Note 238 — ARRIAN ON COURSING.
William Dansey translation
Αἱ θήλειαι μὲν ἀγαπητὸν, κ. τ. λ. I am not aware of any difference having been observed by coursers, in the duration of the comparative speed of the dog and bitch. It is not inability to run that disqualifies a greyhound (generally in his third year from the period of entrance) for appearance on the coursing field, but a propensity, acquired by experience, to skulk and run false:
Sir W. Scott.
Experience sage the lack of speed supplies, And in the gap he seeks—his victim dies.
We can rarely, if ever, say of any greyhound, after he has run two seasons, what Shallow says of Page’s fallow greyhound, whoMerry Wives of Windsor. Act i. “was out-run on Cotsale:”—“He is a good dog, and a fair dog; can there be more said? he is good, and fair.” So soon does the fleetest dog begin to make up by cunning what he wants in willingness to work.