The Fox Terrier. 93 



record to tell, and no doubt our earliest dogs of 

 this breed were utilised for a variety of purposes, 

 and trained to kill rats and other vermin as well 

 as to tackle the fox and badger, and perhaps the 

 otter. 



It was not, however, until towards the close of the 

 past century, or the early part of the present one, 

 that the name of the fox terrier began to be adopted, 

 his present popularity commenced less than thirty 

 years ago. In the " Sporting Dictionary " 1803, we 

 are told that " since fox hunting is so deservedly 

 and universally popular in every country where it 

 can be enjoyed, these faithful little animals have 

 become so exceedingly fashionable that few stables 

 of the independent are seen without them. Four 

 and five guineas is no great price for a handsome, 

 well-bred terrier." If the fox terrier was fashionable 

 then, how much more so is he at the present time, 

 when a couple of hundred sovereigns is by no means 

 an unusual price to pay for u a handsome, well-bred 

 terrier" ? 



Although at this period there were terriers of all 

 colours pretty nearly, I am of opinion the fox terrier 

 was originally black and tan. In Daniel's " Rural 

 Sports" (1801), S. Elmer, the artist, draws us 

 such a one, and I have in my possession a very rare 

 engraving, "The Fox Terrier," from an original 



