138 THE DOGS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 



like the hound, must on no account be leggy ; neither must he be too short on the 

 leg. He should stand like a cleverly-made hunter covering a lot of ground, 

 yet with a broad and powerful loin, as before stated. He will thus attain the 

 highest degree of propelling power, together with the greatest length of stride that 

 is compatible with the length of the body. Weight, within certain limits is not a 

 certain criterion of a terrier's fitness for his work. General shape, size, and 

 contour are the main points; and if a dog can gallop and stay, and follow his 

 fox up a drain, it matters little what his weight is to a pound or so, though, 

 roughly speaking, it may be said he should not scale over 201b. in show condition. 

 In my opinion the weight should be little, if any, over 16Z&. 



DISQUALIFYING POINTS. 



1. Nose, white, cherry, or spotted to a considerable extent with either of 

 these colours. 



2. Ears, prick, tulip, or rose. 



3. Mouth, much undershot. 



There is no breed of dog that has risen so high and so quickly in popular favour 

 and estimation as the fox terrier has done since 1866, but a large proportion of those 

 bred at the present day are useless for the practical purpose of bolting a fox or 

 badger, from their size alone. 



There was not even a class for this breed at the first two or three Birmingham 

 shows ; but in 1862 Mr. Wootton entered there the first fox terriers as such in a 

 class for " white and other smooth-haired English terriers (except black and tan)," 

 when Jock won. In 1863 a distinct class for fox terriers was given at Birmingham, 

 when Mr. Wootton entered a considerable number, and again won with Jock. In 

 1864 there were more than forty exhibited at Nottingham; and, if I mistake 

 not, it was here that the celebrated Tartar made his debut. At the Dublin 

 Show, in the same year, there was a fair fox terrier class, and Mr. Stevenson's 

 Patch took the first prize back to Chester a feat she repeated at Birmingham 

 soon after. 



In 1867 and 1868 there were respectively 62 fox terriers exhibited at Birmingham, 

 being on each occasion about one-twelfth and one-thirteenth of the total number of 

 dogs at the show. In 1869 there were 69 at Islington, or one-fifteenth of all the 

 dogs exhibited; while at Birmingham that year the number increased to 115, or 

 nearly one-seventh the whole exhibition. 



At the Crystal Palace in 1870 the number was 104, or nearly one-ninth of the 

 total number of dogs; and in the same year at Birmingham it was 116, or one- 

 eighth the whole show. 



In 1876 the number at the Crystal Palace was 141, or one-eighth of all the show ; 

 at Brighton 166, or one-fifth ; and at Birmingham 120, or one-ninth. 



Two shows were held in 1876-7 specially for fox terriers (smooth and wire- 

 haired), at Nottingham and Lillie Bridge. At the former (of the smooth alone) 

 the number exhibited was 157, and at the latter 190. I believe the largest number 



