The Irish Terrier. 201 



like the Welsh ponies, no matter whatever they are 

 crossed with, appear to perpetuate their peculiar 

 characteristics. I have heard it stated that the 

 pure Irishman was originally a large terrier, and 

 to reduce the size a cross with a Manchester terrier 

 was used, hence the black and tan puppies that 

 are so often produced. 



" I am happy to say I cannot find the slightest 

 foundation for this statement ; I have myself tried 

 such a cross carefully and it quite failed, and I 

 am convinced it would take years to breed out the 

 black and tan strain, with its sleek coat, and get 

 back to the somewhat rugged outline and water- 

 proof jacket of the Irish terrier. 



" At an early Irish show, in 1874, there were 

 classes given for Irish terriers under plb. weight, 

 clearly showing that small terriers were fashionable 

 then. In my rambles through Ireland I have 

 generally asked for the man who kept the best 

 terriers in the village, and, on hearing where he was, 

 I went to see his dogs. He was always anxious to 

 show me not only his own but those of his 

 neighbours as well. I have seen good terriers 

 which would get a prize at many of our English 

 shows, but which were kept so out of sight, partly 

 through fear of the ( corner boys,' that resident 

 fanciers who regularly show were ignorant of their 



