234 Modern Dogs. 



Here came a chance to obtain some informa- 

 tion about his native terrier. " Welsh terriers ? " 

 said he ; u why, bless me ! there isn't such a thing, 

 unless you mean all the little cross-bred creatures to 

 be seen in any of our country towns." This was a 

 floorer at the very set-off for the man in search of 

 knowledge ; but not long after, I had the good 

 fortune to travel for some distance with a well-known 

 authority on all matters canicular, whose residence 

 was likewise in Wales. " You wish to learn something 

 about Welsh terriers," said he ; " why, I am sorry to 

 say the dog show judges are going in altogether for 

 the wrong type." " Then there is a breed of real 

 Welsh terriers ? " said I. " Oh, yes ; most certainly," 

 said my friend ; " but they are big dogs 25lb. 

 weight or more, with shortish, close, hard coats ; 

 active, hardy-looking fellows; black and tan in 

 colour, and particularly useful in working very rough 

 covert on mountainous ground, such as is found in 

 so many of the hilly and wild districts. But," 

 continued my informant, (< points of beauty are not 

 considered of such importance as gameness and 

 ability to work. Their ears are usually large, and 

 the skull is generally rounder between the ears than 

 is quite orthodox in the modern fox terrier." Here 

 was another opinion. 



A dozen years ago I myself bought what was said 



