746 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
Leo has become the property of an American gentleman. 
This is the dog who obtained the first prize at the Crystal 
Palace show. A friend of mine here, who is an excel¬ 
lent judge of the points of a Newfoundland dog, says 
that Leo is deficient in two of the essentials of the race— 
color and dew-claws. His brown, or foxy color, would 
a,t once condemn him in the eyes of a Newfoundland 
judge as not being of the genuine breed. A jet black 
Color and wavy coat, with a curling Over the rump, are 
here regarded as essential points. Ureal stress is also laid 
on dew-claws as a mark of the true breed. Leo has none. 
His coat is the color of a dry beech leaf, and is thin and 
fine. For these reasons my friend pronounces the dog 
who has won such high honors as a Newfoundland to tie 
“a fraud,” being deficient in the essential attributes of 
the pure breed. His opinion, I may add, is entitled to 
weighty consideration. M. Harvey. 
Our correspondent is wrong with regard to Leo. The 
dog has not been imported to this country to our knowl¬ 
edge. The Leo to which he alludes as having been men¬ 
tioned in these columns is probably the first prize winner 
at the New York show of 1877, and owned by Mr. 
D'Espinville Picot, of Philadelphia. — [Ed. 
CHOREA. 
This terrible sequel to distemper is hut too common 
although it does not necessarily immediately follow an 
attack, or at least become immediately apparent. It may 
be developed only after the first violent exercise to which 
the animal is subjected. We deem the matter so impor¬ 
tant that, instead of answering the following query in the 
usual way, we give it space here :— 
Manistee, Mich., Oct. 10 th — Editor of Forest and 
Stream :—I have a three-year-old black and tan hound, 
which 1 use for deer. During the past summer he lost a 
toe from his right foot, but it inconvenienced him hardly 
any. Supposing that same was well I let him have a run 
last Friday. The day was quite warm, and he had some 
four and a half hours' run before I got the deer. On 
looking at his foot I found that the skin on his toe was 
partly gone, and a peculiar twitching in the foot, leg and 
shoulder, and same continues yet. When standing the 
twitching is less, or scarcely noticeable : when lying down 
it can be plainly seen ten feet away. These twitches or 
movements are easiest seen from the center of breast to 
shoulder in front; the cord or muscles of the legs move 
somewhat, and holding the foot in my hand it seems as 
if he was trying to twitch or pull the same away. No 
fever or swelling, and he seems in perfect health. What 
is it, and caused by what—nervous irritation or from 
strain or becoming too t ired in running ? I prize him 
highly, he being the best dog we have in the county. I 
would like a full explanation of case, treatment, and what 
to do to cure him, if same can be done. If it gets no 
worse it would not hurt his hunting qualities, but I would 
feel greatly relieved if 6ame could be cured. 
E. A. Shores. 
The trouble is chorea, and is due to nervous irritation. 
This form of disease often follows distemper, and when 
recovery follows, the twitching will only occur after too 
much exertion. It is impossible to say whether the in¬ 
jury to the foot caused in any way the chorea, without 
seeing the dog, but think not. It is possible the twitch¬ 
ing may have existed unnoticed for some time, and the 
four and a half hours been the cause of the attack which 
was noticed. This would be the more probable if 
the dog ever had distemper even in the lightest 
manner. The treatment consists in giving 1-32 grain 
strychnia three times a day, giving less if this causes the 
dog to “stiffen out” any— i . e ., have a kind of tonic 
spasm—increasing gradually until 1-16 grain can he taken, 
the idea being to keep just short of the dose which causes 
this spasm or stiffening of the muscles. Cod liver oil 
should he given if needed, as shown by emaciation, 
A friend has* at present a setter which twitched most 
of the time, just as described by the above correspondent 
— i. e., “from center of breast to shoulder in front," This 
yielded to strychnia given continually as described, so 
that now the twitching is only seen after a hard run and 
swim, or when the nervous system is exhausted. We can 
recall several such cases. Good living and a dry kennel 
are necessary adjuncts to a cure. If the wound of the 
foot was the cause, or thought to be, it would he as well 
to clean it well by keeping a warm flaxseed meal poultice 
on the wound for a day or two, having previously washed 
the foot and removed any thorn, bit of gravel or any ex¬ 
traneous substance. Then dress with simple cerat, and 
if it does not heal readily it may be powdered with pul¬ 
verized red cinchona bark ( Rub . corf.), or it may require 
to be touched with stiok nitrate of silver. 
