The same authority adds that Skye terriers have for many years been bred, both north and south, for the drawing room rather than the otter's 'holt' and the badger's 'earth,' but this, if true at all, is only so in a very limited sense, i.e., drawing-room pets are no doubt in vogue throughout England and some districts of Scotland, but they are not acknowledged in the Highlands as the native terrier, being neither bred nor kept by admirers of the gallant little mountaineers. Probably the most marked distinction between the old breed and the modern so-called Skye terrier to be met with at exhibitions, is that of 'coat,' which, on the fancy article, is frequently of a silky texture, and ranging from eight inches to about a foot in length, while the true breed has wiry hair, and rarely, if ever, exceeding in length one-third of the extreme limit above-named.

" Some theorists, who have been unable to shut their eyes to these marked differences, have ascribed them to two causes, viz., the complete change in the mode of life to which dogs are subjected in England, coupled with the fact of a milder climate prevailing there than further north. But if these views were not fallacious, it would follow that Highland-bred terriers sent to England and reared there (many of them in the lap of luxury) would themselves, or their produce, in course of time, manifest a change of coat in harmony with their reputed descendants (the show animals). However, experience has shown beyond question that the covering provided for the Skye terrier by ' Dame Nature ' is not liable to be influenced in its growth by external causes, or the habits of life becoming more artificial. As a matter of fact, the Skye terrier proper, whether lodged in the kennel, made a pet of in the drawing-room, or as you please in this country, is still a terrier, and not a substitute for a door mat. We do not wish to imply that only Highland-bred Skyes are genuine, but we submit that bona fide lineal descendants of such, and they alone, are entitled to be termed Skye terriers.

We challenge breeders of the popular show specimens to declare when, where, and from whom in the Highlands the dogs were derived, from whom their present show Skyes are alleged to have originated, and further, to enlighten the public by explaining to them how the modifications as to ' coat,' and other points specified hereafter, are reconcilable with the statements made that the breed had been maintained pur et simple. Such, then, is the ground taken up by the subscribers, all of whom are familiar with the terriers bred in the Western Isles and Highlands of Scotland, and known there for at least eighty years as Skye terriers, the characteristics of which breed differ widely from those of the dogs which win, and have for years won, at shows held throughout England, as will be manifest from the following detailed description of ' points.' Such description is declared by the subscribers hereto to be reliable and in all respects strictly accurate:

"Head. Medium size, muzzle shortish and rather broad, not 'snipey ' like that of a fox. Jaws strong and well clad with muscle. Average length of head 7in., say, from end of nose to eyes 2½in., and from eyes to back of skull, 4½in. Girth of muzzle in front of eyes about 7in., and girth of head in front of ears from 11in. to 12in. Jawbone about 4½in. in length.

"Eyes. Dark hazel colour, very expressive, and of moderate size, overhung by bushy eyebrows, but never so as to obstruct the sight in the slightest degree, differing in this respect very prominently from the dense thatch (of hair) veiling face, muzzle, and even the nose of some of these nondescript animals, which are favoured by canine judges (?) under the erroneous idea (probably inspired by the door mat style of illustrations given in Punch) that they are real Skye terriers. The vicinity of the eyes, if disfigured by stains, would imply a poodle cross at no distant date.

"Ears. Small, broad at the root, but tapering to a point. They should be clad with soft hair, and slightly ' feathered,' but anything approaching the spaniel for 'feather' should be viewed with grave suspicion. The drop-ear should not lie flat against the side of the head, but drop towards the front. In the prick-eared variety the ears are carried erect. A 'slouch' ear, -i.e., the organ of hearing showing a decided tendency to fall outwards, is considered objectionable. When the dog is ' at attention ' the ears ought to stand firmly upright, but when in a listless attitude the position of the ears is somewhat modified. Length of ears from 2½in. to 3in., breadth at the root about 2½in., and tapering to a point; while the spurious so-called Skye terriers are generally distinguished by excessively coarse ears, almost rivalling those of a donkey in size.

"Neck. Should be strong and muscular, about 5in. long, and from 9 to 10½in. in girth.

"Body. Long in proportion to height of dog; chest and ribs deep, body neither flat sided nor yet round like a barrel, as, on entering a den or cairn, where the formation of the rock causes the opening to be perpendicular, the dog gets easier through, and if the opening is horizontal, a terrier instinctively endeavours to gain an entrance sideways, i.e., crawling on his side. Length from shoulder to root of tail, say, from 15in. to 17in., girth behind foreleg 15in. to 16½in. Dog should not be prominently ' tucked up' at the loins, but on the contrary, well ribbed home.

"Legs. Should be short and strong, with plenty of muscle; they may be slightly bandy, but the less the better. Hair on legs (like that on under-part of body) softer in texture as well as lighter in colour than that on the back of the dog. Foreleg 4½in. to 5in. in length, inside measurement, girth almost equal to length, if the muscles are well developed.

"Feet. Small, and more or less hairy. There should not be any dew-claws, which are considered very objectionable in any terrier.