2 So THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



Terriers is the Belvoir. Their pedigrees can be traced back in a direct line for more than thirty years, 

 and though of course it would be impossible to get a detailed account of all the links, it is clear that 

 there were dogs among them who would have held their own well in modern shows. As to their 

 working capacities it is needless to dwell on them. The very fact of a particular strain being 

 kept and cherished by more than one huntsman is evidence enough of its merits on that point. 

 At the same time, I have my doubts whether they have been kept absolutely free from all 

 introduction of Bull-terrier blood. At least I know that some twelve years ago prick-ears and 

 pink noses were not wholly unknown among them ; and I have been told that such traits do even now 

 make their appearance occasionally. Besides these three packs, there are others that have had 

 good Terriers. The Brocklesby had, I believe, some ; and their Tartar deserves special mention 

 as the grandsire of that good dog Jester II. Beers too, the Duke of Grafton's huntsman, specially 

 prided himself on his Terriers, and had some good ones, partly, I believe, of the Belvoir blood. 

 As an evidence of the value of the blood, especially for working purposes, I have been assured on 

 good authority that he could always get 10 for a young dog, entered to work, before the present 

 rage for Fox-terriers. Another who paid special attention to his Terriers was Whitmore, the Hon. 

 Mark Rolle's huntsman. He, like Beers, got some of his blood from the Grove ; and his Grip, so 

 bred, was the sire of Foiler, and, through him, the ancestor of many of our best Terriers. 



Just as thoroughbred horses are often grouped into three families, headed by the Derby 

 Arabian, the Byerley Turk, and the Godolphin Arabian the Shem, Ham, and Japhet of the 

 Turf, as they have been called so we may conveniently classify Fox-terriers under the families of 

 Jock, Trap, and Belvoir Joe. That, at least, will practically include nearly all of any note. Other 

 strains there are, notably that of Old Foiler, which have been of value, but they are almost 

 extinct in the male line, and the division I propose will certainly include nineteen-twentieths of 

 the really good dogs. First, if not in merit at least in the widespread nature of his influence, 

 comes Old Jock. My own recollections of the old dog date from his declining days ; but I can 

 well believe what I have often heard alleged, that he has never had a superior, and scarcely an 

 equal. My own impression, based on the recollection of what he was when I saw him in his 

 wane at Birmingham show in 1867 is that Buffett, Bloom, Olive, and perhaps Hornet and Fussy, 

 are the only Terriers since that could have held their own with him. At the stud he can hardly 

 be said to have got anything of the same class as himself; still, he had a goodly list of winners 

 among his progeny, and his blood has come out with wonderful success through his daughters. 

 In fact, Jock bitches have been to Terrier breeders what Touchstone mares have been to the 

 breeders of racehorses. The best, perhaps, of Jock's, as a show dog, was his namesake, Jock II., 

 the Birmingham winner in 1872. He was a son of that grand bitch, Grove Nettle ; at least, he 

 was said to be so. I have heard, however, doubts thrown on this, and certainly Jock II.'s utter 

 failure as a stud dog throws some suspicion on his pedigree. Another good son of Jock was 

 Vassal, who won at Birmingham in 1866. His chief claim to celebrity as a stud dog rested 

 on Gadfly. Gadfly was himself far from a show dog ; but he begot a good many winners, 

 including that most unworthy recipient of high honours, Rivet. Gadfly, I should add, was an 

 undoubted son of Grove Nettle, so it can be no matter for surprise that his name often occurs 

 in a good pedigree. Vassal's dam was, I believe, of unknown pedigree ; but I have been told 

 by one who knew her that she was a rather weedy bitch, deficient in coat, with a good deal 

 of English Terrier character. This may account for certain objectionable peculiarities that 

 have from time to time shown themselves in the descendants of Gadfly prick-ears and fine 

 coats among them. One special merit of the Gadfly blood is its great gameness. Indeed, though 

 Jock himself bore a doubtful character in this respect, his descendants have been as a rule 



