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Manchester has done something special in making the modern Black-and-tan Terrier what he is; but it is not so in the case of the Highlands of Scotland and the Collie, and this dog is more properly described as the Scotch Collie, even to the manner of spelling the word.

This dog is peculiarly Scotch, and as a pastoral dog was originally more intimately connected with the Lowlands, where he is still met with pure in the greatest numbers, although now plentiful in both the Highlands of Scotland and the northern counties of England— and, indeed, through the influence of dog shows and the rage for the breed in fashionable circles, in London itself.

The English form of Sheepdog is described in earlier times than is the Scotch Collie; and it is not improbable that the latter may be in part derived from the former and the Scotch Greyhound. The Collie at least partakes of the form of both, having the strength of build of the English Sheepdog and the lithe, graceful action of the Greyhound. This is, of course, a mere suggestion, and not even much supported by the fact that intermediates in form between the Collie and both of these are seen in litters of what are called pure Collies.

If we endeavour to learn anything of the Collie's origin from his name, we are again met with a host of difficulties. Some writers have assumed that the name is of Gaelic origin; but they advance no satisfactory reasons, and, before that can be accepted, we must have proofs that the dog is Celtic.

In Chaucer, "Coll our dog" occurs, and it may be the name was used in reference to the colour-black prevailing in this variety of dog. It has been suggested that Coll and Collie may be from the same root as collar, and the name given to the dog because of the white collar round the neck, which is very common in this, and indeed in all breeds where we get a mixture of a dark colour and white.

Dr. Ogilvie, in his "Imperial Dictionary," and Jamieson, in his "Scottish Dictionary," both give Collie; and it is not improbable that Collie is merely the diminutive and familiar form of Coll, for in all Scotch words the "ie" is thus used-Will becomes Willie, and Lass Lassie. Bewick, in his "British Quadrupeds," indeed, had his own peculiar and original spelling of the word, which was Coalypardonable in a book published in a town the subject of the proverb Carry coals to Newcastle."

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The Collie is one among many Sheepdogs that writers have credited with being the origin of all our varieties of Domestic dogs; but this seems an untenable position to take on the question. Far more feasible is it to suppose that the Collie, like other breeds, is the result of crosses and selection to adapt him to the special requirements of his country and the work he is called upon to perform.

There is one point upon which most people will agree, namely, that the Collie is in physical properties more nearly allied to several races of wild dogs than any other of our domestic breeds. The Aguara dogs, and especially the Hoary Aguara, as depicted by Lieut.-Colonel Charles Hamilton Smith, in Jardine's "Naturalists' Library," bear a strong resemblance to a Smooth or a Half-rough Collie with prick ears, which feature is not uncommon in the Collie. The likeness between the Collie and the Indian Haredog, as given by Youatt, is very striking.

At once a useful and an ornamental variety, the Collie is one of

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the prime favourites with the dog-loving public of to-day. How great is the popularity achieved by the breed, may be gauged with a fair amount of accuracy by the enormous entries at all the more important shows, and these whether in the north or in the south, by the number of clubs that exist to foster the breed, and, lastly, by the phenomenal prices first-class specimens of the breed have realised over a long series of years. The only other variety that can claim anything like the same amount of popularity as the Rough Collie is the Fox-terrier. In fact, for years it has been practically a neck-and-neck race between the Collie and the Fox-terrier for pride of place in the long list of Domesticated dogs. So far as the Rough Collie is concerned, his beautiful full coat and striking

colours have combined to make him one of the most ornamental of all dogs; and though the Smooth in every respect except coat is the equal if not the superior of the Rough, the difference in value between two dogs of similar excellence in their respective varieties is so great as to be almost incredible.

As will be gathered from this, there are two varieties of Collie as generally accepted-the Rough and the Smooth; but there is also a third, the Bearded Collie (Fig. 41), which is often found in the sheep-markets of Perth, Stirling, and Falkirk. This is a purely working type of dog, and appears to be a combination of the Collie proper and the Old English Sheepdog. Unlike the latter, however, it is not bob-tailed. Classes for this distinctive-looking dog are provided at some shows, and meet with a fair amount of success.

Less than forty years ago 10 would have been considered a very fair price for a Collie, and when Mr. G. R. Krehl gave £100 for the puppy Eclipse, something like a sensation was caused. With this may be said to have commenced the era of big prices for Collies. Since that time, however, the sums that have been paid by breeders for first-class specimens have run well over the four figures. Amongst the highest prices paid for these dogs stand those in the name of Mr. A. H. Megson, of Manchester. He started with the black-and-tan Rutland (K.C.S.B. 13,948), which was bred by the Rev. Hans Hamilton, and which had a more or less chequered career and several owners before its true merits were recognised by the astute Mr. Boddington, who picked it out of a West Country show and bought it for the modest fiver." Soon the dog made a name for his new owner, and eventually became Mr. Megson's property at £250.

