and points out that the type of this breed of terriers has changed less in the course of time than any other variety. They were always distinguished for their gameness, being in olden times, as now, slow to anger; but when once roused they will fight till all is blue ! The peppers should be of a nice medium shade of grey, and the mustards of a nice orange colour. Fluffy, pale-coloured dogs are very objectionable. Above all things they should have round, bright, wide-set eyes of rich dark hazel. There are far too many light-coloured eyes in the breed. The best weights, in my opinion, are not over 24 lbs. for dogs, and from 19 to 20 lbs. for bitches. Within the last few years the breed has improved very much with regard to soundness. Formerly it was comparatively easy for a dog with crippled fore legs to attain championship honours, but to-day the case is quite different. Some few years ago the breed passed under a cloud, but since that time it has been making steady progress, and has the benefit of being supported by several specialist clubs.

Mrs. Spencer gives her description of an "ideal" Dandie Dinmont as follows:-The first impression received in looking at a Dandie Dinmont is that his head is too large for his body, the size of it being enhanced by a top-knot of white, silky hair which covers the whole of a well-domed skull, and is the glory of the Dandie. He should have a long, strong body, gently arched, and a nice finish is added to it by the scimitar-like curve of the tail. His legs are short and stout, and well apart, so that in the event of opposition it is almost impossible to knock him over. He is the only terrier who should possess a domed skull, and this, together with his dark and lustrous eyes, lend to him the appearance of dignity and courage, which qualities are so eminently his. His coat should be fairly shaggy, but not woolly, and in the case of a pepper of a nice medium shade of iron-grey. If a mustard the richer the colour the better. It is to be deplored that there are so many Dandies winning prizes with small yellow eyes, thus lacking the true expression of the breed. The domed skull, also, is often absent. These, in my opinion, are two of the worst faults a Dandie can labour under.

MR. W. GOODALL COPESTAKE (the Honorary Secretary of the Dandie Dinmont Club) is satisfied with the type of the breed as it exists to-day, and does not consider it requires improvement.

Naturally enough in a breed about and around which so much sentiment has trailed its tendrils, the recommendations of the Dandie Dinmont coruscate.

"I prefer it to all others for its all-round sporting and domestic qualifications," writes Mrs. Spencer. "Where is there a more game or resolute exterminator of vermin, or a more charming and faithful companion? Possessing perfect house-manners, kindly to all, especially children, he only gives his devoted love to one, to whom he is a splendid guard. A Dandie has, as a rule, many quaint and charming idiosyncrasies, and a strong sense of humour, combined with an almost human intelligence." Mr. Blegg writes, "I consider the unique attraction of the Dandie to lie in its quaint appearance, its handsome head, and its beautiful eyes; also its great gameness and intelligence. But, as in all breeds, some are far more intelligent than others." "One of the very best sporting terriers" is Mr. Goodall Copestake's dictum. "A Dandie will face anything. He is also a good house - dog, but rather jealous. greatest dog-lover amongst our true hall-mark on his character. the dog that Scott depicted."

Scott, probably the novelists, has set the He remains to-day

STANDARD OF POINTS OF THE DANDIE DINMONT

TERRIER

HEAD.—Strongly made and large, not out of proportion to the dog's size; the muscles showing extraordinary development, more especially the maxillary. Skull broad between the ears, getting gradually less towards the eyes, and measuring about the same from the inner corner of the eye to back of skull as it does from ear to ear. The forehead well domed. The head is covered with very soft, silky hair, which should not be confined to a mere top-knot, and the lighter in colour and the silkier it is, the better. The cheeks, starting from the ears proportionately with the skull, have a gradual taper towards the muzzle, which is deep and strongly made, and measures about 3 inches in length, or, in proportion to skull, as three is to five. The muzzle is covered with hair of a little darker shade than the top-knot, and of the same texture as the feather of the fore legs. The top of the muzzle is generally bare for about an inch from the back part of the nose, the bareness coming to a point towards the eye, and being about one inch broad at the nose. The nose and inside of the mouth black or dark-coloured. The teeth very strong, especially the canine, which are of extraordinary size for such a small dog. The canines fit well into each other, so as to give the greatest available holding and

punishing power, and the teeth are level in front; the upper ones very slightly overlapping the under ones. (Many of the finest specimens have a "swine-mouth," which is very objectionable; but it is not so great an objection as the protrusion of the under jaw.)

