July 30. 1885.1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



11 



In the challenge class for pointer dogs first went, to Milton 

 Bang n. , who has great hone and substance. Belhus Hector 

 was ahseut. In the challenge class for bitches first went to 

 Belle of Bow, bred by Mr. Price, the judge, owing to which 

 we understand, he declined to decide between her and Mr. 

 Norrish's Revel III. . and the awai'd was made by Mr. Shirley. 

 In the open dog class we fancied Luck of Hessen, third, and 

 Bon IX. , vhc. and reserve, equally as well as any in the class. 

 In large sized bitches fii-st went to Nymph, a good, well put 

 together bitch with quality; second to Venus, a strong power- 

 ful bitch, also showing quahty. In small dogs the winner, 

 Naso of Kipping, is a good one and fit to hold his owii m auy 

 couapany. Second to Osborn Ale, a black and white, not quite a 

 bigh class show dog. Bracket, third, according to the cata- 

 logue is oiUy six months old, date of biith being given as Peb- 

 rua,ry, H^Sf*" Milton Don, vhc. and reserve, is of good stamp, 

 but rather coarse in head. The small bitches were a good 

 class. The winner, a lemon and white, catalogued at £30, 

 looks little money for a Palace winner. 



The challenge class for English setter dogs had four entries, 

 but only one put in an appearance, the lemon and white 

 Sttug. In the open dog class fu'st went to the red and white 

 Rock of Ages, a good dbg full of go, yet we consider him very 

 luckv to win in the comnanv he was in. He was claimed at 

 catalogue price, £^9. lOs, " Second went to the blue belton Car- 

 lisle, a young dog bv Sir Abater. But we much preferred the 

 vhc. Count Howard to auythtag in the class; and we may say 

 the third prize dog. Sir Tatton, is .mother good setter all 

 through; on the small side, but a good one, and we preferred 

 Mm as an Enghsh setter to either the wtmier or the second 

 prize dog, The bitch class was a very large and good class, 

 but we could not follow the judge in his awards, as we fancied 

 some of the vhc. and others aimost unnoticed as about the 

 best. 



In the challenge class of black and tan setter's Czarina beat 

 Young Jock, who is showing age. The open classes were bet- 

 ter than we have been accustomed to lately, particularly the 

 bitches. Heather Beauty being more fortunate here than at 

 Warwick, where we thought her badly treated. 



The challenge class for Irish setter dogs and bitches, two 

 enti'ies. Tyi'one, fii-st, is a very coarse-headed dog, too thick 

 all through for an Irish setter. Mountaineer was of a better 

 stamp yet not of the first water. In open dogs first went to 

 Hector," a good weJl-made dog, good in color and coat, and of 

 a bettor stamp than the champions. Second went to Frisco, 

 looking well, in fact, better we think than we ever saw him; 

 with age his color is much lighter, which was always his 

 fault, and his face is not quite of the true laish setter type. 

 Lismore, third, is a good level-made dog, rather on the strong 

 side to suit our ideas. Ulster Chief was of the proper type; 

 in fact, at Dublin under Mr. Lort, he beat Hector. He is on 

 the small Bide, but deserved more than he. In bitches, Ave- 

 line, first, is of good color and coat, but short of feather and 

 plaui in skull. Ruby VII. was the best to our mind. She was 

 rather out of coat and had too much feather, which was 

 I'athor light tu color; she showed lack of grooming. Tlurd, 

 Kate Palmerston, from the same kennel, also required more 

 attention paid to her toilet. 



Wavy-coated retrievei's were moderate when Mr. Shii-ley's 

 team was taken away. They were entered not for competi- 

 tion and afteiwai-d sold by auction and brought from ten to 

 fifty guineas each, except one, which was sold afterward pri- 

 vately at over fifty guineas. Curly retrievers were small 

 classes. This variety seems goiug back. 



