48 The Collie or Sheep Dog. 



Birmingham, cared for and cherished as so excellent a 

 dog deserved. Prior to the whilom champion obtaining 

 sanctuary at Great Bars he was sold by auction in one of 

 the local repositories, realising but three pounds or so. Mr. 

 Bissell repurchased him for 10. The best dog of his day 

 bringing to a close his public life in a manner similar to 

 that in which a few years later, another almost equally 

 celebrated sheep dog commenced his career. 



I take Cockie's best performance to be that at Carlisle, 

 but he was repeatedly seen winning either first or second 

 honours at Birmingham, always being defeated by inferior 

 animals. At Nottingham, in 1872, he could only come 

 second to Mr. Holmes's Bob, a black and tan, if I remember 

 aright; and Mr. Henry Lacy's Mec beat him at Birmingham 

 one year, but on another occasion the tables were turned. 

 This last-named dog was a great winner in his day, and 

 must have had a curious career. He, like Cockie, had no 

 reliable pedigree, but, unlike his superior, was a black and 

 tan dog, peculiarly good in head, ears, and general form, 

 but soft in coat, and rather deficient in brightness of 

 expression. Mec first came into notice at a small show 

 held at Bedford Leigh, in Lancashire, where he was pur- 

 chased for about 3 by the late Mr. John Henshall, of 

 Salford, the writer being present, and a witness to the 

 bargain at the time. Bulldogs were, however, more in Mr. 

 Henshall's line than collies, so in due course Mec, for a 

 consideration, was transferred to the kennels of Mr. 

 Henry Lacy, of Hebden Bridge, then a constant frequenter 

 of dog shows, and at the same time a most successful 

 exhibitor. For him Mec won many prizes, and proved 

 fairly useful as a stud dog. 



Another celebrity about this time was Mr. Christopher 



