CHAPTER XIV. 

 THE MALTESE. 



SOMETIMES this charming little dog is called a 

 terrier, on other occasions a spaniel, whilst in many 

 quarters it has been known as the Lion dog of 

 Malta. Sir Edwin Landseer painted it as the latter 

 about 1838, from a specimen stated to be the last 

 of the race. This picture does not appear to be 

 very well known, but as representing a typical 

 Maltese of the present day it must be noticed here. 

 The Maltese " Lion dog " is reclining on a table, 

 upon which a hound is resting its head, the latter 

 no doubt introduced by the great artist to show the 

 diminutiveness of the principal object in the picture, 

 which it undoubtedly does most satisfactorily. The 

 original painting was, I believe, the property of 

 the late Duchess of Kent. 



Whatever doubt there may be as to whether the 

 Maltese dog is a terrier or a spaniel (I do not con- 

 sider it either), there is no question whatever as to 

 its being by far the oldest of our toy dogs, as it is 



