Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/169

 149 small and very light in weight, and these small dogs usually have " apple heads." Pony Queen, the former property of Sir Ray- mond Tyrwhitt Wilson, weighed under 3 lb., but the breed remains " toy " up to 15 lb. When you get a dog with a long, wedge- shaped head, the latter, in competition with small " apple-headed " dogs, always takes the prize, and a slightly contradictory state of affairs arises from the fact that the small dog with an imperfectly shaped head will sell for more money than a dog with a per fectly shaped head which is larger. THE dog's " POINTS " In drawing up a show schedule of classes for this breed, it is perhaps better to hmit the weight of competitors to 12 lb. The Bull-terrier Club put 15 lb. as the lowest weight allowed for the large breed, and it seems a pity to have an interregnum between the large and miniature variety ; still, in the interests of the small valuable specimens, this seems inevitable, and the opportunist principles must be apphed to doggy matters as to other business in this world. At present PET8 there is a diversity of opinion as to their points, but roughly they are a long flat head, wide between the eyes and tapering to the nose, which should be black. Ears erect and bat-like, straight legs, and rather distinctive feet ; some people say these are cat-like. COAT AND COLOUR Some toy bull-terriers have a curved back which looks as if the dog were cringing. This peculiarity has been attributed to the fact that they have been carried under the arms or even in the pockets of their owners for generations, and that finally nature adapted the dog to its usual position. This is as it may be. Toy bull-terriers ought to have an alert, gay appearance, coupled with refinement, which requires a nice whip tail. The best colour is pure white. A brindle spot is not amiss, and even a brindle dog is admissible, but black marks are wrong. The coat ought to be loose and stiff to the touch. Toy bull-terriers are not delicate as a rule. They require warmth, and never are better than when taking plenty of exercise in all weathers. THE PET MARMOSET A Lovable Little Animal— The Care It Needs— What It Eats npHOSE who are tired of the eternal " cat- dog-canary " circle of pets might vary it by acquiring a marmoset. Though first cousin to the monkey, the little fellow has few of the vices of the organ-grinder's colleague and most of the virtues which go to the composition of the ideal pet. The first requisite in a woman's dumb friend is that it should be "caressable." Look at the marmoset's six-inch scrap of a body, with its wee black face looking sharply out of a tuft of floss-silk hair, and you are in- human if you can resist kissing the soft little ball of lovableness. Unlike the monkey, the marmoset is gentle, and makes friends with an appealing readiness. He will sit on your wrist and coil his tail round to anchor himself, visibly radiating with happiness. Marmosets love nothing better than being petted — the finest possible quality in a pet, for both parties to the contract are pleased. He will play with your hair, quite gently and quietly, but the impish curiosity and mischief of his cousins are only mildly re- presented in his com- I position. He costs no more than a well-bred dog or cat — one could certainly be obtained for /2 2s., or even less, from any good dealer in animals. Your marmoset must have plenty of soft warm bedding to burrow in, for he is - sensitive lo cold. If Black-eared there is the slightest p^o/o if ^. chill in the air he loves to insinuate himself into muffs, pockets, the breast of a jacket, or any warm place that is nearest. There is a wide range of foodstuffs which will suit him. Eggs, fruits, and insects all come alike to him. Nothing delights him more than a fly, which he seizes in his ridiculously tiny hand and promptly swallows. He is an intrepid ladies' knight when there comes an encounter with that bugbear the cockroach ; but, to give an idea of the range of the marmoset's dietary, he has been known to capture skilfully a goldfish from its crystal bowl and devour it. Like many captive tropical animals, the marmoset is"' delicate. As a rule, the lungs are the most vital spot in this pet, and to take a marmos3t out of doors on a wet day would be tantamount to killing it. One of the most attractive varieties, the lion marmoset, whose colouring, combined with the wonderful miniature mane which covers his head and shoulders, makes the name a remarkably true description, is also one of the most deUcate ; but it only needs common-sense treatment to secure for your pet the prospects of a reasonably long life. Keep him warm and dry and never neglect him, for the tiny crea- ture is apt to die from a chill, or from what is suspiciously like a broken heart if not properly cared lor. marmoset