1? 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 7, 1893. 



SPANIELS USED FOR FIELD SPORTS. 



[Concluded from Page ■316.'] 



THE introduction of field spaniels into America seems to 

 have been done very promiscuously until Mr. E. M. 

 Oldham got some from Mr. Jacobs' kennel, and was stinm- 

 lated to greater enterprise by the writer bringing over Ins 

 kennel of Sussex and blacks in 1888, which included Riid 

 ford Negress, Negro, Brid ford Ruby, Bridford Gladys, Beau 

 President and Lady, which made up the strongest kennel 0< 

 field spaniels ever brought to this couutry, and as nearly all 

 of these bave since become American champions of record, 

 it is easy to estimate the value of such an importation to 

 the breed in America. When Blackie II., imported by Mr. 

 Cummings, Beatrice, imported by Mr. Watson, and similar 

 specimens, were the kind of spaniels Americans had been 

 brought to consider the only correct type, the many singular 

 criticisms and more singular awards by the recognized 

 judges in connection with this breed maybe overlooked. 

 Following this the writer introduced Mr. Geo. W. Folsom's 

 Baron to the American spaniel world, and baviug been pre 

 ceded by the dogs referred to and others which Mr. E. M. 

 Oldham sent for, his merit was not subject to such tardy 

 recognition, and after an unbeaten record' for 1889, in which 

 were two wins of the Spaniel Club's challenge cups, he 

 had to take second place in the cup competition to a dog o' 

 the Beverley strain named Negus, imported by Mr.R.owland 

 P. Keasbey, and also to Lady,which was once in the writer's 

 team. 



The effect of such singular awards by two of the recog- 

 nized judges was somewhat minimized by both of these dog* 

 being defeated by Baron ou several occasions, by unrecog- 

 nized as well as recognized judges, at some of theleadioa 

 shows. Having imported Lady and introduced Baron, and 

 both being now out of his hands, the writer feels that the 

 credit of three wins of the cup out of four is to some degree 

 his due, and that be can now refer to these dogs without a 

 suspicion of prejudice. Baron is undoubtedly one of the finest 

 black field spaniels that has been exhibited in recent years 

 in America. He is not inordinately long and low, but 'he is 

 sufficiently so to meet the standard, and the expectations of 

 any one whose ideas of spaniels are not so utterly modern 

 that the fact of field spaniels being intended for field sports 

 is forgotten, and a desire to pander to the craze for mon- 

 strosities is too much for his common sense. Baron is, 

 moreover, very active, a good size, and of true field type in 

 conformation. He lacks that fixedness of type which is 

 sometimes more clearly seen in dogs descended from those 

 of the Newton Abbott strain; but his head and expression 

 cannot detract much, because of his general excellence, and 

 as be comes from stock of the most approved order, bis 

 blood should be of great value to breeders who have the 

 stock referred to, which came to this country in recent 

 years. 



Lady is one of these, and having a somewhat more definite 

 type, although less strong in character and size, she is 

 worthy of a good position in the best company, and being a 

 Sussex, will not detract from her usefulness, for it will be 

 remembered that both the Newton Abbott and Bridford 

 kennels relied greatly on this for perfecting their strains, 

 and it is entirely safe for American breeders to tread in the 

 footprints of the two foremost breeders in England. 



Beverley Negus is the other winner of the cup; and in re- 

 ferring to this dog it is in the writer's mind that our aim 

 should be to benefit and improve, and he unhesitatingly 

 affirms that neither the importation of this dog nor the 

 awarding of the Spaniel Club's cup to him can serve either 

 purpose. Judges are not infallible, and are sometimes car- 

 ried away by a general uniformity, which may be wroug 

 when the standard or an ideal is in mind. Viewed in the 

 light of facts stated in this paper, the Beverley prefix should 

 awaken suspicion and make an intelligent breeder hesitate. 

