110 THE DOGS OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 



12. The texture of coat and bareness of face (value 15) constitute the chief 

 difference between the two breeds. The texture of coat should be intermediate 

 between wool and hair, like that of the Astrakan sheep, with even a crisper curl, 

 each of which should be quite distinct. The breed has naturally a very oily coat, 

 which serves to protect the skin when in the water ; but for show purposes artificial 

 oil is often added to such an extent as to soil the hand considerably when stroking 

 the dog. This fraud though not so great as dyeing or clipping, is still one which 

 should be deprecated, and, if clearly established, ought to disqualify a dog from 

 competition. On the whole face, up to nearly the middle of the ears, the coat 

 should be quite short, without the slightest wave even ; and here clipping is some- 

 times resorted to, and should be punished in the same way it can easily be detected 

 by the absence of bloom at the parts clipped. Plucking is useless, as it leaves the 

 skin bare. With the above exceptions, the whole body should be clothed with short 

 curls, and the occurrence of a patch of uncurled hair on the back, called a " saddle," 

 is greatly objected to. 



The illustrations accompanying this chapter are portraits of Mr. Bartram's Nell 

 and Mr. Morris's True. Nell obtained the remarkable distinction of being placed 

 above True as "the best retriever in the show" at Birmingham in 1875, by Dr. 

 Bond Moore and Mr. Shirley, and I have therefore coupled her with that dog in 

 the most prominent position. The following is her pedigree : 



Mr. Bartram's Nell f Oscar (Schofield) ... C Sweep (Hodgson) C Hector (Riley). 

 (late Mr. E.W. Bichardsj (j e t (Mr. J. Holmes) [ Bess (Gill) (.Old Bess (Ferrand). 



Mr. Morris's True is by Challoner's Sam, of the Duke of Portland's breed, 

 out of Watson's bitch. He is a winner of a host of first and champion prizes, 

 including that of the Kennel Club Show, at Islington, in 1877. 



(c) THE KETRIEVEKS OTHER THAN BLACK. 



Classes defined as above have been made specially with a view to include those 

 liver-coloured specimens which are met with constantly in litters bred from black 

 curly-coated parents, indicating the spaniel cross. Thus, in 1866, Mr. Jones and 

 Mr. Harrison took the first and second prizes at Birmingham with Neptune and 

 Sailor respectively, both being by the celebrated Jet, and the former out of a 

 black daughter of that dog, while the latter was out of Gorse's Gyp, also black. 

 Both were liver-coated dogs ; and in 1865 Sailor was placed second to Mr Gorse's 

 Jet, Mr. Harrison asserting his superiority to that dog in all other respects, and on 

 that account a separate class was made next year ; but the result was not more 

 favourable to the then treasurer and prime mover of the show, as he only got a 

 second to Neptune, as above stated. This class is not defined at all, so that the 

 judges may have to decide between curly-coated of both, colours, wavy-coated of 

 a black, brindled, black and tabby, black and tan, or red colour ; and, of course, can 

 have no rule but the rule of thumb to guide them. In such a class, colour must be 



