THE IRISH TERRIER. 49 



mention, as one instance, that a gentleman in the adjoining county of 

 Tipperary keeps a pack of these terriers, and has done so for years, with 

 which he will hunt otter as successfully as any one can with any pack 

 of pure otter hounds." 



Mr. Jameson : 



" The Irish terrier is able to stand much more cold, wet and fatigue 

 than most other terriers. The coat is so hard and flat that water cannot 

 penetrate it, and not being too long, does not hinder the dog in cover- 

 work." 



Mr. Vero Shaw, in his book, devotes more space to the 

 characteristics of the Irish terrier than any other writer. 

 Among other things we find : 



" (Jne's first acquaintance with the ' pre-historic terrier ' is apt to be 

 disappointing (except to a really 'doggy' terrier man), that is, because 

 there is no meretricious flash about them ; but there is that about them 

 which you learn to like, — they grow upon you. They supply the want 

 so often expressed for a 'smart looking dog with something in him.' 

 There is that about their rough and ready appearance which can only 

 be described as genuine terrier, or more emphatically ' tarrier character.' 

 They are ' facile princeps ' the sportman's terrier, and having never been 

 made fashion's darlings, still retain, in all its purity, their instinctive love 

 of hard work. . . . 



" Among those wise old fellows one comes across in the country, 

 who like a dog with something in him, and a ' terrier,' of course, the 

 Irishman is a prime favorite. And they know what they are about, — 

 those old fellows, — and are sportsmen, too, in their own sort of way, 

 when the sun has gone down. This reminds me of a discreditable fact 

 in the history of Irish terriers, that were not always only ' the poor 

 man's sentinel,' but oftentimes something more, when, by the aid of 

 their marvelous noses and long legs, they, when the shades of night had 

 fallen, provided the pot with that which gave forth the savory smell and 

 imparted a flavor to the 'spuds.' This, however, if it affected their 

 moral principles, certainly sustained their love and capability for rabbit- 

 ing. In olden times, too, the larger sizes were bred and used for fighting, 



