Rough-Coated Collie 353 



into the composition, so, after all that may be said about collies being in- 

 bred, it is a question whether or not they suffer as much from the probable 

 effects of in-breeding as show specimens of other breeds. 



"Now, with regard to the special features of the different strains, 

 undoubtedly in head and expression claims of superiority were due to Old 

 Cockie, Duncan, Bess, and Madge I., whilst for coat the strains of Charle- 

 magne and Smuggler were conspicuous. 



" Comparing the exhibition collies of to-day with those of twenty-five 

 years ago, a distinct improvement is manifest, and a smaller percentage of 

 worthless mongrels appear on the show bench. 



"The great improvement so apparent in legs and feet is really remark- 

 able, as years ago weak ankles and cowhocks were common faults, whereas 

 tcf-day they are rarely in evidence, and to Metchley Wonder is no doubt 

 due the advancement in that direction. 



"Taking the general average of specimens, there is a noticeable im- 

 provement in coat, but still there is a tendency to the lack of those dis- 

 tinguishing features — mane, frill and cape — ^which embellished some of the 

 old favourites, and which affords an admirable background to set off the 

 head and «ears of a collie. But how many exhibits are to be seen nowadays 

 with the hair plucked from round the base of the ears, evidently done with 

 the idea of helping the animal's appearance, instead of which the opposite 

 effect is produced, and the ears have an unnatural appearance, suggestive 

 of a dog recovering from skin disease. 



"The greatest disparity observable is in type of head, and, to a great 

 extent, no doubt the responsibility is traceable to Charlemagne; for although 

 his own head was tolerable in shape, other members of his family were 

 very faulty in head properties. Charlemagne's stock was very unreliable 

 in type and colour, some coming with short heads and big eyes, and others 

 dished-faced and lippy, most erratic as regards ears, and in colour many 

 white with dark markings on face and ears, and some liver and white, 

 similar to some varieties of spaniels. 



"Years ago, many collies had objectionable light eyes, and their 

 introduction came through Carlyle with specimens of the mouse colour, 

 but such have been bred out, and now it is seldom one sees a collie with 

 eyes approaching lemon colour. The colour of eye that most suits the 

 expression of a collie is a deep shade of hazel, a very dark eye better suiting 

 the expression of a terrier. 



