VARIETIES OF THE DOG. 



103 



A small breed of wry -legged terriers was once in repute, and, to a certain 

 degree, is retained for the purpose of hunting rabbits. It probably origi- 

 nated in some ricketty specimens, remarkable for the slow development of 

 their frame, except in the head, the belly, and the joints, which enlarge at 

 the expense of the other parts. 



THE SCOTCH TERRIER. 



There is reason to believe that this dog is far older than the English 

 terrier. There are three varieties : first, the common Scotch terrier, 

 twelve or thirteen inches high ; his body muscular and compact consider- 

 able breadth across the loins the legs shorter and stouter than those of the 

 English terriers. The head large in proportion to the size of the body 

 the muzzle small and pointed strong marks of intelligence in the counte- 

 nance warm attachment to his master, and the evident devotion of every 

 power to the fulfilment of his wishes. The hair is long and tough, and 

 extending over the whole of the frame. In colour, they are black or 

 fawn : the white, 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. This kind of dog prevails in the greater part of the 

 Western Islands of Scotland, and some of them, where the hair has ob- 

 tained its full development, are much admired. 



Her Majesty had one from Islay, a faithful and affectionate creature, 

 yet with all the spirit and determination that belongs to his breed. The 

 writer of this account had occasion to operate on this poor fellow, who 



