CHAPTER XXIX 



THE SCOTTISH TERRIER 



IN the Highlands of Scotland, where hunting in the 

 ordinary sense known in England is quite out of the 

 question, the fox is apt to become a nuisance, and 

 it is necessary to keep him within reasonable bounds. 

 For this purpose the Scottish Terrier is largely em- 

 ployed, the shape of his body well fitting him for 

 arduous work among the rocky cairns. The terriers 

 seek Reynard in his fastnesses, and evict him there- 

 from, so that he may be shot. The little Scottie 

 is a brave worker, ready for any emergency, and 

 quite prepared to go for an otter in the water. 

 He was used in his own country many years before 

 South Country people looked upon him and decided 

 that he was good. With our usual acquisitiveness 

 we were prompt to recognise his many merits, and 

 now no representative show would be quite complete 

 without well-filled classes devoted to this particular 

 breed. Possibly our efforts may not have met with 

 universal commendation, as the great length of head 

 for which we breed is a wide departure from the 

 original type. The more temperate climate of the 

 south, too, has, no doubt, had a certain effect upon 

 the texture of the coats, although it is the endeavour 



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