The Flat or Wavy Coated Black Retriever. 383 



other Wyndham, this in 1860, a dog which was 

 evidently almost pure Labrador, and, like its name- 

 sake, has no pedigree in the Stud Book. Still, both 

 dogs were successful on the show bench, so were 

 much used, and their blood is to be found in most of 

 the strains at the present day. Another excellent 

 dog of the early period was Major Allison's Victor, 

 another dog without pedigree, that was purchased at 

 Edinburgh. It is interesting to note how true to 

 type these pedigreeless dogs have proved, and do so 

 even at the present time. For instance, Mr. L. A. 

 Shuter, of near Farningham, in Kent, not long ago 

 purchased a bitch in the streets at Bristol, and 

 could not obtain the slightest trace as to what her 

 sire and dam were. Still, so good was she that he 

 formed an alliance between her and his dog Darenth. 

 The result was puppies so good that they won 

 prizes in keen competition directly they came to be 

 shown. Such cases are, however, exceptional, and 

 must not be considered when mentioned here as 

 an indication that I do not value pedigree. 



To Mr. S. E. Shirley, the president of the Kennel 

 Club, the admirers of the wavy-coated retrievers are 

 indebted for what he has done for the popularisation 

 of the breed, and most of all the best dogs of the 

 present day are of his strain. A valued lot of 

 retrievers had been kept at Ettington Park long 



