torn. 18, 1886.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



73 



desirable, but with the additional length and weight in the 

 middle there will follow a tendency to sway-back, which is to 

 be met with a slight arch or additional strength in the back. 1 ' 

 Whatever is meant by "present type" we are at a loss to under- 

 stand, as the comparatively recent decisions by judges, mem- 

 bers of the committee, shows us quite a variety. The New 

 England foxhound is notably one of the most hardy and en- 

 during breeds of dogs known. A continuous rim at speed over 

 the roughest of country of more than a hundred miles is of 

 frequent occurrence. For this work the performer must possess 

 staying powers inherent only in perfect organisms, Had the 

 committee consulted the first experienced foxhunter they 

 chanced to meet, they would have learned that comparatively 

 long dogs, although nearly always in the lead for an hour or 

 two in the morning, could never stay out a long race, but 

 were invariably left behind long before night by their better 

 formed brothers; or had they consulted the English Coursing 

 Calender they wnuld have found spread upou its pages the 

 record of manv a brilliant performance, in first heats, by the 

 style of animal they admire, but they would also have found 

 that where long continued, punishing work was the rule, only 

 well formed and comparatively short animals were in at the 

 finish. The committee appear to have been captivated by the 

 brilliant dash and phenomenal speed that lasts but a brier half 

 hour, but it will be a long time before they Will succeed in in- 

 ducing the sportsmen of this country to sacrifice enduring 

 qualities for mere show. 



In the section devoted to back and loin the new standard 

 says: "It is very much the custom to treat of a dog's loin as 

 all that constitutes his back." The committee could have 

 made a very instructive contribution to dog literature by in- 

 forming us where and among what class of men this custom 

 prevails. These portions of the dog's anatomy play a very 

 important part, but the committee give them but six points as 

 a whole. Upon the loin depends the ability to stay, and of 

 course it follows that without a proper conformation at this 

 point the value of the animal is more or less depreciated, yet 

 the committee tell us absolutely nothing that will serve as a 

 guide to determine the proper form to select except that they 

 inform us that "an arched loin is desirable." In the section 

 devoted to quarters and stifles we are told that "the stifles 

 should be moderatelv well bent, excessive bend, although 

 fashionable for a time", is no longer thought necessary." It is 

 not clear what the word "moderately" implies ; if it means 

 straight stifles or even moderately straight, the word is de- 

 cidedly out of place, m describing the legs, elbows, hocks 

 and feet, we are told that "the feet should be carefully ex- 

 amined, as upon their capability of standing wear and tear 

 depends the utility of the dog." This is most time, but except 

 a verv meager mention of good qualities there is nothing m 

 the description to assist in determining whether the feet are 

 goo d or the reverse. In the section devoted to the stern we 

 are gravely told that "the tail should be carried straight, or 

 with a slight curve upward, either slightly above level of back 

 or down." "We are pleased to note that sideways was not 

 added to the list. 



Regarding the numerical value of the points as appor- 

 tioned by the committtee, there is. to say the least, a lack of 

 harmony with the text that is very inconsistent. The stan- 

 dard calls for a longer dog; one of the results of increased 

 length will be increased weight, to support which the com- 

 mittee have taken one point from the feet which must carry 

 it. We have briefly criticised some of the most important 

 points of the new standard, and in conclusion will call atten- 

 tion to the omission of a very important point. There is not a 

 word said regarding the disqualification of animals of faulty 

 formation nor a word as to the penalty to be imposed when 

 the fault is of lesser degree. It should be impossible for a 

 dog to successfully compete for bench show honors when his 

 faults, either natural or accidental, are such as would seri- 

 ously hamper him in his work. 



EASTERN FIELD TRIALS CLUB. 



THE report of the Committee on Running Rules, which was 

 unanimously adopted, is as follows: 

 Rule 4. Is striken out entirely. 



Rule 10. To read: Dogs shall be drawn by lot and numbered 

 in the order drawn. Each dog shall run in the first series as 

 a brace with the next available dog in that order, and the 

 winners run in heats again in the order so obtained, except as 

 hereinafter provided. Any dog absent during the first series 

 more than twenty minutes after his number is called, shall be 

 disqualified from further competition. 



