72 DOMESTICATED HUNTING-DOGS. 



THE TERRIER. 



The terrier as used for hunting is a strong useful lit tie dog, with 

 great endurance and courage, and with nearly as good a nose as the 

 beagle or harrier. From his superior courage when crossed with 

 the bulldog, as most vermin-terriers are, he has generallj' been kept 

 for killing vermin whose bite would deter the spaniel or the beagle, 

 but would only render the terrier more determined in his pursuit 

 of them. Hence, he is the constant attendant on the rat-catcher, 

 and is highly useful to the gamekeeper, as well as to the farmer 

 who is annoyed with rats and mice. Formerly it was the custom 

 to add a couple of terriers to ever}^ pack of foxhounds, so as to be 

 ready to aid in bolting the fox when he runs into a drain, or goes 

 to ground in any easily accessible earth ; the stoutness of the 

 terrier enabling him, by steadily following on the track, to reach 

 the scene of operations before it would be possible to obtain any 

 other assistance. This aid, however, in consequence of the increased 

 speed of our hounds, is now dispensed with, and the old fox-terrier 

 is out of date, or is only kept for the purpose of destroying ground 

 A'ermin, such as the rat or the weasel, or as a companion to man, 

 for which purpose his fidelity and tractability make him peculiarly 

 fitted. Terriers are now usually divided into eight kinds : — 1st, 

 The old English terrier ; 2nd, The Scotch ; 3rd, The Dandie Din- 

 mont ; 4th, The Skye ; 5th, The Fox Terrier ; 6th, The Bedling- 

 ton; 7th, The Halifax Blue Tan; and 8th, The Modern Toy 

 Terriers of various kinds. 



The Eitg/inh Terrier is a smooth-haired dog, weighing from about 



