472 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



classification as such, there can he no such thing as a 

 typical Russian setter. 



I do not deny the existence of the individuals to whom the 

 term is applied, for I have not only seen them, but have shot 

 over them. I do not ascribe then appearance to climatic in- 

 fluences, but to a direct cross, either near or remote, as the 

 case may be, between setters and dogs of some other breed. 

 It may have been a pure bred retrieving spaniel, or it may 

 have been a mongrel. In short, the Russian sportsmen may 

 have a fancy for uniformly crossing the setter with some 

 special breed, or they may cross it indiscriminately with such 



~F • . mi i it ~,.~ ,-,-P « UnnrJnn a nf tor" ie r>nm_ 



that was claimed to be a "thorough- 



BUCh a dog exists I should like to see its authenticated pedigree. 

 My most recent; experience with a Russian setter wss with 

 "Dolly " an American bred dog, whose grand sire was owned 

 and imported by Alexander Bodiscoe, the Russian Minister to 

 the United States for a term of years. "Dolly's" dam was a 

 bitch of such fine field qualities that $250 w T as offered for her 

 by some gentlemen who shot over her with the owner. 

 "Dolly" is a dull liver and white bitch, with a docked stern, 

 and would hardly pass as even a half-bred setter. A peculiar 

 mark that is transmitted to some of her progeny is the long 

 hair on her head, which grows to a length of several inches, 

 when allowed to, but which is usually kept clipped. She is 

 certainly not pleasing to the eye, either in form or coat, and 

 as she suspiciously approacbes a stranger, with tucked tail, 

 arched back and prominent ribs, appears like a veritable 

 "nigger hound." But she has much usefulness, and if you 

 can call her to you and look into the brown eyes that show so 

 much intelligence, you will see that she is not entirely without 

 beauty. Her master says that she is of the pot-hunters' 

 breed, for no sportsman would care to have her at heel out- 

 side of the field, but in the field more birds can be bagged over 

 her alone than over any or all of his dogs. She has no grace 

 of motion, but is exceedingly busy, and has - a very fine nose. 

 Although not very thoroughly broken, she is very docile, and 

 ' knows better where to hunt for game than the average 

 sportsman- Now, let us lake you into the field with her, 

 kind reader, and if you are fond of partridge shooting, and 

 there are any birds to be found, it will be no fault of hers if 

 you do not have many shots. At the word, off she goes at a 

 peculiar gait, that, seems automatic, and one that she keeps all 

 the day, to search the places at which she knows from ex- 

 perience the birds are most likely to be feeding. Soon we 

 see her retrace her steps for a few yards along the side of a 

 ditch, and come to a stand, (he stern beating double quick 

 time with short strokes. When we approach, she turns about, 

 and, resuming her mechanical "lope," goes straight away 

 down the side of the ditch, leaving you for a moment to think 

 that she had deceived us by making game falsely. But no. 

 not so ; for she is only off in search of a place where she can 

 cross the ditch without danger of flushing the birds. Soon she 

 is seen coming back on the "opposite side of the ditch, where 

 you may be assured there is game. Sure enough she now 

 draws up, gradually her stern stiffens, and we know where 

 the birds lie. Do not try to force your way across the ditch 

 here, for you have plenty of time to follow in "Dolly's" foot- 

 steps, and cross by a. cattle path. This done, walk up, but 

 don't shorten your breath by hurrying, for "Dolly" will wait 

 for you, and flushing the birds, you may kill a brace. 



" Sure, a bird must have fallen. Seek dead here, 'Dolly.' " 

 Watch her now, as with nose to the ground she carefully 

 tracks the running bird that is only wing-broken, and has a 

 strong, sound pair of legs, until she reaches the ditch, into 

 which she disappears, not in the least daunted by the matted 

 mass of vines and briars, and from which she at last emerges 

 with bleeding ears. Having bagged that bird, we will follow 

 along the ditch and gather in more from the same scattered 

 covey. Now, let us hunt the old wheat-field yonder that is 

 bounded on one side by the forest primeval. ' 'What is 'Dolly,' 

 doing ? Hunting hares ?" Give her time and see. Down a 

 furrow she goes with nose to the ground, crosses to the next 

 furrow, and the next, pursuing a tortuous route toward the 

 woods, evidently on the track of game. On she goes for 

 nearly a hundred yards, and then stop3 with dropped stern, 

 beating time. "There they are!" But no, for she turns 

 about as if giving it up, and, making a detour around near the 

 woods, comes back directly toward us, and stiffens on what 

 we find to be a covey of partridges feeding in the woods. When 

 "Dolly" found that the buds were running for cover and would 

 not stop, she backed out, and, making a wide detour, headed 

 them. This she will frequently do, yet rarely flushes a bird. 

