330 British Dogs. 



I do nob know that any cross has been resorted to in bringing this 

 terrier up to the mark, but the great length of head, the tendency to 

 show a tucked-up flank, and a something in the general contour gives one 

 the impression that greyhound blood is in them, and if so, it was 

 probably obtained through the whippet. The skull is certainly much 

 narrower in proportion to length and to size of dog than in the grey- 

 hound, and rumour says this end is obtained by continued compression 

 with wet bandages during puppyhood. 



With improved elegance of form was introduced gradually a finer coat 

 and richer and more decided contrast in the colours, and when Nature 

 is not so kind as desired in this respect, some of the votaries of the 

 breed assist her. 



I believe, however, that staining, dyeing, and painting is not much 

 resorted to now-a-days ; careful breeding has done so much towards 

 perfecting the dog that there is less need to introduce low tricks, which 

 cannot be too severely censured. 



Although the modern black and tan terrier is unfitted for the hard 

 rough work at which his progenitor was an adept, it must not be inferred 

 from anything I have said that he is a useless dog he is, on the contrary, 

 game enough and death to vermin, as all the terrier tribe are, but he is 

 simply not fitted to stand rough weather. He is also a remarkably 

 active and cheerful companion, and makes a first-rate house dog, being 

 generally quite free from any objectionable smell, and he does not 

 harbour fleas, nor carry the dirt on wet days into the house, as rough- 

 coated dogs do. 



The black and tan is sometimes called the Manchester terrier, but 

 there is no sound reason for it ; this I pointed out in an article on the 

 breed, which I contributed to "Dogs of the British Islands," and made 

 it a cause of complaint against the Kennel Club that in their stud 

 books they gave countenance to this misnomer ; and I see in the volume 

 of their "Stud Book" since issued the entries of these dogs are not 

 called Manchester, but simply black and tan terriers, and this is as 

 it should be, for far more good ones have been bred out of Manchester 

 than in it, and the dog is really an old English terrier. 



There is considerable difficulty in breeding dogs with all the desirable 

 points, and when a specimen is found nearing perfection in shape, colour, 

 and markings, very long prices are given for it. 



