CHAPTER XIII. 



BLACK-AND-TAN TERRIERS. 



HAVING disposed of the Bull-terrier, which is, as we have said, admittedly the result of a cross 

 between the Bull-dog and the English Terrier, we now come to the Terrier family pure and 

 simple. Whatever the Terrier may have been in days gone by, and whatever opinion may have 

 been entertained of his merits by our fathers, there can be no doubt that the number of his 

 friends in the present day are legion. The varieties of modern Terriers are so numerous, and 

 the size of the dogs so various, that a Terrier of some breed or other is seldom absent from a 

 country house. Large or small, smooth-coated or rough, useful or ornamental, as the case may 

 be, it would indeed be singular if the varieties of Terrier were not highly popular in this dog- 

 loving country. 



The Black-and-tan Terrier must be ranked as one of our oldest varieties, for we find 

 mention of a dog resembling him in many particulars in the works of several earlier writers. 

 It is only reasonable to suppose, however, from the specimens whose portraits we occasionally 

 come across, that in days gone by less attention was paid to colour and markings than to their 

 utility as companion and vermin dogs. The formation of head, too, was very different to 

 what we find it in the present day, the skull being then much heavier-looking and shorter 

 than modern breeders affect ; but it must be remembered that, shows not having been established, 

 and many popular breeds of the present day not being in existence, all that was necessary to 

 breed for was a light dog, suitable for killing vermin and following his owner in his rambles. 

 One thing is certain, however, and that is, that in older Black -and-tans there was more of the 

 tan present in the coat, and it was far lighter in colour than it is now. The fancy markings, 

 too, such as pencilled toes, thumb-marks, and kissing-spots, to which reference will be made 

 later on, were conspicuous by their absence. 



As regards the original uses to which the Terrier was placed, the name is in itself a 

 sufficient index. Even now-a-days there are very few that will not go to earth after a 

 fashion : it seems to come natural to them. Dr. Caius, in his book on dogs before alluded to, 

 includes the "Terrar" in his list of sporting dogs, for the obvious reason, apparently, that it 

 came under the category of dogs which " rouse the beast." The following are the worthy 

 Doctor's exact remarks on the breed " of the dog called a Terrar, in Latine, Terrarins." 



" Another sort there is that hunteth the fox and the badger only, whom we call Terrars, 

 they (after the manner and custom of ferrets in searching for coneys) creep into the ground, 

 and by that means make afraid, nip and bite the fox and the badger in such sort that either 

 they tear them in pieces with their teeth being in the earth, or else hail and pull them perforce 

 out of their lurking angles, dark dungeons, and close caves, or, at least, through conceived fear, 

 drive them out of their hollow harbours, insomuch that they are compelled to prepare speedy 

 flight, and being desirous of the next (albeit not the safest) refuge are otherwise taken and 

 entrapped with snares and nets laid on holes to the same purpose. But these be the least 

 in that kind called Sagax." 



