THE DALMATIAN. 



93 



The Dalmatian has another trait in his have been taken to train them systematic- 

 character which is in his favour, for, although ally for gun-work. 



not classed among sporting breeds, he is So far as can be ascertained, the first of 

 decidedly useful as a sporting dog, and the variety which appeared in the show 

 from his similarity in shape and build to ring was Mr. James Fawdry's Captain, in 



1873. At that period they were looked 

 upon as a novelty, and, though the gene- 

 rosity and influence of a few admirers 

 ensured separate classes being provided 

 for the breed at the leading shows, it did 

 not necessitate the production of such per- 

 fect specimens as those which a few years 

 afterwards won prizes. At the first they 

 were more popular in the North of England 

 than in any other part of Great Britain. 

 It was at Kirkby Lonsdale that Dr. James's 

 Spotted Dick was bred, and an early ex- 

 ploiter of the breed who made his dogs 

 famous was Mr. Newby Wilson, of Lake- 

 side, Windermere. He was indebted to Mr. 

 Hugo Droesse, of London, for the founda- 

 tion of his stud, inasmuch as it was from 

 Mr. Droesse that he purchased Ch. Acrobat 

 and Ch. Berolina. At a later date the famed 

 Coming Still and Prince IV. were secured 



MR. W. B HERMAN'S CH. FONTLEROY 

 BY PRINCE IV. FLIRT. 



a small-sized Pointer, he is well qualified 

 to undergo the fatigue of a hard day's 

 shooting. Although he is not quite so 



keen-scented nor so staunch as the Pointer, from the same kennel, the latter dog being- 

 he yet has many of the same attributes, and the progenitor of most of the best liver- 

 when trained — which is, un- 

 fortunately, all too rare an 

 occurrence — he is of valu- 

 able service in the field. 

 Experience has proved, how- 

 ever, that he prefers fea- 

 thered to ground game, or, 

 at least , that he seems to 

 find and take more notice 

 of partridges and pheasants 

 than of hares. 



The earliest authorities 

 agree that this breed was 

 first introduced from Dal- 

 matia, and it has been 

 confidently asserted that he 

 was brought into this coun- 

 try purely on account of 

 his sporting proclivities. Of 

 late years, however, these 

 dogs have so far degenerated as to be spotted specimens that have attained noto- 

 looked upon simply as companions, or as riety as prize-winners down to the present 

 exhibition dogs, for only very occasion- day. 

 ally can it be found that any pains Probably there was never a more sensa- 



MR. W. PROCTOR'S BALETTE BY CH. LORD QUEX- 

 Photograph by Hignett and Son, Lostock. 



