156 The Fox Terrier. 



pluck it off in order to give his terrier a cleaner and smarter 

 appearance. 



In the kennels of the Kendal Otter Hounds there was once 

 a black and tan hound called Ragman, who ran for nine 

 seasons ; indeed, in his old age he became so grey and worn 

 with hard work and care as to bear scarcely any resemblance 

 to what he was when first entered. He possessed the best 

 water and weather resisting coat I ever saw on any dog. 

 Without being long enough to assist him as a bench hound, 

 it was simply perfect for the purpose for which it was 

 required — protection from weather and water. Take down 

 the ribs, along the back, under the belly, on the head, any- 

 where, it was all there, hard as bristles, close as wool, a 

 little softer and closer underneath than near the surface ; 

 and I have seen that good hound swim for two or three, or 

 four hours maybe, come out on to the bank, shake himself, 

 so throw the water off, roll in the meadow, and in a minute 

 he would be as dry as the proverbial board. His coat 

 leaned towards curliness, and, this notwithstanding, his 

 was the description of jacket that ought to be found on all 

 wire-haired terriers. I know of not even one at the present 

 day that possesses so good a. one. 



In judging this variety of terrier I should, without 

 hesitation, throw out or disqualify every dog with a soft 

 coat. In their group or classes they are called " wire- 

 haired " terriers, and anyone giving an award of any kind 

 to one that is not as described does a triple injustice, for he 

 dishonours the description, introduces a bad type, and 

 proves his own incompetence. I have dwelt thus long on 

 coat because therein lies the whole difference between the 

 two great modern varieties of fox terrier. 



From the time Dame Juliana Berners wrote of " teroures," 



