The Dalmatian. 199 



slightly darker, and about the third or fourth week 

 most of the spots, though ill-defined, are visible on 

 the body. So the markings continue to develop 

 until the puppy is some three months old or so, at 

 which period all the spots on the body should be 

 pretty distinct. 



However, the stern or tail generally remains 

 white until about the fourth month, when, if there 

 are to be spots thereon at all, such should begin to 

 appear. Still, very often they are not even faintly 

 visible until the twelfth month, and the quality and 

 appearance of a Dalmatian puppy cannot be told 

 definitely and as a certainty until it is twelve or 

 fifteen months old never earlier. So those who 

 are in the habit of purchasing puppies at six weeks, 

 when a Dalmatian is the object, must act in 

 accordance with these facts. As a rule a breeder 

 of the variety will not sell his puppies at so early 

 an age. Did he do so, he might, for a couple of 

 pounds or so, dispose of what might in the end 

 turn out to be the best dog he ever bred, worth 

 probably thirty or forty pounds. The latter is, 

 however, an unusual sum to give for an animal of 

 this variety, still one pretty nearly perfect might pay 

 the purchaser at that amount, in stud fees, and 

 prizes he might win. After writing the above, I 

 need , hardly say that occasions are not isolated 



