The English Setter. 299 



prevailing feature with the Naworth Castle strain, 

 and in another which Major Cowen keeps at Blaydon 

 Burn, near Newcastle-on-Tyne. 



Whatever crosses may have been used by Mr. 

 Laverack, or by his friends, there is no doubt that 

 such proved extremely useful, and have been the 

 means of fully establishing the strain on a sound 

 and substantial basis. In his own kennel, towards 

 the close of his career, Mr. Laverack was not 

 fortunate in rearing his puppies, and at the time 

 of his death there were but five setters in his actual 

 possession. These were Blue Prince, Blue Rock, 

 Cora (lemon and white), Blue Belle, and Nellie or 

 Blue Cora. The two latter were own sisters, and 

 Mr. Laverack's housekeeper sold Prince, Belle, and 

 another to Mr. T. B. Bowers for about ioo/. The 

 remaining brace ultimately went to Mr. J. R. Robin- 

 son, of Sunderland, who held a sort of partnership 

 with the late Mr. Laverack, and had laid claim to 

 the whole of the kennel ; but the three dogs Mr. 

 Bowers bought were sold even before poor 

 Laverack was laid in his grave near the quiet little 

 church at Ash, not far from Whitchurch. The 

 Kennel Club Stud Books tell us how the blood of 

 these setters has been disseminated since that time. 



Mr. Laverack claimed for his dogs excellence 

 all round in the field, and unusual stamina ; indeed, 



