rather deep than round, and well ribbed back.  HIND-QUARTERS—­Should be strong and muscular, thighs powerful, hocks near ground, stifles moderately bent.  STERN—­Generally docked; should be free of fringe or feather, but well covered with rough hair, set on pretty high, carried gaily, but not over the back or curled.  FEET AND LEGS—­Feet should be strong, tolerably round, and moderately small; toes arched, and neither turned out nor in; black toe nails most desirable.  Legs moderately long, well set from the shoulders, perfectly straight, with plenty of bone and muscle; the elbows working freely clear of the sides; pasterns short and straight, hardly noticeable.  Both fore and hind legs should be moved straight forward when travelling, the stifles not turned outwards, the legs free of feather, and covered, like the head, with as hard a texture of coat as body, but not so long.  COAT—­Hard and wiry, free of softness or silkiness, not so long as to hide the outlines of the body, particularly in the hind-quarters, straight and flat, no shagginess, and free of lock or curl.  COLOUR—­Should be “whole-coloured,” the most preferable being bright red, red, wheaten, or yellow red.  White sometimes appears on chest and feet; it is more objectionable on the latter than on the chest, as a speck of white on chest is frequently to be seen in all self-coloured breeds.  SIZE AND SYMMETRY—­The most desirable weight in show condition is, for a dog 24 lb., and for a bitch 22 lb.  The dog must present an active, lively, lithe, and wiry appearance; lots of substance, at the same time free of clumsiness, as speed and endurance, as well as power, are very essential.  They must be neither cloddy or cobby, but should be framed on the lines of speed, showing a graceful racing outline.  TEMPERAMENT—­Dogs that are very game are usually surly or snappish.  The Irish Terrier as a breed is an exception, being remarkably good-tempered, notably so with mankind, it being admitted, however, that he is perhaps a little too ready to resent interference on the part of other dogs.  There is a heedless, reckless pluck about the Irish Terrier which is characteristic, and, coupled with the headlong dash, blind to all consequences, with which he rushes at his adversary, has earned for the breed the proud epithet of “The Dare-Devils.”  When “off-duty” they are characterised by a quiet, caress-inviting appearance, and when one sees them endearingly, timidly pushing their heads into their masters’ hands, it is difficult to realise that on occasions, at the “set on,” they can prove they have the courage of a lion, and will fight unto the last breath in their bodies.  They develop an extraordinary devotion to and have been known to track their masters almost incredible distances.

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[Illustration:  MR. FRED W. BREAKELL’S IRISH TERRIER CH.  KILLARNEY SPORT]