The Correct Coat. 87 



rough hills and steep mountains of Wales and other portions 

 of the British Isles. That the animal best adapted for the 

 use of the locality in which it is found and preserved, is 

 applicable equally to dogs as to cattle, sheep, and horses ; 

 and so the lumbersome old English bob-tailed sheep dog is 

 not indigenous either on the Welsh mountains or to the 

 Scottish moorlands ; he is of the southerns southernly, and 

 no doubt performs the duties well for which he is kept by 

 his admirers. 



Quite recently, at the close of 1889, Mr. Freeman Lloyd, 

 a great admirer of the breed, contributed some articles 

 thereon to Turf, Field, and Farm, published in America, 

 the series being subsequently reprinted in pamphlet form. 

 This writer claims rather too much for his favourite, for he 

 says he is faster than the collie, and "can run round any 

 dog with the exception of greyhounds and deerhounds." 

 This remark must of course be taken cum grano salts ; but 

 some of Mr. Lloyd's observations are interesting, especially 

 where he alludes to the bark of the bob-tail, which he says 

 is so peculiar that he can " recognise one a quarter of a 

 mile off, or if in a show a dog sets barking, I know at once 

 whether it is the voice of a ( bob-tail ' or not. It is a sharp 

 ringing voice, something like that of a collie's, but with 

 more volume or power." This writer's description is much 

 the same as my own and Dr. Ker's, excepting that he deals 

 very leniently with soft, curly coats, and is not a great 

 stickler for colours. The three illustrations he gives viz., 

 Mrs. Mayhew's Gwen; Sir Guy, and an American dog called 

 Bob are all distinct in type, the latter very much so, and 

 an extremely moderate specimen. He, however, recom- 

 mends the coat of the Sir Cavendish type as the best, and 

 the short, hard coat he has no sympathy with. Mr Lloyd 



