The Wire-haired Fox Terrier. 135 



than near the surface ; and I have seen that good 

 hound swim for two, or three, or four hours maybe, 

 come out on to the bank, shake himself, so throw 

 the water off, roll in the meadow, and in a minute 

 he would be as dry as the proverbial board. His 

 coat inclined towards curliness, and, this notwith- 

 standing, is the description of jacket that ought 

 to be found on all wire-haired terriers. I know of 

 none at the present day that possesses so good 

 a one. 



In judging this variety of terrier I should, 

 without hesitation, throw out or disqualify every 

 dog with a soft coat. The class is for " wire- 

 haired " terriers, and anyone giving an award of 

 any kind to one that is not as described does a 

 triple injustice, for he dishonours the description, 

 introduces a bad type, and proves hi own incom- 

 petence. I have dwelt thus long on coat because 

 therein lies the whole difference between the two 

 great modern types of fox terriers. 



From the time Dame Juliana Berners wrote of 

 terriers, the varieties, rough and smooth, have 

 grown up side by side, one man preferring the one, 

 another the other, just as is the case now. The 

 smooth variety has always been the more numerous 

 latterly the more popular, because the smarter, 

 the more thoroughbred looking animal, and besides, 



