254 Modern Dogs. 



the breed. Would that the same care and judgment had 

 been taken with the brisk little Devon spaniel, whose qualities 

 were as denned and distinct as those of the pointer, but whose 

 symmetry of late years has been sacrificed to fashion, which has 

 rendered him less able to work thick covert and thorny hedgerow. 



Whether dog shows are in any way responsible for the deterio- 

 ration of this useful breed, it is not my intention to inquire ; I will, 

 however, confidently assert that to dog shows and field trials 

 we owe much of the all-round improvement so perceptible 

 in the 'breed of pointers generally, and those of Devonshire in 

 particular. The opportunities which these meetings afford of 

 discussing the merits and characteristics of the different strains, is 

 of incalculable value to breeders, and frequently lead to the 

 interchange of blood, which above all else is so necessary for the 

 keeping up of stamina and keen working qualities. 



One of our earlier Devon breeders, who recognised the wisdom 

 of an infusion of fresh blood, was Mr. W. Francis, of Exeter a 

 thorough sportsman, whose kennels were never without the right 

 sort for hard work his frequent companion in the field was the 

 late Mr. Samuel Price, of Bow. It is hardly to be wondered at 

 that two such enthusiasts working together, were successful in 

 maintaining the reputation of their kennels. At that time dog 

 shows were in their infancy ; however, that good authority the 

 Rev. T. Pearce (" Idstone "), while on a visit to Devonshire, had 

 spoken so highly of the working characteristics and general good 

 qualities of the liver and white Bounce a well-known prize 

 winner, owned by Mr. Brockton, of Farndon that Mr. Francis 

 and Mr. Price quickly decided on breeding from him. For this 

 purpose they selected one of their best bitches, named Belle, 

 whose dam Dido was bred near Newton Abbot, and was by 

 Sancho, whose sire, Mentor, came from South Molton. This union 

 of Francis's Belle with Brockton's Bounce gave us the sensa- 

 tional litter Sancho, the black and white Chang, the bitch Vesta, 

 and Random. So grand a team quickly gained for themselves 

 a reputation on the bench, and we find Sancho and Chang 



