346 



BRITISH DOGS 



the most enthusiastic supporters of the Astrachans, has now signified 

 his intention of abandoning them in favour of the Flat-coats. 



Mr. C. Flowitt owns perhaps the best specimen of the new 

 century Champion Belle Vue Nina to wit. She is almost per- 

 fection, and it was a great fight when she met Champion Black 

 Quilt (who had just beaten Champion VVimpole Peter) for the 

 National Challenge Bowl at the Birmingham Show, 1901. The 

 respective judges could not agree, and a referee had to be called 

 in, who, after much demur, gave the award to the flat-coated dog. 



The points of conformation of the Curly-coated Retriever are, 

 or should be, identical with those of the Flat-coat ; but several 

 variations are generally observable. The head is somewhat different 

 in type and expression, it being more wedge-like, and the muzzle 

 not so deep. As a rule, they have the advantage in showing a 

 flatter skull, and nearly all of them have gootf dark eyes, generally 

 a size smaller than those of the Flat-coat. They are apt to be 

 more sprung in rib, hence their shoulders are heavier and less 

 oblique, and they are wider in the chest ; but better feet, legs, 

 and hocks are found, on the average, than amongst the other variety, 

 a remark which also applies to sterns. 



The following scale indicates the relative value of points : 



Coat ... 



General Outline, Quality, and Symmetry 



Head Properties 



Feet and Legs 



Neck, Shoulders, Chest, and Ribs 



Back and Quarters 



Hind Legs, Thighs, Hocks, and Feet 



Stern 



Action and Character ... 



Total 



25 

 10 

 10 



IO 

 10 

 IO 

 IO 



5 



IO 

 ICO 



It will be seen that a very large proportion of marks is allowed 

 for coat, the excellence of which is, after all, a sine qua non in 

 would-be prize winners of this variety. It should be a mass of 

 even, short, tight curls extending all over the body as far as the 

 base of the skull, where they suddenly cease, leaving the skull itself 

 and the face covered with short fine hair which often shows a 

 slight but crisp wave. There is feather neither on the legs nor 

 on the stern, the latter being round and "roped" with the same 

 astrachan curls. 



In the last years of the nineteenth century a few enthusiasts 

 banded themselves into a club for the encouragement of the breed ; 

 but their well-meant efforts have met with but slight success, if 

 regard is had to the number of specimens exhibited, for, outside 

 their own ranks, the dog-loving public and the ever-fickle Fancy 



