THE SKYE TERKIER. 485 



should be perfectly level and evenly set in good, strong 

 jaws. Nose and roof of mouth black, or very dark brown. 



Ears and eyes. The ears are set on rather high, not 

 large, being less than three inches 'long; but the hair on 

 them, mixing with that of the head, neck, and cheeks, 

 makes them look much larger. In the drop-eared variety 

 they should fall perpendicularly and lie close to the cheek, 

 and in the prick-eared variety they should stand well up, 

 without any outward inclination. The eyes should be dark- 

 brown or hazel, of medium size, and sharp in expression, 

 though at the same time bespeaking wisdom and kindli- 

 ness. 



Body and neck. The back is long, but strongly coated 

 with muscle and perfectly straight, any tendency toward 

 the roach -back of the Dandie Dinmont being especially 

 objectionable. The ribs are round, the chest barrel-like, 

 and the back ribs should extend well toward the hips. 

 The neck is long and well clothed with muscle, rising evenly 

 out of the chest. Shoulders strong and rather upright. 



Legs and feet. The legs should be straight, and the 

 elbows and stifles not turned out. The thighs should be 

 well clothed with muscle down to the hocks. Feet round 

 and well covered with hair. There should be no dew-claws. 



Tail. This should be carried low by the drop-eared 

 variety, and about level with the back by the prick-eared. 

 Under excitement, it is sometimes carried gaily. 



Coat. The outer coat should consist of hard, long, 

 straight hair, and the under coat should be close, soft, and 

 woolly in texture. On the back, the coat should be straight 

 and free from curl, and should part naturally down the 

 middle. This parting is usually assisted with the comb; 

 but it can not be so trained by this alone, if the outer coat is 

 naturally curly and of a woolly texture. Although the 

 outer coat is hard and straight, the inner woolly coat is so 

 thick on the body that when the dog is wet it prevents the 

 outer coat from collapsing and adhering to his sides. On 

 the head and legs, this is not the case; and when the dog is 

 wet, his head presents a very different aspect from that 



