THE INDAGATOR GROUP. 747 



probably produced by a mixture of the blood of the Barbet 

 with that of the Old English Setter. 



V. THE TERRIER forms a class rather than a breed of 

 dogs. It is more nearly related to the Lyciscan than to any 

 of the other groups, and can only be included in the class of 

 hounds on account of its performing some services in the 

 chase in common with these animals. Its habits seem to 

 connect it with the burrowing Canidse; and the most probable 

 supposition as to its origin is that it has been produced by a 

 mixture of blood of some of those species, as the Jackal, 

 or even Common-fox, with the domesticated dogs of different 

 countries. But however produced, dogs which we call terriers, 

 though differing greatly from one another, are widely diffused, 

 being found from the high lands of Central Asia to the western 

 limits of Europe. They have the common property of prey- 

 ing on such animals as form their dwellings under ground, 

 as the rabbit, the polecat, the weasel, the otter, the badger, 

 the fox, and will pursue these animals to their subterranean 

 retreats, which no other dog will do. To the weasel tribes, 

 in particular, the terrier manifests the fiercest antipathy; and 

 he is the only known kind of dog that seems especially des- 

 tined to prey on these animals, which he pursues for the 

 mere purpose of destroying, since he shews no disposition to 

 devour them. This singular temperament of the terrier has 

 rendered him a useful servant in wild countries ; and, even 

 in those which are populous and improved, his hatred to 

 rats, and other animals termed vermin, is often turned to 

 account. 



In the British Islands, the Terrier has been cultivated 

 from times of unknown antiquity, yet we cannot say that the 

 terriers of this country form a true breed, since they differ 

 from one another almost as much as races which we hold to 

 be distinct. The terriers of the Western Islands of Scotland 

 have long lank hair, almost trailing to the ground. Those of 

 the Central Highlands, which formed the ancient shepherd's 



