212 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 10, 1884. 



W.— For the best fox-terrier bitch in open class, Mr. W. Murray 

 Frrneh vase, value $7; won by Village Belle, John T. Cable. 



Vt'W.— For the thirl best bea gle dog in open class, Mr. A. T. Kinney, 

 box cigars:; wonbv Dell, R. & W. Livingston. 



XX.— For the third best, beagle birch in open class, Mr. F, W. Blos- 

 son, hox cigars; won by Lill II., Fulton Kennel Club. 



¥?,— Fur the third best dachshund; won by Waldman K., Carl 

 Klocke 



ZZ.— For the best sporting dog owned by a lady, in Cleveland; won 

 by Bonnie. Mrs. C. L. White. 



AAA.— For the best setter or pointer shown in the best bench show 

 condition, the Cleveland Clothing Company, hunting coat; won by 

 Don. Adam Baker. 



BBB.— For the best brace of pointers, the Excelsior Clothing Com- 

 panv , Hunting coat and vest; won by Faust and Countess Vesta, S. 

 A. Kiye. 



CCC.-For the best collie in open class, the Cleveland Gun Store, 

 rev-Ivor; won by Yarrow, Chas. A, Otis. Jr. 



DDD.— For ttie best trick dog, Mr, J. Powers, revolver; won by 

 Fritz, A. C, Cozad. 



FEE.— For the best Yorkshire terrier over 51bs: won by Hero, H. 

 A. K senium), 



FFF.— For the best Irish water spaniel in open class, Messrs. Likely, 

 McDonald & Rocket, leather gun case; won by Ponto, Cleveland 

 Irish Wafer Spaniel Kennel. 



HGG.-For the best pointer bitch over 501bs., Mr, C. A. Selzer, 

 plaque; won by Marguerite II., II. W. Kawcett. 



IIITEI.— For the best Irish setter owned in Cleveland, Messrs. Mc- 

 intosh. Good & Huntington, carving set; won by Book, G. W. Short. 



III.— For the best Italian greyhound, tne Met.lf.ora Fancy Goods 

 Company, collar; not awarded. 



J.I.T.— For the best terrier owned in Cleveland, the Medford Fancy 

 Goods Company, collar; won by Tinev, Miss Jennie Axworthy. 



KKK.— For the best pug owned in Cleveland, the ftledford Fancy 

 Gcods Company, name's; won by Pete, Mrs. E. V. Jewell. 



LLL.— For the best poi der doc owned in Cleveland, the Medford 

 Faney Goods I'ompanv. collar; won bv Joe, T. H. Dolliba. 



MMM.— For the best pug, won by Joe, Mrs. G. H, Hill. 



SPANIEL AND BEAGLE CLASSIFICATION. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



During the past two or three years many of your prominent 

 contributors have written you complaining of the lack of suf- 

 ficient classes and a dearth' of prizes, offered by the Westmin- 

 ster Kennel Olub for spaniels and beagles, at their annual 

 shows. As their suggestions and requests for a different classi- 

 fication have been fruitlessly made. 1 had intended renewing 

 the same this year, not only as the opinions expressed were 

 those held by most breeders, but more particularly as the 

 number of entries in the past have warranted a more hberal 

 classification. 



But— too late— I find then- premium list already issued, and 

 therefore, after reviewing the classification for the above- 

 mentioned breeds. I am induced to make a few miscellaneous 

 comments regarding this classification, as it seems to me to be 

 further from what it should be than previously, in (hat the 

 classification remains as before, with the exception that liver- 

 colored spaniels are included m the black classes. The ob- 

 jections to this I state below. 



I bad advocated, as had your many other contributors, that 

 black or black and white, or if the white is allowed, more 



?roperly in my opinion black, white and tan, be separated 

 rom other than the above ; that dogs be separately classed 

 from bitches, as is done with all the other sporting breeds 

 without exception, and that all the above classes be made for 

 those weighing over 2S pounds, i. e., for field spaniels, as well 

 as for those under 28 pounds, cockers. This year the W. K. C. 

 make a new departure in separating the spam el colors into 

 two classes, namely, black and liver, and other than black 

 and liver. 