Rule 11. If two dogs owned or handled by the same person 

 should come together in the first or any succeeding series, the 

 second dog so owned or handled shall change places with the 

 first dog not so owned or handled in the order of running. If 

 after the first series such separation is found to be impracti- 

 cable or without benefit, the running together of two such dogs 

 may be permitted. 



Rule 12. If in anv series of heats there should be a natural 

 bye, such bye shall run with the winner of the first heat of the 

 previous series as the first brace of the next series. 



Rule 13. Each dog must be brought up in its proper turn 

 without delay; if absent for more than twenty minutes, its 

 opponent shall be entitled to the heat, subject to Rule 10. 



Rule 14 Strike out the sentence: "In Members' Stake a dog 

 must be handled by its owner." 



Prefix to Rule 17: "No owner or handler shall be permitted 

 to withdraw his dog or dogs from a stake on the field or at 

 any time during the holding of a trial after such dog or dogs 

 have been allotted a position in any heat or race without the 

 consent of the. governing committee on the grounds. Any 

 such owner or handler withdrawing his dog or dogs without 

 the consent of this governing committee may be debarred 

 from any further trials or be penalized at the discretion of the 

 club." 



A dog may be withdrawn with the consent of the governing 

 committee on the ground. 



Amendments to instruction to judges: The fifth section was 

 stricken out and the following substituted: "Judges are re- 

 quested to avoid as far as possible holding a dog so long on a 

 point for the purpose of securing a back or otherwise, as to 

 enable the birds to ran." 



Dogs should be brought up to back only when opportunity 

 offers, without interfering with the pointing dog. A dog 

 drawing on or pointing game shall be afforded ample oppor- 

 tunity to locate the game, without competition, it being left 

 to the discretion of the judges to direct the opposing ^iog to be 

 held in check. 



THE POINTER STANDARD. 



THE committee on the pointer standard recommend that 

 Stonehenge's description of the pointer remain intact, 

 but they advise that the division of points be changed by 

 taking five from the head. Our remarks upon the proposed 

 change of the head of the English setter will apply with equal 

 force to that of the pointer. The committee advise no change 

 in form but merely suggest that less value should be accredited 

 to the head. "We do not believe that either of the gentlemen 

 comprising the committee would award a prize to a pointer 

 with bull-terrier lips, pig eyes and Spitz ears, no matter 

 were he perfect in all other respects, yet under the 

 standard they propose, such an animal would score ninetv^seven 

 out of a possible hundred points, unless the judge saw tit to 

 cut him for symmetry. The improvement of the dog is a 

 most worthy object, anything that tends in the opposite 

 direction is nothing less than a crime. The characteristic 

 head of the pointer is his crowning glory— destroy its character 

 and disastrous results are sure to follow, To take from the 

 value of this most important indicator of pure breeding is cer- 

 tainly a step in the wrong direction, 



STANDARD COMMITTEE REPORTS. 



BLACK AND TAN SETTER STANDARD. 



Skull should not be so heavy as in the Gordons, should be 

 clean cut, with occiput well defined, and good stop. Length 

 of skull from eye to occiput, not less than five and one half 

 inches. Free of top knot. 



Muzzle should be straight from eyes to nostrils, without 

 coarseness, should not be less than four inches in length; nos- 

 trils should be rather full and black in color; jaws should be 

 exactly equal in length. 



Lips should be slightly pendulous. 



Eyes should be dark brown in color without the outer yel- 

 low circle so ofteu seen in Gordons; should be of good size and 

 rnild in expression. 



Ears should be set low on the head and lie flat to the cheeks; 

 should be rather longer than the English setter's and well 

 coated with fine silky hair, which should be straight or 

 slightly wavy, extending an inch or two below the flap. 



male should be of good length, with gradual rise from 

 shoulders to head, and slightly inclined to arch; should not be 

 throaty, but is not expected to be as perfectly free of leather 

 as a pointer's. 



Shoulders should be deep, sloping and strong, not so heavy 

 as the Gordon's, and showing great liberty. 



