70 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Aug. 19^ 1886. 



CHIEFTAIN AND WANDA. 



THE deerhounds Cliief tain and Wanda are well known to 

 all who attended any of tlie principal dog shows the 

 past season. Both ai-e magnificent specimens of the breed, 

 and their ower, Mr. John E. Thayer, of Lancaster, Mass., 

 may well be prond of them. Chieftain was whelped Novem- 

 ber, 1881, and is by champion Bevis (Paddy— Lassie) and out 

 of Heather (Harry — Hilda). His winnings in Britain are 

 1st, Maidstone, 1882; 1st and cup, Warwick and Sheffield; 

 1st, Aston and Colchester, champion Crystal Palace; 

 1st, York, Darlington, Southport, Henley -on -Thames; 

 and 1st and medal, Dundee, 1883. Champion Crystal Palace, 

 1st, York, Hull and Liverpool; 1st. special and medal, Edin- 

 burgh; 1st and special, Dundee, 1884. Ist and cup, Liverpool, 

 and champion Crystal Palace, 1885. In America, 1st, Newark; 

 1st and special, New Haven, Boston, Hartford and New 

 York, 1886. 



Wanda was whelped June, 1884, She is by Gunnar (Hector 

 — Leona) and out of Sheila (Tori-um — Meg), Her -winnings in 

 England are 1st and cup, Liverpool, 1886. In America, hst, 

 Newark; 2d, New Haven; 1st and special, Boston, Hartford 

 and New York, 1886. 



CO-OPERATIVE BREEDING. 



I HAVE often considered the question of co-operation in 

 breeding dogs, by mutual agi'eement between amateurs, 

 without the formalities and consequent expenses incident to 

 the formation and carrying on of a club. There are ladies 

 and gentlemen who loving the dog for the dog's sake, have 

 neither the time nor the incliiiation to enter into the excite- 

 ment of exhibiting, or, if desirous of doing so, are debarred by 

 one or other of many various circumstances of a private 

 nature. Those whose tastes lead and circumstances permit 

 them to take part in the exciting life of the exhibitor, have 

 the prospect before them of coveted prizes and reimbursement 

 of heavy expenses in fancy prices for the produce of their 

 kennels and in extravagant 

 stud fees. 1 have not a word 

 to say against those with the 

 desire to compete at public 

 shows for prizes, and have the 

 time and means to indulge the 

 fancy. On the contrary 1 con- 

 sider the emulative spirit cal- 

 led forth in such competitions 

 altogether admirable. 



There is, however, nothing 

 human that has not its draw- 

 backs, and the conditions of 

 shows seem to me rather to 

 check than encourage breeders 

 of a speculative turn of mind, 

 who would be disposed to at- 

 tempt the production of new 

 varieties and the resuscitation 

 of old ones but for the consider- 

 ation that it would not pa^. 

 But even the "would not pay" 

 argument is, I think, an error; 

 the truth being that the profits 

 would be deferred, for there 

 can be no doubt that with the 

 establishment of a variety 

 possessing distinct character- 

 istics it would be a mere 

 question of placing it favor- 

 ably before the public to in- 

 sure its populai'ity with a very 

 considerable section, for new 

 varieties possessing merits of 

 beauty of form or color, or of 

 great usefulness, never fail to 

 secure admirers. 



The flat-coated retriever may 

 be said to have been estab- 

 lished by the late J. D. Hull, 

 and improved upon by Mr. S. 

 E. Shirley, the chairman of 

 the Kennel Club, by the infu- 

 sion into the strain of a double 

 dose of the Labrador blood; 

 and I doubt not the results 

 have been profitable to both, 

 and what is doubtless of far 



f;reater consequence to a gen- 

 leman in Mi-. Shirley's posi- 

 tion, the gratifying fact that 

 as a breeder he has succeeded 

 in establishing a variety of 

 very distinct character, equally 

 handsome and useful, and 

 with which his name is honor- 

 ably and indelibly associated, A deep interest attaches to 

 the' development of plant, bird, or animal toward a point 

 previously determined on, and even the failures in our en- 

 deavors to reach it, although momentarily discouraged, 

 really form incentives to further effort to the speculative 

 breeder who has a clear conception of the end to be reached, 

 and the ^vill and unflagging determination to reach it. The 

 dog is, of all our domestic animals, the most easily moulded 

 in the direction of new varieties, from the fact that, widely 

 diflEerent as they are — as is evidenced by the collection at the 

 Royal Aquarium this week — yet those most divergent from 

 each other breed freely together. There are not merely new 

 varieties to be produced, but neglected breeds to be taken in 

 hand, and very many foreign breeds, handsome and interest- 

 ing, that by the mutual, though informal, agreement of 

 amateurs, might be encouraged here, and bred Ijv us till we 

 have made them as English as we have the St. Bernard and 

 the NeAvfoundland. 



