160 BRITISH DOGS 



black-and-tan. If two blues are bred together they must not both 

 be wall-eyed. It may be well to state that the correct name for 

 these dogs' is blue-marled (a contraction of marbled), and not 

 merled, or mirled, as generally written, the word merle simply 

 meaning a blackbird from the Old French merle and the Latin 

 merula, a blackbird. 



Few breeds have more clubs to look after their interests than the 

 Collie. What may be regarded as the parent society is the Collie 

 Club, founded in 1881. There is also the Scottish Collie Club, as 

 well as the Smooth Collie Club, established in 1898. It is proposed 

 here to give the descriptions of the breed as laid down by the first 

 and the last respectively. 



The following is a description of the type of the Collie as revised 

 by the Collie Club in 1898 : 



The Skull should be flat, moderately wide between the ears, and gradually 

 tapering to the eyes. There should only be a slight depression at stop. The 

 width of skull necessarily depends upon the combined length of skull and muzzle, 

 and the whole must be considered in connection with the size of the dog. The 

 cheek should not be full or prominent. 



The Muzzle should be of fair length tapering to the nose, and must not show 

 weakness or be snipy or lippy. Whatever the colour of the dog may be, the 

 nose must be black. 



The Teeth should be of good size, sound, and level ; very slight unevenness 

 is permissible. 



The Jaws should be clean cut and powerful. 



The Eyes are a very important feature, and give expression to the dog. They 

 should be of medium size, set somewhat obliquely, of almond shape, and of a 

 brown colour except in the case of Maries, when the eyes are frequently (one or 

 both) blue-and-white or china; expression full of intelligence, with a quick, alert 

 look when listening. 



The Ears should be small and moderately wide at the base, and placed not 

 too close together, on top of the skull, nor too much to the side of head. When 

 in repose they should be usually carried thrown back, but when on the alert 

 brought forward and carried semi-erect, with tip slightly drooping in an attitude 

 of listening. 



The Neck should be muscular, powerful, and of fair length, and somewhat 

 arched. 



The Body should be rather long, with well-sprung ribs, chest deep, fairly 

 broad behind the shoulders, which should be sloping, loins slightly arched and 

 powerful. The dog should be straight in front. 



The Fore Legs should be straight and muscular, neither in nor out at elbows, 

 with a fair amount of bone ; the fore arm somewhat fleshy, the pasterns showing 

 flexibility without weakness. 



The Hind Legs should be muscular at the thighs, clean and sinewy below the 

 hocks, with well-bent stifles. 



The Feet should be oval in shape, soles well padded, and the toes arched 

 and close together. The hind feet less arched, hocks well let down and 

 powerful. 



The Brush should be moderately long, carried low when the dog is quiet, 

 with a slight upward "swirl" at the end, and may be gaily carried when the 

 dog is excited, but not over the .back. 



7^he Coat should be very dense, the outer coat harsh to the touch, the inner 

 or under coat soft, furry, and very close, so close as to almost hide the skin. 