 Alluding to "Dolly" and her get, her owner, whom I 

 esteem as a personal friend and a thorough sportsman, writes : 

 "The peculiarities of these dogs are houndish appetites, won- 

 derful noses, staunchness, and great endurance. They will 

 enter a briar patch without flinching, and are altogether the 

 best and ugliest curs I have shot over after twenty-five years' 

 experience." 



Yet a thoroughbred setter or pointer will perform the same 

 service, and at the same time please the eye by its handsome 

 form, color, and carriage in action. And after the shooting 

 season is over, those sportsmen who keep dogs not merely as 

 servants alone, but as useful pets, would by far prefer a dog 

 that shows high breeding to one of mongrel appearance, no 

 matter how useful the latter might be. 



"Stonehenge" has expressed no opinion as to the right of 

 classification as a distinct breed of setters that may be pos- 

 sessed by what he terms "such poodle-looking brutes as the 

 Russians," but to the description of the animals adds lhese re- 

 marks: "To some people, however, the bag is all important, 

 and so that th«y can fill it they would use a mongrel or a 

 turnspit." This lamentable fact is often illustrated by sports- 

 men whose only thought of the dogs when game is found is 

 fear that they may flush before their masters are ready to 

 shoot, and once the birds are up the dogs are lost to sight and 

 memory until the excitement of the moment is over and their 

 assistance is needed iu retrieving the dead and wounded. 

 Then, alas ? too often will the dogs be seen racing at a dis- 

 tance, havina; broken at shot, and, crazy with excitement, 

 flush other birds ere they can be recalled. " This is demoraliz- 

 ing to both the dogs and their masters, the latter using forcible 

 uage not found in the catechism, and the former becom- 

 ing less staunch with each succeeding occurrence of the kind. 

 Eagerness to fill the bag is the most frequent cause of lack of 

 attention to the dogs when hi the field, yet the majority of 

 sportsmen if ouoe shooting over high bred, thoroughly broken 

 doss must needs acknowledge that there are accessories to 

 sport that give a higher pleasure than can be rendered by a 

 good "bag" alone. 



" Little has been written in regard to the so-called " Russian 

 setter,' except the formulated description without any 

 allusion to its history, 3 do not believe that one can be found 

 that has a just claim to bo classified as a pure bred setter of 

 a distinct breed. Amicus Canisum. 



The St. Bernard Dog— His Decline.— The Toronto 

 Weekly Globe is authority for a statement that the glory of the 

 original St. Bernard dog has departed. A correspondent of 

 the Globe writes, "that the dogs looked lazy and sadly in 

 want of an occupation." Comparisons between the St. Ber- 

 nards and the dogs of the Pyrennees were decidedly to the 

 advantage of the latter. The deduction to be drawn from 

 these quite possible statements is obvious. "Othello's occu- 

 pation's gone!" Adventurous travelers no longer struggle 

 through Alpine passes to be overwhelmed by snow storms 

 Eailroads now burrow through the Alps, and the horrors of 

 the Simplon, of, St. Gothard, and of Mount St. Bernard no 

 longer exist. Hence there is no use for these noble dogs. It 

 is likely that in timeto come, on the English bench shows the 

 only St. Bernards maybe seen. It is worth recording that on 

 the Himalayan mountains there exists a race of noble Thibe- 

 tian dogs, which are to-day the rivals, not the superiors, of 

 the St. Bernards. May be the early Ayrian races in their 

 migrations brought with them the progenitors of this famous 

 St. Bernard. It may be well to recall the fact that it was 

 Albert Smith who first, in England, made the noble St. Ber- 

 nard a favorite animal. 



Sx. Loins Bench Show. — We are in receipt of the Premium 

 Lists and Entry Blanks of the St. Louis Bench Show, which 

 may be had at the office of The Forest and Stream and 

 Rod and Gun on application. The following corrections and 

 omissions in the Prize List are brought to our notice : 



Class 71— Should read, after value $20: "Also a hand- 

 some Shooting Suit, donated by Brown & Hilder, Gim Deal- 

 ers, St. Louis, value $25— which will make the prizes in this 

 class amount to $45 value." 



Class 92— Should read : " Por the best pair, dog and bitch, 

 of Irish Setters, imported or native, owned by exhibitor." 



Class 93— Should be added, as follows : For the best Eng- 

 lish Retriever, dog or bitch, wavy or curly coated, a handsome 

 plated revolver, presented by Brown & Hilder, Gun Dealers, 

 St. Louis, value $25. 



