Rat Hunt at a Zoological Gardens 267 



I find them consisting of Pointers (large size), dogs ; ditto bitches ; 

 small size Pointers (no dogs entered, but some bitches) ; Pointer 

 puppies ; English Setters, dogs ; ditto bitches ; Setter puppies, 

 Retrievers, Clumber Spaniels, Cockers, or other Spaniel breeds. 

 Judges' names, or number of entries, I have not ascertained. 



In 1860, I think in December, or late in November, I remember 

 attending a dog show held under canvas in a field in White 

 Ladies' Road, Clifton, Bristol. 



I was a schoolboy at the time, and I am sure it was my first 

 experience of a dog show, and I was much interested in the animals 

 shown, many of which, I remember, came from well-known London 

 dog fanciers ; but the thing which particularly impressed it on my 

 mind was that we showed a Wire-haired Fox-terrier, lately received 

 from Mr. R. B. Giles, of Berkeley, who had it from the huntsmen 

 of the Berkeley Fox-hounds (because of its being so dark in colour 

 nearly black, with hound tan markings), and took first prize with 

 him ! His name was Tippoo Sahib, but of course called Tip by us, 

 and was one of the smartest, gamest little fellows that ever looked 

 through a collar. As a rat killer, I do not know I have ever seen his 

 equal, certainly not his superior ; though we had at the same time 

 a mustard Dandy Dinmont bitch, Lassie, who ran him very closely, 

 and we had the opportunity of keeping them in practice at ratting in 

 rather an unusual way. 



My father was one of the directors of a Zoological Gardens 

 carried on in the nearest town to where we lived, and most of the 

 animals' houses, but particularly the monkeys' and reptiles', where 

 great numbers of different kinds of parrots, cockatoos, etc., were also 

 kept, were greatly infested with rats, which used to come after the 

 food given to the animals and birds, inflicting considerable loss on 

 the management. Accordingly, " rat hunts " were organised and 

 held, chiefly during cold weather, as otherwise the rodents 

 would find food about the grounds, and not trouble about the 

 houses; and one of my brothers and I always received an invite 

 from the head keeper, as our dogs were well-known " workers." 



In each of the houses only two rat holes were allowed, and over 

 each of them was a piece of wood screwed to the floor at one end, 

 and able to be moved at will. Some nights before our intended 

 attack rather more food, in shape of scraps, grain, etc., was 

 thrown about, and, a sufficient time after the Gardens were closed, 

 to allow the little robbers to be busy on the food, wires, which had 

 been early in the evening affixed to the hole coverings, and passed 



