THE BULLDOG. 191 
Indeed, he is far from being quarrelsome by nature, though the 
bull-terrier in many cases undoubtedly is so, and I fancy that 
some writers have taken their description from this dog rather 
than from the pure bulldog, which has been at all times rather a 
searce animal. If once the pure breed is allowed to drop, the best 
means of infusing fresh courage into degenerate strains will be 
finally lost, except with the addition of extraneous blood which 
may not suit them; for I believe that every kind of dog possessed 
of very high courage owes it to a cross with the bulldog; and 
thus the most plucky greyhounds, foxhounds, mastiffs, pointers, 
&c., may all be traced to this source. Though bull and badger 
baiting may not be capable of extenuation, to them we owe the 
keeping up of this breed in all its purity; and though we may 
agree to discontinue these old-fashioned sports, yet I am sure my 
brother sportsmen will see the bad taste of running down a dog 
who, with all his faults, is not only the most courageous dog, but 
the most courageous animal in the world. 
An attempt has recently been made by Mr. Adcock, who is a 
most enthusiastic lover and breeder of the bulldog, to show that 
he was originally much larger than the English bulldog of the 
first half of the present century. My own opinion is, that he has 
altogether failed, and that, instead of 70 or 80 lbs., which is the 
weight he insists on, 45 to 50 lbs. should be considered correct. 
The Bulldog Club have arrived at the same conclusion, and have 
recorded their opinion in their scale of points, which is as follows, 
with very slight literal corrections made by myself. 
STANDARD DESCRIPTION OF THE CORRECT APPEARANCE AND THE 
SEVERAL POINTS IN DETAIL OF A PERFECTLY-FORMED BULL- 
poG (CORRECTED IN 1885). 
In forming a judgment on any specimen of the breed, the 
general appearance—which is the first impression the dog raed 
as a whole on the eye of the judge—should be first considered. 
Secondly should be noticed its size, shape, and make, or rather its 
proportions, or the relation they bear to each other. (No point 
should be so much in excess of the others as to destroy the general 
symmetry, or make the dog appear deformed, or interfere with. its 
