350 Modern Dogs. 



thread of white running down the forehead, and in some of his 

 descendants this amounted to a pretty broad " blaze '' on the 

 forehead. 



It should be borne in mind that in early days men kept dogs 

 of all breeds for their good working qualities alone, and I think 

 it reasonable to suppose that if an enthusiastic sportsman had a 

 particularly excellent red dog and his friend and neighbour an 

 equally good red and white bitch, or vice versd, they were pretty 

 certain to breed them together. Be it also remembered that 

 travelling in those days was not the easily accomplished matter 

 it is now, nor were dogs advertised at stud or for sale to any great 

 extent, if at all. Dog shows were wholly unknown, consequently 

 the dogs of those days were only locally famous. 



It is somewhat difficult to reconcile the apparent difference in 

 opinions existing between the various gentlemen whose experiences 

 are quoted by me as to whether the original breed was red and 

 white or wholly red. Mr. Mahon, who may be taken to have a 

 good knowledge of the west, and Mr. King, who knew the 

 Midland counties, and as a college youth the vicinity of Dublin, 

 held the opinion that the original breed was red and white, but 

 both admit that the red dog was then existing, but not to any 

 great extent. 



Mr. Bennett, who knew the Midland counties, and Dublin, holds 

 the opinion that the red and white predominated, but that the red 

 was kept in comparative purity in certain kennels, but believes 

 that there were few, if any, men in those days (save Mr. Maurice 

 O'Connor, perhaps), who would not use a red and white if he 

 were a well proved good one in the field. Do not these facts tally 

 with Mr. Moore's assertion, that he himself did so on one 

 occasion ? 



It is easy to suppose the red dog existed in greater numbers in 

 the north, and the red and white in the midland and western 

 counties, but that the red and white was imported from England 

 in sufficient quantities in those days of slow sailing boats, and with 

 no accommodation for dogs, and the stupendous difficulties to be 



