226 
VERTEBRATA. 
SCOTCH TEEKIEK. 
The Scotch Terrier is of three varieties. The common Scotch terrier is twelve or tliirteen 
inches high ; his body mnscuhir and comjDact, with considerable breadth across the loins, and the 
legs shorter and stouter than those of the English terriers. The head is large in proportion to the 
size of the bod}'-, the muzzle small and pointed, with strong marks of intelligence in the countenance, 
warm attachment to its master, and the evident devotion of every power to the fulfillment of his 
wishes. The hair is long and tough, and extending over the whole of the frame. In color it is 
black or fawn : the white, yellow, or pied are always deficient in purity of blood. Another species 
has nearly the same conformation, but is covered with longer, more curly, and stouter hair — the legs 
being apparently, but not actually, shorter. A third species of terrier is of a considerably larger 
bulk, and three or four inches taller than either of the others. Its hair is shorter than that of the 
other breeds, and is hard and wiry. Mrs. Lee, in her clever book of Anecdotes of Animals, gives 
us the following : 
" The most ancient of this influential, if not respectable, tribe of dogs — indeed the most ancient 
dog of Great Britain — is the Scotch terrier, brought to us, probably, from the northwest of Europe 
by our primitive nihabitants. There are two varieties of indigenous terriers — the one, smooth, 
usually white or black in color, with tan spots, sharp muzzle, bright and lively eyes, pointed or 
slightly turned-down ears, and tail carried high. It is, however, supposed that the Scottish race, 
with a shorter and fuller muzzle, stouter limbs, hard, shaggy fur, sometimes white in color, but 
more often sandy or ochry, is the oldest and most genuine breed. One of these clever and ex- 
cellent beasts, named Peter, lived with my mother for some years, and during the whole of that 
time evinced the greatest sagacity and attachment. He constantly understood the conversation, 
jDTovided it related to cats, rats, or himself ; and often when we spoke of him casually, without 
even knowing he was in the room, or calling him by his name, he has laid his head on our knees 
and. wagged his tail, as much as to say, ' I understand.' He was a most inveterate enemy to all 
rats, mice, and cats, nipping them in the back of the nock, and throwing them over his head, at 
the rate of one in a minute. Before he came into our family, he won a wager that he would kill 
twelve rats in twelve minutes. The second rat fastened on his lip, and hung there while he dis- 
patched the other ten, and then, within the given time, he finished that also. 
