Until within the last thirty years a rough or broken-haired terrier, differing altogether from the modern Skye, Dandie, and Yorkshire blue-tan, was commonly met with throughout England, where, curiously enough, he was often called "Scotch" - Incus a non lucendo - such a dog being almost unknown across the Tweed. He closely resembled the dog now called the rough fox terrier; but had usually rather a longer coat on the body, and of a coarser texture, the beard being considerably more prominent than that approved of in the present day. Somewhat of this kind was the Rev. Thomas Pearce's Venture, whose portrait was given in the Field among the "Terriers of no Definite Breed" in 1866; but she more nearly approached the modern rough fox terrier than the old-fashioned wire-haired breed, and indeed was from strains used with foxhounds by Mr. Radclyffe and the Rev. J. Russell in the West of England, some of which were rough and others smooth. In general character she closely resembled Mr. Lindsay Hogg's Topper, selected by me to illustrate the rough fox terrier dog, partly on account of his beautiful shape throughout and remarkable quality, and partly from his close resemblance to my first pet, a wonderfully game "ratter" and badger terrier.

Undoubtedly he is not quite deep enough in his back ribs for perfection; nor, indeed, is Bramble, my other selection; but it would be difficult to find any other fault with either of them, and, until I see a specimen of the breed with deep back ribs, united with all their other good points, I am content to take them to represent the type of the rough fox terrier of the day. A white colour, more or less marked with tan or black, was always preferred for vermin terriers; but a great many black and tans, or rather grey and fawn were met with, and also grey throughout, or a very dark grizzled tan, brown, or badger-grey, as in Mr. Radclynffe's breed, of Cherwell Grange, Shropshire, which last, however, were possessed of tulip ears, a fault no doubt in the opinion of the "fancy" and therefore condemning them to private life at the shows, where they were exhibited by that gentleman some ten years ago. In the present day (1882) the Scotch terrier proper, as the breed is called, has been resuscitated, in which the prick ear is approved of, and Mr. Radclyffe's Rough closely resembles them in every respect.

In my young days the broken-haired terrier was always cropped; and, never having seen one au naturel, I am not aware whether the ears were originally tulip, rose, or falling; but I imagine they would resemble that of the modern dog, many of which are more or less pricked, even in the best bred litters. Partly, or wholly, in consequence of the correspondence which appeared in the Field some years ago, a special class for rough fox terriers was introduced into the Glasgow Show of 1872; and this example has been followed since then at most of our large shows, the classes being sometimes called " wire " or "broken-haired," and at others "rough fox." At Birmingham, in 1872, in a broken-haired class, Mr. Sanderson, formerly of Cottingham, now residing at Beverley, took a second prize with his afterwards celebrated dog, Venture, the first being withheld for want of merit in the opinion of the judge, Mr. S. Nisbet, who was here a little out of his element, being specially retained for Skyes and Dandies. Next year, at Manchester and the Crystal Palace, Mr. Sanderson exhibited a grand team, including Venture, Tip, and Turpin, with which he took several prizes, and also the fancy of Mr. Wootton, who purchased the lot, and, after gaining prizes with them at the Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton, sold Venture to Mr. Carrick, jun., for use with the otterhounds at Carlisle, where he is much valued.

In the interval, I suppose, Mr. Nisbet has seen his error; for at the Birmingham Show of 1874 he gave Venture the first prize in the wire-haired class, that dog having previously been awarded a similar honour at Nottingham. But time and hard work in the water have told their tale too much for him to show the type in perfection; besides which, he is more leggy than Topper, with even less claim to perfection in his back ribs. At the late Show at Lillie Bridge several good dogs of this breed were shown, Venture being placed first, Mr. Easten's Tip second, and Mr. Lindsay Hogg's Topper third, the three being so close together that the choice must always be, in my opinion, a matter of fancy.

Rough Fox Terriers

The points of the rough fox terrier are the same as those of the smooth (described on p. 135), with the exception of the coat, the proper nature of which is correctly given in the points of the Fox Terrier Club, quoted in the Field. The club description does not, however, I think, sufficiently insist on the thick and soft under-coat, which, as in the Dandie Dinmont, should always be regarded as of great importance in resisting wet and cold. An open, long coat is even worse than a thick, short one for this purpose, as it admits the wet to the skin, and keeps it there; whereas the short coat speedily dries.

Topper, bred by Sir F. Johnson, is about three years old, white in colour, with very slight lemon markings on the ear and hip; and his blood has been in the Legard family for more than ninety years, he being by Sir F. Johnson's Topper out of Mr. B. Crowle's Vic; she by the Rev. - Legard's Sam - Nettle; Nettle by Tartar - Missy. He has won the following prizes and commendations, never having been elsewhere exhibited, viz.: 1866, h.c. Filey; 2nd, Maidstone; v.h.c, Crystal Palace; 2nd, Cork; and 2nd, Brighton. 1877, 3rd, Nottingham; and 3rd, Lillie Bridge.

Bramble, bred by Mr. Wootton, is by Turpin - Vic. Besides a third prize at Lillie Bridge, she took first prize at Cork in 1876, and the same at Dublin in 1877. Since the article appeared in the Field she has taken several first prizes.