192 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



Writers on canine history, and Mr. Rawdon Lee among the 

 number, tell us that the English White Terrier is a compara- 

 tively new breed, and that there is no evidence to show where 

 he originally sprang from, who produced him, or for what 

 reason he was introduced. His existence as a distinct breed 

 is dated back no longer than forty years. This is about the 

 accepted age of most of our named English terriers. Half a 

 century ago, before the institution of properly organised dog 

 shows drew particular attention to the differentiation of breeds, 

 the generic term " terrier " without distinction was applied 

 to all " earth dogs," and the consideration of colour and size was 

 the only common rule observed in breeding. But it would 

 not be difficult to prove that a white terrier resembling the 

 one now under notice existed in England as a separate variety 

 many generations anterior to the period usually assigned to 

 its recognition. 



In the National Portrait Gallery there is a portrait of Mary 

 of Modena, Queen Consort of James II., painted in 1670 by 

 William Wissing, who has introduced at the Queen's side a 

 terrier that is undoubtedly of this type. The dog has slight 

 brown or brindle markings on the back, as many English 

 White Terriers have, and it is to be presumed that it is of the 

 breed from which this variety is descended. 



Apart from colour there is not a great difference between 

 the White English Terrier and the Manchester Black and 

 Tan. But although they are of similar shape and partake 

 much of the same general character, yet there is the distinction 

 that in the black and tan the conservation of type is stronger 

 and more noticeable than in the white, in which the correct 

 shape and action are difficult to obtain. It ought naturally 

 to be easier to breed a pure white dog from white parents than 

 to breed correctly marked and well tanned puppies from per- 

 fect black and tans ; but the efforts of many breeders do not 

 seem to support such a theory in connection with the English 

 Terrier, whose litters frequently show the blemish of a spot 

 of brindle or russet. These spots usually appear behind the 



