POINTS OF THE SKYE TERRIER. 139 



that several of our winners have descended from them, though in not a few instances foreign 

 blood has been introduced into the latter's veins. 



Certain writers on the subject of Skye Terriers credit the breed with a love of solitude, and 

 a desire to hide themselves from the approach of strangers, by crouching under hedges and in 

 ditches or drains. We question whether this is not more from a fondness for sport than 

 solitude, for the Skye is a born sportsman, and is quite sharp enough to know without much 

 teaching that there is more chance of encountering vermin single-handed by keeping quiet in a 

 corner than by ostentatiously laying siege to the beast in his own quarters. Others who have 

 laid their views before the public draw attention to many ramifications of the breed under various 

 denominations. Amongst the latter, the terms Mogstads, Drynocks, and Camusennaries, are 

 applied, with a result which we venture to think would bewilder the majority of Skye breeders. 

 The most rational view to take, when considering any such subdivisions, is to regard them all 

 as different strains of the same variety, each of which strain has been the subject of such pride 

 to its possessor, that he has, by following certain rules of breeding, so moulded the original 

 dog that certain slight differences are manifest in the appearance when they are compared with 

 other equally pure strains. The very support which is given to such different families of 

 Skyes and it may here be remarked that many of their supporters belong to the number 

 of those who are the bitterest enemies of the " show Skye " is a powerful argument in favour 

 of the latter being a true Skye, which has been improved by the judicious selection of mates 

 into the handsome animal it is. Skyes, at least working Skyes, are not the things of beauty 

 some of their admirers would make us believe. They are essentially useful members of society, 

 and as such can afford to look down upon less favoured breeds. 



There arc admittedly two distinct varieties of Skye, namely, the Prick-eared Skye, and the 

 Drop-eared Skye. There are, in our opinion, other essential differences between the breeds. In 

 some instances they have been paired together, and have produced good offspring; but, as a 

 rule, the cross is not a very judicious one. Amongst the different characteristics of the two 

 varieties are the length of back, which is, as a rule, longer in the drop-eared variety. The 

 coats are, or ought to be, the same, though it has often struck us forcibly that the drop-eared 

 ones are more inclined to be soft and silky in texture than their relatives. 



Before entering into a description of the breed, it is right that some allusion should be 

 made to the Skye Terrier Clubs. Both societies were formed for the avowed protection of 

 the true type of Skye, and at the outset their lists of members contained the names of many 

 well-known writers on the breed. However, neither one nor the other has come to the front 

 in the manner that the Dandie Dinmont Club has done, and we are not aware if either exists 

 at the present day, as no reports of their movements have appeared for many months. 



As regards the points of the breed, our idea of the beau idM of a Skye Terrier is as follows : 



Head. Long, with a broad flat skull, stout punishing muzzle, with powerful jaws and 

 strong, perfectly level teeth. It is a decided fault in a Skye to be either pig-jawed or 

 undershot. The skull is rather narrow between the ears, which are set on high, and it gradually 

 widens towards the eyes. 



The Ears, which, as we have before stated, should be rather on the top of the head in 

 the case of a drop-eared dog, should fall close to the side of the skull, and not stand away 

 from it ; whilst in the prick-eared variety they must stand perfectly upright, as a falling 

 or badly-carried ear is a great blemish. In the latter variety there is frequently a fringe of 

 hair running up the sides, and terminating in a small tuft at the top, which gives them 

 rather a too-heavy appearance. 



