DOG SHOWS. 261 



said to be first class dogs in the field. They 

 might have been ; I know nothing to the con- 

 trary ; but to such dogs, knowing them as I did 

 to be without pedigree, I would never have 

 given a prize, or even look at them, for I con- 

 sidered them very faulty as to shape and make. 

 However, they think differently at Birmingham 

 and elsewhere. 



Now suppose a judge did not know these 

 dogs as many do ? he would naturally give the 

 palm to the best-looking animal, and very justly 

 so ; what they can do in the field, or how they 

 are bred, is not his business ; he must award 

 as the rules at present stand the prize to the 

 handsomest and most symmetrical animal. 



How this difficulty is to be got over, I am at 

 a loss to imagine ; it is certainly very annoying 

 and vexing to a man who has been at the 

 trouble and expense of breeding dogs from an 

 old and undeniable strain, to be beaten by those 

 who have no pedigree at all ; but so it is at pre- 

 sent, and will be till some very great alteration 

 is made, but who is to make it ? 



If a certain number of gentlemen would join 

 together, men who breed and understand it 



