A Pithy Description. 113 



clean under throat, gradually strengthening and gracefully 



set into the SHOULDERS, which should be long and well laid 



back, finishing clean and fine on the top ; the CHEST narrow 



and brisket deep, with elbows placed well under ; the FORE 



LEGS should be absolutely straight, with good strong round 



bone carried right down to the FOOT, which should be short 



with well raised toes; the BACK short with strong loin, the 



ribs should go well back, be deep and well sprung, the set 



on of stern should be rather high and gaily carried, the 



full strength of the tail to be carried out from the set on to 



the end, and not curl or come too much over the back ; the 



HINDQUARTERS strong and muscular, free from droop : 



thighs long and of fair breadth, with stifles not too straight 



and hocks near the ground ; the movement of the dog 



should be level and straight all round, and free from swing 



on the elbows or twirl of the hocks, the character of the dog 



greatly depending on his appearance, which must be smart 



and sprightly, full of determination, at the same time clean 



in finish, with a workmanlike and gentlemanly appearance 



combined; the COAT of the smooth variety should be straight 



and flat, lying very close, dense and hard, whilst the wires 



should have one under coat and an overcoat of strong wiry 



hair, which should handle like bristles ; the WEIGHT of dogs 



should not exceed iSJlb. and bitches i6lb. ; the COLOUR 



most desirable being black and tan marked head, with 



white body, this colour gives the dog a more hardy look 



than either tan or lemon markings." 



Little additional is there now to be said as to the smooth 

 fox terrier, and my general experience of him as a dog is, 

 that properly trained and entered he cannot yet be beaten. 

 Of course there are soft-hearted fox terriers as there are 

 pointers and setters that may be gun-shy, but such are as 



I 



