FOREST AND STREAM. 



jp* £#**&• 



To Coebespondknts.— Those desiring us to prescribe lor their dogs 

 will please take note of and describe the following points in each aDl- 

 mal: 



1. Age. a. Food and medicine given. 3. Appearance of the eye ; 

 of the coat. ; of the tongae and lips. 4. Any changes in the appearance 

 of the body, a8 bloating, drawing In of the flanks, etc. 6. Breathing, 

 the nnmber of respirations per minute, and whether labored or not. 

 6. Condition of the bowels and secretions of the iridneya, color, etc. 1. 

 Appetite ; regular, variable, etc. 8. Temperature of the body as Indi- 

 cated by the bulb of the thermometer when placed between the body 

 and the foreleg. 9. Give position of kennel and surroundings, outlook, 

 contiguity to other buildings, and the uses of the latter. Also give any 

 peculiarities of temperament, movements, etc., that may be noticed, 

 sign of suffering, etc. 



THE MINNESOTA FIELD TRIALS AND 

 BENCH SHOW. 



St. Path., July 30, 1878. 



Ms. Editor — It is a matter for congratulation and a hand- 

 shake all around, that the prospects of a completely successful 

 Bhow and field trial here next September are so brilliant. 

 Assurances strengthen as plans mature and letters arrive at 

 the headquarters of the Kennel Club. There is no doubt a 

 Wide-spread interest felt in the coming events. The exhibits 

 of the Bench Show wiil not he confined to Western dogs, and 

 I know it to be the intention of one Boston gentleman at least 

 to enter the pick of his kennel in competition with dogs which 

 have been broken on game not known in New England. As 

 usual, Mr. Charles Lincoln's efforts have been most happily 

 directed and employed, while his experience in the manage- 

 ment of similar affairs, his acquaintance with sportsmen and 

 dogs all over the country, and his general knowledge of the 

 physical features of geographical sections and the habits of 

 game, are felt to be invaluable. The advantage of personal 

 acquaintance with men, and the attributes of their dogs, can- 

 not be too highly estimated. By some logical sequence of 

 f ortuitious circumstances Mr. Lincoln has gradually drifted 

 into the position of Superintendent of Bench Shows ; and I 

 now consider his aid and advice, gathered from long experi- 

 ence, quite as essential to a proper presentation and a satis- 

 factory result as those of a general officer would he in an en- 

 gagement. It is the same kind of discipline and education — 

 a gradual growing into and annealing of the work, as it 

 were, which gives to Pobest and Stream its vantage 

 ground among journals, and enables it to know and adminis- 

 ter to the requirements of its constituency with the same in- 

 telligence and sagacity that a physician diagnoses a disease. 



I regard the Minnesota Field Trials as most important in 

 their immediate and ultimate bearing upon the whole subject 

 of dog culture and selection. Hitherto our field trials have 

 been run on quail only, the latitude of whose habitat is 

 wider than the range of the speckled trout. Dogs are more 

 generally broken on quail than on any other single variety of 

 bird, taking the entire area of our country into the account. 

 Of course I do not mean to intimate that the dog so broken may 

 not be a good all round dog, equally staunch on woodcock, 

 ruffed grouse, snipe, etc.; but to the nose of three-fourths of 

 the dogs in the country the scent of the prairie fowl is a 

 stranger, and we are anxious now, not only to inspect the 

 work of western -reared animals at home, but to note and 

 compare with theirs the performances of our Eastern and 

 Southern dogs in scrub oak and grass. We wish to learn 

 what constitutes a thoroughly competent dog j whether any 

 special qualifications are requisite for prairie workj and 

 whether, in the opinion of the judges, Mr. A's dog, of Bos- 

 ton, is an inferior animal to B's dog, of Kansas, only because 

 he fails to pick up his points on pediacetes pfiasianellus. Rule 

 9 of the N. A. Kennel Club requires dogs to discriminate be- 

 tween plover, snipe, etc., and the quail and grouse which he 

 is being hunted on, but it awards no demerits for pointing 

 terrapins, shoats, and stink-birds. There is a delicate ques- 

 tion involved here, which I hope the keen perception of the 

 judges will be able to decide ; for (I am pleased to state) the 

 rule referred to has been scratched. 