 If Spurgin, Jacobs or Woolland had no use for the mixture 

 of cocker and field spaniel this dog embodies, then why 

 should good representatives of these strains be overlooked 

 in favor of a moderately good one of a strain which cannot 

 hold its ground in England. The breeders of America can- 

 not do better than start where those over the water left off. 

 if they do not they will always be liable to a "knock out" 

 by the importation of English cracks; and if the awarding 

 of the challenge cup is such an uncertain guide, some out- 

 side light is desirable. 



COCKERS. 



Having already incidentally referred to cocker spaniels, it 

 will only be necessary to say that at one time the Old Eng- 

 lish cocker was almost as rare" as the Sussex of Rosebili 

 strains, and from nearly the same cause. Dr. W. W- Boul- 

 ton once had some very good ones of this breed, his Poll, in 

 particular, being of the true type, but she was used in mak- 

 ing the Beverley strdn of field spaniels. Keno (E. 16.471) 

 was another dog with much of the right character, being 

 by Farrow's Obb (E. 10,452), who was by Fred out of Betty, 

 both being pretty true to type. Dr. Boulton found it neces- 

 sary to use Keno also for the benefit of the field spaniel, and 

 later on his successor, Mr. W. R. Bryden. was producing 

 both field and cocker spaniels from this sire, which were 

 exhibited at the same show; so, as we were compelled to dis- 

 miss this strain in speaking of the field spaniels, so must we 

 pass over this kennel in our search for cockers of the true 

 type. But, in passing, we should note that in spanieldom 

 across the water, at a Kennel Club show so recently as 1887, 

 two dogs by Keno got second and vhc. in field classes, and 

 another by this same dog took vhc. in cockers. In referring 

 to the importations and the breeding of this variety in 

 America, this must be kept in mind, and should be of con- 

 siderable interest to those who are truly devoted to the 

 maintenance of the correct type and of the characteristics 

 which were at one time so much valued. 



Mr. A. I. Boulton, Mr. F. S. Carew-Gibsnn and manv 

 others kept dogs of the old type, but to Mr. James Farrow 

 is due much of the honor of maintaining the breed in the 

 face of strong and persistant attempts to substitute a small 

 kind of spaniel, bred from a union of the true type with 

 field or Sussex spaniels. It has been asserted that the 

 cocker spaniel was known in America twenty years ago and 

 we bear that atone time Mr. Be?tor, and afterward Mr. Mc- 

 Koon, kept a variety of liver and white which were rele- 

 gated to the background on the Hoe brothers importing 

 Romeo and Juliet, and strengthened their "kennel by the 

 further importation of Witch, Fly and Pus3. These in turn 

 had to give place to later importations, but surely a mis- 

 take was made when the Beverley blood was introduced 

 through Beau and Blackie, which were imported by Mr. 

 Pitcher, and it is difficult to see how Mr. Cummings ex- 



Eected to help matters bv getting Brush II. over, for though 

 e had a slight dash of Poll's blood, it could scarcely make 

 him a cocker, and as Black Bess, imported by Dr. J. S. Niven, 

 was of the same stock, viz., one branch of the Beverley 

 strain before its union with Mr. Farrow's Obo, it seems 

 clear that there was a great deal of groping in the dark, 

 and that it was not until Mr. A.. W. Langdale was induced 

 to send over Chloe, after a visit to Farrow's Obo (E. 10,452), 

 that a fair start was made. Unfortunately, the produce of 

 this union was not kept clear of the previously imported 

 stock, and though the importation of Obo Jr. or rearing of 

 Obo II, and his excellent qualities in conjunction with Miss 

 O'oo II. might have secured a strain of cockers which could 

 not be surpassed, even in England, a great opportunity has 

 been missed, or used without due discrimination. Hence 

 come the varied types to be found in the cocker classes at 

 American shows, and the Uncertainty felt by breeders re- 

 garding the proper type to select. 



