236 ALL ABOUT DOGS 



and rather prominent; thin, small ears, carried well for- 

 ward, a desideratum is a black thumb mark in middle of 

 skull, the mask and ears should be black. Heavy 

 wrinkles about head and face; muscular, thick neck, 

 with skin loose ; square, thick, cobby body ; deep loins ; 

 well rounded ribs ; dark trace down back very desirable ; 

 also a dark mole on each cheek; muscular hind- 

 quarters; firm thighs; strong, short, straight fore 

 legs; well arched, firm, round feet, with black toe 

 nails if possible; tail tightly curled on hips, double 

 turn much desired; coat, except on tail, where it 

 is longer and harsher, should be glossy, soft and 

 short. A very smart, showy and active dog, often an 

 arrant coward, but with a great appearance of dignity, 

 and even ferocity, which is not without its impression 

 on the public. My experience of the breed is that they 

 are, as a rule, very affectionate, and devoted to their 

 owners, " good-doers " and nearly always ready for 

 anything in the way of eating and drinking, great 

 lovers of comfort, and very jealous of any 

 other members of the doggy community being 

 made as much of as themselves. They are very 

 lively, bustling companions, and very popular with 

 those who have kept them. I omitted to say, 

 that the colours are silver fawn and apricot fawn, 

 and of late years, there is also a black variety, the points 

 of which are really the same as in the fawns, but partly 

 concealed by the colour. I think, as a rule, the blacks 

 run more leggy, and many of them heavier than the 

 fawns, but I have had some beautiful specimens of both 

 colours before me many times, and I like a good one, 



