THE BULLDOG 23 



quite round in its whole length, smooth and devoid of fringe 

 or coarse hair. It should be moderate in length, rather 

 short than long, thick at the root, and taper quickly to a 

 fine point. It should have a downward carriage, and the 

 dog should not be able to raise it above the level of the back- 

 bone. The tail should not curve at the end, otherwise it is 

 known as " ring- tailed." The ideal length of tail is about 

 six inches. 



Many fanciers demand a " screw " or " kinked " tail, 

 that is, one having congenital dislocations at the joints, but 

 such appendages are not desirable in the best interests of the 

 breed. 



The fore-legs should be very stout and strong, set wide 

 apart, thick, muscular, and short, with well-developed 

 muscles in the calves, presenting a rather bowed outline, 

 but the bones of the legs must be straight, large, and not 

 bandy or curved. They should be rather short in proportion 

 to the hind-legs, but not so short as to make the back appear 

 long or detract from the dog's activity and so cripple him. 



The elbows should be low and stand well away from the 

 ribs, so as to permit the body to swing between them. If 

 this property be absent the dog is said to be " on the leg." 

 The ankles or pasterns should be short, straight, and strong. 

 The fore-feet should be straight and turn very slightly out- 

 wards ; they should be of medium size and moderately 

 round, not too long or narrow, whilst the toes should be thick, 

 compact, and well split up, making the knuckles prominent 

 and high. 



The hind-legs, though of slighter build than the fore-legs, 

 should be strong and muscular. They should be longer, in 

 proportion, than the fore-legs in order to elevate the loins. 

 The stifles should be round and turned slightly outwards, 

 away from the body, thus bending the hocks inward and the 

 hind-feet outward. The hocks should be well let down, so 

 that the leg is long and muscular from the loins to the point 

 of the hock, which makes the pasterns short, but these should 



