THE IEISH TEEEIEE. 221 



wliippit and that of a carthorse. It would not give a stranger a bad impression to 

 describe them as a miniature Irish wolfhound in appearance. If I were asked to 

 name the most prominent characteristics in the temperament of the Irish terrier, 

 I should reply, " Courage and good temper." 



Their courage is quite national in its quality, being of that dashing, reckless, 

 " dare-devil " description that is associated with the human habitants of their 

 native country. The Irish Terrier fears nothing that ever came on four legs with a 

 furry skin. They have no caution in their gameness, but go straight at 

 their enemy with a heedless pluck utterly regardless of consequences. They do not 

 always conquer, but they do or die unless pulled off. It would occupy too much 

 space to relate a few of the many instances of their courage publicly recorded. 



I have read in the newspapers of a nine weeks' old pup killing a rat ; of another 

 puppy freshly cropped, with unhealed ears, rushing by older dogs of a different breed, 

 and fiercely attacking and killing a fox, undergoing the whole time without a 

 whimper the most terrible punishment. I know several that have killed their 

 badger ; and a letter in my possession describes an Homeric combat under water 

 between an Irish terrier and an otter the latter eventually succumbing. Their 

 other quality is quite as bright a side to their character. Their good temper is 

 remarkable in so game a terrier. Terrier men will bear me out that a quarrelsome 

 dog is seldom truly game. I question whether any of my colleagues in the Irish 

 Terrier Club can give an instance of one of the breed biting a human being. They 

 are, therefore, peculiarly fitted for house-dogs where there are women and children. 

 They make the most admirable companions, faithful, intelligent, and always full of 

 high spirits. Whether accompanying their master out walking, following a trap or 

 a bicycle, their never tiring liveliness will amuse their master and relieve his 

 loneliness. The poaching blood they inherit from their ancestors gives them an 

 instinctive love of a gun. Sportsmen have not failed to recognise their advantages 

 as rabbiting dogs. They hunt mute. They are a peculiarly hardy breed and 

 seldom succumb to the many ills that puppyhood is heir to. Shows have done 

 much for their outward appearance, and without that softening effect on the 

 temperament which usually follows in its wake. It would be a poor show where 

 perfection could not be made up with different parts from the body of the exhibits. 

 " Spuds," the subject of the illustration, was a beautiful bitch in her youth and 

 when in proper coat, she shows the long, parallel, wolfhound-like head. Her coat 

 was as hard as cocoa-nut fibre, the colour, a bright yellow red, the hue of September 

 wheat, with the sun on it. She is properly leggy, long rather in body, and yet firmly 

 knit together, and very full of the racing-build. The golden wheaten is also a good 

 colour, but the mahogany red one sometimes sees is to be avoided as showing the 

 bar sinister of the black and tan. Long legs and a smooth face are necessary 

 characteristics; and short legs, profuse coat, and long hair on the face indicate 

 mongrelism and Scotch blending. Much of the breed's recent advance is 

 due to the improved knowledge of the judges. While such pitiful blunders in the 

 awards were an every show occurrence, it was rather a wonder the breed did not 

 deteriorate instead of only standing still. To-day I may safely say they rival in 



