THE COLLET DOG. 193 



intermediate between the two, existed in old Rome ; while Arrian describes only 

 three varieties as known in Greece, viz. : the celeres, probably greyhounds ; pugnaces 

 mastiffs ; and sagaces, answering either to our trick dogs or to dogs hunting by 

 nose. But, leaving the history of the colley, we must now consider his present 

 condition ; and here experience has decided that he should either have a moderately 

 long coat with a woolly undergrowth over the body, increased in length round the 

 neck in the shape of what is called a "ruff" or "frill," and with very short hair 

 on the legs below the elbows and hocks, or that he shall have a short hard coat 

 over the whole body. A very long coat is found to mat and hold the wet, so as 

 to tire the dog, while the short coat is well suited to the lowland sheep, and is 

 even found to answer in some hill countries. At all events, there is no doubt that 

 many goods shepherds use, and have long done so, the short-coated colley ; and he 

 must therefore be accepted as typical of the true breed as well as the rough variety, 

 and, except in coat, there is not much difference between them. 



A great deal of discussion has also lately taken place in regard to the colley's 

 proper colour and general appearance, and various descriptions have been given of 

 what each writer considers the genuine breed, differing in every respect but the one 

 to which I have drawn attention, which in almost all cases has been admitted to be 

 essential. Some gentlemen, however, who have obtained specimens with beautiful 

 but open coats of a glossy black, pointed with tan, have contended that this is the 

 desideratum ; and so it is for the dog considered simply as a companion. Hitherto, 

 however, no one has ventured to propound the theory that he is to be so regarded ; 

 and, until I find that a separate class is made at some one or more of our important 

 shows for " toy colleys," I must continue to describe the breed from the shepherd's 

 point of view only regarding any suspicion of a setter cross, and especially if 

 shown in coat, as injuring his value for the reasons given above. Only those who 

 have seen one or more of the public sheepdogs trials instituted about four years 

 ago by Mr. Lloyd Price, and many of which have of late years been held in Wales 

 as well as in England), or have privately seen these animals at their usual work, 

 can realise the amount of intelligence displayed by them. In these trials the 

 slightest sign from the shepherd is understood and obeyed, and even the exact 

 amount of driving calculated to make the sheep go quietly forward to the pen 

 without breaking away is regulated to a nicety. A curious case which a short time 

 ago happened to myself would almost lead to the belief that the colley understands 

 the meaning of a conversation between members of the human family. Entering 

 the drawing-room of a lady who has a celebrated dog of this variety as a pet, I 

 was met with the question, " What do you think of my dog is he not a perfect 

 beauty ? " After looking him over as he lay on the rug, and with a desire to tease 

 my hostess, to whom I owed a Roland or two, for her previous many Olivers 

 administered in badinage, I replied very quietly, " Yes, certainly, if he had but a 

 colley coat and a little more ruff." The words were hardly out of my mouth when 

 the dog rose from his recumbent position, seized one of my feet in his mouth, gave 

 it a gentle but vicious little shake, not sufficient to scratch the leather of my boot, 

 and then lay down again. There was no emphasis on my part, and not a word 



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