THE SCOTTISH TERRIER. 



D. I. Thomson Gray writes in "The Dogs of Scotland" : 



"Towards the close of the famous Skye terrier controversy in 

 English journals devoted to canine subjects and field sports, and when 

 the editors of the various papers through which it was dragged refused 

 to print any more letters on the subject, a fresh disciission arose on the 

 ' Scotch ' terrier. At first the letters attracted little attention beyond 

 the small circle of those interested. 



" Scottie's admirers, however, had adopted for their motto, ' Perse- 

 vere and succeed,' and stuck doggedly to their purpose, and persistently 

 kept writing, till they attracted attention. Although scant justice was 

 often done them, and they were sometimes beaten off by editorial 

 authority, they returned again and again to the charge, each time secur- 

 ing some little encouragement to renew their exertions. With such 

 persistency did they pursue this line of action that it was said of them, 

 'they would, mite by mite, beg a cheese.' By and by the 'fanciers ' of 

 what they called the pure and unadulterated Skye joined the ranks, and 

 the discussion became very warm. The writers were far from agreeing 

 on the type, and indulged strongly in personalities, which gained for 

 them the character of cantankerous grumbling, disputatious, fighting 

 Scotsmen, who had nothing to show to prove what they wrote, but 

 simply wrote from pure love of argument. To judge from these letters, 

 these remarks were partly justified. The writers could not agree as to 

 the type ; one held that his dog was the correct type ; another that his 



