Darwin describes as "accidental monstrosities," yet a general opinion prevails that dew claws are the peculiar inheritance of a few breeds of dogs, and from this false idea possession or non-possession of these now utterly useles, clumy and ugly appendange has been set up as a test of purity or impurity of breeding in specimens of the variety of which they are wrongly ascribed as being the peculiar property. The dew claw is attached to a rudiment, more or less developed, of an addi-tamentary phalange or toe situated on (he inner side, one to each foot, distant from and considerably above the other toes.

These additional toes are frequently unattached to any corresponding metacarpal or metatarsal bone, having only a ligamentary union, so that the term is equally applicable to the extra toe often seen on the foreleg; and, as they are neither useful nor ornamental, I would in all cases have them removed, being only a disfigurement in any breed. This should be done when the pups are with the dam, as she will take care of the wound and heal it up by licking it; and this can be easily done with a pair of strong scissors. If left till the dog is older, they are liable to bleed a good deal, and the pain, of course, is greater; in such case, the wound produced by the excision should be at once well saturated with frairs' balsam. If it is thought well to remove the nail only, that can be done by pulling it out with a pair of nippers.