262 Modern Dogs. 



dozen years. An early edition of u Dogs of the 

 British Isles" contains an engraving from a painting, 

 of two pugs, the original stock from which the 

 11 Willoughbys " were bred. They are both fair speci- 

 mens, perhaps standing rather higher on the legs 

 than is liked at the present day, but otherwise quite 

 typical animals, and they have their ears cropped. 

 About fifteen years ago there was a newspaper 

 warfare, in which one side argued that the pug had 

 already degenerated or was degenerating ; but as 

 is usual in controversies of this kind, nothing of 

 interest appeared, although perhaps some good 

 resulted by attention being drawn to the great size 

 of many of the leading winning pugs. Dogs from 

 2olb. to perhaps 24lb. weight or more were often 

 enough seen at the head of the prize lists, which of 

 course was not to be borne quietly by those who were 

 showing animals not more than i81b. in weight, which 

 as a fact is quite big enough, and it is gratifying to 

 find that the Pug Dog Club, which was established 

 in 1883, expresses an opinion strongly against the 

 over-sized specimens. 



Although pugs had classes provided at the first 

 show which included non-sporting dogs at Birming- 

 ham, in 1 86 1, strangely enough there was no com- 

 petition, but since then divisions arranged for 

 them have been respectably filled. In 1885, and 