Chest should not be wide but deep; ribs well sprung back of 

 the shoulders but not so much as to make the animal appear 

 round in barrel; should extend well back toward the quar- 

 ters. , 



Back and Loins should be strong and slightly mchned to 

 arch, a tendency to swav-back being objectionable. 



Quarters should be well muscled but not lumbery, muscles 

 extending^ Well down toward the feet. 



Legs. Pore legs should be straight, with elbows neither stand- 

 ing out nor under the chest; should be long from point of 

 shoulders to elbows; should be well feathered to the feet. 

 Hind legs should be long from hips to hock joints; stifles 

 fairly well bent. Hock joints neither bending inward nor out, 

 the former being the most objectionable; feather should not 

 be extended below the hocks. 



The Feet should be round, hard, arched, and somewhat 

 padded with hair between the toes; should neither point in- 

 ward nor out, the latter being the most objectionable. 



The Stem should be set on in proper place; should be 

 straight and carried on a line with the back, should have a 

 line, straight, silky flag, any inclination to curl or ropiness 

 being objectionable. 



The Goat should be fine and flat. 



The Color should be deep plum black, with rich tan mark- 

 ings clearly defined, and without admixture of black, showing 

 on lips front of cheeks, throat, over eyes, on front of chest, on 

 feet and legs, also at vent, but should not extend into the flag 

 more than four inches. Anv white is objectionable, but a 

 small spot on the breast should not disqualify an otherwise 

 good dog. 



Symmetry and Quality.— The general character and form 

 of the black and tan setter should be very similar to that of 

 the English setter, possibly a shade lighter throughout; very 

 blood-like in appearance, and combining great sym m etry and 

 quality. 



H. Clay Glover, ) 



Lowell T. Field, > Committee. 



Chas. S. Fitch. ) 



value of points in the black and tan setter. 



Skull 9 Legs 7 



Muzzle 9 Quarters 7 



Eyes 2 Elbows 2 



Ears 2 Hocks 2 



Lips 1 Feet 7 



Neck § Stern o 



Shoulders 7 Coat .. 5 



Chest 7 Color and markings 7 



Rack and loins 10 Symmetry and quality 6 



52 



48 



IRISH TERRIER STANDARD. 



The Irish Terrier Club's scale of points, and description of 

 the time Irish terrier: 



positive points. negative points. 



Head, jaw, teeth and eyes. .15 minus 



Ears . . . 5 White nails, toes, and feet. . 10 



Legs and feet 10 Much white on chest 10 



Neck 5 Ears cropped 5 



Shoulders and chest 10 Mouth undershot or can- 

 Back and loin 10 kered 10 



Hind quarters and stern. . . .10 Coat shaggy, curly, or soft 10 



Coat 15 Uneven in color 5 



Color.'." 10 



Size and symmetry 10 50 



Disqualifying Points. — Nose 



100 cherry red. Brindle color. 



descriptive particulars. 



Head,— Long; skull flat, and rather narrow between ears, 

 getting slightly narrower toward the eye; free from wrinkle; 

 stop hardly visible, except in profile. The jaw must be strong 

 and muscular, but not too full in the cheek, and of a good 

 punishing length, but not so fine as a white English terrier's. 

 There should be a slight f ailing away below the eye, so as not 

 to have a greyhound's appearance. Hah- on face of same 

 description as on body, but short (about a quarter of an inch 

 long), in appearance almost smooth and straight; a slight 

 beard is the only longish hair (and it is only long in comparison 

 with the rest) that is permissible and that is characteristic. 



Teeth,— Should be strong and level, 



Lips. — Not so tight as a bull-terrier's, but well-fitting show- 

 ing through the hair then 1 black lining. 

 Nose. — Must be black. 



Eyes.— A dark hazel color, small, not prominent, and full of 

 life, fire and intelligence. 



Eats. — When uncut, small and V- shaped, of moderate thick- 

 ness, set well upon the head, and dropping forward closely 

 to the cheek. The ear must be free of fringe, and the hair 

 thereon shorter and generally darker in color than the body. 



Neck. — Should be of a fair length, and gradually widening 

 toward the shoulders, well carried, and free of throatiness. 

