1 88 British Dogs. 



remain wrapped in the swaddling clothes of infancy, and are content 

 with the illusions of childhood. 



It certainly requires no great exercise of that common sence of which 

 Birmingham, not without reason, boasts to show that it is utterly impos- 

 sible to prevent judges of experience knowing and recognising at a glance 

 dogs they have seen scores of times. Then why not put all dogs on an 

 equality, so far as can be done, by giving the judge a catalogue in his 

 hand ? If he can be influenced by ownership, it is not such rules as 

 obtain at Birmingham that will stop him in wrong doing, but, believing 

 as I do in the honour and integrity of judges, I hold you are materially 

 aiding him and forwarding the highest objects of shows by giving him 

 every item of information that can assist him in coming to a mature and 

 correct decision. 



At Maidstone, Cork, the Irish Kennel Club, the Bulldog Club, and 

 other shows, catalogues are handed to the judges before they begin. 

 Personally, except when it is necessary to refer to age or some such 

 point, I have found them practically an encumbrance, and prefer 

 The Field duplicate judging book. The practice is nevertheless useful 

 in many ways, and most of all in that it disarms unworthy suspicion. 



The kennel club have adopted public judging and the practice of 

 announcing their judges' names before the entries close, and have been 

 largely followed by other committees, and I hope to see them go still 

 further and let their judges have catalogues to consult openly, and not as 

 has been the case in some instances, clandestinely. 



The question of single or dual judging is not important if point judging 

 be adopted, but while this is not the case public opinion runs strongly in 

 favour of single judging, and I believe judges generally prefer it. 



