246 HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



will let me have the young dog I will walk all the 

 way back to Peterborough with him ; I won't risk 

 taking him by train." 



The dam of Shamrock was Symbol by Traitor, 

 son of Cottesmore Prodigal, whom we have men- 

 tioned in a previous chapter. The dam of Symbol 

 was Speedwell, by Woodman brother of Warrior 

 the sire of Weathergage. The young Shamrocks 

 this season out of Diligent the daughter of Grafton 

 Dancer and Gamestress by Weathergage were 

 Druid, Daphne, Dahlia, and Dowager. All the 

 entry were by home sires excepting two and a half 

 couple by Rufford Dancer, who was poor Mr. 

 Harvey Bayley's Cup puppy during his last season, 

 and he was by Galliard, who had Belvoir blood in 

 his veins. Their dam was Specious the daughter 

 of Fallible and Special. Special was the daughter 

 of Spinster, a sterling good bitch who worked in 

 the kennels until she was twelve years old. She 

 was the daughter of Syren, who belonged to Mr. 

 George Lane Fox, who said that " Syren ran at 

 the head of my pack until she was thirteen ; the 

 breed is everlasting and never tires." With such 

 blood in their veins it was not to be wondered that 

 the litter by Rufford Dancer and Specious were an 

 exceptional lot, their names being Dancer, Dolphin, 

 Donovan, Danger, and Durity. Gillard used to 

 say of them, " They are a most valuable new strain, 

 and perfect in their work. On more than one 

 occasion I saw Donovan, Dolphin, and Dancer all 

 together at the head of the pack, and all speaking 

 to the line on cold scenting plough. Donovan was 



