The Terriers. 



to the " Cynographia Britannica," written by 

 Sydenham Edwards, and published in 1800. He 

 describes our terriers more fully than previous 

 writers, but much in the same strain. His note 

 about the so-called " Tumbler " is specially in- 

 teresting and valuable. 



After giving us the origin of the name of the 

 dog, Edwards proceeds to say, " That from the 

 evidence of Ossian's poems, the terrier appears to 

 have been an original native of this island. 

 Linnaeus says it was introduced upon the continent 

 so late as the reign of Frederick I. (this would be 

 towards the end of the seventeenth century). It is 

 doubtless the Vertagris or Tumbler of Raii and 

 others. Raii says it used stratagem in taking its 

 prey, some say tumbling and playing until it came 

 near enough to seize. This supposed quality, so 

 natural to the cat race, when applied to the dog 

 I consider a mere fable ; but it has led to a strange 

 error later writers having, from Raii's description, 

 concluded a dog of valuable and extraordinary 

 properties was entirely lost. 



" The most distinct varieties are the crooked- 

 legged and straight-legged ; their colours generally 

 black, with tanned legs and muzzles, a spot of the 

 same colour over each eye ; though they are some- 

 times reddish fallow or white and pied. The white 



