84 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DOG. 



fight in it ; and, lacking other game, they will gladly ana 

 fiercely engage in combat with each other. 



THE ENGLISH TERRIER, 



A light, active, and graceful little dog, usually of a black 

 and tan color and those of this tint are the best but some- 

 times white. If black and tan, they should not present a 

 speck of white ; and if white, they should be entirely of that 

 color. 



The English Terrier is, in combat, as game as the Scotch, 

 but less hardy in enduring cold or constant immersion in 

 water. It appears most probable that the rough or Scotch 

 breed was the primitive stock, and that the smooth or Eng- 

 lish varieties are the result of artificial culture. A small, 

 well-marked English Terrier, under seven pounds weight, 

 will, "if as good as he looks," fetch from five to ten guineas. 

 The celebrated dog " Billy," who killed the hundred rats in 

 less than five minutes, was a white English Terrier, with a 

 dark patch on the side of his head. 



THE MALTESE. 



This is by some naturalists classed with the spaniels ; but 

 in the form of its skull, in its erect ears, rough muzzle, and 

 determination in the pursuit of vermin, it presents charac- 

 teristics sufficient to induce me to place it in the present 

 group. It is usually black, but sometimes white in any 

 case it should be but of one color. An uncle of mine had 

 one named ironically " Lion," who, although under five 

 pounds weight, killed an enormous rat in a few seconds, in 

 my presence, in the Hill-street Baths, Edinburgh. 



This dog was well known to the ancients, is figured on 

 many Roman monuments, and was described by Strabo. 

 His small size, and want of strength in proportion to his 

 courage, have, however, long reduced this spirited little dog 

 to the condition of a mere lapdog ; and as he has been super- 

 seded by, perhaps, prettier, and at all events more easily ob- 

 tained pets, he has now become almost extinct. Landseer 

 has, not long since, introduced one into a splendid painting, 

 as, " The Last of his Race." 



THE SOUTH AMERICAN TERRIER 



Is something like the preceding, but less hairy, and with a 

 raore pointed muzzle. It is remarkable as being a keen de- 



