THE MALTESE DOG 
virtually the founder of the modern Maltese. 
His Fido and Lily were certainly the most 
perfect representatives of the breed during 
the decade between 1860 and 1870, and at 
the shows held at Birmingham, Islington, 
the Crystal Palace, and Cremorne Gardens, 
this beautiful brace was unapproachable. 
Somewhat later Lady Giffard, of Red Hill, 
and Mrs. Bligh Monk, of Coley Park, suc- 
ceeded in winning the best prizes, and Mr. 
J. Jacobs, of Oxford, was a prominent com- 
petitor. Lady Giffard’s Hugh was a par- 
ticularly lovely dog, with a “coat like floss 
silk, white as driven snow,’’ and without a 
dark hair on all his body. His eyes and nose 
were very dark. His weight was rather less 
than five pounds. 
About ten years ago Mr. J. W. Watts, of 
Birmingham, was almost alone in his emin- 
ence as a breeder and exhibitor. His 
Prince Lily White and Flossie were only less 
perfect than Mr. Mandeville’s Fido and 
Lady Giffard’s Hugh. More recently still 
the breed had its best representatives in 
Mr. Jacobs’ Pixie, Mrs. Palmer’s Sir Meneris, 
Miss Smith’s Snowflake, Mrs. Fish’s Little 
MR. T. W. LEESE’S CH. LADY MACDONALD. 
Count, and the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morri- 
son’s Melita. The variety still remains in 
very few hands, but at the present time 
there are adimirably typical specimens in 
Mrs. L. H. Chard’s Little Lord Doricles, 
Ch. Snowflack, and Chingford Lassie; Mrs. 
Carlo Clarke’s Boule de Neige ; Mrs. Money’s 
Sir White Major and Ladysmith Daddles, 
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449 
and Mr. T. W. Leese’s Ch. Prince Lilywhite 
II., Major Mite and Ch. Lady Macdonald. 
Efforts have been made to acclimatise 
the Maltese dog in the United States, whither 
many of our best specimens have been ex- 
ported, but the American climate seems 
MR. T. W. LEESE’S MAJOR MITE 
BY COUNT LILYWHITE——-OLD QUEEN. 
to be unsuited to all long-haired dogs, whose 
coats and general beauty deteriorate. It 
is a breed which to be kept in perfection re- 
quires more than ordinary attention, not 
only on account of its silky jacket, which is 
peculiarly liable to become matted, and is 
difficult to keep absolutely clean without 
frequent washing, but also an account of a 
somewhat delicate constitution, the Maltese 
being susceptible to colds and chills. If 
affected by such causes, the eyes are often 
attacked, and the water running from them 
induces a brown stain to mar the beauty of the 
face. Skin eruptions due, to unwise feeding, 
or parasites due to uncleanliness, are quickly 
destructive to the silky coat, and constant 
watchfulness is necessary to protect the dog 
from all occasion for scratching. The diet is 
an important consideration always, and a 
nice discernment is imperative in balancing 
the proportions of meat and vegetable. Too 
much meat is prone to heat the blood, while 
too little induces eczema. Scraps of bread 
and green vegetables well mixed with gravy 
and finely-minced lean meat form the best 
dietary for the principal meal of the day, 
and plenty of exercise is imperative. 
