TERRIERS AT WORK. 61 



rather striking instance of what may be done 

 with a full-grown dog who has been allowed to 

 contract a bad habit was shown in a wire-haired 

 terrier I bought from a sporting saddler. I M^as 

 very much struck with the dog when I was in the 

 shop, and asked his master if he would sell him. 

 This I found the man quite willing to do, and he 

 asked me a price that I considered very small for 

 such a good-looking one. I asked therefore why 

 he was selling the dog, and he told me frankly he 

 did not care to keep him as he was an inveterate 

 sheep-chaser, and though he had done all he knew 

 to break him of the habit, he had not been 

 successful. " Have you tried him at hunting or 

 ratting ? " I asked. " No," was the reply, " I have 

 not had the chance." This made me hopeful about 

 my bargain, and I set off homewards with my new 

 purchase. 



It was mid-winter, and a hard frost having set 

 in, I found the roads all but impassable by the 

 time I reached the hill below my home. At last 

 I had to get out of the dogcart and let the man 

 lead the horse, while I made the best of my way 

 up on foot. It was in memory of this drive that 

 I christened my new terrier Frosty. Remembering 

 the character with which he had come to me, I took 

 Frosty out for the first time into the fields with 

 a long line attached to his collar. As we came 

 where the sheep were grazing. Frosty pricked up 

 his ears and looked all attention, but he did not 

 offer to touch them. We then started for a rabbit- 



