Jan. 28, 1892.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



83 



SPANIELS USED FOR FIELD SPORTS, 



{Continued f rom Page i£] 



THE CLTJMBEE SPASTEL. 



TN speaking of this variety, there is a danger of trespassiug 

 X upon a preserve, wh ich courtesy may induce one to ac- 

 cord to a writer who has made so admirable a champion of 

 the breed in America. I refer to Mr. F. H. F. Mercer. We may 

 agree to differ on the matter of the comparative merits of 

 the different varieties of the spaDiel family for varied field 

 purposes, but there are points, and especially the one relat- 

 ing to traditional history, where it would be unwise to join 

 issue, and oue may be excused for objecting to its being said 

 of "Stonehenge" that he "most unjustly maligns the 

 breed." 



The name of the residence of the Duke of Newcastle- 

 Clumber House— has become inseparably connected with 

 these dogs. His Grace of some two hundred years since, ob- 

 tained some dogs from the kennel of the Due de Noailles, in 

 France, which were kept in the family and religiously 

 guarded until about sixty years ago. They were used almost 

 solely for pheasant shooting, and were generally termed 

 pheasant dogs, until, in a later decade, to distinguish them 

 from dogs something alike in appearance, they were termed 

 Clumbers. They were supposed to have been the result of a 

 cross between the smaller Spanish sportiug dog— the true 

 spaniel — and the French basset hound. This theory is amply 

 supported by their source, color, and inclination to dwell on 

 scent, like the basset, and unlike the other kinds of spaniels; 

 their ruuning mute is also contrary to other spaniels, or 

 when excited their baying is more like the hound, rather 

 than the barking or babbling of the spaniel. 



The Clumber type and character are also very dis- 

 tinctive, and unlike the different branches of the spatiiel 

 family, there is also much variety in shape 

 and conformation. Such impressions as 

 these, given to old sportsmen, and men de- 

 voted to the dog, when this variety was first 

 brought in competition with others, some 

 fifty years ago, in England, should have con- 

 siderable weight in deciding their antiquity, 

 and as the specimens of to-day are generally 

 of this descent, it is folly to try to revert 

 to dogs, or writings of an earlier date, in 

 order to be able to claim a different origin 

 for Clumbers. 



As to there being any dogs of a similar 

 style in England when the Duke imported 

 his, will ever remain an uncertainty. The 

 Norfolk spaniel was perhaps the 'nearest 

 approach, and they had been discarded, or 

 merged into other strains with more keen- 

 ness, hardihood and intelligence. Ere the 

 advent of the Clumber, other sporting dogs 

 were in more general use, and spaniels were 

 beiug very much neglected. Some century 

 and a half later there was an attempt made 

 to save them from extinction, and it was 

 then found that Lord Mauver, Sir Georere 

 Palmer, Mr. Besset, Mr. Yateman, Mr. Fol- 

 . jatube, Mr. R. S. Holford and Mr. Tryden 

 had kennels of what were then called 

 Clumbers, as well as the Duke of New- 

 castle. 



There was much diversity of type, and 

 after a time it was generally admitted that 

 the Duke's dogs were more uniform and 

 handsome, but this by no means implied 

 that they were equal to the others in the 

 field, and many sportsmen who preferred 

 utility to beauty quickly made up their 

 minds that these "new-fangled basset 

 spaniels" were not to be compared with 

 the "springers" for general work. They 

 argued that the fire and lowness, essential 

 points for coppice and thick brush work, 

 were lacking, that their weight and their 

 running mute were against them for marshy 

 land, so that about the only purpose they 

 were good for was pheasant shooting, and 

 they were generally called "pheasant dogs." 

 In this sphere they had to compete with 

 setters and pointers, and this explains why 

 they have never become popular with sports- 

 men whose first thought is utility. Still the 

 Clumber is a very handsome dog', he is very 

 companionable, and generally acknowledges 

 but one master, besides having a solemn, 

 dignified air which has attractions to those who do not look 

 to utility alone. 