 There is generally a slight sort of frill visible at each side of 

 the neck, running nearly to the corner of the ear, which is 

 looked oh as very characteristic. 



Shoulders and Chest. — Shoulders must be fine, long, and 

 sloping well into the back; the chest deep and muscular, but 

 neither full nor wide. 



Back and Loin. — Body moderately long; back should be 

 strong and straight, with no appearance of slackness behind 

 the shoulders- the loin broad and powerful and slightly 

 arched ; ribs fairly sprung, rather deep than round, and well 

 ribbed back. 



Hind Quarters. — Well under the dog; should be strong and 

 muscular, the thighs powerful, hocks near the ground, stifles 

 not much bent, 



Stem. — Generally docked; should be free of fringe or 

 feather, set on pretty high, carried gaily, but not over the 

 back or curled. 



Feet and Legs. — Feet should be strong, tolerably round, and 

 neither turned out nor in ; black toenails are preferable and 

 most desirable. Legs moderately long, well set from the 

 shoulders, perfectly straight, with plenty of bone and muscle; 

 the elbows working freely clear of the sides, pasterns short 

 and straight, hardly noticeable. Both fore and hind legs 

 should be moved straight forward when traveling, the stifles 

 not turned outward, the legs free of feather, and cov- 



ered, like the head, with a3 hard a texture of coat as body, 

 but not so long. 



Coat. — Hard and wiry, free of softness or silkiuess, not so 

 long as to hide the outlines of the body, particularly in th° 

 hind quarters, straight and flat, no shagginess, and free of 

 lock or curl. 



Color.— Should be "whole-colored," the most preferable 

 being bright red; next wheaten, yellow and gray, brindle dis- 

 qualifying. Wnite sometimes appears on chest and feet; it is 

 more objectionable on the latter thau on the chest, as a speck 

 of white on chest is frequently to be seen in all self-colored 

 breeds. 



Size and Symmetry.— Weight in show condition, from 161b. 

 to 341b.— say 161b. to 221b. for bitches and 181b. to 241b. for 

 dogs. The most desirable weight is 221b. or under, which is a 

 nice, stylish and useful size. The dog must present an active, 

 lively, 'lithe and wiry appearance ; lots of substanee, at the 

 same time free of clumsiness, as speed and endurance, as well 

 as power, are very essential. They must be neither ''cloddy" 

 nor "cobby," but should be framed on the "lines of speed," 

 showing a graceful "racing outline." 



Temperament.— Dogs that are very game are usually surly 

 or snappish. The Irish terrier, as a breed, is an exception, 

 being remarkably good tempered, notably so with mankind, 

 it being admitted, however, that he is, perhaps, a little too 

 ready to resent interference on the part of other dogs. There 

 is a heedless, reckless pluck about the Irish terrier, which is 

 characteristic, and coupled with the headlong dash, blind to 

 all consequences, with which he rushes at his adversary, has 

 earned for the breed the proud epithet of "The Dare-Devils." 

 When "off duty" they are characterized by a quiet caress-in- 

 viting appearance, and when one sees them endearingly, tim- 

 idly pushing their heads into then- masters' hands it is difficult 

 to "realize that on occasion at the "set-on," they can prove 

 they have the courage of a hon, and will fight on to the last 

 breath in their bodies. They develop an extraordinat y devo- 

 tion to, and have been known to track their masters almost 

 incredible distances. 



POINTER STANDARD. 



O. Edtv. Osborn, Esq., Secretary A. K. C\ 



The committee appointed by the A. K. C. on a standard for 

 judging pointers, beg to report that so far as they have been 

 able to learn the opinions and wishes of prominent breeders 

 of pointers, there is no general desire to change, materially, 

 the standard as laid down by "Stonehenge." 



In the opinion of your committee, the description of the 

 pointer as given by Mr. Welsh is satisfactory, but they think 

 that in the division of points, too much has been accredited 

 to the head — the division as given by "Stonehenge" being: 

 Skull, 10; nose, 10; ears, eyes and lips," 4; in short, an allow- 

 ence of one-fourth the full number of points for head alone. 



We recommend that five points be taken from the number 

 heretofore I allowed for head, and transferred to those parts 

 to which it is thought not a sufficient number of points have 

 been allowed by "Stonehenge." 



