472 
hunted in the open it was early found to 
be necessary to have a swift-footed dog, 
capable of pursuing and pulling down a 
powerful prey. For this purpose the 
aborigines of Australia had no doubt em- 
ployed the Warrigal, but these native 
dogs were too wild and wilful to be 
trained successfully by the colonists as a 
true sporting dog. The Collie, of which 
many were taken out by the Scots settlers, 
was, on the other hand, too docile, and a 
cross was resorted to, the Collie and the 
Warrigal being mated. 
Experience taught the colonists that to 
hunt their Collies against kangaroo spoiled 
them for work among the sheep. They 
therefore imported Greyhounds and Deer- 
hounds. They were not scrupulous in the 
matter of breeding. All that they wanted 
for a kangaroo drive was a useful hunting 
dog combining great speed, strength, and 
pluck, and they crossed their dogs indis- 
criminately, Collie with Dingo, Deerhound 
or Mastiff with Greyhound, and any with 
either ; selecting those which proved strong- 
est and swiftest, and who ran by nose as 
well as by sight. In time this interbreeding 
produced a capable animal of a definite 
type, which received the name of the 
Kangaroo hound. 
As a rule they are dark in colour, 
nearly black, but occasionally brindle ; but 
black is not desirable, and all coarseness has 
gradually been bred out, with the result that 
the Kangaroo hound is now a decided and 
distinct breed, with certain famous strains 
that are sought after and that win distinction 
in their classes at the Colonial shows. In 
general appearance the dog resembles a 
heavy Greyhound, with a long, lean head, 
somewhat broader between the ears than the 
English dog, and more domed. The ears 
are fine and smooth, V-shaped, and rather 
low set, hanging at the sides of the head 
and never erect. The neck is slender but 
muscular, and slightly arched. The chest 
is fairly broad, the back long and strong, 
and the loins short and arched. The hind- 
quarters are well developed, very muscular, 
but not too broad. The fore-legs are straight 
and strong, and the hind-legs well boned. 
THE NEW BOOK 
OF THE DOG: 
The long and fine tail, which is without 
feather, is carried downward with a slight 
curl at the tip. The coat is smooth and 
fine, sometimes coarser on the body, and 
it may be of any colour rather than black. 
In height the dog stands from 27 in. to 29 in. 
at the shoulder, and the average weight is 
from 65 lb. to 67 Ib. 
The Kelpie, or Australasian Sheep-dog. 
—Our kin in the Antipodes with their 
vast stock farms have always set high 
value on the utility dog, and few of the 
early settlers from Scotland, bent upon 
sheep raising, neglected to takeewith them 
their Collies as prospective helpmates. But 
the Australians have been so enterprising 
as to produce a pastoral dog of their own. 
The Kelpie, as he is often called, is not 
perhaps an example of high, scientific breed- 
ing; but he is a useful, presentable dog, 
in whom it is possible to take pride. He 
is all black in colour, with a straight harsh 
coat, and he stands from 20 in. to 24 in. 
in height, his weight averaging 54 lb. His 
ears are pricked, and these, with a some- 
what long muzzle, give his head a resem- 
blance to that of the Pomeranian. Alto- 
gether, he is well built and well propor- 
tioned, and from all accounts he is steadily 
improving in type. Mr. F. White, of Gee- 
long, is among the prominent breeders, his 
Wallace being one of the best seen for some 
years back. Another breeder of note is 
Mr. R. Kaleski, of Liverpool, New South 
Wales, who has recently been endeavouring, 
with some success, to establish also a breed 
of cattle-dog which shall meet acceptance 
as a recognised Australian type. For the 
Kelpie no strenuous efforts are now re- 
quired. By the impetus of his own admir- 
able qualities, he is making headway not 
only in Victoria and New South Wales, but 
also in Tasmania and New Zealand. 
The Australian Terrier—Until recently 
English dog fanciers have been incredulous 
as to the genuineness of the Australian 
Terrier, but ocular proof of its existence 
as a breed has been demonstrated in 
the importation of some specimens, and 
evidence has been supported by the forma- 
tion of the Victorian Australian Terrier 
