The Black and Tan Terrier. 89 



Before closing the chapter allusion must be made 

 to the " blue " or slate-coloured terriers which 

 are occasionally produced from this variety, though 

 the parents may be correctly marked themselves. 

 Such " sports " are in reality as well bred as the real 

 article, and are found of all sizes, perhaps more 

 commonly amongst the " toys " and the small-sized 

 specimens than amongst the larger ones. Some 

 are entirely " blue " or slate coloured, others have 

 tan markings. In certain Lancashire towns they are 

 far from uncommon, and have little value set upon 

 them, nor are they acknowledged on the show 

 bench at the present time. Still, at two or three of 

 the earlier canine exhibitions special classes were 

 provided for these " blue terriers," and once or twice 

 in London a fair entry was obtained. 



Mr. Thomson Gray, in his " Dogs of Scotland," 

 mentions a dog called the Blue Paul, and earlier 

 writers had also drawn attention to the same animal. 

 I certainly refuse to acknowledge him as a variety, 

 and consider him identical with the " blue terrier ' 

 bred from " black and tans." Some specimens 

 described may have been larger, stronger, and 

 generally coarser than a perfect black and tan 

 terrier ought to be, but such is not sufficient dis- 

 tinction to make them a distinct variety. There are 

 many well bred black and tan terriers up to 3olb. 