Sheepdogs as a class were behind what we expected from 

 the winter show and Wai'vvick collection. In the champion 

 dog class Dublin Scot beat Eclipse, and we consider correctly; 

 in fact we thinlc the MTimer the best all-round collie dog in 

 England. Bye the bye, he is not in England at all; he is in 

 Irel-md. Ma'dge I. had no opponent in the challenge class for 

 bitches. In the open doj; class first went to a small red sable, 

 a very nice little dog, but not a red-hot one. Wo ijreferred 

 Major Trefoil, thu-d prize, who would do with a little more 

 coat, but his head, ears and general style are good. The 

 winner in bitches we consider won well, with Young Meg a 

 good second. Next to these we fancied Marigold. In dog 

 puppies Smuggler won. He has an immense coat, his face is 

 shoi-t and ears carried badly, yet he won easily and changed 

 hands. In the bitch class Mr. Arkwright won with a very 

 handsome bitch, Blue Ruiu. This bitch was fit for the open 

 class. She very much resembles the same gentleman's Sky 

 Blue, and although the color is not a very fashionable one, 

 there is no mistake about the possessor of it being a true and 

 typical collie. There was nothing to make a good second to 

 her. There was onl3'^ one bobtail sheepdog entered, a fairly 

 good one. 



In Basset hoimds Fino V. beat Bourbon for the challenge 

 prize, yet we tiiink it must have been close running. Sfi-. 

 Ki-ehl won with Pino VI. in the open class, Mr. Blaiu coming 

 second with a good one in Bertrand, There were four entries 

 only in bitches, all very fail- specimens. The third in open 

 dog class won firet in dog puppies, he is a Large dog rather 

 sheUy, while the second prize one was very small and young 

 and in bad health. The winner in bitch puppies is very 

 promising and may be seen again on the show bench. 



In Dalmatians Mi*. Fawdry, as usual, won first and second, 

 the others were nowhere. 



In Pomeranians Old Charlie won first, not looking quite as 

 well as we have seen him ; he was the only white one shown. 

 The second p:ize dog was a very pretty httle black, not so 

 heavy in coat as the winner. 



Lyris won the challenge class for poodles. We understand 

 the owner of Zulu lodged an objection against him on the 

 ground of Lyris having been dyed. Bat from what we have 

 heard it is 100 to one on Lyiis coming; away with a clear cei*- 

 tificate. The open class for poodles was as good a collection 

 as we have seen. 



In the challenge class for large size bulldogs and bitches 

 ther e was only one entry, G-rabber, who was objected to as 

 being in the wrong class, in the challenge class under 60 

 pounds, Black Prince was entered, but absent. In the chal- 

 lenge class for bitches under 50 pounds, Wheel of Fortune was 

 a good first. In open dogs over 60 pounds and bitches over 50 

 pounds, Pi-esident Garfield, second, is ratber long before the 

 eyes and a bit on the leggy side. Big Ben, vhc, well known, 

 we fancied as about the best. In the next class Darlrie, vhc, 

 has a good skull. Rustic King won well. Jimmy Gripper, 

 third, is a good white dog, but was out of condition. Next 

 class, Mr. Adcock won with Acme, very closely pressed by 

 Lady Stewart and "Wild Rose. In small dogs, the winners 

 were well placed, Julius Cresar, he, might have been further 

 up, although he was out of condition. Small bitches were not 

 so good a lot as the dogs. Mr. Sprague won both challenge 

 cups witli Grabber and Wheel of Fortime: but as Grabber was 

 disi^ualilied, owing to beuig entered in the wrong class, the 

 challenge cup for best dog went to Rustic Iving. 



There was the best collection of water spaniels we have seen 

 for a long time, Mr. Skidmore showing a veiy good young 

 dog, The O'Donogbue, who might just have won. However, 

 fli-st^went to Young Hdd a, looking her best. Lady winning 

 thii-d; but we really preferi ed Mickey Free, Lady Ibeiag bad 

 in shoulders and hoUow in back. 



In the challenge class for Cliunbers, Boss III. won with no 

 opponent. In the open dog class the first and third are large 

 and rather high on the leg, while the second was rather light. 

 The bitches were a very moderate lot; we missed the Duke of 

 Poi-flaiid's kennel. 



