140 Modern Dogs. 



about prefer him to any other, and in the Weardale 

 district many homesteads have their own strain, 

 which, as well as being good-looking, are second to 

 none in the performance of their duties with sheep. 

 In Northumberland and in the districts both sides 

 the Border, smooth collies are to be found in abun- 

 dance, and when a specially good specimen appears 

 at any of our southern shows, it may be taken for 

 granted that it originally came from the north. 



Perhaps the smooth collie would be more popular 

 were he less difficult to breed to perfection. In 

 some strains the trouble comes in getting the 

 coats sufficiently smooth, especially in many of the 

 black and white Northumbrian dogs, that appear to 

 me to be quite distinct from any of the other 

 varieties. The black on such specimens has a 

 tendency to appear blue when seen in a certain 

 shade, the coat is rather longer and more open than 

 is actually desirable, and there should not be even 

 the slightest tinge of tan or brown a blue-black 

 dog with more or less white on his breast, neck and 

 feet. From time to time Mr. A. Hastie, of New- 

 castle, has shown excellent specimens of this strain, 

 which he usually purchased in the northern cattle 

 markets he is in the habit of attending. 



Perhaps one of the best smooth collies I ever saw 

 appeared at some of the local shows in Westmore- 



