i 4 8 BRITISH DOGS 



colours have combined to make him one of the most ornamental of 

 all dogs ; and though the Smooth in every respect except coat is 

 the equal if not the superior of the Rough, the difference in value 

 between two dogs of similar excellence in their respective varieties 

 is so great as to be almost incredible. 



As will be gathered from this, there are two varieties of Collie as 

 generally accepted the Rough and the Smooth ; but there is also 

 a third, the Bearded Collie (Fig. 41), which is often found in the 

 sheep-markets of Perth, Stirling, and Falkirk. This is a purely 

 working type of dog, and appears to be a combination of the Collie 

 proper and the Old English Sheepdog. Unlike the latter, however, 

 it is not bob-tailed. Classes for this distinctive-looking dog are 

 provided at some shows, and meet with a fair amount of success. 



Less than forty years ago 10 would have been considered a 

 very fair price for a Collie, and when Mr. G. R. Krehl gave ;ioo 

 for the puppy Eclipse, something like a sensation was caused. With 

 this may be said to have commenced the era of big prices for 

 Collies. Since that time, however, the sums that have been paid 

 by breeders for first- class specimens have run well over the four 

 figures. Amongst the highest prices paid for these dogs stand 

 those in the name of Mr. A. H. Megson, of Manchester. He 

 started with the black-and-tan Rutland (K.C.S.B. 13,948), which 

 was bred by the Rev. Hans Hamilton, and which had a more or less 

 chequered career and several owners before its true merits were 

 recognised by the astute Mr. Boddtngton, who picked it out of a 

 West Country show and bought it for the modest " fiver." Soon 

 the dog made a name for his new owner, and eventually became 

 Mr. Megson's property at ^250. 



Yet another big purchase by the same gentleman was Champion 

 Metchley Wonder, for which no less a sum than ^500 was paid. 

 This was followed by ^350 for Champion Caractacus a price, too, 

 that was paid under the hammer at the Liverpool fixture of 1888. 

 At the time of his purchase Caractacus was a nine months' old 

 puppy, and was entered in the catalogue as for sale at ^100. So 

 promising a youngster, even if not so attractive-looking as some, did 

 not escape the eyes of those ever on the look-out for something good, 

 and there were several claimants for the dog at the catalogue price. 

 He was therefore put up for auction, and bought by Mr. Megson 

 as stated. High as the foregoing prices were, they were soon put 

 in the shade by Mr. Megson's subsequent purchases, which included 

 Champion Southport Perfection at ^1,005, and Champion Ormskirk 

 Emerald (Fig. 42) at ^1,300, or its equivalent. This by no means 

 exhausts the list of Mr. Megson's purchases, and his enthusiasm in 

 the breed whose cause he has espoused is unabated, for at the time 

 of writing he has acquired Annandale Piccolo for .250. 



In connection with Rutland it may be interesting to breeders 



