THE ENGLISI TERRIER. 117 
practice of cropping is kept up, for very few dogs would show neat 
ears if left entire; but when they are neat, they surely ought to 
be prized accordingly by the judges. 
The neck should be light, round, and with a greyhound-like turn 
from the occiput to the setting on to the shoulders, tapering very 
slightly downwards. The under surface must be quite tight and 
concave, approaching the form of the'cock’s thropple. . The shoulders 
must be sloping, but they are not required to be muscular, as in 
the fox-terrier, whose digging powers are regarded as of pansidpr: 
able importance. 
The chest is deep, with an approach to the keel-shape of the 
greyhound, which it also resembles in its absence of width. The 
round barrel-like form of some strains arises from a bull cross, 
used to abrogate the evils of that attending on the cross of thé 
Italian greyhound. The back ribs are often short, but good judges 
penalise this tendency. 
The loins should be round and slightly arched, the muscle being 
developed in good specimens under the spine as well as above it. 
The flank should not be too much cut up. — 
The legs should be light of bone, set on quite straight, with 
elbows and hocks well let down, and stifles well bent. The fore- 
arms are muscular, but not excessively so, and the lower thighs 
are of the same character. 
The feet are compact and round, but hare-like, with the toes well 
split up, and at the same time arched. The claws should be short 
and jet black. The dew-claws are generally removed. 
The coat is fine, short, and glossy, but not soft. 
The colour (including markings) is regarded as more important 
than any other point by the breeders and fanciers of this terrier, 
to such an extent as to justify the allotment of 25 out of the too 
in the scale of points. Of course, in any breed intended to be 
judged for its suitability to work, such an allotment would be 
absurd, but in a fancy article there can be no argument held on 
this principle, and we must be content to accept the dicta of those 
who have the command of the market. These gentlemen hold, 
first, that the black must be jet without admixture with the tan 
or a single white hair; secondly, the tan must be a rich mahogany, 
defined distinctly by a marked and clear line where it meets the 
