364 



THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



With reference to Ranger's marvellous behaviour in the field we extract the following 

 from a report of the Field Trials which appeared in the Live Stock Journal, April 25th, 

 1879. In alluding to Ranger the writer says: 



" He made what is so much to the public taste at these trials a sensation point. 

 When running down a large grass meadow with Darkie he rushed with marvellous speed 

 to the bottom, against which appeared a large embankment. The dog suddenly found 



MR. MACDONA'S CHAMPION ENGLISH SETTER "RANC.KU." 



himself hurled by the impetus of his going into the midst of a twelve-foot river that ran 

 between the embankment and the grass field in which he was running. The impetus 

 with which he went threw him to the opposite side. Crawling up the bank half dazed 

 with the shock, he scented some birds, and immediately coming to life again, dropped. 

 The birds then rising, he plunged back into the river, swam across, and shook himself in 

 face of the judges and spectators. Anything more unique or sensational in the matter 

 of field trials has not been witnessed before, except when he won the all-aged stake at 

 the Kennel Club Field Trials, when, rushing down the hill, he suddenly winded birds, and 

 stopped, and the impetus of his going caused him to make a summersault in the air, 

 when he landed on his back, and as stiff as starch. His four legs were seen in the air, 

 and his neck and head turned round in the direction where the birds were soon put up 

 about a foot from his nose." 



