146 BRITISH DOGS 



Manchester has done something special in making the modern 

 Black-and-tan Terrier what he is; but it is not so in the case of 

 the Highlands of Scotland and the Collie, and this dog is more 

 properly described as the Scotch Collie, even to the manner of 

 spelling the word. 



This dog is peculiarly Scotch, and as a pastoral dog was originally 

 more intimately connected with the Lowlands, where he is still met 

 with pure in the greatest numbers, although now plentiful in both 

 the Highlands of Scotland and the northern counties of England 

 and, indeed, through the influence of dog shows and the rage for 

 the breed in fashionable circles, in London itself. 



The English form of Sheepdog is described in earlier times than 

 is the Scotch Collie ; and it is not improbable that the latter may be 

 in part derived from the former and the Scotch Greyhound. The 

 Collie at least partakes of the form of both, having the strength of 

 build of the English Sheepdog and the lithe, graceful action of the 

 Greyhound. This is, of course, a mere suggestion, and not even 

 much supported by the fact that intermediates in form between the 

 Collie and both of these are seen in litters of what are called pure 

 Collies. 



If we endeavour to learn anything of the Collie's origin from his 

 name, we are again met with a host of difficulties. Some writers 

 have assumed that the name is of Gaelic origin ; but they advance 

 no satisfactory reasons, and, before that can be accepted, we must 

 have proofs that the dog is Celtic. 



In Chaucer, " Coll our dog " occurs, and it may be the name was 

 used in reference to the colour black prevailing in this variety of 

 dog. It has been suggested that Coll and Collie may be from the 

 same root as collar, and the name given to the dog because of the 

 white collar round the neck, which is very common in this, and 

 indeed in all breeds where we get a mixture of a dark colour 

 and white. 



Dr. Ogilvie, in his " Imperial Dictionary," and Jamieson, in his 

 " Scottish Dictionary," both give Collie ; and it is not improbable 

 that Collie is merely the diminutive and familiar form of Coll, for in 

 all Scotch words the "ie" is thus used Will becomes Willie, and 

 Lass Lassie. Bewick, in his " British Quadrupeds," indeed, had his 

 own peculiar and original spelling of the word, which was Coaly 

 pardonable ih a book published in a town the subject of the proverb 

 " Carry coals to Newcastle." 



The Collie is one among many Sheepdogs that writers have 

 credited with being the origin of all our varieties of Domestic dogs ; 

 but this seems an untenable position to take on the question. Far 

 more feasible is it to suppose that the Collie, like other breeds, 

 is the result of crosses and selection to adapt him to the special 

 requirements of his country and the work he is called upon to perform. 



