THE BLACK AND TAJST TERRIER. 



BY H. T. FOOTE, M. D., V. S. 



>HIS breed has the distinction, if previous writers are 

 correct, of being the source of nearly or quite all 

 breeds of Terriers. According to the earliest his- 

 tory of the dog, there existed in England a rough-haired 

 Black and Tan Terrier thicker in skull, shorter in head, 

 and stockier in body. The tan of these dogs was extensive, 

 and of a lighter shade than that usually seen on modern 

 specimens. They went to earth after game, and had great 

 stamina and courage. According to Youatt, smooth-coated 

 Terriers came from crossing these dogs with Hounds, and 

 long- coated Terriers from crossing with curs. From cross- 

 ings with other pure breeds, the various fancy breeds of 

 Terriers have been established. 



So far as the Black and Tan is concerned, he has, during 

 the past few centuries, evoluted into a more delicately and 

 gracefully built animal, with short, fine, smooth, and jet- 

 black coat over the greater part of the body, and with a 

 small amount of much darker tan. The thumb-marks, 

 pencilings, and " kissing- spots " have been developed, the 

 head has lengthened, and, like his body, is narrower than 

 formerly. With this change in his physical make-up, it is 

 not surprising that he has, at the same time, lost some of 

 his cornbativehess and courage; yet one now occasionally 

 sees a specimen that manifests all the fighting qualities and 

 Terrier instincts that the early Terrier was so famous for, 

 and, as a whole, no breed can surpass the modern Black and 

 Tan for natural rat-killing abilities. He gives a sharp nip, 

 and turns from one rat to another without delay. 



Early in 1889, a great rat-baiting contest was held in 

 Antwerp. The rats came from the sewers of Paris, and 



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