American spaniel breeders being men of intelligence ns 

 well as independence, it may be inferred that there has not 



been an attempt to manufacture a different kind of cocker 

 with a view to varying the standard to meet the generally 

 prevailing type, and by adding American to the cocker, 

 claim it as an American production, after the ifashion of 

 those interested in other kinds of dogs. Nor yet can it be 

 supposed that the judges have been compelled to bow to 

 outside influence therefore it is clear that information or 

 sufficient material to meet the demand for these charming 

 little dogs has been lacking. : 



< me of the chief reasms for the resuscitation of the Eng- 

 lish Club was the desire to save the old English cocker from 

 extinction; and when thisis considered in conjuction with 

 the knowledge of those who were then the patrons of the 

 breed it should make any alteration of the standard a very 

 serious matter, requiring the s;u:tion of the club members 



ME. FARROW's. FRED. 



or a majority of those interested, and such a duty should 

 not be left to a few, who may or may not have the necessary 

 kuowledge and interest in each of the varieties they are ex- 

 pected to deal with. 



Among those who have done the best they could to bieed 

 stock resembling the old English cocker,Mr. J. Otis Fellows 

 (familiarly known as Uncle Dick) is entitled to priority, 

 because he as far back as 1861 had a true red Welsh cocbeV, 

 a breed that is almost extinct. This probably accounts lor 

 there being many very cocker-like specimen's of this color 

 even to-day, which seems to be a mystery to those who are 

 supposed to be well posted. 



Mr. .1. P. Willey is perhaps the chief breeder who has fol- 

 lowed somewhat on the s.itne lines witu the Oho sti sin. 



MR. FARROW'S LILY OBO. 



Blacks seem to be his fashion, but as no great degree of con- 

 sistency is insured at; the different shows, his persistent 

 efforts are liable to be as little valued as were those of Mr. 

 Fellows, and it is nearly time that "What is a cocker:'" 

 should be decided, or the experienced will ask an equally 

 important question of those with whom the destiny of this 

 breed seems to rest, and it will be, "What of the future?" 



Are we to accept from England such dogs as Newton 

 Abbot Lady as true cockers, she is said to have been repre- 

 sented as such, and warranted to never weigh over 251bs.. 

 yet, did she not weigh 351 bs. on arrival, and more era she 

 became acclimatized, and if the remark is true, "she never 

 kuew but just enough to eat, and I believe all the Jacobs 

 strain is the same way," apart from other considerations, 

 will such dogs do any breed a service, and when the pedigree 

 is analyzed what do we find? 



It will be as well to remark that any indication of the 

 mixture of the King Charles, or other pet spaniels, is very 

 objectionable, although they were undoubtedly evolved from 

 this variety, and are sometimes equal to the cockers of our 

 day in hunting instinct. 



GREAT DANES. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The articles that have appeared of late in regard to the 

 great Dane have prompted me to ask for information about 

 this comparatively uukuown breed of dogs. I have seen 

 but few of them, but they were to me the most attractive in 

 appearance of auy of the large dogs. Now, is this German 

 mastiff, Ulmer, or whatever his right name is, a wolf that 

 must be kept chained and muzzled to prevent his eating up 

 babies and children and from attacking bis master, or is he 

 like most dogs, a good companion and friend when well 

 treated and properly trained? What is his mission in life - ? 

 Is he simply a watch dog like the English mastiff, or has he 

 any of the tracking qualities of the hounds? 



I would like to have Dr. Nicolai or some one of your cor- 

 respondents or advertisers tell in the columns ot Forest 

 and Stream what the peculiarities of the breed are; whether 

 they are even tempered or treacherous; in what way, if auy, 

 their dispositions differ from those of the English mastiff, 

 St. Bernard and Newfoundland, and whether they make 

 good watchdogs and are intelligent. I think many* besides 

 myself would be glad to learn about these splendid looking 

 animals. Stewart. 



Troy, N. Y., Dec. 26} 



OLD CHAMPION MAC IS DEAD. — Eau Claire, Wis.— 

 Editor Forest and Stream: Perhaps it may be of interest 

 r.o some of the readers of Forest and Stream to know that 

 my deerhound champion Mac— that grand old veteran that so 

 many have known in former years as Dr. Vau Hummell's 

 crack dog— is dead. He died Dsc. 19, beloved by all the chil- 

 dren in the neighborhood and hated by no one, unless per- 

 haps by the sneaking fellow who compounded his last dose 

 of poison. If there is a "n&ppv hunting ground," for dogs, 

 he surely has gone there — W.u." J, Stare. 