Not only have we no distinct strain of liver-colored spaniels, 

 but I believe liver color has no legitimate connection with the 

 black as a class, although now and then a solid liver-colored 

 puppy will creep into a litter of the best black strains, just as 

 it will at times in a litter of Gordon setter puppies. 



la making separate classes for blacks, it has usually been 

 customary to allow white (and a good lot of it, too,) on chest 

 and feet, while tan points have been barred. At New York, 

 in 1 SS2, I remember a tine bitch, which I think was good for 

 second, if not first prize, which was ruled out for showing tan 

 markings. I would suggest that in tho black classes, so called, 

 either white or tan be allowed, or that the white as well as the 

 tan be barred, making the class one for solid blacks only. The 

 former combination of colors is a natural one, and one apt to 

 appear in a litter, and on the score of beauty, I think almost 

 any one will prefer the tan to the white. Perhaps at the rate 

 the little cockjr is increasing they will be of sufficient numbers 

 to warrant the formation of the two classses in the future, 

 "solid blacks," and "black, white and tans." 



I believe the class heretofore most complained of (and justly 

 so) has been the puppy class. Here but one class is made for 

 all spaniel puppies, blacks, liver and whites, dogs and bitches. 

 The number of entries in the past certainly have warranted 

 a more liberal classification, as well as better prizes. 



Looking over the Westminster Kennel Club's catalogue of 

 1883, I find there were sixteen entries in tho spaniel puppy 

 class at -S3 each, while the first prize given was only §5, and 

 the second one a medal; the prizes, of course, were but of all 

 proportion to the amount of entry fees received. 1 find 

 f urther, that for pointer and setter puppies there were ten 

 classes; in all but two of these classes the number of entries 

 was much less than in the spaniel class, while in all of them 

 the pr.zes were double. 



No class of hunting dogs has increased in numbers as well 

 as favor with us of late years as much as the cocker spaniel, 

 and the increase has probably been greater d tiring the past 

 year than any year previously, and as a result, the number of 

 entries received, and so the necessity of a more hberal classi- 

 fication will probably bo proportionately greater than hereto- 

 fore. From private sources I have been informed that more 

 good and typical cockers have been imported during the past 

 year than in any previous year. I would therefore suggest to 

 the VV. K. Club that they act upon the very sensible sugges- 

 tion which the Poeest and Stream made to the New Haven 

 Kennel Club, namely: "That if the number of entries re- 

 ceived be sufficient to warrant the same, that a further sub- 

 division bo made at the opening of the show." 



In the spaniel classes 1 would suggest as follows: Class 61 to 

 be divided either into "black, white and tan," and "other 

 than black, white and tan," or that dogs be separated from 

 bitches. I suggest this, supposing that not sufficient entries 

 will be received to warrant a more complete classification, 

 namely: "Black, white and tan" and "other than black, white 

 and tan," and dog and bitch classes for each. Also, that in 

 open cocker spaniel classes, dogs be separately classed from 

 bitches, and in the puppy class the number of entries will 

 probably warrant the separation of "black, white and tans" 

 from others, and dog and bitch classes for each of these, and 

 certainly the past show r s have demonstrated the need of one 

 subdivision, at least, here. 



Until we are overburdened with spaniels bearing the title 

 of "champion," which, by the way, is altogether too cheaply 

 accpuired in all breeds with us, as definite a classification as 

 the above is not necessary for champion classes. But where 

 each one of our numerous shows with its recognized right to 

 turn out champion candidates, is capable of turning out four 

 spaniels annually, which are barred into a champion class, 

 one such class is certainly not sufficient, either dogs and 

 bitches should be separated or black, wnite and tan from 

 others. 



