152 British Dogs. 



meeting in a point between the eyes ; the head should be well covered 

 with this topknot, the hair of which should be in a dog in full coat 4in. 

 or more long, the forelocks hanging gracefully down the face, but I very 

 much admire the topknot when about half grown, and when standing 

 straight up all over the head in a most wild Irishman kind of manner. 



The face is long, and is the most remarkable feature of the breed to my 

 mind, being in a good specimen quite smooth ; the hair no longer than 

 that upon a smooth terrier this short hair should extend to the cheeks. 

 I know of no other dog which carries the same quantity of hair on its 

 head, legs, ears, that has not also a rough face, and however remote may 

 be the cross of poodle or Eussian retriever, it will show itself upon the 

 face and cheeks as moustachios and whiskers. This is a point which 

 judges should specially make a note of. I have named it to several, who 

 all have made light of it ; not so, however, with Mr. McCarthy and other 

 breeders. The nose is large and with a slight squareness of muzzle. 

 The eyes, too, I have never seen taken into account by any judge, and 

 yet it is the eye that gives character to the face ; this should be a deep 

 rich brown, which in the dark or shade is beautiful, not to be described, 

 but seen ; a light yellow, or gooseberry eye, is my detestation, and is 

 always accompanied by a coat which before moulting time assumes a very 

 light sandy hue, whilst the dark-eyed ones are many shades darker at 

 the same period of coating. 



The ears are about 18in. long in the flesh, lobe shaped, not pointed, 

 and when well furnished with hair should be from 26in. to 30in. from 

 tip to tip, when measured across the head. Old Doctor measured, when 

 he won the last time at the Crystal Palace, 31 in. 



The chest should be deep and the ribs well sprung, so that the body 

 appears round, rather than deep. The shoulders are inclined to be a bit 

 thick, as the dog all over should appear cobby. 



The back and quarters are as strong as those of a waggon horse. 



The legs should be straight, with good feet, well clothed with hair, 

 both over and between the toes ; the fore legs are heavily feathered at the 

 sides and behind, with a curled or rough appearance in front. The hind 

 legs are smooth in front, from the hocks downwards, whilst it is essential 

 that they should be feathered behind down to the foot. In crossing with 

 certain breeds, such as the retriever, this is one of the first points lost. 



The tail is, like the face, a sure indication of the breeding ; and at the 



