476 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



round; chest well developed, and let well down between the 

 fore legs; the back rather low at the shoulder, having a 

 slight downward curve and a corresponding arch over the 

 loins, with a very slight gradual drop from top of loins to 

 root of tail; both sides of backbone well supplied with 

 muscle. 



Tail. Rather short, say from eight to ten inches, and 

 covered on the tipper side with wiry hair of darker color 

 than that of the body, the hair on the under side being 

 lighter in color, and not so wiry, with a nice feather about 

 two inches long, getting shorter as it nears the tip; rather 

 thick at the root, getting thicker for about four inches, 

 then tapering off to a point. It should not be twisted or 

 curled in any way, but should come up with a regular curve 

 like a scimiter, the tip, when excited, being in a perpendic- 

 ular line with the root of the tail. It should neither be set 

 on too high nor too low. When not excited it is carried 

 gaily, and a little above the level of the body. 



Legs. The fore legs short, with immense muscular 

 development and bone, set wide apart, the chest coming 

 well down between them. The feet well formed, and not 

 flat, with very strong brown or dark-colored claws. Bandy- 

 legs and flat feet are objectionable, but may be avoided 

 the bandy-legs by the use of splints when first noticed, and 

 the flat feet by exercise, and a dry bed and floor to the 

 kennel. The hair on the fore legs and feet of a blue dog 

 should be tan, varying according to the body-color from a 

 rich tan to a pale fawn; of a mustard dog they are of a 

 darker shade than its head, which is a creamy white. In 

 both colors there is a nice feather, about two inches long, 

 rather lighter in color than the hair on the fore part of the 

 leg. The hind legs are a little longer than the fore ones, 

 and are set rather wide apart, but not spread out in an un- 

 natural manner, while the feet are much smaller; the thighs 

 are well developed, and the hair of the same color and text- 

 ure as the fore ones, but having no feather or dew-claws; 

 the whole claws should be dark; but the claws of all vary 

 in shade according to the color of the dog's body. 



