60 



THE DOGS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 



SCALE OF POINTS. 



This scale worked admirably at Vaynol for two years in succession, and not 

 only did the judges experience no difficulty in carrying it out, but the spectators 

 were satisfied with the results, to a degree which I have never seen equalled 

 elsewhere. 



In the third year, however, one of the subscribers and his confederate, having 

 been previously spoiled by a long series of successes, objected to the decisions, 

 alleging that the dogs were not worked out in pairs, as in coursing ; and since then 

 an attempt has been made under the instigation of Mr. Lowe, the Secretary of 

 the Kennel Club, to establish a code of points founded upon the number of times 

 each dog has found game or backed his competitor, without reference to style, 

 pace, &c. Again and again attempts have been made to carry this plan out, 

 but it has uniformly failed, as might be expected, and when put to the vote of 

 the subscribers to a stake, it has always been negatived. During the present season, 

 1877, and prior to the trials at Horseheath of the Kennel Club Derby dogs, Mr. 

 Brewis, the liberal owner of the estate on which they take place, has attempted 

 to combine the two plans ; but as the combination is still in a state of development, 

 no opinion can fairly be given of its merits. 



The following article was published by myself recently in the Field, being a 

 comparison between the two plans adopted this year at Shrewsbury and Horseheath. 

 It may, I think, be studied with advantage by those who either dislike judging by 

 points, or desire to carry out the system of pairing all the dogs entered, as in 

 coursing, forgetting altogether the difference between that sport and shooting. 



"At the risk of incurring the charge of publishing vain repetitions of our 

 opinions on the above subject, we are tempted once more to return to it, in 