All I conceive necessary is that half a dozen or a dozen dog- 

 loving people agree each to keep one or more dogs of a kind 

 • or kinds to be agreed upon for breeding purposes, the mat- 

 ing of them to be a question for friendly consultation and 

 not regulated by any hard-and-fast rules of a committee of 

 direction; for the object to be attained having been clearly 

 defined and agreed upon, the only quastion left would be the 

 best means of attaining it, and in the consideration of these 

 means I think it is not unreasonable to expect that a multi- 

 tude of counsellors would bring wisdom. There would of 

 course be no kennels in common, but there would be no stud 

 fees, and the selected progeny for further breeding would be 

 kept among this association of breeders in aid of the general 

 purpose, tlie other pups being disposed of at the will of the 

 actual breeder. 



CoSperation is a necessity in experimental breeding, ex- 

 cept to the few who, by their wealth, can carry out theories 

 of breeding on a large scale. In the case of the resuscitation 

 of the Irish wolfhound, Captain G-. A. Graham, working at 

 first in friendly conjunction with General Garnier, was by 

 circumstances 'compelled to carry on the work alone for 

 many years, and partially succeeded in his object. If he had 

 had a dozen earnest coadjutors the object would have been 

 long ago attained. 



I am aware I may be, and will be, called a theorist and a 

 visionary, and so be it. 1 am content to believe that there 

 are men who keep and breed dogs for love of the dog, and 

 who take a fancier's and a scientific interest in breeding-, and 

 who can carry on the work without the incentive of gain, or 

 the honors of the show ring; and, if I am right in my con- 

 jectures, I hope that such of your readers as entertain similar 

 Tjews to mine will express them in your columns, or if diffi- 



dent about rushing into print, will communicate with me 

 privately through you, if 1 may be so bold as to anticipate 

 this courtesy from you. 



There is no opposition in what I propose to any e.stablished 

 institution whatever. On the contrary, such experimental 

 breeding as I suggest would eventually prove a valuable 

 source of increase to the diversity, and the interest and value, 

 of existing clubs and shows— Qlympicus, in Fanciers' Oa- 

 zette. 



THE CACHE CREEK HUNT. 



FORT SILL, Indian Territory.— JSditor Forest and 

 Stream: This club is organized on true sportsman 

 principle, the dogs being of first importance, the horses next; 

 while the riders (the officers and ladies of Fort Sill) get an 

 immense amount of pleasure out of it, and claim the brush, 

 which we hang upon our walls "to point a moral and adorn 

 a tale. 



The deerhounds, Douglas, Bruce and Hilda, are the pride 

 of the garrison, as well they may be. Their royal lineage 

 speaks in their proud step, their fine form, the perfect union 

 of strength and grace, their wonderful eyes, soft as a deer's 

 or flashing with the fire of excitement. Blood will tell; 

 they disdam all association with curs of low degree, taking 

 assured possession of a gentleman's fireside as though 

 claiming their hereditary right as the descendants of a long 

 line of illustrious ancestors. 



Oscar, the father of Douglas and Hilda, was imported by 

 Gen. W. H. .lackson, of Belle Mead, Tennessee, having been 



„ — „ „ keeper 



Windsor Castle. The father of Morni. Old Torrum, was 

 from the kennel of Gen. Hugh Ross, of Glenmoidart, the old 

 Glengary strain. Morni was one of the three deerhounds 

 entitled to be called "champion" bj'' the number of his 

 prizes, winning first at Birmingham, at Crystal Palace, 



over the prairie we follow until the wolf is brought to bay; 

 then gather round silent spectators of the last act. The 

 bleeding wounds of the dogs test their nerve and prove the 

 wolf a worthy f oeman. Then the hold upon its throat tight- 

 ens; the tense muscles relax; the fierce light fades from the 

 shining eyes, the lips close over the cruel gleam of the white 

 teeth. 



When a wolf cannot be found a jack rabbit is started to 

 give the dogs and horses a run. They are swifter than the 

 wolves and wonderfully cunning. How can they keep their 

 wits about them, fljang over the ground like an arrow from 

 a bow, the terror of pursuing dogs following faster and 

 faster? But cunning and strength and breath never fail. 

