140 THE DOGS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 



the former being, I "believe, the nearest of any of the dogs to the requirements of a 

 fox terrier, and the latter more close to perfection as a bitch than any I have ever 

 seen. Bitters won his first prize (under the name of Jock) at Ep worth in 1872, and 

 has althogether won nine first and nine second prizes. He was first shown by Mr. 

 Denton, of Doncaster, who sold him to Mr. Murchison (who changed his name to 

 Bitters) ; then he came into the hands of Mr. Gibson, and now belongs to Mr. 

 Burbidge. In 1876 Bitters was first in the champion class at Maidstone, and second 

 champion at Brighton ; in 1877 he was second champion at Nottingham. He 

 is said to be by Tyrant, but the name of his dam is very doubtful. Olive has 

 been shown only twice, namely, at Brighton and Bristol, winning first each time, and 

 also the special prize at Brighton for the best fox terrier never shown before, beating 

 at the same time Burbidge's Nettle, who was first at the Crystal Palace in 1876, and 

 at Lillie Bridge in 1877. Olive is by Belgrave Joe Tricksey by Chance ; Belgrave 

 Joe by Belvoir Joe Branstone's Vic, great granddam of Burbidge's Nettle. 



THE ROUGH FOX TERRIER. 



Until within the last thirty years a rough or broken-haired terrier, differing 

 altogether from the modern Skye, Dandie, and Yorkshire blue-tan, was commonly 

 met with throughout England, where, curiously enough, he was often called 

 " Scotch " lucus a non lucendo such a dog being almost unknown across the 

 Tweed. He closely resembled the dog now called the rough fox terrier ; but had 

 usually rather a longer coat on the body, and of a coarser texture, the beard being 

 considerably more prominent than that approved of in the present day. Somewhat 

 of this kind was the Rev. Thomas Pearce's Venture, whose portrait was given in 

 the Field among the " Terriers of no Definite Breed " in 1866 ; but she more nearly 

 approached the modern rough fox terrier than the old-fashioned wire-haired breed, 

 and indeed was from strains used with foxhounds by Mr. Radclyffe and the Rev. 

 J. Russell in the West of England, some of which were rough and others smooth. 

 In general character she closely resembled Mr. Lindsay Hogg's Topper, selected by 

 me to illustrate the rough fox terrier dog, partly on account of his beautiful shape 

 throughout and remarkable quality, and partly from his close resemblance to my 

 first pet, a wonderfully game " ratter " and badger terrier. Undoubtedly he is not 

 quite deep enough in his back ribs for perfection ; nor, indeed, is Bramble, my other 

 selection ; but it would be difficult to find any other fault with either of them, and, 

 until I see a specimen of the breed with deep back ribs, united with all their other 

 good points, I am content to take them to represent the type of the rough fox 

 terrier of the day. A white colour, more or less marked with tan or black, was 

 always preferred for vermin terriers ; but a great many black and tans, or rather 

 grey and fawn were met with, and also grey throughout, or a very dark grizzled tan, 

 brown, or badger-grey, as in Mr. Radclyffe's breed, of Cherwell Grange, Shropshire, 

 which last, however, were possessed of tulip ears, a fault no doubt in the opinion of 

 the " fancy," and therefore condemning them to private life at the shows, where 

 they were exhibited by that gentleman some ten years ago. In the present day 