In the challenge class for Susses or liver-colored spaniels, 

 the well-known Guy won. In the open class for dogs over 

 twenty-five-pomids weight, the winnei-s were a pair of prom- 

 ising youug ones. Li the cori-e-sponding bitch class the win- 

 ners were too fine in face and of the stamp of blacks. 



In the challenge class for other field spaniels there were 

 foiu- entriesj aad Squaw won correctly from Eastem Bruce 



and Bea.uty 11. The open class for black dogs were a very 

 moderate lot, Mr. Bryden won first and second in the class 

 for black bitches. Sensation, vhc, was out of form. We 

 think Thyra, he, a good bitch. She should have been further 

 up. In other-colored spaniel dogs, Mr. Jacob won with New- 

 ton Abbot Beau, well-known, and second went to a liver and 

 tan from the same keimel. First and second in the following 

 class seemed too tine ui face; they were good-bodied and long. 



In the challenge class for cockers, Obo, looking well, won. 

 In the open dog class there were only two entiles. The win- 

 ner, a long and low pupjiy, more of the spaniel type, wiule 

 second went to a dog more of the Obo type. Cocker bitches 

 were a good class. First went to the pretty-colored Freda, 

 NeUie Vll. and Nellie IV. coming equal second. We consider 

 the black, Nellie VII., the best type of cocker, but she is out 

 at elbows. 



In tfie fox-terrier challenge class for dogs, first and challenge 

 cups were won by Result, looking well and winning easy. 

 Brokenhurst Sting is light and wants substance. Belgravian 

 seems goifig worse behind and his shoulders look coarser than 

 usual. In the challenge class for bitches Meersbrook Model, 

 looking well, won ; we always liked this bitch. She is not fine 

 enough in shoulders to please some, yet she is, in our opinion, 

 a very level made bitch with a good terrier head and good 

 coat with good feet and legs. Reckoner, winner in the open dog 

 class and special cup for best in open classes, is a good terrier, 

 not very taking on the first look, but when examined aU 

 through he is a good terrier and improves the more he is 

 looked at. Beggerman, second, is another good teiTier; he 

 might be better in bone and his ears could be caiTied better. 

 Dusky Joe, third, might be better in skull and have more 

 bone," but he shows character. In the open class for bitches 

 Belle Dame Sanamerci, third, is a very handsome bitch, bar 

 her hindquarters. Safety, winner of first, is a nice bitch, we 

 thought her correctly placed. Richmond Myrtle, second, by 

 Rabv Tyrant ex Richmond Olive, a vei-y nice bitch, pressed 

 the winner closely; she is good in size and a level-made one all 

 over, looking better than when we saw her last. In dog pup- 

 pies Tickham, second, is good in style, but rather thick and 

 short in face. The majority of the other puppies were shown 

 in the open classes. 



Cavendish won in the challenge class for wire-haired. And 

 there was a great deal of difference of opinion about him and 

 Bx-iggs ; the latter is certainly not improving. Miss Miggs won 

 easily in the corresponding "bitch class. The open dog class 

 introduced us to another good young dog in Carlisle Jack. 

 He was well shown and is a good dog. We liave an opinion 

 that he will go a httle coarse in shoulders. In open bitches 

 first went to a very good young bitch, but we fancied the sec- 

 ond prize winner, as being better in size, with a better set eye 

 and finer and more level in face, but rather larger in ear. 

 The second was also best in quarters and size. 'Mr. Redmond 

 won most of all the produce prizes. There were only five 

 entries in the two classes. Result won the .50-guinea challenge 

 prize for the best smooth fox-terrier, and Carlisle J ack the 

 one for the best wire-hair. 



Caii-o had no opponent in the chaUenge class for buU-terri- 

 ers. In the open dog class first went to a large, good looking 

 young dog, with rather too much drop below the eye, Silver 

 King, well known, coming second. In large bitches there 

 were only two entries, Queen of May winning easy. In dogs 

 and bitches over 20 pounds and not exceeding 30, first went to 

 a very nice bitch belonging to Mr. Pratt, claimed at £20; no 

 doubt sold on account of her weight, being too large for the 

 small class, yet too small to compete against large bitches. 

 Meriw Puss, vhc. and reserve, possesses a good head and eye. 

