DOMESTIC DOGS. 



519 



A handsoincr aniinal tlian the English sheep-dog is the Scotch 

 ° '' collie, which lias the same mental characters, but differs somewhat in 

 external form and coloration. This dog has the same shai-p muzzle as its Englisli 

 cousin, hut a rather broader lieail, with a slight fall to the tips of the small ears. 

 The Ituild of the body is rather light and elegant ; and tiie hair with which it is 

 clothed is long and woolly, an<l stands out evenly on all side.s so as to form an 

 efficient protection from tlie extremes of climate to which the animal is exposed 

 in its nati\(; hill.s. The ruff on tlie neck is more developed than in the sheep- 

 dog, and imlced than in any otlier breed. The tail is very busliy, and is carried 

 witli the ti]) elevated, so as to keep its long haii-s free from the ground. in 





BOUGH-COATED COLLIES. 



the pure-bred animal there is a thick under-fur beneath the long hairs, and tlie 

 hind-legs should be quite free from any fringe of hair, although the fore-legs may have 

 a little fringe. The colour may be either black-and-tan, or either of these tints 

 alone, with a larger or smaller admixture of white ; but the black-and-tan appears 

 to be the most admired. The black is seldom very intense in tone, and the 

 tan has no tinge of the mahogany-red of the setter. The collie has been in- 

 troduced into England as a pet dog, and is often crossed with the black-and-tan 

 setter, so as to produce a breed which differs considerably from the original form 

 — notably in the silky hair, without under-fur, and the long fringes on both fore 

 and hind-legs. In some parts of the Scotti.sh Highlands, and likewise in the north 

 of Entrland. there is a .smaller and more slender variety known as the smooth collie. 

 Thi.s breed is characterised bv the smooth coat of short and stiff hairs, which 



