DOGS USED IN WORK i 77 



sions of my visiting him. I am very pleased to say, 

 that this breed, which had been much neglected on ac- 

 count of the influx of Scotch Collies, and was even in 

 danger of becoming almost extinct, has been very 

 much taken up the last few years, and even in London 

 you now often see very decent specimens accompany- 

 ing fashionable ladies and carriages. It may not be 

 generally known, but I have proved it by actual prac- 

 tice with a great many of my own specimens, that a 

 " Bobtail " is a capital dog to follow carriage, trap, or 

 a rider on horseback. I have come many miles, on the 

 darkest nights, across country roads and lanes, with a 

 couple following me, and never knew an instance 

 where they missed me, or failed to turn up at the end 

 of the journey, and the same in the crowded streets of 

 a large city I often visit. It is supposed to be one of 

 the oldest breeds of dog we have, and in one of Shakes- 

 peare's old English comedies, which was lately 

 mounted in unusually first class style, and with many 

 novel realistic effects, by a popular and well known 

 manager at a West End theatre, a quaint old shepherd 

 appeared on the stage accompanied by a rugged Bob- 

 tail, who made herself quite at home in her novel sur- 

 roundings, and gave a great finish to the scene. The 

 Bobtail in question was lent by me, and is the sister of a 

 well known " Champion " belonging to one of the most 

 successful exhibitors and spirited buyers of Sheep dogs 

 in the United Kingdom. The points of this breed, as 

 show specimens, are: — Head square and large, eyes 

 rather small and dark, but wall or marble eyes are 



considered an advantage when obtainable, particularly 



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