THE BULLDOG. 



39 



it is observed that since the decline of such 

 sports, Bulldogs have diminished in num- 

 ber an instance whence we may learn 

 how much the efforts of mankind operate 

 on the domesticated genera of the animal 

 kingdom. 



' The internal changes which determine 

 the external characteristics of this dog 

 consist in a great development of the 

 frontal sinuses, a development which elevates 

 the bones of the forehead above the nose, 

 and which leads in the same direction the 

 cerebral cavity. But the most important 

 change, and that, perhaps, which causes 

 all the others, although we cannot perceive 

 the connexion, is the diminution of the 

 brain. The cerebral capacity of the Bull- 

 dog is sensibly smaller than in any other 

 race, and it is doubtless to the decrease 

 of the encephalon that we must attribute 

 its inferiority to all others in everything 

 relating to intelligence. The Bulldog is 

 scarcely capable of any education, and is 

 fitted for nothing but combat and ferocity. 

 A fifth toe is occasionally found more or 

 less developed on the hind feet of this race. 

 This, like all other races far removed from 

 the primitive type, is difficult of repro- 

 duction. Their life, also, is short, though 

 their development is slow, they scarcely 

 acquire maturity under eighteen months, 

 and at five or six years show signs of de- 

 crepitude." 



The commencement of the dog-show era 

 in 1859 enabled classes to be provided for 

 Bulldogs, and a fresh incentive to breed 

 them was offered to the dog fancier. In 

 certain districts of the country, notably 

 in London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Man- 

 chester, and Dudley, a number of fanciers 

 resided, and it is to their efforts that we 

 are indebted for the varied specimens of the 

 breed that are to be seen on the modern 

 show bench. 



Amongst others in this connection may 

 be mentioned Messrs. J. W. Berrie, of 

 Tooting ; T. Verinder, J. Ashburne, B. White, 

 W. George, C. Aistrop, P. Rust, and 

 H. Layton, of London ; G. W. Richards, 

 F. Lamphier, and T. Turton, of Sheffield ; 

 J. Lamphier, J. Hinks, and F. Reeves, of 



Birmingham ; J. Henshall and Peter Eden, 

 of Manchester ; and A. Clay, of Wolver- 

 hampton ; several of whom are still living. 



One of the first specimens, if not actually 

 the first, exhibited which was worthy of 

 the name of Bulldog, belonged to Mr. James 

 Hinks, of Birmingham. He was a white 

 dog, and gained the first prize at Birming- 

 ham in i$6o. He was priced for sale at 

 ten guineas. 



In 1864, at the Agricultural Hall in 

 London, forty Bulldogs were on exhibition, 

 and Mr. Jacob Lamphier, of Soho Street, 

 Birmingham, won the first prize with his 

 celebrated dog Champion King Dick, who 

 was by Tommy ex Slut. This dog was 

 48 Ibs. in weight, and a red smut in colour, 

 and is admitted to have been one of the 

 best Bulldogs that ever lived. He was 

 born in 1858, and died when eight years 

 of age, a few days after the demise of his 

 master. 



As a proof if any were needed of the 

 devotion, fidelity, and affection of the 

 Bulldog, the following account of the death 

 of this grand dog will be read with interest. 



Mr. Lamphier was afflicted with con- 

 sumption, and at intervals, during the 

 last twelve months of his life, was confined 

 to his room. King Dick, being a great 

 favourite, was his constant companion. 

 In April, 1866, Mr. Lamphier died. Dick 

 was at the time confined to the yard, and 

 continued to be so until after the funeral. 

 The first day he was let loose he instantly 

 rushed upstairs into his master's room and 

 made straight for the easy chair in which 

 his master used to sit, but it was vacant ; 

 he put his paws on the bed, looked under 

 it, rushed backwards and forwards crying 

 piteously, ran to a back room which he 

 searched thoroughly ; coming back, he 

 went to the chair and bed again. Miss 

 Lamphier, who was in the room, tried to 

 comfort him, but without success ; he 

 lay down on the rug before the fire, and 

 never seemed to lift his head up again. 

 No caress, no endearments, could rouse 

 him. He refused all food that was offered 

 to him, and it was with great difficulty 

 that he was drenched with some beef tea. 



