l88 THE NOTED BREEDERS MR. LUKEY AND MR. THOMPSON. 



the fine coat and straight thin tail, points which rendered his 

 strain remarkable. Writing September ist, 1873, ^ e sa id, 

 " Size is the rage, and the writing up of this monstrocity has 

 "done more injury to the pure points than will be easily re- 

 deemed.'* Again December 8, 1873, " Deformity, deficiency 

 " of muscular power, narrow muzzles, and also the great want 

 'of a just and proportionate head, are defects which want 

 " eradicating. I have always thought it was a mistake giving 

 such a palpable lead to mere size over points of far more 

 ' importance.'' Writing March, 1873, " In regard to size, 1 

 " care not how big a mastiff may be, if he is proportionate, 

 " well gaited, firm on his pins as we say in Yorkshire, for it 

 44 a dog has not good legs and feet, he is useless. Somekeep- 

 ki ers and others make such a muddle of crossing, I fear the 

 " avidity to breed great size, will prove a failure, and in the 

 " end will produce a disproportionate, ugly, and useless 

 " animal." 



In his Essay on the breed, he says, " The rage for size has 

 " in some instances done harm, viz., by producing tall, leggy, 

 * coarse animals without a proportionate form of head and 

 ' frame to keep pace." Again, " It is marvellous what avicl- 

 ' ity some breeders display in seeking progeny from a dog 

 " because he is large, and possibly the winner of a few prizes, 

 'at the same time not possessing one other point worthy of 

 14 notice. A sire dog should exhibit what constitutes the true 

 " mastiff points, he should have no spurious pedigree, purity 

 " and high breeding are indispensible necessities. A good 

 " head is one of the most essential points, a small thin ear. 

 ''slightly erect at root, improves the character of the head." 



In a letter dated March 25th, 1873, ne wrote. " 1 agree for 

 the most part, \\ith your general remarks as to what you 