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Yet another big purchase by the same gentleman was Champion Metchley Wonder, for which no less a sum than £500 was paid. This was followed by £350 for Champion Caractacus-a price, too, that was paid under the hammer at the Liverpool fixture of 1888. At the time of his purchase Caractacus was a nine months' old puppy, and was entered in the catalogue as for sale at £100. So promising a youngster, even if not so attractive-looking as some, did not escape the eyes of those ever on the look-out for something good, and there were several claimants for the dog at the catalogue price. He was therefore put up for auction, and bought by Mr. Megson as stated. High as the foregoing prices were, they were soon put in the shade by Mr. Megson's subsequent purchases, which included Champion Southport Perfection at £1,005, and Champion Ormskirk Emerald (Fig. 42) at £1,300, or its equivalent. This by no means exhausts the list of Mr. Megson's purchases, and his enthusiasm in the breed whose cause he has espoused is unabated, for at the time of writing he has acquired Annandale Piccolo for £250.

In connection with Rutland it may be interesting to breeders

to know that on the dam's side he traces back-as so many noted show-dogs do-to Mr. S. E. Shirley's kennels, through Tricolour, a younger brother of the more celebrated Trefoil; who was a fine black, white, and tan dog and a champion of his time. On his sire's side Rutland possessed a double strain of the famous Old Cockie. His dam, Madge, was a beautiful bitch bred by Mr. W. W. Thomson; and he was sired by Marcus, an almost black dog of unascertained pedigree, but of a good working strain, brought out of the Lothians.

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FIG. 42.-MR. A. H. MEGSON'S ROUGH COLLIE CHAMPION ORMSKIRK EMERALD.

Though numbers of three-figure sums have been paid for Collies, yet only on one occasion other than those recorded has £1,000 been given, that being in the case of Christopher, bought for America. One of the most remarkable Collie sales was in connection with the dog purchased by Mr. L. P. C. Astley at a provincial show, and that afterwards was sold as Ormskirk Golddust for £500, or about ten times the amount paid by the well-known fancier just named. The sales recorded are interesting as showing what prices are possible for the highest class stock, though the average amateur whose love for the variety may induce him to take it up as a hobby

is hardly likely to either breed or pick up animals of the calibre of those associated with the names above mentioned.

The Collie Club has, by its influence, made our exhibited Collies en masse more homogeneous, and its influence has, on the whole, been to give more correct ideas to the public of what a true Collie is. Naturally, too, with a breed that existed primarily as a worker, one likes to see what influence for good or ill shows, and necessarily the encouragement of a more or less ornamental animal, have exerted. It is pretty generally admitted that we have to-day an animal of a more uniform type, as well as a more pleasing one, so far as regards the Rough variety; but the craze for an extra long head and one or two other mere externals for a time at least endangered the breed. Some of those outside the pale of the Fancy may wonder why it is not possible to have the taking coat and the workmanlike appearance in one and the same animal. The fancier knows that such is practically impossible so far as the Rough Collie is concerned, and for this reason. One of the glories of a typical Collie, judged from a show point of view, is his coat, and this would be utterly ruined if he were used as a sheep-tender. Moreover, from a pecuniary point of view, it need scarcely be pointed out which is the more valuable.

The late Mr. Hugh Dalziel was one of those who thought that the influences of shows tend strongly to deteriorate the dog in his capacity as a worker, and it must be confessed that there is more than a substratum of truth in what he more than once stated. It is, however, only fair to say the contrary opinion has been vigorously upheld by a good many owners of winning stock. These have supported their views by adducing numerous instances of prize-bred dogs that have proved excellent Sheepdogs. Instances coming under personal observation cannot decide the question, for the reason that they are numerically insufficient to draw safe inferences from. Rather have we to ask, To what causes may be attributed the wonderful sense and judgment and marvellous cleverness in dealing with sheep inherent in the Collie? To this there can be but one answer the constant education and practice in one particular work -and that in conjunction with a master-and the selection, generation after generation, of the progeny of the best to succeed to the work. Even the habit of running round a flock has become an inherited instinct, and, as Darwin points out, is seen in the action of the Collie when running round a carriage and heading the horses.

Other peculiarities that distinguish the Collie, and that are also the inherited result of education and long practice, specially aided by the selection of the best to propagate their kind, must of necessity become more and more weakly developed the farther we get from the sources that created and sustained them. Those who breed for exhibition, as already suggested, care in the main for points of beauty

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