558 THE AMEEICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



up, and knuckles rather high. The single or double dew- 

 claws set on low, so as to be almost on a level with the pad 

 of the foot, giving a greater surface, and preventing the 

 dog from breaking so easily through the snow. There are 

 dogs which have on their hind feet a regularly developed 

 fifth toe or thumb. The so-called dew-claws (wolf sklauen), 

 which sometimes occur on the inside of the hind legs, are 

 imperfectly developed toes; they are of no use to the dog, 

 and are not taken into consideration in judging. 



Coat. Very dense, broken-haired, lying smooth; hard, 

 without being rough to the touch. Thighs are slightly 

 feathered. The hair at the root of the tail is rather long 

 and dense, getting gradually shorter toward the point. 

 The tail appears bushy, but not feathered. 



Color. White with red, or red with white, the red in 

 all its various shades; white with light to dark barred 

 brindle patches, or these colors with white markings. The 

 colors red, brindle, and tawny are of equal value. Obliga- 

 tory markings are white chest, feet, point of tail, and white 

 round the nose and collar. The white spot on the nape of 

 the neck and a blaze are much desired. Never self-colored 

 or without any white. All other colors are faulty, except 

 the favorite dark shadings in the face-markings and on 

 the ears. 



Height at shoulder. Dogs (measured with the Hound 

 measure) ought not to be less than 75 centimeters, (29 

 inches), and bitches 70 centimeters (27J inches). The 

 bitches are throughout of a less powerful and slighter build 

 than the dogs. 



Variations from these points are to be considered faulty. 



The long-haired (rough) St. Bernard is exactly like the 

 other, with the exception of the coat, which ought not to 

 be broken-haired, but of medium length, smooth or slightly 

 wavy, never very wavy, curly, or shaggy. 



The coat is, as a rule, more wavy on the back, particu- 

 larly in the region of the hip and rump. The same thing 

 is slightly noticeable in the short-haired, even the Hospice 

 dogs. 



