58 The Collie or Sheep Dog. 



position for more than two or three years, some few 

 animals already mentioned being quite exceptions to the 

 rule. 



Although one has considerable fault to find with many of 

 the collies that are now taking prizes, especially as being 

 unfitted for their legitimate work, there is no doubt that at 

 the present time there are more really good specimens in 

 the country than at any previous time of our history. A 

 dozen or two first-class animals could readily be mentioned. 

 There are many good judges of the variety, but a far 

 greater number of individuals who take a pride in breeding 

 them to pattern, or as near to pattern as possible. 



The Rev. Hans Hamilton has for years been a most 

 successful exhibitor with dogs of his own breeding, his 

 Captain, Peggie II., Dorothy, Woodmansterne Lothian 

 (who unfortunately succumbed to distemper before he had 

 reached that position on the show bench to which he 

 would have attained) with others already mentioned all 

 being noteworthy. Mr. Hamilton has, I believe, on more 

 than one occasion, had the honour of presenting his collies 

 to Her Majesty, a privilege likewise granted to the Messrs. 

 Charles, neighbours of Mr. Ashwin, already alluded to, near 

 Stratford-on-Avon. The latter gentlemen, time after time, 

 introduced some of our best specimens to the public, and 

 made a speciality of producing occasional dogs almost 

 white in colour handsome and unique as companions, but 

 not so useful for working purposes as others less like the 

 sheep themselves. Possibly, their best dog was the Squire, 

 whose defect lay in a deficiency of coat, recently sold to 

 America for a large sum as was Bendigo, a son of his, a 

 most promising puppy that does not seem to have realised 

 early anticipations of excellence. Some of Messrs. Charles' 



