The Black Pug. 277 



four of which were dense black, one pure silver, and 

 one silver fawn of the loveliest colour possible. The 

 coats and ( pug points ' were much improved, and with 

 one exception all had excellent jackets, characteristic 

 of the fawn pug (the black had nearly always bad 

 coats), and with loose skins. One of the strange 

 things in this cross is that whole colours usually 

 appear, and that black and fawn or tri-coloured 

 puppies have not yet been born." 



Mrs. Fifield and Miss " Mortivals " both accord 

 the black pugs excellent characters. They say they 

 are hardier than the fawn, especially when past 

 puppyhood, and even when young they are not much 

 trouble to rear. Oily food suits them best, and 

 Miss " Mortivals " gives hers linseed once a week, it 

 improving their coats and making them appear 

 smarter and cleanlier than they would without it. 



Mrs. Fifield writes that " the black pugs differ 

 materially from the fawns ; firstly they are not so 

 susceptible to cold. The prettiest sight I remember 

 was seeing the delight of an exquisite litter of black 

 puppies in their first snowstorm ; they simply revelled 

 in it. They are much more tenacious in affection, 

 for, while the fawns freely make friends, no entice- 

 ments will induce the blacks to leave their owners, 

 and, although very timid, they are wonderfully 

 intelligent and easily learn tricks. They are cleanly 