The entry fees for the show. I observe, remain the same as 

 last year, when they were advanced 50 per eent. above all 

 other, and its*own previous shows, while the amount of prizes 

 has not been increased at all, Judging from the objection 

 made last year J supposed it would bia reduced to theeus- 

 t-J.nairy amount. ,. ., . , , ;.- 



I knoW ol oho very projaiGejit breeder o©d judge who has 



often turned up as a first prize winner, who last year pur- 

 posely remained away from the New York show on principle. 



In another way the entry fee of bitches is nearly trebled, 

 thus, to a great extent, stilf retarding the only worthy object 

 of bench shows — the advancement of our breeding dogs. 

 I quote from Rule No. 19: "An entry tee of #3 will be 

 charged for each animal entered. The entry fee for fitters of 

 puppies whelped in 1884 will be So.*' (The italics are mine.) 

 Whether this means the entry fee is $5 to enter a bitch with a 

 litter of puppies, or $5 in addition totheentiy fee of the bitch, 

 I do not know; but, viewing it in the most' favorable fight, I 

 can give a practical illustration of one great objection to it. 

 I have a bitch, a previous show winner, which I had intended 

 entering, whieh is due to whelp so that her pups will be nearly 

 three Weeks old at the time of the siiow. Eveu if I desired to 

 enter the paps to sell them, this would be useless at that age, 

 and as a result, of course, personally, I would prefer to leave 

 the pups at home, if possible. Practically, therefore, the entry 

 fee for ah bitches which may have unweaned fitters is $5 or 

 $8, whichever it may be. 'The W. K. C. write me that the 

 mortality among puppies being great, they do not desire to 

 encourage the entries of the same; but, as the exhibitor is the 

 only one running any risk of a loss, I should say he should be 

 allowed to use his own judgment in the matter without any 

 extra bar. Therefore, if a fair extra fee be demanded for 

 salable puppies, well and good ; but an exception should cer- 

 tainly be made for all bitches which necessarily must be ac- 

 companied by their unweaned puppies. 



The object of bench shows, as 1 stated above, is for the pur- 

 pose, of advancing the breeding of dogs, to allow breeders and 

 admirers to assemble and obtain points and knowledge on the 

 subject of breeding, which cannot be obtained in a better 

 way than by criticising and expressing their views on the 

 various animals shown. The entry fees to shows, theief ore, 

 should be the minimum fee which 'will keep out all dogs un- 

 worthy to be shown, and consequently induce the greatest 

 possible number of good dogs to be entered. Two dollars as 

 an entiy fee does not appear too low for the purpose. 



Nothing will be more likely to induce the owners of the best 

 dogs to enter them than the shortening the length of shows 

 from four to three days. Many owners of the most valuable 

 field dogs refuse to enter then- animals in a four-day show, 

 owing to the danger they incur of contracting distemper, or 

 some other disease from the additional mental excitement 

 undergone on a fourth day. Where a dog goes the rounds of 

 the several shows, the additional mental strain undergone on 

 a fourth day at each show, on the naturally very nervous 

 system already wrought up perhaps almost to frenzy by the 

 noise and excitement, is far greater than one can imagine, and 

 out of hmnanity as well as for the sake of the dog's health, 

 this fourth day should be aboh'shed. 



I should like to ask the opinions of show managers and 

 breeders on an idea I have often thought of, namely: Would 

 not the entries to shows be increased, and the shows be bene- 

 fited, by annually arranging a "circuit," as it were, of the 

 shows for the season, beginning, for instance, in the most 

 Western city offering a show, and working Eastward: the fol- 

 lowing week showing in the next nearest place offering a 

 show, and so on, or vice versa, East to West. As regards the 

 extra expense breeders who desire to follow all the shows are 

 put to in the way of railroad fares and express charges, to 

 say nothing of the wear and tear on the dogs from the much 

 greater length of time they must be crated up, no more 

 forcible illustration can be given than the arrangement of the 

 shows this year. Starting at Cincinnati, almost at the doors 

 of Cleveland, Washington and New York are passed by to 

 reach New Haven. Then to reach Washington this ground is 

 again passed over. Toronto is then reached by again passing 

 New York. Cleveland is then visited. In order to show at 

 New York that city is visited for the fourth time, and if, as 

 last year, Chicago concludes to hold a show later, it caps the 

 climax by causing the useles 1,200 mile ride from Cleveland to 

 New York and return. 