 The small class under 20 pounds, contained a very level lot, 

 the winners running each other close. 



In Airedales we prefen-edthe second and third to the winner 

 in the dog class who is quite too thick in head. The bitches 

 were better placed, yet the winner is coarse in head, but well 

 made and best in color and coat. 



The well-known Hairdresser won weU in Bed lington terriers, 

 with a vei-y nice dog coming tu second. In the bitch class the 

 competition was very keen, and in such causes it is always a 

 matter of opinion which way the winners are placed. 



Irish terriers were a strong collection, no new ones except 

 Bachelor, who is a good one and will go to the front if nothing 

 happens him. 



White English, as usual, were a smaU class and the winners 

 well knovm. 



Black and tans were a very poor class all through, vsdth 

 nothing worth particular notice. 



Skye terriers were small classes but contained good quahty, 

 we consider the winning bitch, Missie, about the best, bemg 

 very long and low with plenty of coat of a good hard color 

 and texture. 



In Scotch teniers Dundee was first, as usual, with a very 

 good bitch of the same stamp, only not so good in shoulder 

 covering second ; Danara ought to have been noticed, perhaps 

 his taU carriage was too much for the judge to recogm'ze. We 

 Uked the second prize puppy, he is good in coat and type. 



Dandle Dinmonts were a veiy good collection, and the 

 awards were pi-etty well received. Border King won in the 

 open class and beat Roderick for the special, and we quite 

 agree with the award, considering Border King one of the 

 best Dandies we have seen. He was shown in perfect condi- 

 tion. Were he just a little squarer in muzzle he would be a 

 perfect Dandie. 



In the challenge class for pugs Diamond, brother to Brad- 

 ford Ruby, won, the latter holding the same position here last 

 Januaiy. Duchess of Connaught beat Dowager in the cor- 

 responding bitch class. There were a few nice dogs shown in 

 the open class. The bitches were also good, the Avinner a 

 grand bitch, just dark enough in face and heaw in ears, but 

 grand in skull and body. The winner at the Piag Dog Club 

 show only got vhc. reseiwe. We thought her as good as any 

 in the class. The second prize dog puppy promises well. 



In Yorkshire terriers Lady Bective beat Conqaeror, but we 

 consider the latter fai- ahead. As usual. Lady Giffard had 

 everything her own way in Maltese. 



Bowsie beat Flossie II. in champion Blenheims. We prefer 

 Flossie II. The open class was good, but there was nothing 

 really striking in the class. King Charles were a good lot. 

 Bend Or won, but was disquahfied, as he ought to have been hi 

 the challenge class, so Young Jumbo got first, and Young 

 Piince, thhd, was put up to second. As there were two he. 

 and no resei-ve given, we don't know what will come in for 

 third prize or will the club keep it. In the smooth-haired toys 

 there were some very nice black and tans shown. They were 

 the best as a class that we have seen lately. There was a good 

 collection of Yorkshires in the rough toys, many of wluch 

 were merely entered for sale, and as usual the majority of 

 them changed hands. Diu'ing the show the weather "was 

 vei-y favorable, yet the attendance seemed below the average. 



[The list of awards will be f otmd in the Amej-ican Kennel 

 Iiegiste7\'] 



THAT TWO-LEGGED DOG.— Somerset, Pa.— Some weeks 

 since I sent you an account of a "queer dog," without forelegs. 

 I have been away from home since and recently retm-ned. 

 Meanwhile she has whelped five puppies, nice and "lively they 

 are; three hving, for two bitches were drowned. Those re- 

 maining are hke other dogs. The dam is hearty, and appa- 

 rently thinks as much of her offspring as other mother-dogs. 

 I have also learned tliat this cmious creatm-e is a cross be- 

 tween a full-bred rat-terrier bitch and an imported beagle 

 which some gentleman had brought with him to the place. 

 The question to me is, whence the long, wooUy coat and the 

 peculiar color? Both parents being full-bred, it seems that 

 revei-sion to an ancestor is out of the question, unless we are 

 to suppose the reversion to go far back among early progeni- 

 tors of the canine race. Altogether this is one of the cm-iosi- 

 ties of nature, to me, at least.— Am ateuk. 