It was my good fortune to be present last night at a meet- 

 ing of the Kennel Club, held in the Court House, to adopt a 

 scale of points for judging the Field Trials, or rather, to adapt 

 those of the National Kennel Club to the conditions of the com- 

 ing competition. Certain changes were made with much care, 

 after conferring with prominent sportsmen in many States ; but 

 it is particularly desired that fanciers and owners of dogs shall 

 bear in mind that the schedule in question applies solely to 

 the forthcoming trial— on sharp-tailed grouse. Two more 

 points have been allowed for nose, and with very good reason. 

 Birds lie much better to dogs which wind them than to those 

 which track, or rake ; and if nose is to be depreciated we may 

 as well hunt with a greyhound (who hunts by sight only,) as 

 with setters and pointers. The scale of points as reconstructed 

 now stands : 



SCALE OF POINTS roll JUDGING THE FIELD TBIALS. 



Merits. Demerits. 



6 points 25 Flushing— (lef t to the judges). 



Backing 8 Failing to back 8 



Noaa 7 Chasing , 3 



Pace 10 Breaking short 3 



Style „ 5 Yalae points 2 



Quartering... 5 



Betrieving 5 



Total.. 



..60 



In the puppy trials no merits or demerits are to be allowed 

 for retrieving ; also the rule requiring puppies to be drawn 

 and work singly, is cancelled. It is also to be left to the 

 judges to decide whether points made are true or false. 



I cannot reconcile myself to the negative value placed upon 

 retrieving, especially as applied to setters, whose ancestors 

 were retrieving spaniels. To ignore this quality in a setter is 

 simply to bar one of his chief natural characteristics. It is an 

 English prejudice that too close contact of game with the nose 

 injures the scent, but I am inclined to pin more faith on the 

 natural propensity of the setter to fetch and carry than on the 

 opinion of men. Of the pointer I have nothing to say ; and 

 while I advance the foregoing thoughts, I admit that the ques- 

 tion is a delicate one, for which there is still room for much 

 more discussion. 



The great charm of the coming Field Trials will consist in 

 the fact that they are to be held en bivouac. The entire army 

 of owners, handlers, judges, exhibitors and commissaries 

 are to go into camp by one of the most beautiful lakes near 

 Sauk Centre, in Stearns county. I know the region well as 

 one of the best in the State, with an abundance of birds, a 

 magnificent outlook and unsurpassed natural scenery. The 

 advantages of a bivouac on the field, with an early start, fresh 

 dog and fresh man, will be appreciated by those sportsmen 

 who are wont to rise with the lark to bag the early bird that 

 catches the worm. What an experience can be more charming 

 to men to whom the prairies are a novelty .' As an Eastern 

 man, sojourning here for a brief period, I can truly say that 

 no trip or experience can be more enjoyable to Eastern men 

 than a jaunt to Minnesota next September. Birds are unusu- 

 ally abundant, and the breadth of stubble will be vast ; and 

 after the formal trials are over sportsmen will have only to 

 lapse confidingly into the hands of these hospitable Western 

 friends, who are more than anxious to do them service and 

 honor. Here will be an opportunity not often afforded to 

 come to what was so recently the Far West, and to enlarge 

 one's ideas in the proportion afforded by 1,500 miles or travel. 

 The railroads are, as usual, liberal and fares are much re- 

 duced. 



Mr. Charles Lincoln has been kind enough to supply you 

 with current notes of the events to come, and through his 

 courtesy I am enabled to send you the following list of special 

 prizes, which will be much enlarged : 



For the best English setter stud dog, to be shown with two of 

 his get, Messrs. M. F. Kennedy & Bros., manufacturers of fine 

 guns, offer a handsome Smith & Wesson revolver, pearl handle 

 and Bilver mounted, suitably engraved, value $25. 