Mississippi. —Na tehee , Oct. 13th. — A display of thor¬ 
ough-bred dogs was given at the Goillard Sporting Club 
tournament, at which the following awards were made : 
Class First, Setter Dogs.— Best setter, first premium, blue 
ribbon, awarded to H.S. Cotnmn's Hap—1Q0 points; second 
g remium, rod ribbon, awarded to R. H. Culfioun’s Medoe, and 
imuel Stanton's Monk—05. 
Class Second, Pointer Dogs.—B est pointer over 13 months 
old, first premium, blue ribbon, Aaron (Tipi Stanton’s Blutt— 
100 points; second premium, red ribbon, to 0. W. Babbitt's Shot 
—07 points. 
Best pointer, under 13 months, first premium to W. D. Jenkins' 
Kino; second premium to Samuel Stanton's Rate. 
—Mr. T. D. Boardman, of West Manchester, Mass., 
claims the name Satan for mastiff puppy, by Four, out of 
Sally; whelped May 25th, 1879. 
—Mr. T. D. Boardman claims the name Nemo for St. 
Bernard puppy, out of Fannie, by Jack, he by imported 
Hero j whelped Feb. 5th, 1879. 
The Dalmatian Dog “Captain.” 
THE DALMATIAN OR COACH DOG. 
T is rather surprising that more of these handsome 
house and stable dogs are not bred. In fact, really 
handsome specimens are very rare, and it is seldom that 
more than half a dozen are seen at any of our shows. 
Not many years ago, in England particularly, the carriage 
dog was much more generally kept as a part of the stable 
establishment, but it was also then the barbarous custom 
to crop his ears short to his head. The origin of the Dal¬ 
matian is obscure, but “Coreincom,” an English author¬ 
ity on dog matters, thinks it is reasonable to assume tliat 
he is a native of Dalmatia, on the eastern shore of the 
Gulf of Venice, The fact that for two years and a half 
he has been domesticated in Italy, would point to this 
having been his origin. When he was first introduced 
into England seems uncertain, although in the last cen¬ 
tury he was considered an indispensible adjunct to the 
equipages of the wealthy. The authority mentioned 
above, in a recent article in the columns of our English 
contemporary, The Oounti'y, says :— 
“ It has been assumed that the Dalmatian possesses an 
instinctive fondness for the horse, but this I do not con¬ 
ceive was the cause of his being attached to the carriage 
and stable ; but I rather suppose his ornamental qualities 
were the attractions to owners of equipages, and that his 
liking for horses and all connected with them ha s been 
fostered by habit and is now inherited. 
“ ‘Idstone’ says he never knew a dog of the breed that 
did not readily take to following horse and conveyance, 
but my experience has been different, and I possess one 
now of prize blood that shows no propensity to following 
a carriage, although reared among horses. Still, that is 
a predominating trait in their character, and, in fact, in 
that seems to consist their sole delight, and no matter at 
what hour, they are always ready for the turn out, and 
do not seem to care how far the run may be. 
“ Some Dalmatians keep close under the carriage in 
running, so much so that they appear to run as though 
chained to the axle, but others—indeed the most of them 
—when fresh and full of life gallop in front, showing 
much dignity as the forerunner of the carriage, and plea¬ 
sure in association with it. At other times they run mar¬ 
vellously close to the horse’s heels, but they never snap at 
them or jump up barking at them in front of their nose 
as dogs of otherbreeds are apt to do under similar circum¬ 
stances. 
“ The Dalmatian has been accused of an apathetic tem¬ 
per, of concentrating all his affection on the horse and 
showing none to his master. This is, however, an unjust 
charge. Dalmatians, like all other dogs, are very much 
what they are made, and if the owner forgets that the 
Dalmatian is an animal appreciative of caresses and kind¬ 
ness, and treats him merely as an ornament to his estab¬ 
lishment, he cannot reasonably complain if the dog be¬ 
stows his affections on his fellow-occupant of the stable, 
and strong are the friendships sometimes seen to exist 
between the dog and the horse. But the carriage dog, 
when made a companion of, is faithful and affectionate, 
if less demonstrative than some breeds, and therefore 1 
strongly recommend him to the bicyclist and should like 
to see him regain Iris popularity as a carriage dog. It is 
said he is used in some continental countries as a pointer, 
and I do not doubt his innate capacity to fill that position 
if his powers were developed by training, but as he is 
never so used here I treat him merely as an ornamental 
and companion clog.” 
