226 



V ER^EBRATA. 



SCOTCH TEKUIER. 



The Scotch Terrier is of three varieties. The common Scotch terrier is twelve or thirteen 

 inches high ; his body muscular and compact, with considerable breadth across the loins, and the 

 legs Bhorter and stouter than those of the English terriers. The head is large in proportion to the 

 size of the body, the muzzle small and pointed, with strong marks of intelligence in the countenance, 

 warm attachment to its master, and the evident devotion of every power to the fulfillment of his 

 wishes. The hair is long and tough, and extending over the whole of the frame. In color it is 

 black or fawn : the v> hite, yellow, or pied are always deficient in purity of blood. Another species 

 has nearly the same conformation, but is covered with longer, more curly, and stouter hair — the legs 

 being apparently, but not actually, shorter. A third species of terrier is of a considerably larger 

 bulk, and three or four inches taller than either of the others. Its hair is shorter than that of the 

 other breeds, and is hard and wiry. Mrs. Lee, in her clever book of Anecdotes of Animals, gives 

 us the following : 



u The most ancient of this influential, if not respectable, tribe of dogs — indeed the most ancient 

 • log of Great Britain — is the Scotch terrier, brought to us, probably, from the northwest of Europe 

 by <>ur primitive inhabitants. There are two varieties of indigenous terriers — the one, smooth, 

 usually white or black in color, with tan spots, sharp muzzle, bright and lively eyes, pointed or 

 slightly turned-down ears, and tail carried high. It is, however, supposed that the Scottish race, 

 with a shorter and fuller muzzle, stouter limbs, hard, shaggy fur, sometimes white in color, hut 

 more often sandy or ochry, is the oldest and most genuine breed. One of these clever and ex- 

 cellent beasts, named Peter, lived with my mother for some years, and during the whole of that 

 time evinced the greatesl sagacity and attachment. He constantly understood the conversation, 

 provided it related t<> cats, rats, or himself ; and often when we spoke of him casually, without 

 even knowing he was in the room, or calling him by his name, he has laid his head on our knees 

 and wagged his tail, as much as to say, 'I understand.' He was a most inveterate enemy to all 

 rats, mice, and cats, nipping them in the bark of the neck, and throwing them over his head, at 

 rate of' one in a minute. Before he came into our family, he won a wager that he would kill 

 twelve rats in twelve minutes. The second rat fastened on his lip, and hung there while he dis- 

 patched the other ten, and then, within the given time, he finished that also. 