Dogs to Point Deer. — A correspondent asks us if there is ' 

 any variety of dogs which will point deer as setters do birds, 

 so that the necessity of running the deer with hounds may 

 be avoided, as well as that the sportsman may be notified of 

 the near presence of game which he would otherwise be 

 ignorant of. We have read of something of the sort, and be- , 

 lieve that there is a breed of dogs in Prance known as 

 " limiers " which stand on deer or may be trained to do so. I 

 We have extended our inquiries on this subject to both sides | 

 of the water, and shall hope soon to obtain light. Prom 

 C'apt, John M. Taylor, of Virginia, we have the following 

 very sensible deductions based upon his intelligent observa- 

 tion, and we hope others of our readers will test the question, 

 as far as they are able, whether this method of hunting be 

 practicable, supposing that the dogs can be properly broken : 



Bellkponte, Nottoway County, Va., Jan. 10. 18T8. 

 Mr. Hallock : 



About dogs trained to point deer. As I live in a grand deer country, 

 where I see this animal almost every day, I have come to the con- 

 clusion that the deer has a3 good a nose as the dog. Its wonderful 

 sense of smell is astonishing. Deer, or ^nimals of any kind, will not 

 lie to a dog. They aTe directly antagonistic. In the bird it is different, 

 as they most assuredly feel the presence of the dog, and are apparently 

 not alarmed. Again, the quiet and sensitive hearing of the deer would, 

 in my opinion, destroy all chance ot the dog pointing or informing the 

 sportsman of its whereabouts, I am aware that deer are sometimes 

 (not frequently) jumped out of their beds, but that depends w Holly, I 

 think, on the wind. For a dog or a man to approach a deer with the 

 wind blowing on the animal In the open or in coVer iu the in. I, having 

 salt licks within shooting distance, is nest to an impossibility. Tin: 

 noise that the dog would make ranging about, breaking twigs, etc., , 

 would bo of Itself quite sufficient to alarm any animal. However, it is 

 possible to break a dog to do almost anything, so I presume there arc- ■ 

 some dogs in France, as you say, or elsewhere, which arc trained fo r ' 

 that purpose, bat I never heard of them. 



ABOUT JUDGING AT THE ST. LOUIS 

 BENCH SHOW. 



Editor Forest and Stream : 



I see by your last issue that the judges have been appointed for the 

 St. Louis Bench Show, and exhibitors are to be congratulated on the 

 selection. Handsome prizes are offered for native English setters, from 

 which the " blue bloods " are excluded. This will, doubtless, bring to 

 St. Louis many of onr best natives, who wil; compete with the blue for 

 the special and open prizes. Now, the respective merits of the two 

 have been widely and fiercely canvassed, and many have objected to 

 the decision given against Mr. Morford in New York by the judges 

 selected by Mr. Smith.' 



So, as the St. Louis managers are anxious that everything shall be 

 conducted in a satisfactory manner to all, I suggest that in the classes 

 where the native and Imported dogs are competing for the same prize, 

 that the class be judged by the three judges selected for the different 

 classes, and not by the same one who- decided against the natives at 

 New York, whose opinion we already know. In case such a course 

 should be adopted, I am sure there would be a much larger Eastern 

 representation, and the awards much more appreciated. 



Respectfully, Pair Plat. 



Dogs foe St. Louis. — The Baltimore Kennel Club have 

 chartered a special car from Baltimore to St. Louis and return, 

 to take the clogs which will be sent from Baltimore to the St, 

 Louis Show Feb. 19, to last four days. Some of the finest 

 animals in Maryland will be entered. 



SPARROW DOGS. 



The Baltimore Kennel Club. — The Baltimore Kennel 

 Club, at a recent meeting, voted to give the St. Louis Bench 

 Show their hearty co-operation, and to use all their influence 

 to induce dog owners in Baltimore and Washington to send 

 on their best animals to St. Louis. 



First Annual Bench Show of the Massachusetts Ken- 

 nel Club. — This exhibition will take place in Boston at the 

 building in Central Court formerly occupied as the Aquarial 

 Gardens, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 

 March 26, 27, 28 and 29. The entry fees will be |2, and will 

 be received until noon on March 13, except in case of foreign 

 exhibitors, who will be allowed until March 18. All cash 

 premiums payable in gold coin. The officers of the associa- 

 tion are: W. H. Cowing, President ; Messrs. J. Fottler, Jr., 

 and E. L. Dorr, Vice-Presidents; T. T. Sawyer, Jr., Trea- 

 surer; E. J. Porster, Secretary. Exhibition Committee — 

 Messrs. F. B. Greenough, J. Nelson Borland, T. T. Sawyer, 

 Jr., Luther Adams, Samuel W. Rodman, James F. Curtis, 

 and John Fottler, Jr. 



Meadville Dog, Poultry, Pigeon and Pet Stock As- 

 sociation. — This exhibition will take place Januaiy 28th to 

 31st, inclusive, and not 25th to 29th. Entries will close Janu- 

 ary 26th. The society has assurances from home and abroad 

 that warrant the supposition that their show wDl be a remark- 

 ably good one. 



