CLASSIFICATION OF DOGS. 93 



Europe, especially Belgium, this breed has lately come into 

 some favor both in Britain and America. It is remarkable 

 in being tailless. This dog is a very active, small, long- 

 haired, blixck animal, suggesting the fox in head and gen- 

 eral appearance, though much higher on the leg (p. 392). 



The Whippet. — A small cross-bred dog of the grey- 

 hound type, much used in competitive racing over short 

 courses, for the enjoyment of the onlookers. 



The Mexican Hairless Dog. — This small breed is almost 

 destitute of hair. The skin is somewhat copper-colored, 

 spotted more or less with black. 



In concluding this account of the breeds of dogs recog- 

 nized in British and American shows, and almost the only 

 ones known as companions to those speaking the English 

 language, we remind the reader of the principles which we 

 have already stated as underlying breeding and the forma- 

 tion of standards — viz., that the form and physical and 

 psychical characters of each breed should correspond with 

 a type or ideal founded on the purpose for which the 

 breed is used or supposed to be used. Unless this is con- 

 stantly kept in view there is no limit to which the vaga- 

 ries of mankind or the caprices of fashion may cause a 

 departure from Nature, and therefore from sound sense. 

 A second principle is the one which we have not yet 

 insisted upon, because less important and not so likely to 

 be neglected, to the effect that every breed should be 

 sufficiently distinct in type to merit an independent ex- 

 istence. Unless something is to be gained of downright 

 worth, it is only a useless expenditure of energy, that 

 might be employed in perfecting existing valuable breeds, 

 to set about the formation of new ones. A merely popu- 



