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and trained to kill rats and other vermin as well as to tackle the fox and badger, and perhaps the

otter.

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not until towards the close of the eighteenth century, or the early part of the following one, that the name of the fox terrier began to be adopted; his present popularity commenced less than fifty years ago. In the "Sporting Dictionary" (1803) we are told that "since fox hunting is so deservedly and universally popular in every country where it can be enjoyed, these faithful little animals have become so exceedingly fashionable that few stables of the independent are seen without them. Four and five guineas is no great price for a handsome, well-bred terrier." the fox terrier was fashionable then, how much more so is he at the present time, when a couple of hundred sovereigns is by no means an unusual price to pay for a handsome, well-bred specimen ?

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Although at this period there were terriers of all colours pretty nearly, I am of opinion the fox terrier was originally black and tan. In Daniel's "Rural Sports" (1801), S. Elmer, the artist, draws us such a one, and I have in my possession a very rare engraving, "The Fox Terrier," from an original picture by De Wilde, published August 4, 1806, by Laurie and Whittle, 53, Fleet-street, London. This

is a black and tan dog, perhaps somewhat ragged in coat, which, however it may be inclined to be wavy, is in reality as smooth as are the coats of many of the ordinary fox terriers of the present day. He has drop ears, a "docked" or shortened tail, and capital legs and feet and nice bone; about 18lb. in weight, lacking character somewhat, but bearing in all but colour a resemblance to the fox terrier of the present day. In some of the terriers shown thirty years ago I have often seen dogs very much of the shape and style of this terrier as De Wilde has drawn him. I reproduced the engraving in my volume on the Fox Terrier already alluded to. Mr. W. Godwin, of Market Drayton, writes me that about sixty-five years ago an uncle of his in Derbyshire had a strain of terriers very similar to that drawn by De Wilde. These terriers are particularly game and sagacious, and most desirable animals in their walk of life. It will also be recollected by terrier historians that many years ago there was a strain of black and tan fox terriers in the Duke of Beaufort's kennels at Badminton, and Peter Beckford, whose "Thoughts on Hunting" was published in 1781, had black and black and white terriers running with his hounds.

The late Captain Keene, a member of the committee of the Kennel Club and an enthusiastic admirer of terriers, discovered two paintings by

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Francis Sartorius, date 1796. The one represents a black and white, or black, tan, and white dog, called Viper," evidently intended for a terrier, and it is looking at a fox whose head is discernible at the top of a tree stump. The second picture is of a couple of terriers, one pure white in colour, the other with a mark of black on one side, and a black and tan patch on the right eye. The discovery of these pictures is certainly proof of the fact that there were over a hundred years ago hound marked terriers as we have them now, but whether our modern strain was actually descended from them is another matter. I am of opinion that such was not the case, believing that our modern fashionable dog was a later production, brought about by judicious crossing with terriers of different kinds, not without a slight taint of beagle or hound in the blood. De Wilde drew what he called "The Fox Terrier," and he made it a black and tan, and no doubt his reproduction was in reality the real fox terrier of his day. This opinion receives support from the work of other artists about the same time, few of whom drew white and marked dogs, the prevailing colours being brown, or reds in various shades, black and tan, and pepper and salt. Still, Captain Keene's pictures are of undoubted interest as showing that a hound marked terrier did exist as already stated. This

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Francis Sartorius was father to J. N. Sartorius, whose portraits of horses are well known.

In Bingley's "Memoirs of British Quadrupeds (1809) two terriers are beautifully etched by Howitt. In a copy of this excellent work now lying on my library table the plates are coloured. One of the

dogs, wire-haired, is a kind of dark blue and tan in hue, with semi-prick ears, and an uncut tail; the other, with erect ears, is smooth coated and black and tan, both rich in colour, less than 20lb. in weight each, and likely enough from their appearance to kill either fox, rat, or weasel. As a fact, the wirehaired terrier has just given the finishing shakes, which have extinguished the last sparks of life in a foulmart, whilst the smooth dog, more in the background, is evidently growling and snarling at his mate for having had the little bit of work all to himself. The admired author of the book says:

"This dog has its name of terrier or terrarius from its usually subterraneous employment in forcing foxes and other beasts of prey out of their dens, and in former times, driving rabbits from their burrows (sic). It is generally an attendant upon every pack of foxhounds, and is the determined enemy of all kinds of vermin-such as weasels, foulmarts, rats, &c. The terrier is a fierce, keen, and hardy animal, and will encounter even the badger, from which he

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sometimes meets with very severe treatment. well-trained and veteran dog, however, frequently proves more than a match for that powerful animal. Some terriers are rough and others smooth haired. They are generally reddish brown or black, of a long form, short legged, and strongly bristled about the muzzle."

The Rev. William Daniel tells us little about fox terriers, though he recommends that when young they should not be entered to the badger, "for," he says, "they do not understand shifting like old ones, and, if good for anything, would probably go boldly up to the badger and be terribly bitten; for this reason, if possible, they should be entered to young foxes. With respect to the digging of foxes which hounds run to ground, if the hole be straight and earth slight, follow it, and in following the hole, by keeping below its level, it cannot be lost; but in a strong earth it is best to let the terrier fix the fox in an angle of it, and a pit be then sunk as near to him as can be. A terrier should always be kept at the fox, who otherwise may move, and in loose ground dig himself further in; in digging keep plenty of room, and take care to throw the earth where it may not have to be moved again. Huntsmen, when near the fox, will sometimes put a hound into the earth to draw him; this answers no other

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