And now I ask, would not many more exhibitors, breeders 

 especially— and they are the largest exhibitors— show their 

 stock, if a circuit had been arranged which would have done 

 away with two-thirds at least of the present expense. For 

 instance, had the shows been arranged to follow each other 

 weekly, thus, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Washing ton, New 

 York, New Haven, and Toronto. Not only would better and 

 fuller shows be given, but places on the route as, for instance, 

 Pittsburg, Philadelphia, and Boston, which otherwise cannot 

 draw sufficiently owing to the expense exhibitors incur in 

 reaching them, would be able to give shows. All my above 

 comments 1 think, will be pertinent to all shows and, I think 

 indorsed by many of your readers. 



As my communication has reached a much greater length 

 than 1 intended, and though I am in the ranks with him in 

 spirit, I shall leave the question of beagle classification to your 

 genial correspondent "0. W. R.," who, last year, with several 

 others, pleaded for his little musical pet. As yet the beagle 

 has not increased in numbers and favor among us as his ad- 

 admirers would wish that he might, and as he should have 

 done, simply because, as we have not been made sufficiently 

 well acquainted with him, we have not been able to appreci- 

 ate him. His musical tongue as he now strikes the trail of 

 popular favor is just beginning to be heard, and he is just 

 about two years behind the cocker spaniel. The American 

 English Beagle Club, together with the encouragement given 

 by the Forest and Stream, will do for the beagle what the 

 American Cocker Spaniel Club has done to bring the httle 

 cocker into notice, and, as a result, into favor. 



Sportsman. 



A FOX HUNT. 



THE first snowstorm awakened the "brush gatherers," a 

 gleaner of wheat in a business letter added a feminine 

 luxury a P. S., saying that the tarn al foxes had carried off 

 some more chickens. Charlie, Captain and the writer secured 

 a team and drove out to the scene of carnage. After inter- 

 viewing the writer of the postscript, who said that 'ere pesky 

 fox had carried off his favorite leghorn, and the critter had a 

 nest about a mfie from his house. After a survey of the coun- 

 try we drove over to the Hadley meadows. We were joined 

 here by Henry and Mott with Boissy and Frank, the bounds. 

 We always took Henry for his ability to see game ; he will see 

 more foxes in one day than ever stood in Hampshire county. 

 Casting off the hounds at the edge of the pines, they did not 

 go more than twenty rods before they gave tongue. Reynard 

 made for the hills, and the hounds were doing their duty with 

 legs and voices. The writer was given a station by a massive 

 elm; Henry was to take the team and go over the hill. We 

 took a long look at the team, which we never expected to see 

 again. If Hem*y had seen any fox he would have left the 

 team to the tender mercies of the Humane Society and tried 

 to bag the fox. or at least did on one of our former hunts, 

 and after walking home a good six mile walk. The conversa- 

 tion during that walk was not very lengthy but pointed. The 

 fox, after making a trip for his health among the hills, evi- 

 dently thought the fertile valley good enough forhiin. On 

 reynard's return tour he had to come in the direction of the 

 writer, who was endeavoring to keep warm, having that day 

 put on a pair of boots which would have fitted better had his 

 feet been smaller. Having heard from old settlers that by 

 taking off your boots and rubbing snow on your feet they 

 • would be warm at once. The snow being applied, and cir- 

 culation not increasing at the rate desired, the writer took a 

 walk or rather a run. After getting away from the big elm, 

 and hounds were making considerable noise, casting my optics 

 in the direction of my assigped position the fox was passing 

 between me and my gun. There seemed to be a "bluish" 

