CHAP. XIV.] SKYE TERRIERS. 113 
poodle, she jumps on the back of the bloodhound bitch, and 
having looked into her face to see how she will bear it, begins a 
new search, but finding nothing, goes off for a game at romps 
with the Newfoundland dog. While the bloodhound bitch, hear- 
ing the voice of one of the children, whom she has taken a par- 
ticular fancy to, walks off to the nursery, the setter lies dozing 
and dreaming of grouse; while the little terrier sits with ears 
pricked up, listening to any distant sounds of dog or man that 
she may hear ; occasionally she trots off on three legs to look at 
the back door of the house, for fear any rat-hunt or fun of that 
sort may take place without her being invited. Why do High 
land terriers so often run on three legs? particularly when 
bent on any mischief? Is it to keep one in reserve in case of 
emergencies? I never had a Highland terrier who did not hop 
along constantly on three legs, keeping one of the hind legs up 
as if to rest it. 
The Skye terrier has a great deal of quiet intelligence, learn- 
ing to watch his master’s looks, and understand his meaning in a 
wonderful manner. Without the determined blind courage of 
the English bull terrier, this kind of dog shows great intrepidity 
in attacking vermin of all kinds, though often his courage is 
accompanied by a kind of shyness and reserve; but when once 
roused by being bit or scratched in its attacks on vermin, the 
Skye terrier fights to the last, and shows a great deal of cunning 
and generalship, as well as courage. Unless well entered, when 
young, however, they are very apt to be noisy, and yelp and 
bark more than fight. The terriers which I have had of this 
kind show some curious habits, unlike most other dogs. I have 
observed that when young they frequently make a kind of seat 
urder a bush or hedge, where they will sit for hours together, 
crouched like a wild animal. Unlike other dogs too, they wil] 
eat (though not driven by hanger) almost any thing that is given 
them, such as raw eggs, the bones and meat of wild-ducks, or 
wood-pigeons, and other birds, that every other kind of dog, 
however hungry, rejects with disgust. In fact, in many par- 
ticulars, their habits resemble those of wild animals; they always 
are excellent swimmers, taking the water quietly and fearlessly 
when very young. In tracking wounded deer I have occasionally 
seen a Skye terrier of very great use, leading his master quietly, 
I 
