in front, the upper ones very slightly overlapping
the under ones. (Many of the finest specimens have
a “swine mouth,” which is very objectionable,
but it is not so great an objection as the protrusion
of the under jaw.) EYES—Set wide apart,
large, full, round, bright, expressive of great determination,
intelligence and dignity; set low and prominent in
front of the head; colour a rich dark hazel.
EARS—Pendulous, set well back, wide apart
and low on the skull, hanging close to the cheek, with
a very slight projection at the base, broad at the
junction of the head and tapering almost to a point,
the fore part of the ear tapering very little, the
tapering being mostly on the back part, the fore part
of the ear coming almost straight down from its junction
with the head to the tip. They should harmonise
in colour with the body colour. In the case of
a pepper dog they are covered with a soft, straight,
brownish hair (in some cases almost black). In
the case of a mustard dog the hair should be mustard
in colour, a shade darker than the body, but not black.
All should have a thin feather of light hair starting
about two inches from the tip, and of nearly the same
colour and texture as the topknot, which gives the
ear the appearance of a distinct point. The animal
is often one or two years old before the feather is
shown. The cartilage and skin of the ear should
not be thick, but rather thin. Length of ear,
from three to four inches. NECK—Very
muscular, well developed, and strong; showing great
power of resistance, being well set into the shoulders.
BODY—Long, strong, and flexible; ribs well
sprung and round, chest well developed and let well
down between the fore-legs; the back rather low at
the shoulder, having a slight downward curve and a
corresponding arch over the loins, with a very slight
gradual drop from top of loins to root of tail; both
sides of backbone well supplied with muscle.
TAIL—Rather short, say from eight inches
to ten inches, and covered on the upper side with wiry
hair of darker colour than that of the body, the hair
on the under side being lighter in colour, and not
so wiry, with a nice feather, about two inches long,
getting shorter as it nears the tip; rather thick at
the root, getting thicker for about four inches, then
tapering off to a point. It should not be twisted
or curled in any way, but should come up with a curve
like a scimitar, the tip, when excited, being in a
perpendicular line with the root of the tail.
It should neither be set on too high nor too low.
When not excited it is carried gaily, and a little
above the level of the body. LEGS—The
fore-legs short, with immense muscular development
and bone, set wide apart, the chest coming well down
between them. The feet well formed, and not
flat, with very strong brown or dark-coloured
claws. Bandy legs and flat feet are objectionable.
The hair on the fore-legs and feet of a pepper dog
should be tan, varying according to the body colour
from a rich tan to a pale fawn; of a mustard dog they