EYES.-Set wide apart, large, full, round, bright, expressive of great determination, intelligence, and dignity; set low and prominent in front of the head; colour, a rich, dark hazel.

EARS.-Pendulous, set well back, wide apart, and low on the skull, hanging close to the cheek, with a very slight protection at the base, broad at the junction of the head and tapering almost to a point, the fore part of the ear tapering very little-the tapering being mostly on the back part, the fore part of the ear coming almost straight down from its junction with the head to the tip. They should harmonise in colour with the body colour. In the case of a pepper dog they are covered with a soft, straight, brownish hair, in some cases almost black. In the case of a mustard dog the hair should be mustard in colour, a shade darker than the body, but not black. All should have a thin feather of light hair starting about 2 inches from the tip, and of nearly the same colour and texture as the topknot, which gives the ear the appearance of a distinct point. The animal is often one or two years old before the feather is shown. The cartilage and skin of the ear should not be thick, but rather thin. Length of ear

from 3 to 4 inches.

NECK. Very muscular and well developed, showing great power of resistance, being well set into the shoulders.

BODY.-Long, strong, and flexible; ribs well sprung and round; chest well developed and let well down between the fore legs; the back rather low at the shoulder, having a slight downward curve, and a corresponding arch over the loins, with a very slight, gradual drop from top of loins to root of tail. Both sides of backbone well supplied with muscle.

TAIL.-Rather short, say from 8 inches to 10 inches, and covered on the upper side with wiry hair of darker colour than that of the body; the hair on the under side being lighter in colour, and not so wiry; with a nice feather about 2 inches long, getting shorter as it nears the tip. Rather thick at the root, getting thicker for about 4 inches, then tapering off to a point. It should not be twisted or curled in any way, but should come up with a curve like a scimitar, the tip, when excited, being in a perpendicular line with the root of the tail. It should neither be set on too high nor too low. When not excited it is carried gaily, and a little above the level of the body.

The

LEGS.-The fore legs short, with immense muscular development and bone; legs wide apart, the chest coming well down between them. feet well formed and not flat, with very strong brown or dark-coloured claws. Bandy legs and flat feet are objectionable. The hair on the fore legs and feet of a pepper dog should be tan, varying, according to the body colour, from a rich tan to a pale fawn; of a mustard dog they are of a darker shade than its head, which is a creamy white. In both colours there is a nice feather, about 2 inches long, rather lighter in colour than the hair on the fore part of the legs. The hind legs are a little longer than the fore ones, and are set rather wide apart, but not spread out in an unnatural manner, while the feet are much smaller. The thighs are well

developed, and the hair of the same colour and texture as the fore ones, but having no feather or dew claws. The whole claws should be dark; but the claws of all vary in shade according to the colour of the dog's body.

COAT. This is very important. The hair should be about 2 inches long; that from the skull to root of tail a mixture of hardish and soft hair, which should give a sort of crisp feel to the hand. The hard should not be wiry. The coat is what is termed pily or pencilled. The hair on the under part of the body is lighter in colour and softer than on the top. The skin on the belly accords with the colour of the dog.

COLOUR. The colour is pepper or mustard. The pepper ranges from dark, bluish black to a light silvery grey, the intermediate shades being preferred; the body colour coming well down the shoulder and hips, merging into the leg colour. The mustards vary from a reddish brown to a pale fawn, the head being a creamy white, the legs and feet of a shade darker than the head. The claws are dark, as in other colours. (Nearly all Dandie Dinmonts have some white on the chest, and some have also white claws.)

SIZE. The height should be from 8 to 11 inches at the top of the shoulder. Length from top of shoulder to root of tail should not be more than twice the dog's height, but, preferably, I or 2 inches less.

WEIGHT. From 14 to 24 lbs. ; the best weight as near 18 lbs. as possible. These weights are for dogs in good working order.

There are four specialist clubs consecrate to the cult of the Dandie Dinmont-namely, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club, whose Honorary Secretary is Mr. Goodall Copestake, with a membership of nearly eighty, and an annual subscription of half a guinea. The Dandie Dinmont and Scottish Terrier Club of Ireland, with a membership of about forty, and an annual subscription of half a guinea, is under the Honorary