Of recent years the Bull-terrier has not been a great favourite, and it has sadly deteriorated in type; but there are signs that the variety is again coming into repute, and within the past two years many admirable specimens—­as nearly perfect, perhaps, as many that won honour in former generations—­have been brought into prominence.  Among dogs, for example, there are Mr. E. T. Pimm’s Sweet Lavender, Dr. M. Amsler’s MacGregor, Mr. Chris Houlker’s His Highness, and Mr. J. Haynes’ Bloomsbury Young King.  Among bitches there are Mrs. Kipping’s Delphinium Wild and Desdemona, Mr. Hornby’s Lady Sweetheart, Mr. W. Mayor’s Mill Girl, Mr. T. Gannaway’s Charlwood Belle, Dr. J. W. Low’s Bess of Hardwicke, and Mrs. E. G. Money’s Eastbourne Tarqueenia.  While these and such as these beautiful and typical terriers are being bred and exhibited there is no cause to fear a further decline in popularity for a variety so eminently engaging.

The club description is as follows:—­

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GENERAL APPEARANCE—­The general appearance of the Bull-terrier is that of a symmetrical animal, the embodiment of agility, grace, elegance, and determination.  HEAD—­The head should be long, flat, and wide between the ears, tapering to the nose, without cheek muscles.  There should be a slight indentation down the face, without a stop between the eyes.  The jaws should be long and very powerful, with a large black nose and open nostrils.  Eyes small and very black, almond shape preferred.  The lips should meet as tightly as possible, without a fold.  The teeth should be regular in shape, and should meet exactly; any deviation, such as pigjaw, or being underhung, is a great fault.  EARS—­The ears, when cropped, should be done scientifically and according to fashion.  Cropped dogs cannot win a prize at shows held under Kennel Club rules, if born after March 31st, 1895.  When not cropped, it should be a semi-erect ear, but others do not disqualify.  NECK—­The neck should be long and slightly arched, nicely set into the shoulders tapering to the head without any loose skin, as found in the Bulldog.  SHOULDERS—­The shoulders should be strong, muscular, and slanting; the chest wide and deep, with ribs well rounded.  BACK—­The back short and muscular, but not out of proportion to the general contour of the animal.  LEGS—­The fore-legs should be perfectly straight, with well-developed muscles; not out at shoulder, but set on the racing lines, and very strong at the pastern joints.  The hind-legs are long and, in proportion to the fore-legs, muscular, with good strong, straight hocks, well let down near the ground.  FEET—­The feet more resemble those of a cat than a hare.  COLOUR—­Should be white.  COAT—­Short, close, and stiff to the touch, with a fine gloss.  TAIL—­Short in proportion to the size of the dog, set on very low down, thick where it joins the body, and tapering to a fine point.  It should be carried at an angle of about 45 degrees, without curl, and never over the back.  HEIGHT AT SHOULDERS—­From 12 to 18 inches.  WEIGHT—­From 15 lb. to 50 lb.