 They double and dodge, give a (luick turn when the dogs are 

 almost upon them, gain ground, and you see that all this 

 doubling and twisting has been a sharp trick to tire out the 

 dogs^ the cuiming animal all the time having an objective 

 point, at a distant hill; up it darts and is out of sight: but 

 the dogs lose breath and drop behind. 



We rest a few moments, giving our horses time to breathe, 

 and refreshing the dogs' diy throats v/ith water from the 

 canteens carried for them. Then a start is made for fresh 

 fields, and we ride back toward the Post, bringing our 

 trophies with ns. At least we always bag a charming morn- 

 ing ride and the exhilaration that exercise and fresh air give. 

 And so we bid one another, and you readers of FoKEST AND 

 Stream, a good morning, and may we meet soon again. 



Chai-na-Neth-Kit; or. One Who Hdjsts the Wolf. 



THE DEERHOUND DOG "CHIEFTAIN." Owned by Mr. .John E. Thayer, Lancaster, Mass. 



Nottingham, Ediuburgh, Manehestei', etc. The father of 

 Bruce was a Scotch wolfhound, and his neck, vnth muscles 

 like iron, and his savage fighting qualities prove his fierce 

 blood. With these Scotch deerhounds we have Hector, 

 Topsy, Buck and Nellie, English greyhounds. They have 

 great swiftness but hunt'eutirely by sight, while the Scotch 

 deerhounds find a scent and follow it until they start the 



fame, then run it by sight. They answer perfectly Plato's 

 escription of a good hound, "quick to see, swift to follow, 

 brave to attack." 



The horses are trained for the hunt. When a wolf is 

 started, at the shout of the leader, with a bound they are 

 after the hounds. Through tha rushing air, over the sweep- 

 ing hills they gallop, double with the dogs and head off, need- 

 ing no bridie rein to guide, no spur but the excitement of 

 the chase; all the rider is expected to do is to keep his eyes on 

 the game and his seat in the saddle. 



But the most important actor in this drama is the wolf. 

 We may have our fine dogs, we may mount our fleet horses, 

 and ride over the hills, but without finding a wolf it is like 

 the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out. These wolves (the 

 coyote) used to abound in Indian Territory, but they are now 

 fast disappearing. Their skins being valuable, they have 

 been poisoned in great numbers. They are fast following 

 the buffalo into the regions of the past. They are a prairie 

 wolf, larger than a red fox, they are good runners, not so 

 fleet nor so sagacious as the fox or the jack rabbit, but when 

 brought to bay they are splendid fighters; only the bravest 

 dogs will attack them, even when down, while many torn, 

 bleeding evidences of their ferocity are borne from the fight. 



The countiw around Fort Sill is well adapted for a chase. 

 Broad sweeps' of open prairie rise into hills and sink into 

 broken valleys. Our meet is in front of the officers' quar- 

 ters, where in the fresh morning air the dogs and horses are 

 eager for the start. Here conies the master of the hounds, 

 Mr. Horace P. Jones, the Indian interpreter; and we start 

 oft; the quick beat of galloping feet keeping time to the laugh- 

 ter that is half excitement, and to the snatches of song 

 that some enthusiast gives us. But when we get into the 

 field, all this is changed. We are deployed as skirmishers, 

 riding at an easy trot, everybody silent and watching the 

 dogs running a little in advance, their heads up, every sense 

 seeming concentrated in the gaze of their bright eyes. Doug- 

 las puts his nose to the ground. He has a scent. Quickly 

 the dogs and horses follow. One moment of intense surprised 

 excitement. Then a shout, abouml, a mad rush of flying 

 feet. All danger is forgotten. Watching the flying game 

 and the pursutag dogs there is the intense interest one has 

 in looking at a fine horse race, and added to that the exultant 

 feeling. "'AH of it I saw, and part, of it T was,'' Pell-mell 



ENGLISH KENNEL NOTES. 



XXXVI. 



J UDGING from the decrease in the number of futiie.s. ex- 

 hibitors dreaded showing their dogs in this tropical 

 weather at the summer .show of the Kennel Club in the Royal 

 Westminster Aquarium. This building is roofed with glass 

 and the heat was quite up to hot-house f onn. One poor ani- 

 mal, a bulldog, expired on its bench. The arrangements were 

 thoughtlessly carried out, the 

 little dogs were benched in 

 the cool annex, while the big 

 breeds — St. Bernards, mastifi's, 

 boarhounds_, etc, — lay panting 

 in the stifling atmosphere of 

 the body of the building. 

