350 ALL ABOUT DOGS 



So eager were they for the fray, 



To be in time, for Sport, 

 They both arrived, upon the day, 



The day, before, they ought! 



Many of the older exhibitors will remember the late 

 Mr. I. H. Murchison, F. R. G. S., whose large and suc- 

 cessful kennel of St. Bernards, Dandies, and Fox 

 Terriers, was for so many years in the front rank at 

 all the leading shows? As I was much mixed up in 

 the two last named varieties, I used constantly to be in 

 his company, and that of his son, also a keen and capa- 

 ble fancier. I remember on one occasion meeting him at 

 a show, I forget where it was, now, I think in the Lon- 

 don district, but amongst the dogs he had there was a 

 young and very promising Fox Terrier, called " Crack- 

 nel," with which he had carried all before him, and he 

 showed me a letter he had received from a gentleman 

 then, as now, in the front rank of Fox Terrier breed- 

 ers, and exhibitors, offering him 270 for the dog, and 

 he said, since receipt of the letter, the writer had of- 

 fered to make it " even money " (300), at that time, 

 quite a fancy price for a specimen of that breed. He 

 said, " What would you advise me to do about it? " I 

 said, " Why take it, without hesitation, it is a tempting 

 price, the life of all dogs is uncertain, and show dogs, 

 especially, and it will do your kennel more good to have 

 sold a dog from it, at such a figure, than anything you 

 can gain, in any other way." However, he refused 

 the offer, and Cracknel not long afterwards rushed 

 into a hayfield after a rabbit, or rat, and so cut himself 

 with a scythe hidden in the long grass that he had to be 



