58 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



type which is so often lacking in our long-headed Collies. 

 Ormskirk Emerald's head was of good length and well bal- 

 anced, the skull sufficiently flat ; his eye was almond-shaped 

 and dark-brown in colour, his expression keen and wise, 

 entirely free from the soft look which we see on many of the 

 faces to-day. Historical examples of the show Collie have 

 also been seen in Champions Christopher, Anfield Model, 

 Sappho of Tytton, Parbold Piccolo, and Woodmanstern 

 Tartan. 



In recent years the smooth Collie has gained in popularity 

 quite as certainly as his more amply attired relative. Origin- 

 ally he was a dog produced by mating the old-fashioned black 

 and white with the Greyhound. But the Greyhound type, 

 which was formerly very marked, can scarcely be discerned 

 to-day. Still, it is not infrequent that a throw-back is dis- 

 covered in a litter producing perhaps a slate-coloured, a pure, 

 white, or a jet black individual, or that an otherwise perfect 

 smooth Collie should betray the heavy ears or the eye of a 

 Greyhound. At one time this breed of dog was much culti- 

 vated in Scotland, but nowadays the breeding of smooths is 

 almost wholly confined to the English side of the Border. 



The following is the accepted description of the Perfect 

 Collie : 



The Skull should be flat, moderately wide between the ears, and 

 gradually tapering towards the eyes. There should only be a slight 

 depression at stop. The width of skull necessarily depends upon 

 combined length of skull and muzzle ; and the whole must be 

 considered in connection with the size of the dog. The cheek should 

 not be full or prominent. The Muzzle should be of fair length, 

 tapering to the nose, and must not show weakness or be snipy or 

 lippy. Whatever the colour of the dog may be, the nose must be 

 black. The Teeth should be of good size, sound and level ; very slight 

 unevenness is permissible. The Jaws Clean cut and powerful. The 

 Eyes are a very important feature, and give expression to the dog ; 

 they should be of medium size, set somewhat obliquely, of almond 

 shape, and of a brown colour except in the case of merles, when the 

 eyes are frequently (one or both) blue and white or china ; expression 

 full of intelligence, with a quick alert look when listening. The Ears 

 should be small and moderately wide at the base, and placed not too 

 close together but on the top of the skull and not on the side of the 

 head. When in repose they should be usually carried thrown back. 



