KARI.V DOG SHOWS. 2OI 



But to re.vert to Mr. Lukey as a breeder, although it is a 

 hold and perhaps somewhat startling assertion to make, still 

 I fail to see that he made any really great improvement in the 

 breed, and am inclined to think that he bred as good or even 

 better specimens at the commencement of his career, than he 

 did in his meridian, and had he lived in later times, when the 

 breed became more fashionable and plentiful, there is no 

 reason for believing that he would have made any greater 

 fame as a breeder than others have since. 



Much mav be learnt from an impartial investigation of the 

 practices of these early breeders, especially if we can but 

 divest our minds of that glamour of extra judgment and skill 

 which rolls like a cloud over the past, and while hiding their 

 failures, allows their successes to burst through in strong 

 light. In himself Mr. Lukey beyond doubt was a good judge 

 ot what a mastiff should be, possessing a trained eye for make 

 and shape, and a quick perception of the characteristic points: 

 he had a dread of a bad loin, and informed me that was his 

 sole reason for never having bred from Bill George's Tiger, 

 who he remarked was the best headed dog of his day: 

 and when he crossed his last star, but not least noted prize 

 winner, his superb Beautv. with her half-brother my Monarch 

 2317, he said, "that although his head was grander than he 

 expected to meet with, and beat that of his Baron both in 

 type and measurement, yet he was the worst loined dog that 

 he had ever bred from." It may be laid down as certain 

 that the two cardinal points Mr. Lukey ever kept in view 

 were a well formed head, and broad loin in the sires he used: 

 seeking these perfections in the individual animal rather than 

 in any study of pedigree, a point he seemed to me very 

 indifferent about, so long as the animal suited his judgment. 



PB 



