60 The Collie or Sheep Dog. 



stiffly, and would be little use as a sheepdog at all so far as 

 work is concerned. I cannot say they are wrong, and, so 

 far as appearances are concerned, Caractacus was as high 

 priced as he was dear. Mr. Megson has, in his kennel, 

 some better dogs than this, including the particularly 

 handsome Metchley Wonder (of which an engraving 

 appears facing page 66), for which rumour says he paid 

 Mr. S. Boddington 530 ! This is a handsome sable 

 and white dog, of medium size, probably 55lb. or so in 

 weight, and with generally little fault to be found with 

 him, excepting one would like to have seen a broader skull 

 that would have given an appearance of greater intelli- 

 gence in the face than Wonder presents at present; 

 still, his exceedingly perfect legs and feet, excellent 

 body, strong and muscular hind quarters, in combination 

 with other fine attributes, stamp him as one of the best 

 of his variety hitherto introduced to the public, and he 

 promises to even excel such notabilities as Cockie and 

 Charlemagne in transmitting his good qualities to his 

 family. Another great dog in the same kennels is Edgbaston 

 Fox, likewise sable and white in colour, bred by Mr. A. L. 

 Chance, and by him shown as Great Alne Skye. All 

 these later dogs have pedigrees, and most of them possess 

 much the same blood as those Mr. Bissell won so much 

 with, and descended from Cockie and Mr. Shirley's strains, 

 which have been mentioned earlier on. 



In some respects Mr. W. Arkwright, of Sutton Scarsdale, 

 possesses the most unique kennel of collies, as for years 

 lie has given his attention to produce them of the mirled 

 or marbled colour, with china or wall eyes. This peculiar 

 hue was oftener found amongst the smooth -coated 

 variety than in the rough-haired division ; but occasionally 



