THE SMOOTH FOX TERRIER. 135 



had all red ears, till Grove Nettle appeared. The celebrated Old Jock was by a 

 black and tan dog, and he and Old Trap brought out the coloured heads, being very 

 much used to every kind of fox terrier bitch. 



During the last ten years the fox terrier has risen into great celebrity; but 

 among the multitude of his admirers and patrons there is a strange difference about 

 his necessary qualifications, as evidenced by the various distinct types which meet 

 with favour at dog shows. It is important, therefore, to recall attention to the 

 purposes for which the dog is intended, and consider how far they can be carried 

 out by the possession or otherwise of certain points in his make ; and in discussing 

 the subject I shall confine myself to this feature, and exclude his fighting and killing 

 merits, which among many people seem to be the chief objects of their desire in 

 breeding this dog, though they are a positive disqualification for his intended use 

 in bolting the fox. When brought up and employed solely for fighting and cat 

 slaughter he ceases to be a fox terrier. 



With regard to size, I cannot describe what it should be better than in the 

 language of a letter which has recently appeared from that old and thoroughly 

 experienced master of foxhounds, the Hon. Grantley Berkeley, who says : " What is 

 wanted with foxhounds is a terrier so small as to be well able to go to ground, with 

 pluck enough to keep to or bark at a fox, to bolt the fox, or prevent his earthing 

 further." For real work that is, going to ground to fox or badger no terrier 

 should be higher than 13in. to 14in. at the shoulder, or heavier than 161b. With 

 the Trelawny hunt small terriers of lOlb and 121b. are used, and in the S.D.H. 

 country the late master had them of 121b. and 141b. Mr. A. F. Boss, the present 

 master of the latter hunt, is using a brace by Mr. Murchison's old dog Lancer which 

 are about 141b. each, with plenty of bone and quality, and he is very fond of them, 

 as they work wonderfully well. The chest, also, should not be too wide, as it is 

 impossible for such dogs to go to ground in most rabbit earths, or up drains 

 frequented by foxes, so as to reach the end. The Wynnstay and Grove terriers of 

 forty years ago did not exceed 151b. to 161b. at the outside, though the Yorkshire 

 dogs were larger ; but the former were very plucky, and in those days cherry noses 

 and red eyes were not uncommon. 



The question of length of leg depends much upon the configuration of the 

 dog, and it is difficult to lay down any defined " hard and fast " line as to their form 

 per se. For instance, a dog with a deep brisket, sloping shoulders, and elbows well 

 let down, can race away with short forelegs ; for the pace comes from the loins and 

 hind legs as the propelling power. Again, a long-backed dog, always remembering 

 he is well loined, so as to give breadth enough, does not require such length of leg 

 as a short-backed dog. The famous bitch Grove Nettle was very long in her back. 

 A dog to race must have freedom of action, and this he gets from length ; but the 

 fox terrier must also have good back ribs, as well as muscular development in 

 shoulders and loins, to do his work well underground. The legs should be good 

 round-boned ones, and strong at the pasterns (the part immediately above the toes), 

 to enable them to travel easily over wet or rough ground. 



It is not absolutely necessary that the fox terrier should be a fast galloper, and, 



