such like, even of them selves, when there are neyther houndes hunting, nor other means to help them. So that I have thought it correspondent unto this myne enterprise, to set downe some briefe rules which I my self have seen observed in coursing with Greyhoundes. You shall understand then that we use three maner of courses with Greyhoundes here in England, that is at the Deare, at the Hare, and at the Foxe or other vermine." For coursing the deer, especially red deer, it was customary to divide the hounds into three ranks, viz., Teasers, Sidelays, and Backsets or Receytes. The duty of the Teasers, either a brace or a leash, was to start the quarry in a certain direction. Then, after some distance had been traversed, the Sidelays would be slipped, and being fresh, would probably take the deer. Failing