PEAK — PEKINESE SPANIEL 



sional food ; for though they assist in keeping the blood cool 

 and bowels nicely open they are not a very strengthening 

 form of diet. If not well boiled, paunches are liable to 

 introduce parasites, which have lodged in them, into the 

 stomachs of the dogs. (See Feeding^ 



Peak. (See Occipital Protuberance^ 



Pekinese Spaniel. — This very quaint looking, but most 

 attractive and intelligent little dog has achieved a remark- 

 able popularity since its importation into this country ; so 

 much so that it bids fair to usurp the position occupied 

 by the native varieties of toy spaniels before very long. It 

 is undoubtedly a very ancient Chinese breed — so ancient, in 

 fact, that its origin is quite lost in obscurity ; and it, in 

 addition to other merits, possesses the great one of being 

 endowed by nature with a very robust constitution, though 

 it is to be feared that the pampering it receives from some 

 of its feminine admirers in this country will result in tjie 

 Pekinese developing into a delicate breed. 



The head of this dog is broad, flat between the ears, 

 and slightly domed in front, the muzzle being short and 

 broad, the eyes large ; the ears, which are set on high, being 

 V-shaped and rather small. The neck is rather short, as 

 are the shoulders ; the body long, deep, and big in front, the 

 sides being flat and the loins deep. The fore-legs turn out 

 at elbow, and are short and big for the size of the dog, the 

 hind ones being slightly longer than those in front, which 

 makes a Pekinese higher at the quarters than at the 

 shoulders ; but the back is not arched, and the bushy tail 

 is carried in a curl over the back. The coat is soft, long, 

 and free from curl, there being a well-defined frill on 

 the chest ; whilst the ears are fringed with silky hair, and 

 all the legs are well feathered, but the head and muzzle 

 carry shorter hair. The favourite colour is red, but fawns 

 and other colours are also found ; and the average weight 

 is about 10 lbs. 



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