118 The Dog Book 
STONEHENGE ON LAvVERACKS AND LLEWELLYNS 
The opening paragraph of Stonehenge is as follows: “Since the 
publication of the articles on the various breeds of dogs in The Field, during 
the years 1856-57, the strain of setters known by the name of Laverack, 
from the gentleman who bred them, has carried all before it, both on the 
show bench and in the public field trials which have been held annually. 
For this high character it is greatly indebted to the celebrated Countess, 
who was certainly an extraordinary animal, both in appearance and at 
work; for, until she came out the only Laverack which had shone to advan- 
tage was Sir R. Garth’s Daisy, a good average bitch. Though small, 
Countess was possessed of extraordinary pace, not perhaps equal to that 
of the still more celebrated pointer Drake, but approaching so closely to it 
that his superiority would be disputed by many of her admirers. Though 
on short legs, her frame is full of elegance, and her combined head and neck 
are absolutely perfect. With her high pace she combined great powers of ” 
endurance, and her chief fault was that she could never be fully depended 
upon; for when fresh enough to display her speed and style to the full, she 
would break away from her master and defy his whistle until she had taken 
her fling over a thousand acres or so. . . . Ona good scenting day it 
was a great treat to see her at work, but, like most fast gallopers, she would 
sometimes flush her game on a bad scenting day, and then she would be 
wild with shame. Nellie (her sister) was of the same size, but not so fast, 
nor so elegant, still she was good enough to beat the crack on one occasion 
at Vaynol in 1872, but on most days she would have stood no chance with 
Countess. She served to show that Countess was not wholly exceptional, 
as was alleged by the detractors of the Laveracks; and these two bitches, 
together with Sir R. Garth’s Daisy, may fairly be adduced as indicating 
that at all events the Laverack bitches are quite first class. No dog, how- 
ever, has put in an appearance at any field trials with any pretension to high 
form, but several winners have appeared half or quarter bred of that strain.” 
Countess, although bred by Mr. Laverack, was run by Mr. Llewellyn, 
who bought her from Mr. Sam Lang, who got her from Mr. Laverack. 
Nellie was apparently bought direct from Mr. Laverack, as no mention is 
made of Mr. Lang in the stud book. Hence although she gave prominence 
to Mr. Llewellyn’s kennel, the credit was really due to the Laverack strain. 
That all was not plain sailing for the Laveracks is apparent from this remark 
