178 THE DOGS OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 



estimating the merits of any individual. The desideratum for the feet is that of 

 the cat round, with the knuckles well up. A dew-claw is often met with behind, 

 but it is not considered important either way. 



8. The loin (value 10) must be wide and deep, and should girth nearly as much 

 as the height at the shoulder. The back ribs being apt to be short, a nipped loin is 

 often met with, but it takes away greatly from the strength of the back. 



9. Size and symmetry (value 15). From the general selection of this breed as 

 a guard for his master, size is all-important, and a dog ought to be at least 29in. 

 or 30in. high to be considered perfect, while any increase on this, if combined with 

 symmetry, is to be counted in his favour. Bitches are usually about 2in. less than 

 the dogs of the same litter. Few breeds are more symmetrical in their proportions 

 when the best specimens are examined. 



10. The colour (value 5) is regarded as of some considerable importance by 

 mastiff breeders, most of whom now confine themselves to a stone fawn, with black 

 muzzle and ear tips. It is, however, indisputable that the brindle is a true mastiff 

 colour, and if we take Mr. Lukey's breed as the foundation of most of our strains, 

 and as his dog Wallace was of that colour, the question is at once settled. Capt. 

 Gamier thinks that a cross of brindle is necessary to keep up the black points ; 

 but I scarcely think this can be correct, for the black is well marked in the Lyme 

 Hall strain, as well as in Mr. Kingdon's crosses, none of which are derived from 

 brindled sires or dams. Nor is it the case in greyhounds, in which black muzzles 

 occur in certain red and fawn strains without a brindled or black cross, whereas 

 they are absent in others, although even a black sire or dam has been used, as in 

 the case of Effort and The Brewer, descended from a long line of fawns, although 

 crossed with the Bedlamite black in their dam Hopmarket. Sometimes white is 

 shown on the face, but this is certainly a defect, though not a great one. A white 

 star on the breast, or a few white toes, may be passed over. Red, with black muzzle 

 is admitted, but not admired. 



11. The coat (value 5) must be fine and short, even on the tail, which, however, 

 may be allowed to be a little more rough than the body. 



12. The tail (value 5) is long and strong at the root, without any curl or twist, 

 but carried high when the dog is excited, not otherwise. 



The following are the dimensions, in inches, of Mr. Lukey's Governor, whose 

 portrait illustrates this article : Height at shoulder, 33in. ; length, nose to tip 

 of tail, 86 ; girth, 40 ; girth round loin, 31 ; round fore leg, lOf ; round thigh, 

 22 ; round head before ears, 28 ; skull, 9| ; muzzle, 5^ conjoined, 15 ; ears, 7|. 

 Weight, 1801b. His pedigree is as follows : 



