134 THE BOOK OF THE Doc. 



specimen as ' The Shipwrecked Poodle," which has become quite historical in the canine 

 world, and who was blamed for the introduction of the silky-coated Skye, might, on the 

 other hand, if crossed with the Scotch Terrier, produce a dog not unlike the modern 

 Skye. 



" In ferreting out the origin of the Scotch Terrier, we are reminded of the greater 

 antiquity claimed for an inventive Scion of the Macleods for his clan over the Macgregors. 

 Macgregor approached the ante-diluvian period as nearly as the Macleods' credulity, and 

 his own connection with the Auld Kirk would permit ; however, his opponent settled the matter 

 to his own satisfaction at least, with the query, ' Did you'll ever know a Macleod that had 

 not a poat of her own?' Whether or not the Macleod saved from the wreck of nature a 

 brace of Scotch Terriers in ' her poat,' is ' not proven,' but they were known, and better 

 known than they are to-day, at a time when we were indebted to ballad-singers for 

 rescuing our own history from oblivion. The best Scotch Terrier authorities of our day are 

 the more veteran of our Highland crofters and keepers, men who, unfortunately, were 

 compelled to keep these terriers for the extermination of vermin, or, at least, to enable them 

 to hold their own. We learn from this source that they were found in considerable numbers 

 all over the islands and the mainland in the North-west of Scotland in the beginning of 

 the present century. 



" This is a terrier peculiarly adapted for the work cut out for him, in unearthing such 

 vermin as the fox, otter, badger, wild cat, &c., than which the gamekeeper and farmer have 

 not more indefatigable poachers to contend against. 



" Dealing with such ticklish customers in their strongholds among the rocks, boulders, 

 and cairns, or burrows, is no light task, but in the Scotch Terrier we have the assistance 

 of an able and ever-willing ally, who, having a remarkable nose, gives tongue at once on 

 the scent, following it up to the lair with spirit, where he works silently in on belly or 

 side, if need be, till close upon the enemy, when outsiders can hear that the real work has 

 begun. 



" When he has heavy mettle to deal with, unless assisted by a pack, who rarely allow 

 the foe to die from home, he compels the varmint to bolt for a reckoning outside ; if the 

 struggle is severe or protracted, the terrier who has borne the brunt may be seen coming 

 panting to the open air for breathing space, bringing with him evidence of the severity of 

 the combat ; however, the sounds of war are too much for him, and indifferent to the 

 kindly attentions of his master, he returns to the charge the embodiment of determination 

 and excitement. 



" Many a gallant little dog has found his grave in the maze of these cairns, the result 

 of the encounter in many cases turning out to be a Cadmean victory, where a terrier either 

 loses himself in the labyrinth of passages and crannies, or jumps over the ledge of a rock 

 which he cannot ascend again, when he is entirely out of his master's reach. In some 

 instances food can be thrown in to him from day to day until the boulders are removed 

 or blasted, but this is not always practicable ; if in a burrow, a few hours may suffice to 

 dig him out if within call at all, although numbers are buried alive, paying for their temerity 

 with their life. 



" Working dogs are best studied in the field, being out of their element at the end of 

 a yard and a half of chain on a show-bench ; and a day spent on the Highlands with a 

 keeper and his gang of terriers is fraught with interest and instruction to an admirer of the 

 hardy tyke. 



