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CHAPTER XXVII. 



THE MALTESE DOG. 



THE Maltese dog terrier as it is sometimes erroneously described, for the creature has nothing 

 of the terrier in its composition is undoubtedly one of the most admired by ladies of all the 

 varieties of Toy dog. The beautiful whiteness of a Maltese dog's coat is in itself a great 

 attraction when the animal is carefully attended to by those who have it in charge, and the 

 quality of the hair is so soft and silky that this variety is peculiarly adapted for the society 

 of the gentler sex. 



What the origin of the breed is cannot be positively ascertained, though it is only reasonable 

 to believe it is similar in many respects to the Cams Melitceits of old writers, who, rightly or 

 wrongly, ascribed to Malta the honour of possessing a national dog at the time of their writing. 

 One is naturally puzzled to ascertain what this dog really was, and many consider that it was 

 merely a long-haired, small-sized animal, whose services have of later years been largely drawn 

 upon in the production of kindred strains, notably in the case of Toy Spaniels. Be this as 

 it may, the antiquity of a dog in many essential respects resembling the modern Maltese is 

 beyond a doubt, and a reference to the chapter on Skye Terriers will show our readers that 

 certain strains of the northern dog are even now credited with a Maltese cross. In the face of 

 such evidence it is only reasonable to suppose that the latter variety was recognised as an 

 acquisition by the people of this country many years ago, though doubtless the original shape 

 of the dog and its general appearance have been the subject of considerable modifications. 



According to the " Naturalist's Library," the " Maltese Dog (Cains Mditcens), the Bichon or 

 Chien Bouffe of Buftbn, is the most ancient of the small Spaniel races, being figured on Roman 

 monuments and mentioned by Strabo." 



Dr. John Caius, more than three hundred years ago, thus alludes to the Maltese dogs in 

 remarks which also refer to the Toy Spaniel or Fotor : 



" There is, besides those which wee have already delivered, another sort of gentle dogges in 

 this our Englishe style, but exempted from the order of the residue. The dogges of this kinde 

 doth Callimachus call Melitaers, of the Iseland Melita, in the Sea of Sicily (which at this day 

 is named Malta, an Iseland in deede famous and renouned .... )." 



By far the best modern strain of Maltese dogs traces back to the kennels of Mr. R. 

 Mandeville of London, who from the years 1860 to 1870 practically swept the board at the 

 shows held at Birmingham, Islington, Crystal Palace, and Cremorne Gardens. To this gentle- 

 man's Fido and Lilly we are indebted for many of the beautiful little dogs now in existence ; 

 and the services which he rendered their pets should never, in common justice, be lost sight of 

 by those who own Maltese dogs in the present day. 



As an out-door companion a dog of this breed is inferior to many other varieties of Toy, 

 both on account of its long, silky jacket, and rather delicate constitution ; the Maltese being 



