A great deal of discussion has also lately taken place in regard to the colley's proper colour and general appearance, and various descriptions have been given of what each writer considers the genuine breed, differing in every respect but the one to which I have drawn attention, which in almost all cases has been admitted to be essential. Some gentlemen, however, who have obtained specimens with beautiful but open coats of a glossy black, pointed with tan, have contended that this is the desideratum; and so it is for the dog considered simply as a companion. Hitherto, however, no one has ventured to propound the theory that he is to be so regarded; and, until I find that a separate class is made at some one or more of our important shows for "toy colleys," I must continue to describe the breed from the shepherd's point of view only - regarding any suspicion of a setter cross, and especially if shown in coat, as injuring his value for the reasons given above. Only those who have seen one or more of the public sheepdogs trials instituted about four years ago by Mr. Lloyd Price, and many of which have of late years been held in Wales as well as in England), or have privately seen these animals at their usual work, can realise the amount of intelligence displayed by them.

In these trials the slightest sign from the shepherd is understood and obeyed, and even the exact amount of driving calculated to make the sheep go quietly forward to the pen without breaking away is regulated to a nicety. A curious case which a short time ago happened to myself would almost lead to the belief that the colley understands the meaning of a conversation between members of the human family. Entering the drawing-room of a lady who has a celebrated dog of this variety as a pet, I was met with the question, "What do you think of my dog - is he not a perfect beauty?" After looking him over as he lay on the rug, and with a desire to tease my hostess, to whom I owed a Roland or two, for her previous many Olivers administered in badinage, I replied very quietly, "Yes, certainly, if he had but a colley coat and a little more ruff." The words were hardly out of my mouth when the dog rose from his recumbent position, seized one of my feet in his mouth, gave it a gentle but vicious little shake, not sufficient to scratch the leather of my boot, and then lay down again. There was no emphasis on my part, and not a word uttered by the lady until after the act was completed, when I need scarcely say that eyes and tongue told me that I was rightly served.

Anyhow, it was a remarkable coincidence; but from a long knowledge of the dog I really am inclined to believe that G------ knew I was "picking holes in his coat," and resented the injustice accordingly. Possibly, as in many human beings, he prides himself most on his only weak point, being absolutely perfect in every other, and not much amiss there. But, irrespective of his obedience to his master's orders, the independent intelligence of the colley is very high, and it is interesting to watch him or some other sheepdog manage a wild sheep which is to be driven against his will in a certain direction. Very frequently the sheep turns round and stands facing the dog, and the natural expectation on the part of a spectator is that the latter would try by barking to make the sheep turn round and progress somewhere. Not so, however; such a proceeding would inevitably cause a " break away," and the course pursued is to lie quietly down and face the sheep. By this method in a short time the facing is changed to a quiet retreat, or sometimes to a slight backing, when the dog quietly moves a step or two forward and again lies down, till at last, by this kind of coaxing, the weaker animal of the two is quietly managed.

In such cases a high degree of intelligence and tact is required which is partly innate and partly acquired from the shepherd by education. As a consequence there must be a due development of brain in the sheepdog, and there must be a disposition to learn and obey the orders given. So clever is the colley that he will not be imposed on for any purpose not evidently useful, and it is seldom that he can be taught to execute tricks for the gratification of idle spectators, although there is no difficulty in getting him to perform them once or twice to please his master. If exhibited beyond this extent he is apt to sulk and refuse to show off; but when he is wanted to do really useful work, such as is required for the shepherd's purposes, he is untiring, and will go on till utterly exhausted.

No other dog in this country is so constantly with his master engaged in his proper calling - taking the breed as a whole. Occasionally, it is true, pet dogs are as much so, but by no means universally, nor are they even then so frequently employed in carrying out their masters' orders. This naturally increases the intelligence of each individual and reacts on the whole breed; so that, independently of the constant weeding-out of puppies rendered useless from a want of intelligence, the superiority of the whole variety in mental attributes is easily accounted for. For the same reason, when the pet colley gets old and is submitted to the rebuffs of children or strangers, he is apt to become crusty in temper, and sometimes even savage; but he is always most affectionate to his master, and no dog seems to be more sincerely repentant when he has done wrong.

Within the last ten years the colley has become very fashionable as a pet, and his market price has risen from 31. to 301., or even more for animals good-looking enough to take a prize at our shows. For this kind of colley beauty of form and a brilliant black coat are the chief requisites, and these are greatly aided by the cross with the Gordon setter; that is to say, without any consideration for the purposes to which this dog was originally bred, and is still extensively used. The pet colley, not being exposed to weather, is quite as useful to his master with an open setter coat and feathered legs; while regarded from an artistic point of view he is more handsom from the superior brilliancy of his colour, and from the addition of feather. His ears, when thus bred, are, however, seldom good, being neither pricked like the colley's, nor falling close like the setter's; and this is the chief objection to the cross from the pet dog point of view, though no doubt it is and has been easily bred out by careful selection.

Moreover, if a pet is wanted solely as such, the Gordon setter in his purity is a handsomer dog than the colley with a more pettable disposition, and it would be better to select him accordingly.