A pure white silky coated little dog with long hair has been a ladies' pet from the earliest ages of which we have any record. From some cause or other, a breed of these dogs introduced into the London market within the last thirty years, has received the name of Maltese terrier, but as it has neither been traced to Malta, nor has it any of the properties of the terrier tribe, I am utterly at a loss to know the origin of the name, and as it approaches very closely to the spaniel, I shall include it under that head. Mr. Lukey, the celebrated mastiff breeder, was one of the earliest possessors of the strain, but he obtained it from the Manilla Islands, almost the antipodes to Malta, and altogether unconnected with that Island. The parents of Mr. Lukey's dogs were imported in 1841 by his brother, who was then a Captain in the East India Company's Service, and from them he bred several small litters, which were readily disposed of at high prices. None of Mr. Lukey's breed have ever been exhibited as far as I know, and I believe they have long been extinct.

They were, however, remarkably beautiful, and quite came up to the level of Mr. Mandeville's strain, which has kept possession of the show bench since 1862, when the first class of this kind of toy dog was established at the Agricultural Hall Show, in which Mr. Mandeville's Mick and Fido were first and second. In the following year at Ashburnham, the same kennel again produced the first and second prize holders, Fido being at the head of his class, and a dog called Prince second. Since then Mr. Mandeville's strain has held undisputed possession of the prize list, whether the dogs exhibited belonged to him, Mrs. Bligh Monk, of Coley Park, Beading, Lady Giffard, or Mr. Macdonald, who have been the chief exhibitors. At Birmingham the Maltese dog has not been so well represented as in London, and it was not until 1864 that a class was established for it, owing partly to the fact that the breed was almost confined to London and its neighbourhood, and partly to the greater premiums given to sporting over toy dogs at the Midland Metropolis.

The Maltese claims the following merits as a toy dog, but I am not aware that in any respect they are superior to those of the toy spaniel. In the first place he is said to be very beautiful in shape, colour, and texture of coat, but certainly in these respects he is not more so than the toy spaniel, whether King Charles or Blenheim. Secondly, he is said to be more sweet in breath and skin, and here I can give no opinion, never having possessed a specimen, nor have I any good authority to adduce on either side. He is admitted, however to be a very delicate dog, and more difficult to rear than the toy spaniel, and this is rather an important point to all those who do not depend on the market for their supply. In point of price there is not much difference, so that as far as I can judge, individual taste must as usual settle the matter.

The Points Of The Maltese Are As Follows

Grand Total 100.

1. The Coat (Value 30)

1. The coat (value 30) must be long and silky in texture, any approach to wool being specially to be penalised. The little bitch "Psyche " engraved in "The Dog " had a coat measuring 15in. across the shoulder, though only 3 1/2lb. in weight, and this length when considered in comparison with her small size, I have never seen excelled; it was remarkably silky in texture. There is a slight wave, but no absolute curl to be seen in good specimens.

2. The Colour (Value 20)

2. The colour (value 20) should be a pure white, rather transparent, like spun glass, than opaque. Many specimens are disfigured by patches of fawn, which are very objectionable.

3. The Eyes (Value 5)

3. The eyes (value 5) must be full and black, and should not show the weeping corner incidental to the King Charles and Blenheim spaniels.

4. The Ears (Value 5)

4. The ears (value 5) are long, but not so much so as those of the toy spaniel. The ears of Fido were 12in. across from tip to tip.

5. The Nose (Value 5)

5. The nose (value 5) is short and black, and also the roof of the mouth.

6. In Symmetry (Value 5)

6. In symmetry (value 5) there is no great test, as the shape is almost entirely concealed by the long coat, but there ought nevertheless to be a proper proportion of length to height, in about the same degree as is exhibited by the toy spaniel.

The late Mr. H. Gilbert's PuG Dog "Prince".

" Mops" and " Nell," the Parent Stock of the Willouchby PUGS.

7. The Size (Value 15)

7. The size (value 15) should not exceed 61b, though many of Mr. Mandeville's best prize winners have somewhat exceeded that weight, his Fido, whose portrait accompanies this article, being 6 1/2lb.

8. The Tail (Value 15)

8. The tail (value 15) should be short, curled tightly over the back, and clothed with a bunch of glossy silky hair.

Mr. Mandeville's Fido, by Tupper's Fido out of Lily, won the first prize at Birmingham in 1864 and 1867; also various first prizes at Islington and Cremorne in 1862, 1863, and 1864. Several other dogs of the same name have been also exhibited by Mr. Mandeville.