78 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



' As regards the breeding of Sheep-dogs, a well-known authority on the subject, who prefers 

 to let his identity remain concealed, gives us the following hints, which, although briefly expressed, 

 will be found of importance : 



"Avoid mating flat or prick-eared Collies, as the progeny is almost sure to come one or 

 the other. An exception may be made to this rule when you know the ancestors to have 

 been really good specimens of the breed ; there is a very great chance of the puppies 

 throwing back to them, and not inheriting their parents' faults. I am always reluctant to mate 

 rough Collies with smooth ones. Though you may do so, and get good puppies of each variety, 

 you can never be certain of your expectations being realised when breeding from their progeny. 

 Avoid heavy-headed, flat-eared Collies. Though both are objectionable, I would rather breed 

 from a good-headed prick-eared one than a good-headed flat-eared one. Under-coat I always 

 have been, and always will be, a great stickler for; in fact, I never breed from a dog with 

 no under-coat, or an open top-coat. 



"Colour is, in my judgment, a minor consideration, provided the leading points such as 

 shape, coat, head, and ears are right. Collies throw back in this respect in the most 

 extraordinary way, and in one litter you often get three or four different colours." 



With regard to the animals selected for illustration, the rough-coated specimen is Mr. Shirley's 

 Hornpipe, bred by him in 1876 by Trefoil from Kit by Malcolm , Trefoil by Twig out of Bess 

 by Rattler. Her chief performances are : first Manchester, first Darlington, first Bristol, first 

 Alexandra Palace, 1877 ; first Crystal Palace, 1878 ; Champion prize Alexandra Palace, 1879. We 

 have not been able to obtain her measurements. 



Yarrow, Mr. Thomson's smooth-coated bitch, is also an unusually good one, but is without a 

 pedigree, having been imported into this country by Mr. Hugh Dalziel. Mr. Thomson pronounces 

 her to be the best worker on sheep in his kennel, but an inveterate poacher. A peculiar trait in 

 her character is referred to thus by her owner ; we give his own words : " This same bitch when 

 having whelps, will, as they get old enough to eat, sneak off like a wolf or fox, and on her return 

 she will disgorge rabbits, eggs, &c., for the delectation of her young." Her chief performances are : 

 first Chesterfield, 1877; first and cup Hanover, 1879. The measurements of Yarrow are as follows: 

 Tip of nose to stop, 3! inches ; stop to occiput, 4| inches ; length of back, 19 inches ; girth of 

 muzzle, 10 inches ; girth of skull, 15 inches ; girth of neck, 14! inches ; girth of brisket, 26 inches ; 

 girth round shoulders, 25 inches; girth of loins, 21 inches; girth of hind leg at stifle-joint, n 

 inches ; girth of fore-arm, 6 inches ; girth round pastern, 4 inches ; height at top shoulders, 20 

 inches ; height at elbows, io ; height at loins, 20 inches ; height at hock, 6 inches ; length of 

 tail, 14$. 



Amongst the best dogs of the day are Mr. Ashwin's Cocksie, although his ears are 

 not quite perfect; Mr. Thomson's Hero, Marcus, and Bess; Mr. Bissell's Cockie, the sire 

 of Cocksie ; Mrs. Skinner's Vero, the best dog out, only rather silky in coat, and usually 

 shown like an alderman ; and last, but not least, Mr. Shirley's Trefoil, Hornpipe, and 

 Hulakin. 



In smooth-coated dogs there is only Mr. Thomson's Guelt, also imported by Mr. Hugh 

 Dalziel (descended from Crichton's dog, who was hung with his master for sheep-stealing) that we 

 can call to recollection as being above the ordinary run, whilst the same gentleman's Yarrow, 

 together with Mr. Swinburne's Lassie, and Mr. James Fawdry's, late Mr. Mapplebeck's, Fan, 

 compose a trio of bitches which combined cannot be beat 



