44 THE IRISH TERRIER. 



which even the best dogs will occasionally show symptom of, is a throw- 

 back to their early rough origin. The most unpardonable color in the 

 Irish terrier is the deep mahogany-red, which is often associated with ■ 

 smooth coats, greyhound heads, and a fatuous, un-terrier-like expression. 

 They ought to be tabooed by the judge, but breeders have found that, 

 matched with rough-coated sires, they invariably throw hard coats. For 

 this purpose they may serve, but they should be guarded in the privacy 

 of the brood kennel. The theory respecting these undesirable mahog- 

 any ' smooths,' is that they are tell-tales of an early Manchester terrier 

 experiment ; and we have little doubt that, when an old-fashioned rough 

 and top-knotted bitch was bred to a Manchester, the produce were likely 

 to be clean-skulled, and their coats harsher and less abundant." 



Mr. C. J. Barnett, of Hambleden, whose name is a household 

 word in connection with Irish terriers, is quoted as follows : 



'■ As in the earlier days, color was of minor consideration, — we so 

 often find puppies, even to the present day, black-and-tan, grey or brindle 

 in color. This does not show bad breeding, but rather the contrary, to 

 continue the color through so many generations, for these dogs, like 

 Welsh ponies, no matter whatever they are crossed with, appear to per- 

 petuate their peculiar characteristics. I have heard that the pAire Irish- 

 man was originally a large terrier, and, to reduce the size, a cross with 

 the Manchester terrier was used, hence the black-and-tan puppies that 

 are so often produced. I am happy to say that I cannot find the slight- 

 est foundation for this statement. I have myself tried such a cross 

 carefully, and it quite failed ; and I am convinced it would take years to 

 breed out the black-and-tan strain, with its sleek coat, and get back to 

 the somewhat rugged outline and waterproof jacket of the Irish terrier. 

 At an early show, in 1874, there were classes given for Irish terriers 

 under nine pounds weight, clearly showing that small terriers were fash- 

 ionable then. In my rambles through Ireland, I generally asked for the 

 man who kept the best terriers in the village, and went to see his dogs. 

 I have seen good terriers which would get a prize at many of our English 

 shows, but which were so kept out of sight. These were owned by cot- 