 There was more cavilling at 

 the awards than usual even. 

 This show will be recollected 

 for the marvellous resuscita- 

 tion of the Irish wolfhound. 

 Eighteen entries made a good 

 result for the labors of a 

 speciali.st club that has in fact 

 created a new breed and estab- 

 lished a prize called the Irish 

 Wolfhound Club's Challenge 

 Shield, value £43. Taken as 

 specimens they were a fine lot, 

 colors all sorts, in appearance 

 like large, massive deer- 

 hounds; in fact, this breed 

 and Great Danes seem to have 

 been drawn largely upon for " 

 material. " ,j 



The shows come with dread- I 

 ful haste after each other, and 

 this must unfavorably aftect 

 the entries, as owners of prize , 

 kennels are not likely to bang 

 their dogs about from show to 

 show ; it must tell in the end. 

 This explains the eompara^ 

 tively small entry at Norwich, 

 and to that another cause can , 

 be added, viz.; the excessive ; 

 time it lasted— four days. It is i 

 too long to keep dogs on the ' 

 bench in this weather. Of , 

 course, the show authorities ' 

 promise that each dog shall be j 

 taken ofl: the bench daily, but 

 I have been to a good many ] 

 shows and have never seen ic 

 (lone. For instance, who be- 

 lieves that this merciful reg- 

 ulation was carried out at the 

 Aquarium, or at the Cry.stal 

 Palace, where the show is held 

 in the galleries ? I don't. 

 Here would be an opportunity 

 for the Society of Prevention 

 of Cruelty to Animals to inter- 

 pose to Bon^e purpose. If not 

 taking a dog oil his bench for 

 four days be not torture, then must such minor offenses, as 

 catr-killmg, crippling, etc. be termed comparative kindness. 



The Prince of Wales' entries and visit to the show gave v 

 Norwich an extra interest. In most cases the Royal exhibits , 

 only got cards. This seemed to fearfully confound a foreign 

 gentleman who was present on Wednesday. He informed ' 

 his fi-iends that if a distinguished personage honored a show 

 in this manner on the continent and had his dogs treated 

 with .such disrespect, he would forthwith and forever Avith- 

 draw his patronage. Fortunately that is one of the few ' 

 things that we order better in this country. _ | 

 Mr. C. C. Laurence's young bhDodhound bitch, Chesterton > 

 Duchess, followed up her Brentwood success. The collie | 

 men were in a state of ferment about the winner in the open , 

 class being trimmed. Well, really, this righteous indigna- 

 tion is very proper, I dare say, and— Imt I was going to tell 

 you some time back I bought a young collie from a Scotch 

 breeder and exhibitor who was highly respected at that j 

 period. He showed me how to trim tiim for exhibition .- it | 

 consisted in pulling out hairs from his head, ears, hocks, etc. 

 Now at Norwich a dreadful fuss was made about this Angus 1 

 Craig because the same operation had been jjerf ormed with i 

 a pair of scissors, whieh, after all, said some, mu.st have been ; 

 less painful for the dog than plucking. What is the dif- j 

 ference — what is an exhibitor to do ? I like my dog very 

 much, and 1 like winning prizes, but it seems I can't ac- 

 complish the latter and indulge in gentle treatment at the 

 same time. My neighbors always kno\v when my dog is 

 going to a show. 



The ten guinea special presented by H. R. H. the Prince 

 of Wales at NorvA-ich was given under original conditions. 

 It was to be awarded to the exhibitor who obtained the 

 greatest number of points, which were counted in this way: 

 First prize 9 points, second prize 6 points, third prize 4 points, 

 vhc. 3 points, he. 2 points, c. 1 point. 



The highest was obtained bv Mr. Walker of Dewsbury. 

 He had twentv-three entries. The Norwich classes would 

 have filled still more poorly but for the glamor that hung 

 round the royal cup. 



I forgot in speaking of the Aquarium .show to mention the 

 first appearance of the brightest star in the collie firma- 

 ment. Some twelve months ago. Sir John Gilpin Pirie, as 

 his friends (and in the doggy world there are many well 

 affected to him for his plain unvarnished integrity and 

 sound character) please to term him in good-natured allusion 

 to his equestrian feats, claimed at the Birmingham show a 

 magnificent black and tan collie bitch named Matchless, by 

 Rutland out of Bex;k, for £1001 Soon after the pup sickened 

 for distemper, and day by day the hasty bargain assumed a 

 gruesome aspect. She pulled through with her life, hut as 



