vi NOTE. 



friend Mr. Chas. H. Mason, for great kindness, sterling 

 criticisms, many valuable suggestions and constant assist- 

 ance in the revision of the manuscript, in which has been 

 incorporated much that was drawn from his vast fund of 

 experience. 



The generosity of fanciers in providing materials for 

 illustrations is also warmly acknowledged, and it is 

 much regretted that all photographs furnished could not 

 have been reproduced to appear herein. But the intent 

 being educational purely, manifestly only the best avail- 

 able specimens of the various breeds should be repre- 

 sented. 



Notwithstanding his obvious reluctance to observe the 

 time-honored custom and indulge in a preliminary discus- 

 sion of his work, and his very decided preference to leave 

 the reader to fashion his own conclusions as to its merits, 

 the author is impelled to emphasize the exceeding value 

 of these illustrations of dogs, being as they are perfectly 

 true to life and of subjects which, with only an occasional 

 exception, have reached the front ranks, while no small 

 proportion are the nearest approaches to perfection that 

 the world has ever known. Consequently these faithful 

 portraits must alone contribute much towards advance- 

 ment to higher standards. 



