II. COLOURed.

The principal points of difference advocated by Mrs. Pryce Hamilton, Comte Henri de Bylandt, and other authorities, between the white Maltese as known in England and the coloured variety until recently only seen on the Continent, are: Weight, which in this variety must not exceed 84lb. Length of Body, where it is especially sought to preserve a short back. Colour, which may be any self-colour or parti-colours or white with considerable patches of colour, the more colour the better.

N.B.-This Club considers that all white Maltese with faint patches of lemon or black on ears are simply mismarked specimens, and eligible only for the White classes, and to lose marks in same. The Club is informed by Continental authorities that the coloured Maltese are "the little Lion dogs of Malta," properly so designated.

CHAPTER LV

THE YORKSHIRE TERRIER

NOWHERE in England are dog shows so popular as in the counties of Lancaster and York and their immediate borders; and here the Yorkshire Terrier, a manufacture of comparatively recent years, finds its greatest number of admirers. The dog long went by the name of Rough or Scotch Terrier. To call them Scotch Terriers was a misnomer, the true Scotch Terrier being a much rougher, shorter, and harder-coated dog, of greater size and hardiness, and altogether a rough-and-tumble, working vermin-dog, with no pretensions to the beauty and elegance of the little "Yorkshire swell." At one time the Kennel Club classed the Yorkshire Terrier as "Rough- and Broken-coated," Broken-haired Scotch and Yorkshire Terriers," and still more recently as "Toy Terriers (Rough)." It was not until 1886 that the name by which they are universally known received the hall-mark of authority.

That the Yorkshire Terrier should have been called Scotch by those who, although they may have the credit of producing this dog, probably did not know of the existence of the real Scotch Terrier as a breed, suggests that at least a Terrier of Scotland has had something to do with his manufacture. Mr. Dalziel's theory respecting the origin of the Yorkshire Terrier was that the dog was what gardeners call "a sport" from some lucky combination of one of the Scotch Terriers-either the genuine Skye or the Paisley Terrier-and one of the old, soft, and longish-coated Black-and-tan English Terriers, at one time common enough, and probably one of these with a dash of Maltese blood in it.

However first obtained, we have at least got them now, and most owners are satisfied if they can claim a strain of the blood of the famous Huddersfield Ben, who combined in himself the blood of three illustrious predecessors-Walshaw's Sandy, Ramsden's Bounce, and Inman's Don-and was bred by Mr. W. Eastwood, of Huddersfield, more than thirty years ago.

Although the Yorkshire Terrier is essentially a toy dog, many of them are not wanting in pluck, and some of the breed have proved

good rat-killers. Probably these belonged to a day when diminutiveness and length of coat were not the chief characteristics; for the older dogs were larger altogether than those of the present day. Many of them are veritable little spitfires, as sharp as needles, and, by their alertness, make excellent house-dogs. Those seen at exhibitions are shown at their very best, and in parade uniform; for all that are purely bred do not prove to be fit for competition at a show. Much depends, too, on the care taken of the dog, and his preparation for show; but some well-bred specimens cannot be got into good coat, are wanting in colour, and always look scrubby and ragged.

Artificial means are used to encourage and stimulate the growth of the hair. The four feet are kept encased in boots, made of soft linen or rag, so that, even should the dog scratch, the claws being covered, the coat is neither broken nor pulled out. The diet is also regulated, and the general health carefully guarded, with a view to obviate heating of the blood and skin disease. Various preparations are applied to the skin to stimulate the growth of the hair, and concerning these nostrums much mystery is often affected. The following will be found a very safe and efficacious preparation : Olive oil, 30z.; castor oil, 30z.; palm oil, roz.; vaseline, 10z.; tincture of cantharides, Idr.; oil of rosemary, idr. Mix the first two together, and add the rest while simmering over a fire. Cocoanut oil and paraffin oil in the proportion of two-thirds of the former to one-third of the latter is also a capital application for promoting growth of hair and rendering the coat soft and silky; and when the dog is at home, and in preparation for a show, he may be advantageously dressed with it daily.