THE ANTONIO— MAID OF KENT HEAT. 



Editor Forest and St/ream: 



I was much interested in Mr. Tracy's account of this heat, 

 in your last issue, but as a fact is mentioned which (he 

 states) has a direct bearing on the result of the race, and 

 that fact not being a reality at all, it becomes my duty to 

 correct it, (being the handler of Maid of Kent). There is 

 undoubtedly no question as to the competence of Mr. Penry; 

 but I will venture to say he never gave any report to the 

 iudgfp. in which he stated that I shot, and Maid retrieved 

 no less than twelve birds in the bye heat. As a matter of 

 fact, only three birds were killed in the four hours, out of 

 eight coveys pointed ; two by myself which Maid retrieved 

 and one by Mr. Penry, which he retrieved personally. To 

 prove this I will leave it to any one who may be interested, 

 to call on this same Mr. Penry and the assistant steward^ 

 who also accompanied us, 



That evening 1 said, in joke, to Mr. Tracy that we had 

 done a good afternoon's work and killed twelve birds, know- 

 ing any remarks I (the handler) might make should have no 

 bearing whatever on the race. The result of this mistaken 

 fact turned out to be very unfavorable and unjust for Maid, 

 and does not at all offset the advantages Antonio bad al- 

 ready obtained over her, and what is more the gap is still 

 widened when we consider that Antonio had four davsto 

 run his three heats in and Maid only three. Again, I fail 

 to perceive how a dog can rest himself if he retrieves in a 

 quick and prompt manner. In the summing up of the bird 

 work I notice Mr. Tracy makes no mention of the fact that 

 Antonio had no retrieve to his credit, whereas Maid had 

 several; and whatis more, the rules require a dog to retrieve, 

 iu spite of which this accomplishment turned out to be to 

 tier disadvantage all through this beat. Antonio is credited 

 with only one mrrs single, which score would undoubtedly 

 have been eons'derably reversed if Maid had not devoted 

 time to retrirviog. Her backing qualities were ■severely 

 tested on more than one occasion by Antonio's frequent 

 hesitancy on game aud the character of her work all through 

 proved that she did not flush purposely or go to her birds 

 heedlessly, and no man knows positively whether the cur- 

 rents of air are blowing favorable or not for a dog to scent 

 his game. If Antonio finished strong and ranging well, 

 Mr. Tracy must admit Maid finished much stronger and 

 was ranging outside of the dog up to the time she was lost 

 on the rabbit, She kept " going it " in view of the judges 

 the whole time, whereas Antonio might have been '" rest- 

 ing "' on point, the half hour he was absent, he always be- 

 ing found on game. Mr. Tracy speaks of Antonio as hav- 

 ing one plainly apparent fault and that one with the fact of 

 his noticing larks are very bid for an aged dog, but against 

 this he can find no one individual fault with Maid, except 

 that " she points rabbits." I would like to ask any man 

 who follows a dog, if this is any demerit, provided he does 

 not chase when flushed. In my opinion a dog with only 

 that fault is as near perfection as they ever get: The object 

 tit this letter is simply to give Maid her dues and not at all 

 intended to throw auy discredit on Antonio, as I consider 

 bim one of the best dogs I ever saw, and certainly the 

 hardest I ever tried to beat. C. E. BUCKLE. 



CHAltLOITESVILT.E, Va. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I notice that in your last issue Mr. J. M. Tracy, among 

 other things, mentions the attack made by your reporter 

 upon Mr. Avent as one of the many incidents of the Antonio 

 —Maid of Kent heat. And as I personally know all the 

 circumstances incidental to this, I give them as they oc- 

 curred. Mr. Tracy, in this, as in many other matters con- 

 cerning the heat, got his information second-hand, except 

 as to the closing part of it. I am led to this explanation 

 from the fact that your reporter passes the matter by in a 

 manner that fails to do himself justice. 



