372 
two. Very high in the list, also, would 
come Mr. Henry Ridley’s Ch. Redeemer. 
And among bitches one would name cer- 
tainly Mr. Gregg’s Ch. Belfast Erin, Mr. 
Clifton’s Ch. Charwoman, Mr. Everill’s 
Ch. Erminie, and Mr. J. S. McComb’s Ch. 
Beeston Betty. These are but half a dozen, 
but they represent the highest level of ex- 
cellence that has yet been achieved by 
scientific breeding in Irish Terrier type. 
Breeding up to the standard of excellence 
necessary in competition in dog shows has 
doubtless been the agent which has brought 
the Irish Terrier to its present condition 
THE NEW BOOK OF THE D0oOG. 
he has got over the ills incidental to puppy- 
hood—worms and distemper—he needs only 
to be judiciously fed, kept reasonably clean, 
and to have his fill of active exercise. If 
he is taught to be obedient and of gentle- 
manly habit, there is no better house dog. 
He is naturally intelligent and easily trained. 
Although he is always ready to take his 
own part, he is not quarrelsome, but re- 
markably good-tempered and a safe asso- 
ciate of children. Perhaps with his boister- 
ous spirits he is prone sometimes to be over- 
zealous in the pursuit of trespassing tabbies 
and in assailing the ankles of intruding 
butcher boys and officious post- 
men. These characteristics come 
from his sense of duty, which is 
strongly developed, and careful 
training will make him discrimin- 
ative in his assaults. 
Very justly is he classed among 
the sporting dogs. He is a born 
| sportsman, and of his pluck it 
were superfluous to speak. Fear 
is unknown to him. In this 
characteristic as in all others, he 
is truly a son of Erin, and, like 
his military countrymen, he excels 
in strategy and tactics. Watch 
him when hunting on his own on 
a rabbit warren; see him when 
a badger is about; follow his 
MISS LILIAN A. PAULL'S CH. PAYMASTER 
BY CH. BREDA MUDDLER——ERASMIC. 
of perfection, and it is the means by which 
the general dog owning public is most 
surely educated to a practical knowledge 
of what is a desirable and what an un- 
desirable dog to possess. But, after all, 
success in the show ring is not the one and 
only thing to be aimed at, and the Irish 
Terrier is not to be regarded merely as the 
possible winner of prizes. He is above all 
things a dog for man’s companionship, and 
in this capacity he takes a favoured place. 
He has the great advantage of being equally 
suitable for town and country life. In the 
home he requires no pampering; he has 
a good, hardy constitution, and when once 
movements when on the scent of 
a fox ; take note of his activity in 
the neighbourhood of an otter’s 
holt ; observe his alertness even 
at the very mention of rats! As a ratter 
the Irish Terrier has no rival. Mr. Ridgway’s 
story of Antrim Jess illustrates both the 
terrier’s ratting capabilities and its resource- 
ful strategy. A bank was being bored for 
the wily vermin. One bolted. Jess had 
him almost before he had cleared his hole. 
Then came another and another, so fast 
that the work was getting too hot even 
for Jess; when a happy thought seemed 
to strike her, and while in the act of killing 
a very big one, she leaned down and jammed 
her shoulder against the hole and let them 
out one by one, nipping them in succession 
until eighteen lay dead at her feet ! 
