14 THE SCOTTISH TERRIER. 



although he is so different from the long-coated, unsporting-like looking 

 creature with which that name is now associated. . . . 



" Our little friend has, perhaps, been rather unfortunate so far as 

 nomenclature is concerned ; for, after being called a Skye terrier, he 

 became known as the Scotch terrier, the Scots terrier, and the Highland 

 terrier; then others dubbed him the cairn terrier and the die-hard; 

 whilst another move was made to give him the distinguishing appella- 

 tion of Aberdeen terrier. Now he has been thoroughly wound up, and 

 I suppose to suit those persons of teetotal proclivities who connected 

 the word ' Scotch ' with the national liquor called whiskey, has devel- 

 oped into the Scottish terrier. As such he is known in the Stud Books, 

 and is acknowledged as of that name by the leading Scotch, or Scottish, 

 authorities on the variety. Well, he is a game, smart, perky little terrier, 

 and I do not think that his general excellence and desirability as a com- 

 panion are likely to suffer from the evolutions his name has undergone. 

 Years ago, before dog-shows were invented, any cross-bred creature was 

 called a Scotch terrier, especially if he appeared to stand rather higher 

 on the legs than the ordinary terrier ; if he were on short legs, he was 

 an ' otter terrier.' 



" Of the original Scottish terriers, some there were with semi-erect 

 ears ; others with prick ears. 



" The prick ears are acknowledged now as the more fashionable? 

 though I fancy years ago the semi-prick ear was the more common. 

 However, the fact must not be overlooked that, as puppies, the ears are 

 usually carried thrown back or forwards, — some even not attaining the 

 correct and erect position until six or eight months old. The hard, crisp 

 coat, too, does not always appear until the puppy is casting its first set 

 of teeth ; and this hard coat is a sine qmi non, and no prize ought to be 

 given to any Scottish terrier unless the coat is thoroughly hard and 

 strong, and crisp and close, — it is the hard-haired Scottish terrier, 

 a fact which some judges have sadly overlooked. Another defect, 

 too, common and often overlooked, is to be found in the bat-like 

 ears, with round tips, which some breeders consider to point to a 

 cross with an impure strain. However, they are very unsightly, and 



