25 PREFACE. 



have made a specialty of this breed, which latter, like most 

 other breeds of terriers, has to be known to be appreciated 

 at its proper value. 



We fully recognize that a publication like this must 

 necessarily be, in a great measure, a compilation ; and any 

 attempt to prepare a work of this character without taking 

 advantage, to the fullest extent, of the labors and knowledge 

 of acknowledged authorities, would result in a failure. This 

 treatise does not, therefore, claim to have any literary pre- 

 tensions, but only to be a collection of reliable and interest- 

 ing facts and records, and we take pleasure in acknowledging 

 the valuable aid derived from the various authorities quoted. 



We confidently hope and believe that the more thoroughly 

 the general character and merits of the different breeds of 

 terriers are understood and appreciated, the less danger will 

 there be in having these useful dogs degenerate into mere 

 ladies' pets, — fit for the show-bench only. 



