92 The Collie or Sheep Dog. 



big ears and curly coats, but do not go to the contrary 

 extreme, and get an absolutely straight coat. An old 

 English sheep-dog's coat should be shaggy, and all I can 

 liken it to, is to that peculiar style of growth of hair 

 frequently seen on a clodhopping countryman's head in 

 a word, shock-headed : one lock growing this way, and 

 another that way; no curl, but a sort of head you could 

 wipe your boots on ! 



" Suffolk has produced most of the best show specimens 

 of late years to wit, Sir Guy, Sir Lucifer, Sir Lancelot, 

 Mayor of Newport, Blue Ruin, Welsh Sensation, Welsh 

 Marvel, Dame Dorothy, the American Dame Judith. Dame 

 Margery, bought in Norwich Market sixteen years ago, 

 for half-a-crown, was the dam of the last Olympia 

 Cup Winner, Sir Caradoc, and grand-dam of Sir Caven- 

 dish. Nellie II. is another sterling good bitch, great in 

 size and style, a trifle soft in coat, but there is no poodle 

 resemblance ; her sire and dam were sheep-dogs of the 

 type beloved by drovers, long and strong, and rough in 

 body and mind. No doubt the best bitch of the variety we 

 have at present is Mrs. Mayhew's Gwen, a grey or blue and 

 white, with a correct coat, which is, however, somewhat 

 spoiled by being over-groomed for show-bench purposes. 

 She has won a great number of prizes at most of our 

 leading shows. For colour I prefer the pigeon-blue, not 

 washed out, but well defined, standing out clearly against 

 nice white markings, and, if possible, a wall-eye or two ; but 

 any shade of grizzle is equally correct. Sables and brindles 

 and blacks are an abomination ! Dogs twenty-four or 

 twenty-five inches, or larger if possible. Bitches as big 

 as one can get them, both sexes being strong and mascu- 

 line in appearance, with length and strength, well knit, but 



