35 8 British Dogs. 



instead of having a variety of types, colours, and sizes, some of which 

 were far from prepossessing in appearance, we have one recognised 

 type and colour, which has found favour with many gentlemen who 

 would never think of possessing a specimen of the smut, brindle, or 

 patched varieties. The late Mr. James Hinks, Birmingham, will long 

 be remembered as one who did more than any other individual to 

 improve the bull terrier, and many of our best specimens bear testimony 

 to that fact, as they date from his strain. There are two strains that 

 breeders go back to for pedigree, one known as that of a celebrity called 

 Madman, and the other Old Victor, both of which passed through the 

 hands of the late Mr. Hinks, but the latter is the fashionable blood of 

 the day. 



The best of the celebrated Old Victor's descendants now living is the 

 stud dog known by that name, to be found among the team left by the 

 late Mr. Hinks, and the champion bull terrier Tarquin (late the property 

 of Mr. Vero Shaw, and now owned by Sir Wm. H. Verner, Bart.), a 

 grandson of Old Victor. 



Breeders should not go too much for great weight in the large-sized 

 specimen. I consider 451b. quite large enough for any specimen, 

 especially for exhibition purposes, as when we get above that weight we 

 lose more important detail, such as formation of skull, tightness of lip, 

 straight legs, and symmetry, points which should not be sacrificed to get 

 weight. The best sizes for exhibition purposes are 161b., 201b., 251b., 

 and as near to 451b. as can be. I do not mean to say that a pound or two 

 either way in the large-sized specimens would be objectionable, but the 

 nearer they can be bred to the weights named the better chance of their 

 success upon the show bench. I adopt the points as given by " Stone- 

 henge," which are worthy the attention of all interested in the breed. 

 The points are as follow : 



The skull should be long and flat, wedge shaped, i.e., wide behind, 

 with the smaller end at the place of the brow, which should not be at 

 all prominent. The line from the occiput to the end of nose should 

 be as straight as possible, without either brow or hollow in front of the 

 eyes. This line is never absolutely straight, but the nearer it approaches 

 to a straight line the better. The skull should, however, be " broken 

 up," but not to anything like the same extent as in the bulldog. 



Face, eyes, lips, and teeth. The jaws must be long and powerful, 



