HUMOURS OF THE SHOW-RINGS 317 



ways sought to judge the dogs alone, irrespective of 

 their owners; if the dogs of the person you mention 

 have won it is because they were, in my opinion, the 

 best." She said no more, nor did I, but I presume she 

 thought I spoke the truth, as I have often noticed her as 

 an exhibitor in my classes, at various shows since, and 

 it is not reasonable to suppose she would continue to 

 show under me, if she thought I favoured any one ! 



Indeed, there are so many "lookers-on" round every 

 ring, nowadays who understand the various breeds, and 

 are prepared to criticise the awards, that judges are 

 " put upon their mettle," particularly with some of the 

 popular breeds, where the competition is often very 

 keen, and the entries large. 



Some years since, at a large show in Wales I had 

 a large and good class of Bedlington Terriers, but 

 there was one dog that stood out, head and shoulders 

 above the rest; it chanced that I began my ex- 

 amination of each specimen in the class, which I 

 always endeavour to make, and a short note of the re- 

 sult in my book, at the dog standing next to him in the 

 ring, and therefore he was the last to be looked at, and 

 merely going over him enough to see that his coat, con- 

 dition, topknot, legs, eyes, teeth and ears, were satisfac- 

 tory, I sent them for a run round, marked my book and 

 dismissed the class; while I was waiting for the next 

 lot of dogs a very melancholy-looking man crept up to 

 me and said, " Would you kindly tell me, sir, what you 

 gave my dog? " I asked his number, and when he told 

 me, said, " First and special for best in the show ; " he 

 threw his hat up in the air, and roared out, " Well, I'm 



