364 British Dogs. 



I have, however, had the pleasure of receiving a letter from Mr. S. D. 

 Hine, a gentleman who has for many years bred Scotch terriers, and 

 whose description differs both from the gentlemen above referred to, and 

 from mine on some points, whilst on others we are all agreed. Mr. Hine 

 says : " He is a square-built dog, about lOin. high, not over 141b. in 

 weight, and with a hard straight coat, no tendency to curl, and in 

 texture more allied to badger bristles, with a total absence of any 

 approach to silkiness. His coat is abundant and rough, but more thick 

 than long in the hair ; colour any shade of brown, tan, yellow or grey, 

 seldom black, never white in the pure breed, and blue invariably 

 indicates a cross with the Italian greyhound. In body he is rather long 

 and low, not weasel-shaped like a Skye, still less leggy, like a Bedlington 

 terrier, thicker in bone in the limbs than a Fox terrier, with very muscu- 

 lar thighs. In conformation of head he is inclined to squareness, with 

 rather full frontal development, the jaws closing level with each other, 

 not snipey or pointed. The eye is rather full, and the irides brown, the 

 darker the better ; ears short and drop, never pricked. The neck is 

 thickish and rather shorter than any other breed of terrier. In tempera- 

 ment the Scotch terrier is rather grave than gay, always looks full of 

 business, but is seldom savage. I have bred a great many, but never 

 knew one turn out morose or sulky in disposition. Very attached and 

 affectionate to his master ; very plucky, but not quarrelsome. They are 

 hardy and robust in constitution, and mostly good water dogs. I think 

 it is a breed of dog not so well known as it should be, and only wanting 

 to be known to be very highly valued." 



I have pleasure in giving Mr. Hine's description, although it does not 

 alter my opinion that a more leggy dog than one lOin. high was, and is, 

 in many parts of Scotland recognised as the right stamp. It appears to 

 me that in this, as in all breeds when not specially bred to a standard, 

 considerable difference is sure to arise, and one style of dog will be 

 found peculiar to one district, another to another, all having sprung 

 from one parent stock. 



Whilst, therefore, I look upon the Aberdeen terrier as a Scotch 

 terrier, as I have endeavoured to describe him he differs considerably 

 from what in youth I knew as the Scotch terrier, and as these terriers 

 exist in such numbers, I think in this age of sub-division of varieties 

 and minute description, he deserved to be separately treated. 



