THE IRISH TERRIER 233 



of muzzle which formerly were so difficult to find. This 

 squareness of head and jaw is an important point to be 

 considered when choosing an Irish Terrier. 



Opinions differ in regard to slight details of this terrier's 

 conformation, but the official description, issued by the 

 Irish Terrier Club, supplies a guide upon which the uncertain 

 novice may implicitly depend : 



Head Long ; skull flat, and rather narrow between ears, getting 

 slightly narrower towards the eye ; free from wrinkles ; stop hardly 

 visible except in profile. The jaw must be strong and muscular, but 

 not too full in the cheek, and of a good punishing length. There should 

 be a slight falling away below the eye, so as not to have a Greyhound 

 appearance. Hair on face of same description as on body, but short 

 (about a quarter of an inch long), in appearance almost smooth and 

 straight ; a slight beard is the only longish hair (and it is only long in 

 comparison with the rest) that is permissible, and this is characteristic. 

 Teeth Should be strong and level. Lips Not so tight as a Bull- 

 terrier's, but well-fitting, showing through the hair their black lining. 

 Nose Must be black. Eyes A dark hazel colour, small, not promi- 

 nent, and full of life, fire, and intelligence. Ears Small and V-shaped, 

 of moderate thickness, set well on the head, and dropping forward 

 closely to the cheek. The ear must be free of fringe, and the hair 

 thereon shorter and darker in colour than the body. Neck Should be 

 of a fair length, and gradually widening towards the shoulders, well 

 carried, and free of throatiness. There is generally a slight sort of frill 

 visible at each side of the neck, running nearly to the corner of the ear. 

 Shoulders and Chest Shoulders must be fine, long, and sloping well 

 into the back ; the chest deep and muscular, but neither full nor 

 wide. Back and Loin Body moderately long; back should be strong 

 and straight, with no appearance of slackness behind the shoulders ; 

 the loin broad and powerful, and slightly arched ; ribs fairly sprung, 

 rather deep than round, and well ribbed back. Hind-quarters 

 Should be strong and muscular, thighs powerful, hocks near ground, 

 stifles moderately bent. Stern Generally docked ; should be free 

 of fringe or feather, but well covered with rough hair, set on pretty 

 high, carried gaily, but not over the back or curled. Feet and Legs 

 Feet should be strong, tolerably round, and moderately small ; toes 

 arched, and neither turned out nor in ; black toe nails most desirable. 

 Legs moderately long, well set from the shoulders, perfectly straight, 

 -with plenty of bone and muscle ; the elbows working freely clear of 

 the sides ; pasterns short and straight, hardly noticeable. Both 

 fore and hind legs should be moved straight forward when travelling, 

 the stifles not turned outwards, the legs free of feather, and covered, 

 like the head, with as hard a texture of coat as body, but not so long. 

 Coat Hard and wiry, free of softness or silkiness, not so long as to hide 

 the outlines of the body, particularly in the hind-quarters, straight and 

 flat, no shagginess, and free of lock or curl. Colour Should be " whole- 

 coloured," the most preferable being bright red, red, wheaten, or yellow 



