F oiler and Dorcas. 71 



the plums which were to be had from other kennels. In 

 1874 he claimed Foiler at Birmingham (he was one of the 

 judges) for ioo/., where that dog had been placed second 

 to Tyke, who, catalogued at 50/., could have been pur- 

 chased for less money. Foiler, a good-looking dog, with 

 a long, well-shaped head, but not level enough on his back 

 for my fancy, proved an indifferent animal to breed from, 

 although so well bred himself, having a treble strain of 

 Grove blood in him through Willie, Tartar, and Nettle. 

 Foiler, Diamond, Brockenhurst Joe, Vexer, Bitters, with 

 that extremely good bitch Dorcas, were some of the best 

 terriers Mr. Gibson owned. The last named, who was 

 purchased by Mr. F. Burbidge, requires something more 

 than a passing notice, for there are many persons at the 

 present day who considered her, when living, as the best 

 of her race, and now, when dead, believe her equal has not 

 yet been seen. Dorcas, born in 1873, was at the height 

 of her successful show career two years later, a bitch 

 about 1 61b. in weight, with one side of her face black and 

 tan, body white, with one spot on it. She possessed one 

 of the best heads of the Foiler stamp, long and powerful, 

 well shaped on the skull, and quite terrier-like in muzzle, 

 her excellent expression being increased by her beautiful 

 eyes, sharp and sparkling, ever on the look-out for " rats." 

 She was not of the cobby stamp, rather long in back, 

 bone not heavy, but apparently of excellent quality. 

 Dorcas's neck and shoulders were perfection, so were her 

 feet and fore legs, the latter as straight as they could be 

 made, still not stiff and stilty to the extent of giving a 

 narrowness in front and a deficiency of heart room, so 

 increasing a defect amongst the modern prize winners. 

 The ears of this bitch were nicely carried, neither too big 