For the best English Bettor brood bitch, to be shown with two 

 of her progeny, a splendid silver cup, value $25, presented by the 

 Metropolitan Hotel. 



For the best Irish Setter stud dog, to be shown with two of his 

 get, a splendid silver oup, presented by the Merchants' Hotel, val ae 

 925. 



For the best Irish Setter brood bitoh, to be shown with two of 

 her progeny, a splendid silver oup, presented by the Windsor Hotel, 

 value $25. 



For the best Gordon Setter stud dog, to be shown with two of 

 his get, a splendid silver cup, value $25. 



For the best Gordon Better brood bitch, to be shown with two 

 of her progeny, a splendid silver oup, valne $25. 



For the best Pointer stud dog, to be shown with two of his get, 

 a splendid silver cup, value $25. 



For the best Pointer brood bitch, to be shown with two of her 

 progeny, a splendid Bilver cap, value $25. 



For the best dog or bitch, of any breed, most suitable for duck- 

 ing purposes, Capt. Lee Davis offers a splendid trout rod, value 

 $20. 



For the best collection of fox hounds, to oonsist of not less 

 than three oouples (dogs or bitches), a splendid silver mounted 

 rifle, presented by S. B. Dilley, Esq., Lake City, value 850. 



For the beBt Cocker or Field Spaniel (dog or bitch), prize $10, 



presented by W. B, Burkhard, Esq., dealer in sportsmen's goods. 



For the best Greyhound (dog or bitch), Messrs. Myers & Finch, 



jewelers and manuf aoturere of Bilverware, offer a splendid Hilver 



oup, value $25. 



St. LouiB Shell Co. have presented 2,000 shells to be given to the 

 best Gordon Setter stud dog, to be shown with two of hia get. 



By the way, I may mention as an incident of the approach- 

 ing competition, that I have met Mr. George B. Olason, of 

 Milwaukee, who offers to run after the main trial a brace of 6 

 months pups by Royal Duke out of Gift, against Mr. J. H. 

 Whitman's Berkenthal's Rake out of native Pearl. Mr. Cla- 

 son is a most proficient sportsmanand earnest advocate of the 

 silent system of training and working dogs ; and when we al- 

 low that the trained dog reflects the character of the man, it 

 is easy for us to judge "what a man he's kind of," as the 

 Dutchman says. The performance will be a most interesting 

 one. Hallook. 



P, S. I hope to send you the fourth letter of my regular 

 series in time for your next issue. 



List of Pbemiums— Minnesota Bench Show. 



division i— seobting dogs. 



rJVbte— No Dog or Bitch oan compete in classes numbered 3, 4, 



8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 21, 22, 2G, 27, 28 and 20, that had BV6! won a 



first prize at Chicago, Baltimore, New York, St. Louis or Boston. 



All other classes are " tree for all. "J 



Class 1— Champion Imported English Setter Dogs. Free for all. 

 Silver cup, or $30. Clasa 2— Bitches. Free for all. Silver cup, 

 or $30. 



Class 3— Imported English Setter Dogs, Silver cup, or $20 ; 

 second, sdver cup, or $10. Class i. Bitches. SUver cup, or 

 $20 | second, silver oup, or $10. 



Class 5— English Setter Puppy, dog or bitoh, under 12 moa. 

 Silver cup, or $10 ; second, edver medal. 



Class 6— Champion Native Setters, of any strain. Free for all. 

 Silver cup, or $30. 



Clasa 7— Champion Native Setters, of any Btrain. Free for all. 

 Silver cup, or $30. 



Class 8— Native English Setter Dogs. Silver cnp. or $20. Sec- 

 ond, silver cup, or $10. Class 9— Bitches. Silver oup, or $20 j 

 second, silver cup, or $10. 



ClasB 10— Native English Setter Puppy, dog or bitch, nnder 12 

 moa. Silver cup, or $10 : Beoond, silver medal. 



