274 British Dogs. 



quite so deep nor so broad in muzzle ; the skull tight-skinned, no flews 

 indeed, no loose skin about either head or throat ; the eyes medium size, 

 dark in colour, and bright and sparkling ; the ears broad at base, nar- 

 rowing to a rounded point, thin in texture, and spotted. 



The neck should be of fair length, nicely arched, airy that is, free 

 from coarseness and clean cut, there being little or no wrinkling or 

 dewlap. 



The shoulders must be well sloped and free, and well covered with 

 muscle, but not thick or loaded. 



The body must be elegant, not heavy ; the ribs fairly sprung, but 

 not rounded like barrel hoops, which would indicate slowness, and 

 destroy the symmetry ; the loin strong and muscular ; the quarters 

 strong, nicely sloping from the huckle bone to set on of tail. 



The legs and feet are most important. In the hind legs the second 

 thigh should be seen and the hock well let down ; the fore legs should be 

 straight and clean made, lined with strong muscles. The feet are of good 

 size, of compact shape, rather round than long, knuckles well up, and 

 the sole thick, hard, and tough. A spreading foot is very objectionable, 

 rendering the dog unfit for travel. 



The tail should be strong at the insertion, and rush grown 

 that is, tapering to a point, and carried with a slight curve upwards, but 

 neither crooked nor curled. If distinctly spotted, it is considered a great 

 advantage, as adding much to the beauty of the dog. 



The coat should be clean and sleek, but firm, close, and wet resisting, 

 neither woolly nor silky. 



The colour and markings give the dog his very distinctive 

 character, and, therefore, are properly very highly valued. The body 

 must be a pure white ; single black hairs running through the ground 

 colour, giving a greyish hue, are a very great fault ; the purer and brighter 

 the white the better the black and liver spots look by contrast ; the colour 

 of the spots should be a pure black, blue black, or rich reddish liver ; the 

 handsomest are the tricolours, with black spots on the body and bright 

 well-defined liver spots on the back of the forelegs, inside and front of 

 the thighs, and sometimes under and on the sides of the jaw. Some of 

 the earlier winners had distinctly tanned faces, but these and black 

 patches are objectionable, although less so than the dark ridge of con- 

 glomerated spots that often runs down the back. The more distinct 



