THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 131 



Monte, despite the large soft eyes of his kind, 

 walked the earth with that incomparable swagger 

 and style which was his by right of birth. High set 

 quarters, a tail with a double kink and tightly curled 

 make for style. He possessed also the other char- 

 acteristics already mentioned. Furthermore the 

 judges of the shorthaired Chihuahua insisted on a 

 broad chest, narrow flanks, narrow jaw with a black 

 roof, high domed head wide over the eyes, and ears 

 capable of standing out like those of a bat but by no 

 means to b6 fixtures in that position. It is the im- 

 movable batlike ears which are among the worst 

 blemishes of the "fake" Chihuahua. Monte's per- 

 fect ears excited the admiration of all connoisseurs. 

 The markings of the shorthaired dog are also of 

 primary importance ; they may be liver, tan or black, 

 or black and tan, but they must be duly placed on 

 the white body ; or the entire body may be tan, liver 

 or black. The white dogs, properly marked, carry 

 off the palm for beauty. A set of strong teeth com- 

 plete the equipment deemed necessary for the wear- 

 ing of the Blue Ribbon. 



These little fellows make admirable pets for chil- 

 dren provided the latter do their part, and some 

 of the boys who disported themselves on my ranch 

 got a lot of fun out of them. They will guard 

 a baby, or anything indeed left in their care al- 

 most with their lives. But though courageous and 

 lively, they are abnormally sensitive and will if 

 roughly treated either defend themselves with their 

 strong teeth, or shrink into a corner and forsake 

 the ways of playfulness. Some, like Cortes, are 