The facts are these : Mr. Averit had gotten behind in his 

 attempt to get Autonio in hand just as he was leaving a 

 corn-field, the judges and reporters baviug gone into the 

 strip of pines and grass, beyond which was another corn 

 pitch. Maid of Kent and her handler were ahead, the 

 judges next, followed by the reporters who were all in their 

 proper places behind the judges. Major Taylor was the 

 first reporter that Mr. Avent passed, and Mr. Avent re- 

 marked to him, "I wish you would let the handlers get 

 ahe id." Major Taylor answered, " Your proper course is to 

 apply to the judges and ask them to let you catch up." Mr. 

 Lacy was a short distance ahead, and perhap?, riding in a 

 path, if there was one ; at any rate this made no difference, 

 as to one's getting by, the ground was op^n enough to per- 

 mit three or four to ride abreast. Mr. Avent had pulled up 

 a cornstalk with a lot of dirt in the roots and without say- 

 ing anything, with a swing struck Mr. Lacy between 

 shoulder and neck, the dirt, going down his neck and cover- 

 ing his camera, which occasioned bim a good deal of trouble. 

 This was the first intimation that Mr. Lacy had of Avent's 

 presence behind him, and necessarily he was much incensed 

 by the attack. Mr. Avent's manner was not such as to in- 

 dicate that he inteuded to hurt him, and I think was sorry 

 to think that he had. Mr. Lacy, as before stated, was in 

 his proper place, behind the judges, and so far that Mr, 

 Tracy did not know of the incident until told of it after- 

 ward. As I have said, only a hundred yards or so away 

 was another corn-field. Mr. Lacy, having stated he would 

 get even with Mr. Avent, took advantage of his stop in the 

 corn-field to get some burrs out of Antonio, and succeeded 

 iu getting a similar cornstalk with dirt attached and struck 

 Avent as stated by Mr. Tracy, as he was finishing his work. 

 Mr Avent took the matter in good part, which was much 

 to his credit, and' laughingly said, "I gu»ss we are even 

 now." The whole time, from the time Mr. Lacy struck 

 Avent until the start afterward, did not exceed one minute. 

 And the attributing of the bevy point of Maid of Kent to 

 this incident is all bosh, as Maid was covering the ground 

 when she made the point before Avent had finished taking 

 off the burrs. Mr. Tracy seemed much incensed for the mo- 

 m°nt until the matter was explained to him. 



1 think he gives undue significance to the incident as af- 

 fecting the heat iu any manner, but I suppose all these 

 matters are mentioned in order to explain how Autonio 

 won the heat. J. 



THE WESTMINSTER JUDGES. 



VEW YORK, Jan. 4,— Editor Forest and Stream: ln- 

 closed please find list of judges for the coming West 

 minster Kennel Club show: 



St Bernards and Newfoundlands— Miss A. H. Whitney, 

 Lancaster, Mass. 



Mastiffs, great Danes, bloodhounds, Russian wolfhounds, 

 deerhounds, greyhounds, English foxhounds, poodles, bull- 

 dogs, all terriers, daebshunde, toy spaniels, Italian grey- 

 hounds and pugs— Geo. Raper, England. 



Pointers, English setters, American foxhounds and Ches- 

 apeake Bay dogs— J. M. Tracy, New York, 



Irish setters— Wm, Tallman, New York. 



Gordon setters— H. Clay Gover. New York. 



Field, cocker, Clumber and Irish water spaniels— A. C. 

 Wilmerding, New York. 



Collies— A. D. Lewis, Hempstead. L. I. 



Beagles and bassett hounds, R. F. Mayhew, New York. 



Miscellaneous— Messrs. Raper and Mayhew. 



H. Clay Glover, Veterinarian. J AS. Mortimer, Supt. 



All communications must reach us by Tuesday 

 of the week they are to be published: and should 

 be sent as much earlier as may be convenient. 



