INTRODUCTORY 



larger and stronger than the preceding " collie " and 

 has much of the appearance of a cross with the great 

 rough water dog. It is coarser in the muzzle and in coat, 

 and is destitute of tail. In sagacity, however, I believe 

 it is fully equal to its more northern relative." This 

 article is not accompanied by any illustration. 



In 1859 Stonehenge, in his book on the dog, gives 

 a description which probably deserves the palm as 

 indicating what a modern bob-tail should not be. " He 

 has," remarks this fluent author, " a sharp muzzle, 

 medium-sized head, with small, piercing eyes, a well- 

 shaped body, formed after the model of a strong, low 

 greyhound, but clothed in thick and somewhat woolly 

 hair." The artist who illustrates this misleading descrip- 

 tion aids and abets the author in his offence ; and, if 

 Stonehenge's readers accepted his views, one sympathises 

 with those who affirm that the Old English Sheep Dog 

 deteriorated sadly about the middle of the nineteenth 

 century. 



But better days were in store for him, for in 1873 a 

 separate class for his variety was given for the first time 

 in the Curzon Hall, Birmingham. The response, it is 

 true, was scarcely encouraging, for there were only three 

 entries, and their quality was so moderate that the 

 judge, Mr. M. B. Wynn, only considered himself justified 

 in awarding a second prize. 



But interest in the breed had been reawakened, and 

 the good seed bore fruit, for in 1888 a small band of 



