THE SCOTTISH TERRIER 455 



hunter lives in a small thatched sheiling, often remote from 

 civilisation, his sole companions being a variety of Hound and a 

 brace or two of Scottish Terriers. With an old gun his tout ensemble 

 is complete. The Terriers oust the fox from the cairns (a collection 

 of stones), and the old man polishes him off with his musket. If he 

 misses or only wounds Reynard, the Hound is laid on, and finishes 

 the job. But sometimes Reynard is able to baffle the old man 

 with his Terriers, Hound, and gun, and escape scot free. 



In temperament the Scottish Terrier somewhat resembles the 

 English Fox-terrier. I say English Fox-terrier for, I may here 

 explain that the Scottish Terrier in his native glen is called a Fox- 

 terrier. Both breeds are of active habits, and are, as working dogs, 

 used for the same purposes. 



As behoves a resident in a cold and damp climate, ' Scottie ' is 

 clothed with a more rugged and more closely built coat, and his 

 build and general appearance are more allied to the workman than 

 the swell. All the same, Scottie is a gay fellow when he is properly 

 dressed up not faked and he is ready at any time to fight for his 

 place. One thing observable in these Terriers is that they are not 

 quarrelsome among themselves. They are very easily kept under 

 control, much more so than the Dandie, but they are not wanting 

 in 'go.' For workmen these Terriers must be small, some of them 

 being little over half the size of the ordinary show dog. Weedy ? 

 No ; far from it. The wee dog has a big heart, and it is not size that 

 gives pluck ; moreover, the dog is not wanted to worry, but to bolt 

 the fox or otter, as the case may be, by continual snapping at him 

 and making him ' flit.' He must, however, have sufficient pluck to 

 stick to his game until he bolts ; otherwise he is useless. Unless 

 Scottish Terriers are small they are of no use to oust foxes from 

 the hill cairns, or otters from the rocks on the seashore or river-bank. 

 Those who have followed the fox know how small a hole he will 

 pass through, and unless the Terriers are small, they cannot reach 

 him. As it is some of them get jammed in the rocks by dis- 

 lodging stones in scraping to get at the fox, and never come 

 out again. 



The working Scottish Terrier is a good water-dog, and it is a 

 pretty sight to see three or four lay hold of an otter in the water, 

 although it is a very risky business. For hunting in broom and whin 

 (furze) he is well adapted, as he makes things lively for bunny. 

 He gives tongue when hunting, and is sometimes very noisy when 

 game is in sight. Scottie likes to amuse himself by hunting up and 

 killing rats ; but he is at all times a companion and a ' friend in 

 need ' to the country gentleman or the rural dweller. 



In the Highlands the principal colours are red and dark brindles. 

 Sometimes fawns of different shades turn up ; but white specimens 

 are only to be found at Poltalloch, where they are bred and carefully 



