THE COLLEY DOG. 197 



6. The loin (value 10) is strong and very slightly arched, but not more than 

 elegance requires. The back ribs are often shallow, and, if too much so, the defect 

 should be properly estimated. 



7. The legs (value 10) are all-important, both behind and before ; they must 

 be straight in front and well bent behind, all being of necessity muscular. The 

 arms should be of full size both in bone and flesh, elbows quite straight and well 

 let down, and the hocks powerful, clean, and low. On the hind legs there is 

 often a double dew claw hanging only by the skin ; but many excellent strains 

 are without one, owing probably to their having been removed for many 

 generations. 



8. The feet (value 10) are long rather than round, but the toes are well arched, 

 and the pads very tough and horny. A large flat foot is an abomination. 



9. The coat (value 15) is, as before remarked, the peculiar feature in this breed ; 

 though I am sorry to say that, in my opinion, sufficient stress is not laid on this 

 point by most of our judges. In the rough colley it should be shaggy and very 

 thick, so as to create some difficulty in seeing the skin when the hair is separated 

 by the hands with that view, the undergrowth being of a woolly nature, which adds 

 to this difficulty. This undercoat is almost always lighter in colour than the upper, 

 and even in those parts which appear black outside it has a yellowish or brownish 

 tinge. Round the neck, and especially on its under side, the outer coat is greatly 

 lengthened, constituting what is called a "ruff" or "frill," which is found in no 

 other English dog, but is well marked in the Pomeranian. In the smooth colley the 

 coat is short, hard, and very close. 



10. The colour (value 10) most commonly met with is black and tan. In best 

 breeds the black is seldom brilliant, showing the lighter colour of the undercoat 

 through more or less, and often itself tinged with tan. The face, spots over the 

 eyes, breast, belly, and legs below the elbow and hocks are tan, which should be of 

 a reddish fawn rather than deep red tinge. The under side of the tail is also tinged 

 with this colour. In the smooth colley the black is generally deeper and richer, 

 but the tan should be of the same tinge and extent. A mottled strain, one of 

 which I have selected as the type of the smooth colley, is highly valued in the 

 North of England and also in Wales. A good deal of white is met with in some 

 strains, and sometimes the tan is altogether absent, but, cceteris paribus, a black and 

 tan colour without much white is highly preferred. In both varieties the whole 

 body is sometimes tan, or tan mixed with white. 



11. The tail (value 5) is bushy, and always has a decided curl in it. As 

 described by Burns : 



His gaucie tail wi' upward curl, 

 Hung ower his hurdies wi' a swurl, 



being carried gaily, though not over the back, as in the Spitz. 



12. In symmetry (value 5) the colley is fully up to the average dog, or perhaps 

 above it, and artistically he is much admired. 



Both Vero and Fan are without any reliable pedigree. 



