All English writers upon dogs, new and old, agree in one thing, and that is, that in centuries long past Malta furnished Toy dogs for the "dainty dames and mincing mistresses" of both Greece and Rome. There also appears to be a general agreement that the Island of Malta is identical with the Melita ascribed by ancient writers as the home of these pet dogs; and, further, that we originally obtained the breed from that place, although some of them recognise the fact that no proof of the supposition exists. Dr. Johannes Caius says (writing, be it remarked, of the Toy Spaniel of his time): "They are called Meliti, of the Island of Malta, whence they were brought hither."

Strabo, who was one of the earliest writers to refer specially to these Toys, does not give Malta as the native place of the breed, but, on the contrary, writes as follows : "There is a town in Sicily called Melita, whence are exported many beautiful dogs, called Canes Melitei. They were the peculiar favourites of the women; but now [a.d. 25] there is less account made of these animals, which are not bigger than common ferrets or weasels; yet they are not small in their understanding nor unstable in their love." Strabo must have been wanting in the organ of comparativeness, or the weasels of his time were of Brobdingnagian proportions compared with ours; but the point is, if Melita, in Sicily, was the birthplace of the so-called Maltese dog, why ascribe its origin to the Island of Malta?

As stated, practically every English writer seems to have taken it for granted that the dog we call Maltese originally came from Malta; but not one offers the slightest proof in support of the assumption. It would be needless to go through the works of these writers seriatim. "Stonehenge," in his earliest work on the dog, describes the breed as nearly extinct, but, although "scarce, still to be obtained in Malta." He, however, in the same work gives an engraving of a dog, as a Maltese, imported from Manilla. In "The Dogs of the British Islands," still hankering after Malta as their birthplace, he confesses his inability "to trace any records of the dog, after many inquiries made amongst residents in Malta."

Whether the dog once known as a Maltese Terrier be a descendant, more or less pure, from the breed Strabo wrote of, it is now impossible to say; but there is one thing of more practical value, and that is, that the present-day fanciers of the breed should know the sort of dog referred to by that name; and in the minds of breeders, judges, critics, and fanciers, there should be a clearness of meaning as to the points making up the dog.

In the 1872 edition of his "Dogs of the British Islands," "Stonehenge" discards the Manilla dog, and gives his readers an engraving of Mandeville's Fido, then at the zenith of his fame, stating the dog's height to be 11 in. at shoulder with a weight of 6 ½lb., whilst from tip to tip of ears the dog is said to have measured 21in. - that is, across the head and two ears. In this edition we are told that the coat "should be long, and fall in ringlets, the longer the better." In the 1878 edition it is said: "There is a slight wave, but no absolute curl."

"The eyes" says "Stonehenge," "should not show the weeping corner incidental to some Toy Spaniels." Inquiry among exhibitors would have shown him that "weeping" is one of the most tiresome things exhibitors of Maltese have to contend against. The watery discharge stains the white hair a dirty red.

"The ears," we are told, "are long," which is not the case; the skin, or flap, of the ear is short, but the hair upon it is long. Further, "the roof of the mouth is black." As proof of quality or purity of breed, we might as well consider the colour of his liver. Finally, "Stonehenge" objects to this dog being called a Terrier, because "it has none of the properties of the Terrier tribe," and that "it approaches very closely to the Spaniel." Rather strange this from the same pen that wrote: "This beautiful little dog is a Skye Terrier in miniature." However, the Kennel Club has decided that the variety shall now be called Maltese, a dictum that must be accepted by the Fancy.

By what system of selection these dogs have been brought to their present form it is not possible to say, although it is not difficult to imagine several ways of arriving at the end which has been attained.

In the writer's experience, Maltese are remarkable for cleanliness in their habits and freedom from doggy taint and smell, but of course they require washing and brushing. The less combing they have the better, as it is apt to break the coat and pull out the hair. If a comb be used, it should be a horn one with coarse teeth, known to the saddlers as mane combs. These might be applied to the hindquarters and tail. In the opinion of many, the use of soap is apt to detract from the desired glossiness of the coat, and that it should be seldom, if ever, applied. What is recommended instead is to beat up a couple of eggs in water with the chill taken off, adding thereto a tinge of washing blue, and to wash them in this, rinsing out the coat afterwards with lukewarm water, and thoroughly drying the dog before a fire. It is claimed for this treatment that it adds to rather than detracts from the lustre of the coat, and avoids any chance of affecting the eyes, which in this variety are naturally susceptible to irritation.

The coat, particularly when at all long, should be gone over every day with a hair brush having moderately long bristles, parting the hair from between the eyes, the head, and the back, down to the root of the tail, and brushing it down the sides as straight as possible; then the legs and tail should be dealt with. Any matting or tangle should be carefully avoided.

The writer's wife spent much of her early life in Malta, and always had some of these little dogs as pets, and her experience is that they are devotedly attached to their owners, bright, lively companions, very keen as house dogs, and possessed of much intelligence. As one who has kept Terriers for a lifetime, and had much to do with most known varieties, the writer does not hesitate to class Maltese amongst the Terriers. One he has at the present time is a determined opponent of all cats, even those of his household; these, however, have become so used to dogs of many kinds that they are not afraid of any, and treat her attacks with calm indifference, merely giving her a sound box on the ear when her attentions are too troublesome.