THE Black and Tan Terrier has as good a right to be considered the representative of the old English terrier as any breed in existence, and probably a better one; but not yet having been blessed with a club to protect his interests and quarrel over his pedigree, he has held his position - a very respectable one - in the Canine world on bis own intrinsic merits. His history begins long before Dandle Dinmonts or Bedlingtons were thought of, and his most distinguishing features had ere that been noted. Daniel, in his "Rural Sports" describes his "black body and tanned legs (thumb marks, bronzed thighs, and kissing spots had not then been invented), smooth coat, beautiful formation, short body, and sprightly appearance."Bewick copied Daniel, as several other writers have done; and since their time, through all the vicissitudes of dog life, and apparently without any special care having been taken of him, he remains essentially true to his prototype, with no doubt a finer and more polished jacket, befitting these days of dog parades.

As he cannot speak for himself, I must say for him he has a strong cause of complaint against the Kennel Club; for in the first volume of their stud book, which chronicles the principal shows for fourteen years, he was simply and properly described as the black and tan terrier, " English" of course being understood; but since 1874 they have added to his title, "or Manchester terrier." The reason for this change I do not know, as the records of their own stud book do not disclose many names of eminent Manchester breeders or exhibitors besides Mr. Samuel Handley, who bred and exhibited some of the best that have been shown, and who is still generally recognised as one of the best judges of them; and, however great an honour it may be to be "Manchester," it is a greater honour to be English, and, so far as I can see, the change in name was useless and uncalled for, and derogatory to the breed. In addition to Mr. Handley, there were years ago the following celebrated Lancashire breeders: Mr. James Barrow, Mr. Joseph Kay, and Mr. William Pearson, all now dead; but the crack dogs now met with at our shows have generally been bred by unknown people, and brought out by astute judges and spirited exhibitors.

In the early days of shows Birmingham took the lead in this breed, and Mr. G. Fitter, of that town, who had a good strain, held the first position for several years with his exceptionally good dog Dandy, which served to illustrate the breed in the previous editions of "Dogs of the British Islands." Of late years the most successful exhibitors have been Mr. George Wilson, Huddersfield; the late Mr. Martin, Manchester; and, more so than either, Mr. Henry Lacy, of Hebden Bridge.

This breed is not such a general favourite with the public as it deserves to be, for it has many excellent qualities to recommend it to those who like a nice pet that does not need nursing, an affectionate, lively, and tractable companion, not given to quarrelling, very active and graceful in its actions, and with pluck enough and a keen zest for hunting and destroying such vermin as rats that infest houses and outbuildings; for with larger vermin, such as the fox, badger, etc. (with exceptional cases), he has not the hardness to cope or stand their bites, nor has he the strength even of other terriers of his own weight, as he is formed more for nimbleness than work requiring power. His most ardent admirers cannot claim for him the courage and obduracy of attack and defence that characterise less pure terriers. As a house dog he is unexcelled, always on the alert, and quick to give alarm.

I am writing of the dog from 101b. up to 161b., not the small lap dogs of the same colour and markings, which are generally pampered and peevish, and ornamental rather than useful - which, when they do give tongue at the entrance of a visitor, never know when they have yelped enough, and have to be coaxed into silence. These latter are of two sorts : one with a short face, round skull, and full eye (inclined to weep), called in vulgar parlance " apple-headed 'uns," showing the cross at some time or other with the King Charles spaniel; the other type is the thin, shivering dog, that must be kept clothed, and sleep in a warmly-lined basket, his timid shrinking manner, spindly legs, lean sides, and tucked-up flanks showing the Italian greyhound cross. The weight of these two clearly distinct varieties averages from about 31b. to 61b.

The black and tan terrier proper is the most elegantly shaped and graceful in outline of all the terrier tribe; and, improved as he has been since dog shows came in vogue, he more than ever deserves the description Daniel gave him, being of beautiful formation and sprightly appearance. Taking his points seriatim they are as follows:

Points Of Black And Tan Terrier

Grand Total 100.