THE DALMATIAN 51 



show themselves ; first about the neck and ears, and after- 

 wards along the back, until at about the sixteenth day the 

 markings are distinct over the body, excepting only the tail, 

 which frequently remains white for a few weeks longer. 



The standard of points as laid down by the leading club is 

 sufficiently explicit to be easily understood, and is as follows : 



General Appearance The Dalmatian should represent a strong, 

 muscular, and active dog, symmetrical in outline, and free from coarse- 

 ness and lumber, capable of great endurance combined with a fair 

 amount of speed. Head The head should be of a fair length ; the skull 

 flat, rather broad between the ears, and moderately well defined at the 

 temples i.e. exhibiting a moderate amount of stop and not in one 

 straight line from the nose to the occiput bone as required in a Bull- 

 terrier. It should be entirely free from wrinkle. Muzzle The muzzle 

 should be long and powerful ; the lips clean, fitting the jaws moderately 

 close. Eyes The eyes should be set moderately well apart, and of 

 medium size, round, bright, and sparkling, with an intelligent ex- 

 pression, their colour greatly depending on the markings of the dog. 

 In the black spotted variety the eyes should be dark (black or dark 

 brown), in the liver-spotted variety they should be light (yellow or 

 light brown). The Rim round the Eyes in the black-spotted variety 

 should be black, in the liver-spotted variety brown never flesh-colour 

 in either. Ears The ears should be set on rather high, of moderate 

 size, rather wide at the base, and gradually tapering to a round point. 

 They should be carried close to the head, be thin and fine in texture, 

 and always spotted the more profusely the better. Nose The nose 

 in the black-spotted variety should always be black, in the liver- 

 spotted variety always brown. Neck and Shoulders The neck should 

 be fairly long, nicely arched, light and tapering, and entirely free from 

 throatiness. The shoulders should be moderately oblique, clean, and 

 muscular, denoting speed. Body, Back, Chest, and Loins The chest 

 should not be too wide, but very deep and capacious, ribs moderately 

 well sprung, never rounded like barrel hoops (which would indicate 

 want of speed), the back powerful, loin strong, muscular, and slightly 

 arched. Legs and Feet The legs and feet are of great importance. 

 The fore-legs should be perfectly straight, strong, and heavy in bone ; 

 elbows close to the body ; fore-feet round, compact with well-arched 

 toes (cat-footed), and round, tough, elastic pads. In the hind-legs the 

 muscles should be clean, though well-defined ; the hocks well let 

 down. Nails The nails in the black-spotted variety should be black 

 and white in the liver-spotted variety brown and white. Tail The tail 

 should not be too long, strong at the insertion, and gradually tapering 

 towards the end, free from coarseness. It should not be inserted too 

 low down, but carried with a slight curve upwards, and never curled. 

 It should be spotted, the more profusely the better. Coat The coat 

 should be short, hard, dense and fine, sleek and glossy in appearance, 

 but neither woolly nor silky. Colour and Markings These are most 

 important points. The ground colour in both varieties should be 



