DOGS USED IN WORK 173 



surprised me by their athletic performances. Some 

 of the most intelligent work of any breed of sheep dog 

 has been done by Smooth Collies. A black and light 

 brown bitch, of what I may call Bloodhound colour, 

 which I had some years since (her portrait illustrates 

 this variety), had again and again beaten all com- 

 petitors and taken gold and silver medals at Sheep Dog 

 trials in England and Wales, and was superior in in- 

 telligence to most " two-legged animals " of any vari- 

 ety. If in charge of a flock of sheep, on a narrow road, 

 or lane, and they got jammed, she would either jump 

 the wall or hedge, at side, and run down to head them, 

 or run over their backs to the front, and drive them 

 back to clear the course, and she knew what was said to 

 her almost before it was uttered. The appearance of 

 this breed is much like that of the Rough, or Scotch 

 Collie, except that the coat is short and sleek, ears 

 pricked and without feathering on them or the legs; 

 and the tail, with only a slight fringe of hair on its 

 lower side. The favoured colours are merle (which 

 is a sort of mottled grey, black and blue), black 

 and white, tricolour, and what I have before men- 

 tioned as Bloodhound colour, being black on the 

 back, and light tan-coloured brown all the rest of the 

 body, and it is considered an advantage, rather 

 than otherwise, for one or both of the eyes to be 

 " wall," or china, coloured. Having used them for 

 work, as companions, guards, and as house pets, I can 

 speak very highly of Smooth Collies, which, I think, 

 are more kept in the north of England and in Wales, 

 particularly the South, than in any other parts of the 



