The Maltese. 317 



was allowed to sleep upon and have her bed of a 

 sheep-skin or fleece of wool, the puppies were born 

 with longer coats and manes more lion-like than 

 would have been the case if the bitch's bed was of 

 straw or shavings -filios jubatos ins tar leonis. Thus 

 we have at once the origin of the name the " lion 

 dog of Malta." 



Some time after being born, no doubt when they 

 were getting on to their legs, they were given as 

 little exercise as possible, being kept in tin canisters 

 or boxes in order to keep them small in size 

 and as the fancier required them to be ; the best 

 specimens being said to be no bigger in body 

 than a rat or a weasel. Then the dietary was 

 carefully guarded, they eating little food, and 

 that of a particular quality. The favourite diet 

 was " liver or lights, dried and sprinkled with 

 the pared fresh bark of the wild fig tree," the 

 drying operation taking place in a warm room 

 provided for the purpose. Queens, it was said, 

 fed the dainty little creatures with the choicest 

 cuts from the breasts of fowls, which were served 

 out of golden vases. 



Here is another choice little bit for our modern dog 

 fanciers, for old writers say that when the Maltese 

 puppies were born it was the custom to twist the 

 " rostrum" (the upper nose) with the fingers " in 



