104 The Fox Terrier. 



and face were quite out of shape when compared with those 

 a perfect fox terrier should possess. Lucifer is not class 

 enough to be included, but I am not quite so certain about 

 Nettle, and little harm would be done were she one of my 

 selections. However, on the previous page is the list I 

 have been asked to compile, and I believe it contains the 

 names of the ten best fox terriers Lever saw up to a certain 

 date i.e., so far as the show ring is concerned. Their 

 credentials by mountain and meadow may form another 

 theme. If they were not " workmen " in the usual sporting 

 acceptation of the term, I can only say their looks belied 

 them. 



Of course, since the Chronicle's list was compiled many 

 good terriers have been produced, and the names of most 

 of them have already been mentioned. I should say that 

 since that time the six best fox terriers have been, or are, 

 Vesuvienne, Venio, D'Orsay, Lyons Sting, Dame Fortune, 

 and Vice Regal. 



All I have written must surely convey an impression that 

 at the present time the smooth-coated fox terrier is the 

 most popular quadruped ever existent. There is a magazine 

 or newspaper published each month called the Fox Terrier 

 Chronicle, established as far back as March, 1883 ; there 

 are at least ten fox terrier clubs in being, and every other 

 man you meet in the street considers himself a right good 

 judge of the variety. Who would ever have thought all 

 this could have sprung from the few fox terriers shown at 

 Birmingham less than thirty years ago ; but time works 

 changes, and no one can tell how the fancy dog may be a 

 quarter of a century hence. 



There will always be a great difference of opinion as to 

 the respective merits and otherwise of any terriers, for 



