342 British Dogs. 



benefit of his assertion, that a short coat is the correct thing and the 

 original, which I do not grant. 



The "Mogstads," "Drynocks," and " Canmsennaries, " referred to 

 by Mr. Murray as "breeds," would be more accurately described as 

 "strains" exhibiting those slight differences from others from the same 

 parent stock which kennels quickly assume when bred within themselves. 



Mr. J. Gordon Murray remarks : 



" There can be no doubt but the Highland terrier rendered important 

 services to our forefathers in assisting to destroy the large quantities of 

 vermin with which Scotland, but especially the northern part, was much 

 overrun a century ago or more. Being an animal posessed not only of 

 great courage and sagacity, but also of energy and hardihood, and being 

 of small size seldom exceeding nine inches to ten in height, more fre- 

 quently under the latter they were enabled to follow foxes, wild cats, 

 &c., into their dens and " homes " in cairns, where no other breed of dog 

 could go at least, such breeds as then existed in Scotland, to wit, the 

 sheepdog, deerhound, and bloodhound. Hence the " Holt " dog or High- 

 land terrier was in great requisition, and here I would beg to state that 

 there is no such name in the Gaelic language as Skye terrier. That name, 

 which has been such a bone of contention, is of very recent application, 

 and, as I shall endeavour to show as I proceed, is quite a misnomer when 

 applied to the modern show-going dog of that name. 



"At one time many parts of Scotland were divided into districts, to each 

 district a foxhunter, with a few of these terriers and a crossbred dog or 

 two (something between the colley and blood or sleuth hound), was 

 appointed, whose duty it was to destroy, if possible, all the vermin on his 

 beat, which used to commit sad ravages on sheep, lambs, &c., and would, 

 even in open day, attack poultry and carry them off, so daring had they 

 become. I have read in an old agreement or lease a clause to the follow- 

 ing effect that the tenant was to provide a certain number of men and 

 dogs for a specified time to assist in destroying the wild animals which 

 committed such injury on the property of landowners and tenants. I 

 have no proof that the terrier was used in the chase of boars or wolves, 

 but I think it is quite possible they may have been used to ' track ' 

 those gentlemen, just as we find at the present day in Lower Canada. 

 There is a small dog there not heavier than many of our fox terriers, 

 which is of great use in following the bear, and assists much in bringing 