THE IRISH WOLFHOUND. 



IFrora the essay by Oapt. G. A. Graham.— Continued.] 



LITERATURE and the powers of depicting an animal in 

 its correct form were in such a crude and immature 

 stage among the nobiUty and gentry of the land at the periods 

 when we have om- first accounts of the Irish wolfdog, tbat it 

 is not in the least to be wondered at that the imperfect de- 

 scriptions given of the breed by such persons as were equal to 

 the task were allowed to go uncontradicted by the only people 

 in whose hands the breed was likely to be. Prom the accounts 

 we have, however, we can clearly and distinctly gather that 

 the dog has always been of gi-eyh'ound shape, of gigantic stat- 

 ure and gi'CAt power. In fact, such a dog as a cross between 

 the Great Dane and present deerhound would produce, as to 

 form and bulk, but of superior size. 



Richardson, to further his views regarding the probable size 

 of the ancient Irish wolfdog, tells us that certain canine skulls 

 were found by Surgeon Wylde at Dimshangltn, which were 

 concluded to be those of the Irish wolfdog ; of these the larg- 

 est was 11 inches in the bone, and from that fact he proceeds 

 to argue that the hving dog must have stood about 40 inches. 

 To begin, he takes for his guide a deerhoimd do.g standing 2d 

 inches, whose head measm-es 10 inches. To the ll-iuch Irish 

 wolfhound skull he adds 3 inches for muzzle, hair, skin and 

 other tissues, thereby making the head of the living dog li 

 inches; thus getthig" the height of 40 inches from it, as com- 

 pared to the 29 iuclies from the 10-inch head. Here, however, 

 he would appear to be iu error, as 1}4 or 3 inches at the most 

 would be enough to allow for tissues, etc., making the head 

 1234' to 13 inches only, and so reducing the height to o<i inches; 

 moreover, the measurement of 10 inches for the head of a 39 

 inch deerhound is manifestly insufficient, as the writer can 

 testify from ample experience. A deerhoimd of that height 

 should have a head of at least 11 inches; so, calculating on the 

 same principles, the skulls would have been from dogs stand- 

 ing about •-!4 inches. This skull is stated to have been supeiior 

 in size to the others, so if the argument was of any real worth, 

 we can only gather from it that the dogs would have ranged 

 from SI to 34 inches in height, which is probable enough. 



From the general tenor of the accounts we have of this dog's 

 dimensions and appearance, it is certainly to be gathered that 

 he was of considerably gi-eater stature that any known race 

 of dogs now existing, and apparently more than equal to the 

 destruction of a wolf. 



It is an incontestable fact that the domestic dog, when used 

 for the pursuit of ferocious animals, should be larger and ap- 

 parently more powerful than his quany if he is expected to 

 take and overcome him single-handed, as the fierce nature, 

 roving habits and food of the wild animal render him more 

 than a match for his domesticated enemy, if of only equal 

 size and stature. We know that the Russian wolfhounds (cer- 

 tainly very soft-hearted dogs), though equal in stature to the 

 wolf, will not attack him single-handed— and wisely, too, for 

 they would certainly be worsted in the combat. The Irish 

 wolfdog, being nsed'for both the captui-e and despatch of the 

 wolf, would necessarily have been of greyhound conformation, 

 besides being of enormous power. When caught, a heavy dog, 

 such as a mastilT, would be equal to the dastruction of a wolf, 

 but to obtain a dog with greyhound speed and the strength of 

 the mastiff, it stands to reason that his stature should consid- 

 erably exceed that of the mastiff— one of our tallest as well 

 as most powerful breeds. The usual height of the mastiff is 

 30 inches; and ai'guing as above, we may reasonably conclude 

 that to obtain the requisite coihbtnatioh of speed and power, 

 a height of at least 33 inches would have been reached, though 

 we are toJd by several writers that he exceeded that height 

 considerably, as will h.i.ve been seen. 



