52 The English Horse. 



defeated Stockwell, grandson of Birdcatcher; of one 

 Oaks winner, Songstress, in 1852 ; of three St. Leger 

 winners: The Baron in 1845, Knight of St. George in 

 1854, Warlock in 1856. He was the sire of Saunterer, 

 a black horse of great merit. For some time the latter 

 was abroad, but was purchased by Mr. Blenkiron, and 

 so restored to this country. He is the sire of Gamos, 

 winner of the Oaks, with a good chance of making 

 himself a stud reputation. 



Birdcatcher was a chestnut horse ; his stock had 

 generally the reputation of being smart, light, and 

 active, a trifle small and short, but I have seen some 

 Birdcatchers of almost gigantic size. Nor should I say 

 they were all systematically blood-like in appearance. 

 Some show much quality ; in others I have seen points 

 of quite a different character. The pedigree of his dam 

 shows, I think, more than the usual amount of indifferent 

 breeding, although mixed with good strains, which may 

 account for the conflicting appearances seen in his stock. 

 His son. The Baron, winner of the St. Leger in 1845, 

 has chiefly made him famous ; he was a dark chestnut 

 horse, with a star, a white spot at the muzzle — I think 

 the off nostril — near hind foot white. He had a bony, 

 prominent head, very fine shoulders, short back, and his 

 quarters drooping a little to the setting-on of the tail, 

 but his thighs were well let down. He won the Cesare- 

 witch Stakes the same year, but he was defeated in the 

 Cambridgeshire by Alarm, a horse of the same age, 

 The Baron carrying 7st 81b, the latter /st 91b. The 

 next year The Baron did not win a single race, and was 



