The Skye Terrier. 313 



Desiring to give as comprehensive an idea as 

 possible as to the Skye terrier, in addition to my 

 own opinion I have the pleasure of publishing the 

 following from the Rev. D. Dobbie, honorary 

 secretary to the Skye Terrier Club for Scotland ; 

 but at the same time I do not endorse all his 

 opinions, especially where he alludes to a broad, 

 massive chest and shoulders : 



" Although the description and points of the Skye 

 terrier are as distinctly defined and as extensively 

 agreed upon as those of any breed of dogs, yet 

 the specimens exhibited on the show bench and the 

 awards there made are frequently more inconsistent 

 with the recognised standard, and more conflicting 

 with each other than in the case of any other breed. 



11 To estimate the importance of such detailed 

 description and points as are given at the end of 

 this chapter, it is necessary to bear in mind the 

 position of this dog in the sporting world. He 

 forms the connecting link between the ferret, 

 weasel, &c., and the canine race. He takes up the 

 work of the former, and carries it beyond what 

 they are able to accomplish. His formation, there- 

 fore, more largely corresponds to them than does 

 that of any other breed. His function is to take 

 to earth, and to bolt from their burrows, cairns, 

 crevices, &c., the vermin which infest them. For 