The points of Urn Dalmatian, as given by the same au¬ 
thority, are as follows;— 
The Head, Ears and Eyes —The head very much re¬ 
sembles that of the pointer, but is neither quite so deep 
nor so broad in muzzle; the skull tight-skinned, no flews 
—indeed, no loose skin about either head or throat; the 
eyes medium size, dark in color, and bright and sparkling ; 
the ears broad at base, narrowing to a rounded point, 
thin in texture and spotted. 
The Neck of fair length, nicely arched, airy—that is, 
free from coarseness—and clean cut, there being little or 
no wrinkling or dewlap. 
The Shoulders must be well sloped and free, and wel 
covered with muscle: but not thick or loaded. 
Body, Loin and Quarter —The body elegant, not heavy; 
the ribs fairly sprung, but not rounded like barrel hoops, 
which would indicate slowness and destroy the symme¬ 
try ; the loin strong and muscular; the quarters strong, 
nicely sloping from the buckle bone to set on of tail. 
Legs and Feet —These are most important. In the hind¬ 
legs the second thigh should be seen and the hock well 
let down : the forelegs should he straight and clean 
made, lined with strong muscles. The feet are of good 
size, of compact shape, rather round than long, knuckles 
well up, and the sole thick, hard, and tough. A spread¬ 
ing foot is very objectionable, rendering the dog unfit for 
travel. 
The Tail —This should be strong at the insertion, and 
rush grown — that is, tapering to a point, and carried with 
a slight curve upwards, but neither crooked nor curled. 
If distinctly spotted it is considered a great advantage, as 
adding much to the beauty of the dog. 
The coat should be clean and sleek, but firm, close, and 
wet-resisting, neither woolly nor silky. 
Color and Markings—These give the dog his very dis¬ 
tinctive character, and therefore are properly very highlv 
valued. The body must be a pure white; single black 
hairs running through the ground color, giving a grayish 
hue, are a very great fault; the purer and brighter the 
white, the better the black and liver spots look by con¬ 
trast ; the color of the spots should be a pure black, blue- 
black, or rich reddish liver; the handsomest are the tri¬ 
colors, with black spots on body and bright, well-defined 
liver spots on hack of forelegs, inside and front of thighs, 
and sometimes under and on sides of jaw. Some of the 
earlier winners had distinctly tanned faces, but these and 
black patches are objectionable, although less so than 
the dark ridge of conglomerated spots that often runs 
down the back. The more distinct from each other and 
the more clearly defined against the white the spots are 
the better, In size they should he from that of a sixpence 
to a florin, and the rounder the better. Large ones gen¬ 
erally run into each other, and when too small they want 
boldness, and give a shotted or freckled appearance. 
The portrait we give is that of Mr. Faudry’s Captain, 
who of late years has been the principal prize winner in 
England, and who was selected by “ Stonehenge” to illus¬ 
trate the breed in his recent edition of “ Dogs of the 
British Islands.” 
and Slapping. 
Can a Mink be Drowned?— One of our correspond¬ 
ents made to us the remarkable statement recently that 
he purposely kept a mink, with trap attached, under water 
for ten consecutive hours, and that when taken out he 
was as lively as ever, and not a bit drowned. It would 
seem to be a question whether a mink is not strictly am¬ 
phibious. Beavers and muskrats are not so j for they can¬ 
not live many minutes under water without suffocating. 
Who Can Tell Him ?—Here is a bit of evolution study. 
Our friend, Mr. A. W. Hubbard, of Magog, P. Q,, is in a 
muddle. We do not wonder at his soul perplexity. Mr. 
H. set his traps for foxes. He found them full of skunks. 
Somewhat terrified by the recent skunk-bite articles in 
the Forest and Stream, he feared to deal with the var¬ 
mints, But urged on by the market quotations of skunk 
pelts he accepted the situation, removed the unsavory 
prey and set the traps for more. Then came a new surprise. 
Set for foxes, the traps caught skunks ; now set for skunks, 
they caught only crows. The baffled trapper could not 
eat crow; so accepting the belief that the traps were be¬ 
witched, he set them for the birds, and—of course caught 
foxes I 
What would he find in his trap jf be should set a big 
one for a polar bear, or for a giraffe i 
