408 



THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 



get established under this classification was 

 the Cairn Terrier of the Highlands, known 

 in some localities as the short-coated, 

 working Skye, and in others as the Fox- 

 terrier, or Tod-hunter. A sub-division of 



SIR CLAUD ALEXANDER'S 



YOUNG BALLOCHMYLE BEAUTIFUL 



Photograph by Russell. 



this breed was the more leggy " Aberdeen " 

 variety, which was less distinctly Highland, 

 and it was the " Aberdeen " which finally 

 came to be called, as it is still rightly called, 

 the Scottish Terrier. 



At one period the Skye, Scottish, and 

 Paisley Terriers were threatened with ex- 

 termination on the show bench. Prior to 

 1874 no authentic particulars regarding the 

 terriers of Scotland were forthcoming, ex- 

 cepting perhaps of Dandie Dinmonts and 

 Skyes. Dandies showed the regularity of 

 an old-established breed, but Skyes pre- 

 sented the heterogeneous appearance of a 

 variety class, and indeed might have been 

 more correctly catalogued as rough-haired 

 terriers. In 1875, owing to the urging of 

 Mr. (now Sir) Paynton Pigott, the Kennel 

 Club did give a class for Scottish Terriers, 

 thus separating them from other breeds. 

 In 1876 two Skyes were shown at the Agri- 

 cultural Hall, in London, and the judges 

 were denounced for not recognising them as 

 genuine Skyes ; one of these dogs was Pig 

 (Mr. Carrick's), and the other Splinter (Mr. 

 Gordon Murray's) ; the latter took second 

 in her class, and was the dam of the well- 

 known Bitters, Rambler, and Worry. From 

 1879 the Scottish Terrier, the Skye, and 

 the Paisley Terrier parted company, to 



their common advantage, and have never 

 since been confused. 



It is to be remembered that the Skye 

 Terrier was used in the Highlands for otter 

 and fox hunting. They accompanied the 

 hounds, keeping as near to them as their 

 short legs would allow, and when the hounds 

 drove the fox or the otter into a cairn where 

 they could not follow the terriers would be 

 hi'ed in. They were perfect devils at the 

 work. A terrier must necessarily be small 

 and flat in the rib to enable him successfully 

 to undertake subterranean manoeuvres,, 

 which he has often to accomplish lying on 

 his side. He must also have courage 

 sufficient to face and kill his quarry, or die 

 in the attempt. But for such work the 

 Skye Terrier is now very seldom employed, 

 and he has been bred to a different type. 

 What remains in the animal himself, how- 

 ever, are his superb qualities of pertinacity, 

 vivacity, devotion to his master, and many 

 quaint and winning habits which seem to 

 belong to every membei of the breed. 



The present-day Skye is without doubt 

 one of the most beautiful dogs in existence, 

 and always commands a great amount of 



MRS. F. SANDWITH'S HOLMWOOD LASSIE 

 BY CH. ALISTER PAMELA WALLACE. 



Photograph by Russell. 



admiration and attention at the exhibitions 

 at which he makes his appearance. 



He is a dog of medium size, with a weight 

 not exceeding 25 lb., and not less than 

 1 8 lb. ; he is long in proportion to his 

 height, with a very level back, a powerful 



