THE LION DOG.

This toy dog appears to be crossed between the poodle and the Maltese dog, being curly like the former, but without his long ears and square visage. He is now very seldom seen in this country, and is not prized among fanciers of the canine species. Like the poodle he was generally shaved to make him resemble the lion.

THE SHOCK DOG.

This dog also is now almost unknown. But formerly he was very generally kept as a toy dog. He is said to have been a cross between the poodle and small spaniel, both of which varieties he resembled in part.

TOY SPANIELS.

Two breeds are known and recognised under this head, namely, the King Charles and the Blenheim spaniels, the former being slightly the larger of the two, and by most people considered the more handsome. To an ordinary observer the chief points of distinction in the King Charles are, the colour, which is black and tan more or less mixed with white, the less the better; and the length

of the ears, which is greater than in the Blenheims; these being also lighter in frame, and always yellow or red and white. Both are small delicate dogs, and though they have pretty good noses, and will hunt game readily, yet they so soon tire that they are rarely used for the purpose, and are solely kept for their ornamental

properties. They make good watch dogs in-doors, barking at the slightest noise, and thus giving notice of the approach of improper persons; nor, though they are somewhat timid, are they readily silenced, as their small size allows of their retreating beneath chairs and sofas, from which asylum they keep up their sharp and

shrill note of defiance. The great objection to these handsome little creatures as pets is that they follow badly out of doors, and as they are always ready to be fondled by a stranger, they are very liable to be stolen. Hence many people prefer the toy terrier, or the Skye, which is now introduced very extensively as a toy dog, and might with equal propriety be inserted in this chapter, as in that which he occupies. The King Charles and Blenheim spaniels are often crossed, and then you may have good specimens of each from the same litter, but if true their colours never vary.

The points of the King Charles spaniel are: extremely short muzzle, which should be slightly turned up; black nose and palate ; full prominent eye, which is continually weeping, leaving a gutter of moisture down the cheek; a round bullet-shaped head, with a well-marked "stop" between the eyes; very long, full-haired, and silky ears, which should fall close to the cheeks, and not stand out from them. The body is covered with wavy hair of a silky texture, without curl; and the legs should be feathered to the toes, the length and silkiness of this being a great point. Tail well feathered, but not bushy; it is usually cropped. The colour should be a rich black and tan, without a white hair; but those marked as in the left-hand dog of the engraving are not to be despised, and sometimes make their appearance in a litter of which both sire and dam had scarcely a white hair. The weight should never exceed 6, or at the utmost 7 lbs.; and they are valued the more if they are as low as 44 or 5 lbs.

The points of the Blenheim vary very little from those of the King Charles, except in colour, which is always a white ground

with red or yellow spots, and there should be a well-marked blaze of white between the eyes. The ears should be coloured, and also the whole of the head with the exception of the nose and a white mark up the forehead, as is shown in the right-hand figure of the cut, which represents the Blenheim pretty accurately. The palate is black like that of the King Charles; and there is little difference in shape, though an experienced eye could detect the one from the other even irrespective of colour. This dog is generally slightly less than the King Charles.

THE PUG.

This curly-tailed and pretty little toy dog was out of fashion in England for some years, but has recently come again into such vogue that a good pug will fetch from 20 to 35 guineas. The British breed, however, which is one of those known to have existed from the earliest times, was never entirely lost, having been carefully preserved in a few families. The Dutch have always had a fondness for the pug dog, and in Holland the breed is common enough, but the same attention has not been paid to it as in England, and yellow masks, low foreheads, and pointed noses are constantly making their appearance in them, from the impure blood creeping out, and showing evidences of the crosses which have taken place. For the sketch of the very beautiful pair of these dogs which is engraved on the next page,

I am indebted to one of the first toy dog breeders of the day, Mr. Morrison, of Walham Green, who has been long engaged in bringing his stock to their present state of perfection, and whose

admirable management is shown in the healthy appearance of all of them. These dogs are not remarkable for sagacity displayed any shape, but they are very affectionate and playful, and, like the Dutch and Flemish cows, they bear the confinement of the house better than many other breeds, racing over the carpets in

in

Punch," out of Mr. Morrison's "Minnie;" "Tetty," out of his " Mouse;" both by his "Charlie."