46 Modern Dogs. 



appearance, and the short superfluous hair which 

 grows on the cropped ears is carefully shaved off on 

 the eve of the show. Then it is not unusual to singe 

 the tail in order that it may appear smoother and 

 neater than nature originally made it ; and, in fact, a 

 bull terrier is rather a difficult dog to trim and get 

 ready for exhibition, in order that he may appear to 

 the best advantage before the judge. 



A few years ago I attended a country exhibition in 

 the North, where there was an excellent class of 

 bull terriers, which the judge had weeded out until 

 only three or four remained. He was about handing 

 the first prize ribbon to a well-known exhibitor, who 

 had charge of a certain dog, which was being shown 

 on a tight chain. Unfortunately the handler inad- 

 vertently slackened the chain for a moment, the dog 

 shook itself, and a perfect cloud of white powder 

 flew from his jacket. The judge smiled, the spec- 

 tators tittered, and the handler, looking foolish, with- 

 out more ado took his dog out of the ring. Chinese 

 clay was much used on white dogs to hide any 

 yellowness or redness that might appear on the 

 skin, and perhaps also to hide a fawn or brindled 

 mark. 



Of course, a dog, even with such an amount of 

 popularity as the bull terrier, could not go long 

 without a club being formed for its improvement, 