We recommend that the points of the pointer should be as 

 follows : 



Skull 8 



Nose i 8 



Ears, eyes and hps 3 



Neck 6 



Shoulders and chest 18 



Back, quarters and stifles 17 



Legs, elbows and hocks 12 



Feet 8 



Stern 5 



Symmetry and quality 7 



Texture of coat. . . 3 



Color 5 



100 



Robert C. Cornell. 

 E. F. Stoddard. 



THE MEMBERS' STAKE RULES. 



THE adoption by the Eastern Field Trials Club of the rule 

 allowing a dog entered in the Members' Stake to be 

 handled by a member not his owner is certainly a step in the 

 wrong dn-ection. The spirit of this rule is unquestionably 

 opposed to the principal object had in view when this stake 

 was inaugurated. As its title implies, it is exclusively for the 

 members of the club, and its main object is to foster a spirit 

 of generous rivalry among them, while contesting for its 

 honors, for the purpose of improving their skill in handling 

 tbeir dogs in the field. The winning of this stake should carry 

 far moi'e honor than the mere ownership of a winning dog 

 implies. Any one with plenty of money can own a good dog; 

 but hai-d cash, although' a very desirable adjunct, can never 

 of itself constitute the sportsman. 



It should be the aim of the club to enhance instead of depre - 

 ciate the value of honors won at then- field trials. The Eastern 

 Field Trials Club was not established for the sole purpose of 

 improving the pointer and setter. There was still another 

 object in view, and that was to increase the interest in legiti- 

 mate sport with dog and gun. The best manner in which to 

 accomplish these objects is a question that should be carefully 

 considered by the club before deciding upon any matter that 

 may come before it. With earnest, well-directed effort to 

 accomplish these objects the club has grown from year to 

 year So its present high estate, and no record of backward 

 steps should mar the pages of its history. 



EXCESSIVE TAXATION.— Cohocton, N. Y.— Editor For- 

 est and Stream: I write to ask, if, in your opinion, there is any 

 honorable and legitimate way for any one wishing to establish 

 a breeding kennel to avoid paying the excessive taxes that the 

 laws in most counties of this State impose. The law in this 

 town, for instance, levies a tax of fifty cents on a dog, and 

 three dollars on a bitch; for each additional dog or bitch the 

 amount is doubled, one dollar for the second dog, two dollars 

 for tne third and so on; six dollars for the second bitch, twelve 

 for the third, etc. At this rate a kennel containing, for ex- 

 ample, six dogs and six bitches, would have to pay au annual 

 tax of $220.50. Now this is manifestly an un just law. and I 

 would like to knowif you or any of your readers who have been 

 obliged to grapple .with the question can state any means by 

 which it may be honorably avoided. — Steuben. [We should 

 labor with the county supervisors to change the law, which is 

 manifestly harsh and unjust.] 



THE NEWARK DOG SHOW.— New York, Feb. IS — 

 Editor Forest and Stream: The following gentlemen have 

 kindly consented to judge at Newark: Mr. John Davidson, 

 Monroe, Mich., pointers and setters; Mr. James Mortimer, 

 Babylon, L. 1. , fox-terriers, Yorkshire terriers, pugs and toy 

 dogs; Mr. J. A. Stovell, Philadelphia, Pa., beagles, judged by 

 the American English Beagle Club standard. The Philadelphia 

 & Reading Express Company has issued an order to carry 

 dogs boxed from all P. and R. points to the Newark show at 

 regular rates, and will return them to points of shipment free 

 of charge.— A. P, Vredenburgh, Secretary. 



BOUND BOOKS OF KENNEL BLANKS. — We have bound 

 books of kennel blanks, each book consisting of 200 blanks of 

 a given style, and can furnish these (postpaid 30 cents) for the 

 convenience of those who have occasion to use a large num- 

 ber of blanks. In ordering be careful to state what particular 

 series of blanks is desired, i, e., whether Names Claimed, Sales, 

 Bred or Whelps. The arrangement of the blanks is such that 

 a duplicate record of each note sent for publication may be l e . 

 tained, fpr future reference, 