 vapor in that .section, after going back to my boots, winch 

 were saahed o» 50 qu&k til's* the straps tote ojf . My fceart 



was heavy, and I did not enjoy very good health, the symp- 

 toms had increased greatly within the past few moments. I 

 went to the nearest farm house and happilv there was a team 

 going to town, and the same conveyed the writer. There 

 were three brushes secured that day;'two bv Charlie and one 

 ST^W' an ? ^ ls £ s was £rozea Whether he shot the fox 

 01 got him out of a trap is a question. Flick Flick. 



Hahtpobd, Conn. 



THE NEW YORK DOG SHOW. 



THE special prizes offered for the Westminster Kennel Club's 

 bench show, to be held next month at Madison Rauare 

 Garden, areas follows: j 



The Eastern Field Trials Club offer a club medal suitably 

 engraved, for the best pointer dog, pointer bitch English ser 

 ter dog, English setter bitch, Irish setter dog-, Irish setter bitch 

 and black and tan setter that have been placed at any of the 

 field trials that have been held in America, 



The Westminster Kennel Club offer a club medal, suitably 

 engraved, for the best kennels of large-sized pointers small- 

 sized pointers, English setters, Irish setters, black and tan set- 

 ters and collies. Each kennel to consist of not less than five 

 Also to the best black English setter, best setter or pointer that 

 retrieves m the most stylish and obedient manner, fastest 

 greyhound, to be decided by heats, highest leaping greyhound 

 and best trick dog. Best pug, dog or bitch, in the open "classes, 

 S25; best collection of five pugs owned by one exhibitor, s[iV 



Members of the club offer for the best pointer doe, the tret of 

 Sensation, $15; for the best bitch, $L0. 



The Medford Fancy Grods Company offers a suitable collar 

 for the best pointer dog, pointer bitch, English setter, Irish 

 setter, St. Bernard, mastiff, pug, bulldog, collie and grey- 

 hound. 



WITHHOLDING PRIZES. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I returned a few days ago from a hurried trip to the Wash- 

 ington dog snow, aud was disappointed in not seeing as fine an 

 exhibit as they had last winter. The pointers were good, 

 decidedly the best in tfie show as a class. There were some 

 good setters, notably Plantaganet, who was in splendid con- 

 dition and carried off the champion prize. The mastiffs, St 

 Bernards and Newfoundlands were decidedly poor. Last year 

 all these classes were very fine. I noticed that some prizes in 

 several of the classes were withheld, I suppose for want of 

 merit; in fact I have noticed it has been done at almost all the 

 shows. This seems to me to be wrong. I understand that the 

 dogs entered at bench shows are judged by a scale, of points 

 (Stonehenge's or some other). The prize list reads thus: "For 

 the best English setter other than pure Laveraek, #15; second, 

 So." Now, does not that mean that the dog- entered that 

 comes nearest to the scale of points by which the class is 

 judged is entitled to the first prize, and so on? 



1 can't see how it can me&v anything else, and I don't see 

 how any judge of a show can throw out my dog, if he is the 

 only one entei ed in his class, for want of merit. I have paid 

 my entrance money and am entitled, according to the reading 

 of the prize fist, to first prize if he is a pure bred dog of that 

 breed, no matter how poor a specimen he mav be. The words 

 "for the best" can't, it seems to me, mean anything else than 

 "for the best one entered." Again, what is the scale of points 

 by which dogs are judged? and how do you arrive at the 

 merit of the dogs? He gets so much, as I understand it, for 

 the measurement of his different, parts, according to a certain 

 standard. How can we arrive at this unless the measurement 

 is actually made (that is, such parts as require measurement!? 

 But no such measurement is made as far as I have ever seeu. 



