Disqualifying Points.

1. Nose, white, cherry, or spotted to a considerable extent with either of these colours.

2. "Ears, prick, tulip, or rose.

3. Mouth, much undershot.

There is no breed of dog that has risen so high and so quickly in popular favour and estimation as the fox terrier has done since 1866, but a large proportion of those bred at the present day are useless for the practical purpose of bolting a fox or badger, from their size alone.

There was not even a class for this breed at the first two or three Birmingham shows; but in 1862 Mr. Wootton entered there the first fox terriers - as such - in a class for " white and other smooth-haired English terriers (except black and tan)," when Jock won. In 1863 a distinct class for fox terriers was given at Birmingham, when Mr. Wootton entered a considerable number, and again won with Jock. In 1864 there were more than forty exhibited at Nottingham; and, if I mistake not, it was here that the celebrated Tartar made his debut. At the Dublin Show, in the same year, there was a fair fox terrier class, and Mr. Stevenson's Patch took the first prize back to Chester - a feat she repeated at Birmingham soon after.

In 1867 and 1868 there were respectively 62 fox terriers exhibited at Birmingham, being on each occasion about one-twelfth and one-thirteenth of the total number of dogs at the show. In 1869 there were 69 at Islington, or one-fifteenth of all the dogs exhibited; while at Birmingham that year the number increased to 115, or nearly one-seventh the whole exhibition.

At the Crystal Palace in 1870 the number was 104, or nearly one-ninth of the total number of dogs; and in the same year at Birmingham it was 116, or one-eighth the whole show.

In 1876 the number at the Crystal Palace was 141, or one-eighth of all the show; at Brighton 166, or one-fifth; and at Birmingham 120, or one-ninth.

Two shows were held in 1876-7 specially for fox terriers (smooth and wire-haired), at Nottingham and Lillie Bridge. At the former (of the smooth alone) the number exhibited was 157, and at the latter 190. I believe the largest number at any one show was at Nottingham, in 1873, when it was above 270, or about one-third of all the show.

As regards Scotland, at the Glasgow Show in 1871 there were only 11 fox terriers; at Edinburgh the other day there were 41.

In the past, the most famous fox terriers as prize winners have been Jock (known better perhaps as Old Jock), Trap (or Old Trap), Trimmer, Vandal, and Grove Nettle - names which have become household words among the fanciers of this breed.

Jock won 33 first prizes (8 of which were champion) and 4 second prizes (one of which was champion), beginning at Birmingham in 1862, and ending at the Crystal Palace in 1870. He was long considered the beau ideal of a terrier, and by many people is still referred to as a model. From Mr. Wootton he passed into the hands of Captain Kindersley, and thence into those of Mr. Cropper, who sold him to Mr. Murchison, in whose possession he died of old age in November, 1872.

Old Trap was not exhibited often, but he won a few prizes, and I believe he was about the best fox-terrier dog as to size and make that has yet been seen. According to my view, he was a better dog than Jock, and any of his blood is much sought after. He also became the property of Mr. Murchison, in whose hands he died a few years ago, having lived his full time.

Trimmer had a splendid career of prize winning from 1868 to 1871, having in that time won no less than forty first prizes, nearly the whole of them consecutively. On two occasions he won the champion prize at the Crystal Palace, and also the special prize for the best fox terrier in the show. Had he possessed a little more bone and substance, this dog would have been as near perfection as could be. In 1874 Mr. Murchison sold Trimmer to Sir E. Kerrison, some time after which the dog was killed through an accident.

Vandal was another of Mr. Murchison's dogs, and a grand one in appearance, shape, size, and pluck. He won twenty-four first prizes, and he also was killed by an unfortunate accident on his way home from his last victory, in December, 1874, being then only in his prime, and a great loss to his owner.

Grove Nettle, though not much shown, was a prize winner; but irrespective of this, she was considered by far the best bitch of her day. When about 7 1/2 years old, the late Mr. Bishop, of Nottingham, sold her at a high price to Mr. Murchison, and she subsequently died of milk fever.

At the present time (1877) the most noted show fox terriers are Mr. Burbidge's Bitters, Nimrod, Royal, Nettle, and Dorcas, Mr. Abbott's Moslem, Mr. Hyde's Buffett, Mr. Murchison's Forceps, Olive, Natty, and Whisky, Mr. Gibson's Boxer and Joe, Mr. Fletcher's Battler, and Mr. Whittle's Yorick. The most successful breeders of these have been Mr. Luke Turner and Mr. Gibson, the former having bred Nettle, Olive, and Joe, besides the first bitch puppy at the Lillie Bridge Show, while the latter has bred Dorcas, Buffett, Natty, and Boxer.

I have selected for the engraving, as the best specimens, Bitters and Olive, the former being, I believe, the nearest of any of the dogs to the requirements of a fox terrier, and the latter more close to perfection as a bitch than any I have ever seen. Bitters won his first prize (under the name of Jock) at Epworth in 1872, and has althogether won nine first and nine second prizes. He was first shown by Mr. Denton, of Doncaster, who sold him to Mr. Murchison (who changed his name to Bitters); then he came into the hands of Mr. Gibson, and now belongs to Mr. Burbidge. In 1876 Bitters was first in the champion class at Maidstone, and second champion at Brighton; in 1877 he was second champion at Nottingham. He is said to be by Tyrant, but the name of his dam is very doubtful. Olive has been shown only twice, namely, at Brighton and Bristol, winning first each time, and also the special prize at Brighton for the best fox terrier never shown before, beating at the same time Burbidge's Nettle, who was first at the Crystal Palace in 1876, and at Lillie Bridge in 1877. Olive is by Belgrave Joe - Tricksey by Chance; Belgrave Joe by Belvoir Joe - Branstone's Vic, great granddam of Burbidge's Nettle.