26 Modern Dogs. 



ranging between 4lb. and 55lb., and, although in 

 some places he had a reputation for pugnacity, this 

 was more due to his surroundings than otherwise, 

 though those dogs trained to fight in the ring were 

 as savage as savage could be. The typical dog of 

 Bill Sykes, the typical burglar-ruffian, was a bull 

 terrier, a thick heavy-headed creature, with bandy 

 legs, a patch on his eye, and one or two on his body. 

 " William " did not like him all white ; a pure 

 dog in colour and reputation would be out of 

 place in such company, and, perhaps for this reason, 

 the more respectable and peaceable member of 

 society, with a fondness for a " game terrier," 

 preferred the entirely white dog ; hence its popu- 

 larity, and possibly the reason why only such came 

 to be looked upon as the genuine article. Still 

 there were others which obtained a better education 

 than the pugilist could give, and they were useful as 

 companions and as watch dogs. 



I fancy that most of us at one time or another 

 have owned a bull terrier. The undergraduates at 

 Oxford and Cambridge were fond of him, and at one 

 time it formed as much a part of their equipment as a 

 " top hat " does at the present day. One of the first 

 dogs I ever possessed was a bull terrier, a fawn dog 

 with a black muzzle, and about 3olb. in weight. He 

 was a really good-looking dog, though he cost but 



