154 



AND TOY DOGS. 



Fig. 33. MALTESE DOG, FIDO. 



MALTESE DOG. 



This beautiful little dog is a Skye terrier in miniature, with, 

 however, a far more silky coat, a considerably shorter back, and a 

 tail stiffly curved over the hip. 



Points. The weight should never exceed 5 or 6 Ibs. ; head 

 closely resembling that of the Skye, but with more shining and 

 silky hair; coat as long as that dog's, but more transparent and 

 silky ; actions lively and playful, and altogether rendering it a 

 pleasing pet. The tail is curved over the back, very small and 

 short, with a brush of silky hair ; color white, with an occasional 

 patch of fawn on the ear or paw. The breed was so scarce some 

 time ago, as to induce Sir E. Landseer to paint one as the last of 

 his racs ; since which several have been imported from Malta, and, 

 though still scarce, they are now to be obtained. A strain bred by 

 Mr. Mandeville has kept possession of the show bench since 1862, 

 when the first class of this kind of toy dog was established at the 

 Agricultural Hall Show, in which Mr. Mandeville's Mick and Fido 

 were first and second. In the following year, at Ashburnham, the 

 same kennel again produced the first and second prize holders, 

 Fido being at the head of his class, and a dog called Prince 