There has never, as 1 have heard, been any number of points 

 of merit adopted, to which a dog must attain in order to win 

 first, and if this is not so, then the best one entered and shown 

 in the classes, it seems to me is clearly entitled to win. I heard 

 some complaints in Washington in regard to this custom, from 

 owners of dogs which wei e there thrown out, and this has 

 suggested the idea of writing this letter. I am not a disap- 

 pointed exhibitor, and if I am wrong in the position I take, I 

 would like to see the subject discussed and put right. I have 

 acted as judge at a good many agricultural fans, and never 

 yet saw any aimimal or fowl refused the premium offered for 

 the best for want of merit. The judges of bench shows are 

 not selected (or ought not to be) to say which dogs, or whether 

 any, have merit enough to win a prize, but to say which in his 

 judgment shall have it. The moment I pay my money into 

 the treasury of the show, I am entitled to first prize if my dog 

 is the best in his class .that faces the judge, whether he be a 

 Plantagenet or not, or whether he will .score one hundred or 

 only ten points of merit, so he be the best dosr shown 



If this were not so, I should never show a dog to be thrown 

 out at the option of a judge "who differed with me, when no 

 other dog was shown agamst me. If this custom is right ac- 

 cording to any rule of the shows, then the sooner it be abol- 

 ished the better for the shows. No two men judge alike; one 

 man will throw out a dog for want of merit that some other 

 man would think entitled to first place. A dog may be shown 

 at one time and place in the pink ot condition and be placed, 

 and when next shown be out of condition and be put at the 

 foot of the list. Yet he is the same dog, as far as the scale of 

 points is concerned. Lex. 



[Before submitting his argument, "Lex" should have exam- 

 ined the lex loci, to be found in Rule 0, which says that "no 

 Erize will be awarded in any class where no dog possesses suf- 

 cient excellence to entitle it to the prize.] 



EXPERIENCE WITH DOGS. 



LEST "Flick Flick" shall think that I am a being without 

 reason, and use the whip upon dumb creatures as a 

 master upon the slave, I will, in a few lines, explain why a 

 dog should be taught to retrieve under the whip. In most 

 hunting dogs there is an inheritance which prompts them to 

 pursue game, and so deeply rooted is this instinct, that to fol- 

 low it is then- greatest source of pleasure. Hence it is that a 

 perfect bird dog can be made, by simply guiding this talent 

 which is bred within him. We do not teach the dog to hunt, 

 this he does naturally. We only teach him to hunt in the way 

 our own experience has taught tis is the most effective in bag- 

 ging game. The dog supplies the motive power, we lay the 

 fail which guides him to the destination we desire him to 

 arrive at. Retrieving is to a certain extent an inheritance to 

 which all dog flesh is heir: the mongrel will grab up an old 

 shoe and race about with it in play, and almost anything with 

 a bark can be taught to fetch on land or in the water, but the 

 passion is not as strong as that which urges the pointer or set- 

 ter, under a broiling sun, or through thorns and brambles to 

 catch the delicious scent of the quail or grouse. Dogs the of 

 play, as do men. They think it sport to rush through water 

 which is tempered by a summer's sun. but they shrink from an 

 element which sends a shiver through every 'muscle of their 

 body. I have never yet seen the dog trained as "Flick Flick" 

 suggests, and but very few that would brave the cold Water 

 of spring or the late fall. 



For instance, 1 once owned a pointer which I trained to re- 

 trieve in the manner suggested by "Flick Flick," and he 

 worked elegantly. One day in my absence my room mate 

 exhibited him to some friends, and kept him romping after a 

 bah until be was very tired. He refused to fetch, w r as whipped 

 for his impertinence, and forever afterward refused to re- 

 trieve. I had a spaniel that was forever on the watch for 

 something to carry, but cold water, after one or two intro- 

 ductions, would curb his spirit to such an extent that no urg- 

 ing could force him oh, and the sight of a whip would so com- 

 pletely quench him that fie would be entirely useless i'oi 

 hours afterward. Now for the Mde'dy ibi such pervierseiiess 



