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PREFACE 



SINCE the last Edition of " British Dogs " was issued, many 

 breeds but then little known have become popular ; while 

 others quite unknown have come " to stay." This, combined 

 with a more extended knowledge of the management of 

 existing varieties, has rendered a new Edition absolutely 

 necessary. As is fairly well known, the old work was in two 

 volumes a form that was somewhat cumbersome and 

 necessarily expensive. The present work has been com- 

 pressed into one volume, and this without sacrificing any of 

 those important details that have characterised the work since 

 its inception. The aim has been to produce a modern 

 work upon modern dogs ; and in doing so the claims of the 

 fancier have been studied equally with those of that wider 

 section known as the dog-loving public. 



Particular attention has been given to the practical as 

 apart from the historical side of the subject. Where, therefore, 

 a breed stands in need of somewhat different treatment 

 from that of the generality of the varieties, this has been 

 described. Sporting field-dogs, too, have not been forgotten. 

 With these sufficient details in regard to the requirements 

 of each breed have been given to enable the breeder, if he 

 be a novice, to proceed in the right direction with the 

 education of his charges. 



Another departure in plan from that pursued in the two 

 earlier Editions is that of entrusting the revision of certain 

 breeds to a number of specialists. As will be seen by the 

 enumeration on the title-page, they are names well-known 



