Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/721

 THE WEST WITS TERRIER 695 HIGMLAND WHITE By E. D. FARRAR Is not a New or Freak Dog— Its Points— Its Head and Expression— Its Ha bits— How to Treat It —Advice to Would-be Purchasers O"' *^^^^ ^^^ those new dogs that arc so fashionable just now ! " I overheard this remark at a Kennel Club Show. Only British shyness prevented my audible cor- rection. Indeed, James I. sent six from Argyle to France as a present, with the imperative direction that they were to travel i Cannock and Dileas. Cannock is the sire of the famous champion Kiltie, a dog seldom defeated Photo, Russell & Son:, Crystal Palace in two or more ships, " that they get no scaith on the way ! " No new freak of canine fashion is the sturdy little Highlander, but a distinct and ancient species. The attempts of some breeders to destroy his character by impart- ing to him the type valued in the modern Scottie are, I trust, doomed to failure. White Scottie he is not, and never was. He lacks the long, lean head, heavy bone, and general carthorse appearance of his brother Scot, and is altogether smaller. He has a more lively expression, and a shaggier look, thanks to the sensible law which permits him to be shown untrimmed. His Foints To understand what a good West High- land white terrier should look like, note these points. In colour he should be white, though he is often distinctly creamy, or with a creamy tinge down his spine, and, incidentally, is none the worse on that account. Still, with most judges, whiteness of coat is considered an essential point. In this connection it should be noted that the original dog was just as often sandy, steel grey, cream, or brindle, and in many families owning their own strain, as have the IVIalcolms of Poltalloch for over a cen- tury, white coats were regarded with dis- favour. The eyes, nose, and pads of the feet should be black, though dark hazel eyes are permissible. In texture the coat should be soft under- neath, and longer, more wispev, and coarser above. On the head the hair is fairly short and hard, but is longer on the jaws, legs, and feet. There should be soft hair abo between the pads of the fcc*^. The neck, however, by nature is adorned with a frill, and the flanks are covered with fairly shaggy hair. The body should be of medium length. though the taste for short backs is affecting this point as with the Scottie. The ribs should be well sprung, the loin muscular, and the quarters powerful, so as from behind to present a square appearance. The legs must be short, strong, and straight, and the bone solid, but not coarse. The shoulders, which are fairly wide, should slope, and be well set into the dog's back. The chest should be deep, though not so deep as that of the Scottie, and for this reason the legs wiM seem to be higher. In fact, the West Highlander should be essentially an active, quick-moving tefrier, full of fire and dan. His Head The head, perhaps, differentiates him most sharply from the Scottie. It is more wedge-like in shape, and though of reason- able length, not so long and lean. It should taper sharply from ears to nose, and look somewhat more foxlike than that of the Scottie. The skull should be slightly domed, the " stop," or break in the profile between eyes and muzzle, being well defined. The eyes should be set far apart, and the muzzle well filled in beneath them. In colour they should be dark, not too small, slightly oval in shape, and br shaded by thick eyebrows ; their expression is more kindlv Mrs. Borrell's Liitlebury Rhon*. a channinj and typicd link specimen Ph<f,c. /tMst.'ll &• S0MS, CrytUU P*l»ct