The subject of Irish wolfhoufKle was revived in the New 

 York Count ry in 1878, and some interesting facts were re s ' '1 

 by Mrs. Fremont, regarding two dc^s of this "Jjreed th 

 been imported to Port SneUing— as a present to a ItLi' 

 — fi'om England about 183S. They appear to have been 1 \t % 

 brindle color, and were much larger and heavier than the 

 deerhoimd, while equally quick in their motions; the coat 

 described as short-hatred. Others have been seen at intervals 

 in the United States. 



In a subsequent ai-tiele on the same subject in the New York 

 Country it is wiitten : "It is absurd to give as a reason for the 

 indifference and apathy through which such a breed has been 

 allowed to die out or its perpetuity to be endangered, that in 

 the extermination of his particular foe— the wolf- his occupa- 

 tion was gone. A noble animal of this character should never 

 have been permitted to waste away while curs of the lowest 

 degree are petted and pampered and carefully provided for. 

 In this country particulai-ly the L'ish wolfdog 'could be made 

 of special service. Here he would find in the chase and ex- 

 teiTuination of the wolf a wide field for his prowess and 

 courage. On the westei'n bounds of civihzation he would be 

 invaluable for the piu'pose of hunting, his keen sight and 

 scent rendering him superior to many breeds now in use, and 

 as a companion and friend of man "his fidehty and devotion 

 have never been called in question. All the testimony which 

 comes down to us agrees as to his sagacity, courage, strengtli, 

 speed and size, although in this last point'we perceive there is 

 a difterence of opinion. Even allowing that he attained a 

 height of from thii-ty-two to thirty-five inches, he is taller than 

 any breed now living, although the early accounts published 

 of him state he was from three to four feet high." 



It has been suggested by a gentleman well known as a great 

 fancier of dogs that the dog in use in Spain for taking wolves 

 is identical with the old Irish wolfdog; but the specimen 

 brought over from Spain by lum would at once undeceive us, 

 as he is, to all appearance, a Great Dane of hght stamp— pos- 

 sibly crossed with the wolfdog of the Pyi-enees. 



For many months past a spirited controversy and corres- 

 pondence on the Irish wolfhound has been carried on in the 

 Live Stock Journal— a. well-known weekly pubhcation— by the 

 wi-iter and othei's, without, it is confidently thought, in any 

 way disturbing the conclusions on the breed which the writer 

 has, fi-om careful and prolonged consideration of the subject, 

 arrived at and will be set forth presently. 



The question as to whether it is desirable to continue and 

 thoroughly resuscitate this sunerb breed now that his occupa- 

 tion is gone is hardly worth entertaining. 



The mastiff and bulldog, though no longer used to bait bear 

 and bull, abound in thousands and in a far more perfect form 

 than they were a hundi-ed years ago. The bloodhound's 

 original use has disappeared, yet who would wish to see these 

 noble hounds die out? 



Have not a dozen breeds— such as St. Bernards, coUies, etc. 

 — been taken up, cheiished, and impi'oved to a marvellous 

 degi-ee? Why not, then, take such measures to recover the 

 Irish wolfdog ui its original form ? It can be done; the means 

 are at hand if the will be only forthcoming. From the 

 materials forthcoming in such specimens of the breed as are 

 extant and the largest deerhounds, with judicious crosses for 

 size and power, there is little doubt that the breed can be re- 

 stored to us in much of its original magnificence, and the noble 

 canine giant— alway^s held to be typical of Erin — would be 

 worthily and faithfully repi-esented. 



It reflects but smah "credit on the gentlemen of Ireland that 

 this breed— the national representative dog of then- coimtiy— 

 should have been allowed to dwindle do\vn to a shadow of its 

 former self. Mastiff breeders with much care and judgment 

 have rescued England's national dog from a very degenerate 

 state, and from most indifferent materials, and restored him in 

 a form quite equal, if not superior, to what he was at his best. 

 Why, then, should not the same be done for then- most superb 

 national dog by Iiishmen « Let them look at this, put their 

 shoulders to the wheel, and success will surely crown then- 

 endeavors. 



As the deerhound of the present day is to the ordinary 

 greyhound, so is the giant Iilsh wolfhound to the deerJioond. 

 An Irish paper, waxing enthusiastic on the subject, says, not 