Points of the Italian Greyhound. — The London Field 

 gives the following points in judging the Italian greyhound : 



Head 5 Fore quarters 10 Color 15 



" Hindquarters 10 symmetry 15 



Neck.. 



The weight differs with the sexes. The bitch for modem 

 successful exhibition should be a little over 5 lbs., nor should 

 the dog exceed 7 to 7i lbs. The original dog, as imported 

 from Italy, will weigh 10 to 12 lbs., and are classed as •' whip 

 pets." 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I Bee with great regret that at the numerous dog shows throughout 

 the country no mention is made of a class of dogs that will soon be 

 necessary, and that U— a brted of sparrow dogs. 



Judging from my experience this season of the scarcity of game, aud 

 the efforts of such men as our friend South, in snipe time, togi : 

 with the new hauinierless 10(1 yards gun, etc., there no doubt is, or bomi 

 will be, a good chance for the breeders to dispose ot a large number of 

 sparrow dogs. Sparrows are, as yet, numerous, and, with proper pro- 

 tection, will afford t port for some years. Our children will, undoul 

 have line shooting iu that line, and over their evening pipe diBcuss i he 

 legends of extinct birds, called ruffed grouse, quail, etc. Ami if ttiej 

 come across some rare old copy of Forest and Stream, giving accounts 

 of our shooting, put it down as a— well, a highly improbable sto 

 call it by no worse name. I throw out this hint to dug breakers n ith'ont 

 charge, and hope they will proflt by it. \y. Holberton. 



-»•-»-•«• 



How Ladies Should Dress in the Hunting Field. 



With regard to ladies riding regularly to hounds, it must now 

 be considered an established fact that the presence of a con- 

 siderable number of good sportswomen is always to be looked 

 for with every first-rate pack. As a guide to those of the 

 fair sex who may intend to join in this favorite amusement 

 the costume of the hard-riding huntress of the present day 

 consists of a short, closely-fitting habit of blue cloth of differ- 

 ent shades, or, of light gray, with collar's and facings cor-i 

 responding with the uniform of the hunt, when it is of a 

 distinctive character, such as the Beaufort or the Pytchley. 

 A tall hat, well curled at the brims ; a white neckcloth, with 

 neat gold pin ; stand-up collar; and last, not least, high Igjots 

 of varnished leather and a hunting crop, with, of course a 

 drab Ulster of many capes, to wear when driving to cover in 

 a dark-green or oak-colored dog-cart, drawn by a very clever 

 stepper, with the nattiest of grooms alongside; or, if pre- 

 ferred, a tandem or team of first-class nags. It is essential 

 that ladies, in the latter case, should take lessons, so that 

 they may be able to handle the ribbons in proper form when 

 they come into the Shires to exhibit their perfections, as they 

 will find many first-class performers already in the field.— 

 London Telegraph. 



Fox Hunting in Virginia.— The Lynchburg, Va., JVetea 

 expresses the opinion that there are in Virginia ten well broke 

 and well bred hounds and hunters for every one in England. 



—Two young men of Newburg, N. Y., went gunning the 

 other day, talcing with them a fine pointer dog. As they 

 went through the- woods they bent over a sapling, to which 

 they attached a snare and a piece of meat for bait, in hope of 

 finding some game caught therein when they came hack 

 Presently they missed their dog. Whistling and calling 

 of no avail, and so they tramped back to look for him. They 

 finally found him in the snare, dangling several feet from the 

 ground and almost dead from the choking. At, a favorable 

 moment he had left his masters and gone back for the meat. 



Queen and her Pbogent. — My pointer bitch Queei 

 whelped eight pups— four dogs and four hitches (Jan 

 and they are as fine pups as you ever saw. They are I 

 days old. I have disposed of all the dogs. 



N. R. Barer, Topeka, Kansas. 

 . — -» — ^ 



Notes from Detroit.— J. N. Dodge, of this city, n i 

 per express on the 15th inst. the stud basket or foot i 

 dog Bingwood. He is white with black-and-tan spots, and is 

 a perfect little beauty. Mr. Dodge's imported 

 Dolly was visited on the 18th inst. by stud dog Ball y, a pn 

 of Gen. Rowett, Carlingville, 111. ' Rsao Rupdb 



—The champion and first prize bitch, owned by A. C 

 den, now by the Kansas City Kennel, has whelped 8 pup 

 bitches and 1 dog, by St. Louis Kennel dog Sleaford Thi-y 



are very fine. Kans. City Khnnki, 



Visits.— B. A. Shapley's (Utica, N, Y.) field trial 

 Bess, out of D. C. Bergundthal's- Fanny, by his Rak 

 Arnold Burgcs' Rob Roy. 



