CHAPTER XLVI 

 THE MALTESE DOG AND THE PUG 



No doubt has been cast upon the belief that the small, white, 

 silky Cams Melitaus is the most ancient of all the lap dogs of 

 the Western world. It was a favourite in the time of Phidias ; 

 it was an especial pet of the great ladies of Imperial Rome. 

 It appears to have come originally from the Adriatic island of 

 Melita rather than from the Mediterranean Malta, although 

 this supposition cannot be verified. There is, however, no 

 question that it is of European origin, and that the breed, as 

 we know it to-day, has altered exceedingly little in type and 

 size since it was alluded to by Aristotle more than three hundred 

 years before the Christian era. One may gather from various 

 references in literature, and from the evidence of art, that it 

 was highly valued in ancient times. " When his favourite 

 dog dies," wrote Theophrastus in illustration of the vain man, 

 " he deposits the remains in a tomb, and erects a monument 

 over the grave, with the inscription, ' Offspring of the stock of 

 Malta.' " 



The " offspring of the stock of Malta " were probably first 

 imported into England during the reign of Henry VIII. 

 It is certain that they were regarded as " meet playfellows 

 for mincing mistresses " in the reign of Elizabeth, whose 

 physician, Dr. Caius, alluded to them as being distinct from 

 the Spaniel, " gentle or comforter." 



Early writers aver that it was customary when Maltese 

 puppies were born to press or twist the nasal bone with the 

 fingers " in order that they may seem more elegant in the sight 

 of men " a circumstance which goes to show that our fore- 