Class 11— Champion Irish Setter Doga. Free for all. Silver 

 oup, or $80. Clasa 12— Bitohea. Silver oup, or $S0 



Clasa 13— Imported Irish Setter Dogs. Silver cup. or ■•='20 ; 

 second, silver oup, or $10. Claaa 11— Bitches. SUver cup, or 

 $20 ; second, silver cup, or $10. 



Class 15— Irish Batter Puppy, dog or bitch, under 12 moa. Sil- 

 ver cup, or $10 ; second, silver medal. 



Class 16— Native Irish Setter Dogs. SUver cup, or $20; second, 

 eUveroup, or $10. Class 17— Bitches. Silver cup, or fiilO; sec- 

 ond, a'Uvercup, or $10. 



Clasa 18— Native Irish Setter Puppies, dog or bitohj under 12 

 ruos. Silver cup, or -10 ; second auver medal. 



ClasB 19— Champion Gordon Setter Dogs. Free for all ; Silver 

 cup, or $30. Class 20— Bitches. Free to aU. Silver cup," or $30. 



Clasa 21— Gordon Setter Dogs. — SUver cup, or S20 ; s»eond sU- 

 ver cup, or $10. Class 22— Bitches. Silver cup, or $20 ; second, 

 silver cup, or $10. 



Class 23— Gordon Setter Puppies, dog or bitch, under 12 moa. 

 SUver cup, or $10 : second, silver medal. 



Clasa 24— Champion Pointer Doga. Free for aU. Silver cup, 

 or $30. Claaa 25— Bitches. Silver cup, or $30. 



Claaa 26— Pointer Dogs over 55 lbs. weight . SUver cup, or $20; 

 second, aUver cup, or $10. Class 27 — Bitches over 50 lbs. weight- 

 Silver cup, or $20 ; second, aUver cup, or $ 10. 



ClaBB 2S— Pointer Dogs under 55 lba. weight. Silver cup, or 

 $20 ; second, Bilver cup, or $10. Class 20— Bitches under 50 lbs. 

 weight. SUver cup, or $20 ; second, silver cup, or W0.J 



Class 30— Pointer Puppies, dog or bitch, under 12 moe. SUver 

 cup, or $10; second, silver modal. 



Class 31— English Retrievers, curly or wavy coated. SUver oup, 

 or $15 i second, aUver cup, or $10. 



Glass 32— Chesapeake Bay Dogs, Silver cup, or $15; sacoud, 

 silver cup, or $10. 



Class 33 — Irish Water Spaniels. SUver oup, or 15; second sil- 

 ver cup, or $10. 



Claaa 34— Cocker Spaniels. Silver oup, or $15 ; second. Bilver 

 cup, or $10. 



Clasa 35 — Field Spaniel, other than Cockers, Silver cup, or 

 $15 : second, silver cup, or $10. 



Claaa 36 — Fox Hounda. Fur the best couple, sUver cup, or $15 

 second, sUver oup, or $10. 



Clasa 37— Beaglea. Silveronp.or $10 ; second, silver cup.or fSj 



Clasa 38— Daehsuhndo. SUver cup, or $10; second, silver oup, 

 or $5. 



Clasa 39— Fox Terriers. Silver cup, or $15 : second, silver oup, 

 or $10. 



Class 40— Greyhounds. SUver cup, or $10 : acoond, sUver cnp, 

 or $5. 



Claaa 41— Scotch Deorhqnada. SUver cnp, or medal ,. 

 oud, adyercun, or medal, $io. 



DIVISION n— NON-SPOBTLSG DOGS. 



ClaBB 42— Mastiffs. $5 ; second, sUver medal. 



ClasB 43— St Bernards. $5 ■ second, silver medaL 



Clasa 44— New Fouudlauds. $5 ; second, sUver medal. 



Class 45— Shepherd or Collie Doge, rough or smooth coated, 

 SUver cup, or $16 ; Beoond, silver cup, or $10. 



Class 46— Dalmatians or Coach Doga. $5 j second, sUver modal. 