It may be well to say, in respect of the liniment for which a recipe has been given above, that as some dogs are much tenderer in the skin than others, its effect should be watched, and if undue irritation is produced by it, it should, for use on such dogs, be weakened by mixing with it a portion of plain olive oil; and the bottle should always be well shaken before using its contents. Lanolin has also been highly spoken of as a coat grower. One often sees mercurial preparations suggested as coat-growers, but constantly used, they are harmful and likely to salivate the dog on whom they are applied.

When born, Yorkshire Terrier pups are black-and-tan, and a story is told of a celebrated judge who, having had a bitch about to become a mother presented to him, when the pups came duly to hand drowned them "right off," and wrote to his friend that there must have been some mistake, as the pups were as black-and-tan as Manchester Terriers!

In regard to the colour of puppies and the change that takes place

in the second coat, a well-known lady fancier (Mrs. Troughear) said the best puppies to select are those with a loose, open, and perfectly straight coat, of a glossy black colour, the black extending well down the legs, and the muzzle and feet slightly tanned. Some puppies commence to change colour after the third month, but the change is a very gradual one, and it is not as a rule until they are nearly twelve months old that the coat increases in length and density. Others do not develop the desired colour till eighteen months or two years old; and the latter keep their colour much longer than those that change from the puppy colour earlier.

The time to apply the grease is when the coat begins to lengthen and thicken. It must not be applied too liberally-just a little

in the palm of the hands will suffice, and in a downward direction. The moustache and fall must also be treated. If grease were applied too freely, the coat would probably mat in places, and the finger and thumb would then have to be carefully used in order to remedy the condition. To brush or comb a coat in such a condition would be fatal. The washing (and also the drying) of Yorkshire Terriers is a big business, and must be undertaken at least once a week. The coat must not be treated after the manner adopted when washing the hardier Terriers. The cleansing process must be carried out with the "lay" of the coat; and similarly, too, must the drying, which is largely effected by brushing and the judicious use of soft, warmed towels. The fall should be tied up over the head and the body coat over the back. Skin

disease is the great enemy of the Yorkshire Terrier fancier, and scurf must be guarded against, or it will cause irritation and scratching. A little minced meat, fowl, or fish freed from bones is good fare for a Yorkshire Terrier, especially when combined with stale brown bread, or Toy dog biscuits finely broken and covered with gravy or broth from a sheep's head. Chopped green vegetables also tend to keep the blood cool and pure.

Yorkshire Terriers that are not required for show need not be treated differently from other Toys kept purely as companions. They may also be allowed to frolic outdoors with canine companions, a pleasure that is denied the show Yorkshire Terrier. The latter, in fact, is a glass-case, fine-weather dog, and very artificially treated. As to whether it is best to keep Yorkshire Terriers upon a bare floor, upon an enclosed cushion, or in one of the railed-off kennels, raised a little from the floor, sold by dog-appliance makers, is a matter of individual opinion. One thing, however, is certainthey must not be allowed to sleep upon unenclosed bedding material, or the coat will be spoilt. It will be necessary to carefully watch such artificially kept dogs to prevent them from soiling their quarters and spoiling their coats. When, therefore, the weather is such that it is not possible to allow them outside for natural purposes, some of the mould as sold for cats, a little sanitary sawdust, or just a little straw in a corner should be put down for their convenience.

At one time this handsome-coated little Terrier was the victim of the cropping fiend; but this cruel practice no longer obtains. The dog is, however, one of those that is docked. As a rule, about half the tail is removed, and if the operation be performed, as it should be, within a week or a fortnight of birth, it may be removed by the aid of the thumb-nail only. Dew-claws, if present, should also be removed.

The crowds of ladies attracted to the range of miniature crystal and mahogany palaces, where these little beauties luxuriate on silk and velvet cushions, see little of their make and shape, concealed as the body is by an abundance of flowing hair, arranged with all the art of the accomplished perruquier; and it is quite amusing to see the amount of preparation these little creatures undergo before being carried before the judge.

Necessarily, a dog requiring such a lot of attention as the show Yorkshire Terrier undoubtedly does receives but comparatively scant patronage from the dog-loving public, although its admirers are very numerous. Of those who have attained fame in connection with the variety there are a few names that stand out very prominently-Mesdames Foster, Troughear, Walton, and Beard. At one time a dog like the famous Champion Ted, owned by Mrs. Foster, was considered one of the light-weights of the breed,