376 British Dogs. 



Of course in doing this a selection of the fittest must be made, for it 

 is one of the facts connected therewith which should never be lost sight 

 of in breeding, that there is a strong tendency in nature to reproduce 

 individual characteristics as well as the generic features common to the 

 family. I think it will also be admitted that the closer dogs can be bred 

 without loss of vitality the better, when the desire is to preserve type ; 

 for in-and-in-breeding is the best safeguard against throwing back to 

 any one of, it may be, the somewhat discordant elements out of which 

 the breed was originally formed. 



That the white English terrier is sufficiently established as to breed 

 true, a litter out of Mr. Alfred Benjamin's Sylph by Silvio, by Joe out 

 of Sylph, shows as far as one instance can do. I have had many oppor- 

 tunities of seeing them, and they all show the main characteristics of 

 the breed in a decided manner. 



As to points, with the exception of colour, they may be judged by 

 those of the black and tan terrier they should be pure white, the eye 

 small and black, the nose black, the head well balanced, level, and 

 gradually tapering. The ears are always cropped, which is a great pity, 

 for some of them have naturally pretty drop ears, thin and neat. 

 Smartness of build, a close, dense, but smooth coat, and what is known 

 as a " terrier expression," are desiderata, and as already said, the wheel 

 back and hooped tail, inherited from no very remote ancestor, are very 

 objectionable, and are generally accompanied by a soft "unvarmint" 

 look. 



Mr. Alfred Benjamin's Silvio : Age, about 3 years ; weight, 221b. ; 

 height at shoulder, 16|in. ; length from nose to set on of tail, 25in. ; 

 length of tail, 8iin. ; girth of chest, 19Jin. ; girth of loin. 16in. ; girth 

 of head, 12in. ; girth of arm lin. above elbow, 7in. ; girth of leg lin. 

 below elbow, 4in. ; girth of muzzle, Gin. ; colour, white. 