Claaa 47— Bull Dogs. $5 ; second, silver medal. 



Class 48— BiUl Terriers. $5 ; second. sUver medal. 



Claaa 49— Black-aud-Tau Terriers. $5 : Beoond, silver medal, 



Claaa 50— Skyo Terriers. $5 ; second, silver medal. 



Class 51— Yorkshire Terriers. $5 ; Beoond, sUver medal 



ClaBS 52— Scotch Terriers. $5 ; second, silver medal. 



ClftBB 53 — Fuga. $5 ; aeoond, silver medal. 



Class 54— Italian Greyhounds. $5 ; second, silver medal. 



Clasa 55 — Foodies. $5 ; second, silver medal. 



Claaa 56 — MiaceUaneous. For any breed of dogs that have not 

 been assigned a regular clasa, silver medals. 



Claaa 57— Trick Dogs. For the beat performing Trick Dog a 

 aUver medal 



What is a Native? — The following question has been put 

 to us by Mr. W. Arthur Wheatley, of Memphis ; 



"Joe, Jr., was conceived and born in this land. TJis father 

 had been here for years, and his mother is several ges 

 removed from any imported strain, and is of Irish, English 

 and Gordon stock mixed. Question : Is Joe, Jr., a native ?" 



Answer. — Joe, Jr., is a native. The same rule applies to 

 dogs in this matter as to man or any other animal. There can 

 be no official organization which has the power to make arbi- 

 trary rules applicable to a dog, so as to determine ajen he 

 becomes a native. The race-horse is imported or native, ac- 

 cording as he is bred in this or some other country. It is the 

 same with a man. This can be verified in -regard to the man 

 at any bureau of naturalization. The question as to whether 

 in this case Joe, Jr., is a native requires no argument. The 

 opinion that the dog in question is a native can be proved by 

 the best authorities in New York. 



Feeding Dogs Onoe a Day. — Editor Forest and Stream: 

 For the past eight years I have owned a dog, and most of that 

 period several dogs ; sometimes to the number of five and six. 

 At present I have ihree, two English setters and one black 

 and tan. My rule is to feed them once duriDg the day, and I 

 doubt anyone can show three healthier, strouger or better 

 looking dogs of the same breeds. I am not troubled with 

 skin humors or weak eyes in my dogs, for I think the great 

 portion of diseases of dogs arises from over-feeding. My 

 setters I feed about 5 p. m., giving them all they want. If 

 they clean, the dish I get more, and as soon as they leave the 

 dish with food on it I take it away. In the morning they are 

 not hungry, and do not wish for food then. If I am suing 

 out for a clay's gunning I put some crackers in my pocket, 

 and after they have worked an hour or two give them a bite. 

 This fall I shall use Spratt's cakes. I should like to hear 

 from some dog owners, and if those who have dogs with skin 

 ■ ulung out every little while would try the feeding 

 once per diem they might be less troubled. Of course I would 

 not break a dog from three meals down to one per day imme- 

 diately, but dolt gradually. Paul. 



West Boyhton,, Mass. 



Without agreeing precisely with our correspondent as to 

 the one-meal a day idea, what we do think is that a great 

 many dogs are over-fed. In the numerous testa of maladies, 

 cures for which are asked of us, our diagnosis generally shows 

 that half the diseases in adult dogs arise from a 

 food. A light breakfast for a dog is wiBe, and the great bulk 

 of the food should be taken by the animal at about -5 o'clock 

 in the afternoon. Still, in working a dog the case is different. 

 We are quite certain that a light meal before starting in the 

 morning is good and proper. You must have something in 

 the dog to draw upon. Like a good traveler who doesn't 

 know where he can get the next meal, and always takes a 

 good tuck before starting on a journey, it is wise to give,* 

 dog something before going into the field. The excellence 

 of Spratt's biscuit lies in the fact that three or four of them 

 can always be carried in the sportsman's pocket, but then one 

 can't always get the biscuit. We have known, if it can be o 