The earliest importation of dogs of this variety to America 

 were made by Mr. Jonathan Thorn, a Pennsylvania sports- 

 man, who had a dog named Trimbush, probably bred by 

 Mr. R. S. Horford, before mentioned. Mr. Jesse Sherwood, 

 of Ohio, then secured Duke. Major Venables brought some 

 of the Yateman stock over when his regiment came to 

 Canada. Dr. F. C. Blunkett, of Lowell, Mass.. also im- 

 ported some specimens, but sufficient interest could not be 

 aroused to induce any one to maintain a kennel until Mr. F. 

 H. F. Mercer, of Ottawa, secured some of the produce of 

 Ben (a dog imported by ex-Surveyor General Russell, from 

 the Clumber House stock) and the produce of others brought 

 over by Captain Todd. 



The litter was not remarkable for type, nor were they of 

 any surpassing excellence in any other respect, and yet the 

 title of champion which preceded, and the long list of prizes 

 which succeeded the names of Newcastle, Tyne. Johnny and 

 Drake, give one a contrary impression. 



Somewhat recent importations by Mr. H. B. D. Bruce and 

 Mr. T. C. Bate, both of Ottawa and Mr. A. L. Weston, of 

 Denver, have materially changed the views of some judges 

 of spaniels who had hitherto considered the American 

 specimens the acme. Boss III., Bromine and Lass o' Beauty 

 are amoag the recent importations, and as Snow has also 

 come over for Mr. F. H. F. Mercer's kennel, there is now 

 really an excellent quartette of these handsome dogs in 

 America. 



Although there is a great difference in the type of these 

 four dogs, it must be remembered that there is a marked 

 diversity in this respect, in the same litter, and the differ- 

 ence, in both type and character, between the sexes, is 

 greater than is usual in other dogs, and is usually a char- 

 acteristic of the breed. 



by various poisons produced within the animal, the result 

 of disease caused by germs or otherwise. 



It is manifest that if there is much alteration in the 

 normal temperature this must imply a serious disturbance 

 of fundamental vital processes, hence practically it is of the 

 highest moment that the temperature be taken when any 

 disease of an acute character is suspected. The temperature 

 is a iar surer guide than the pulse in most diseases, and it 

 requires much less skill and experience to read its indica- 

 tions. But in this as in all other cases it is of great impor- 

 tance that the natural or normal temperature be known. 



Btriog able to find little on this subject in works on the 

 dog or veterinary medicine in general, I undertook the in- 

 vestigation of the subject and give here some of the results. 

 The following tabular statement (which also appears in my 

 "The Dog in Health and in Disease," just published) gives 

 the range of temperature for the twenty-four hours: 



GREYHOUND DOG. 



(Two Years CM.) 



Temp, in 



Hours. degrpps F. 



10:00 A. M 102.0 



12:00 M 102.2 



2:00 P. M 102.4 



5:30 P. M 101 7 



8:15 P. M 101.5 



10:30 P. M 10L.5 



12:00 P. M 101.4 



2:00 A. M 101.4 



4:00 a. M 100.4 



6:00 A.M 100,4 



7:43 A. M 100,6 



GOHDON SETTER BITCH. 



(About the same age.) 



Temp, in 



Hour. degrees F. 



10:00 A. M 101.4 



12:00 M 102.2 



2:00 P.M 101 7 



5:30 P.M 101.9 



8:15 P. M 101.6 



10:30 P.M 101.6 



12:00 P.M 101.2 



2:00 A. M 100.8 



4:00 A. M 100.7 



6:00 A.M 100.8 



7:40 A. M 100.5 



The temperature was taken in the rectum in each instance 

 for ten minutes'. As my experiments were intended to be 

 scientifically accurate fused a self-registering Hicks ther- 

 mometer with a Kew certificate testifying that the instru- 



of these puppies reached 102 degrees, or higher, four times 

 in twelve hours. 



The thermometer has saved me as a breeder alone many 

 hours of anxiety and enabled me to meet emergencies 

 promptly in my kennel that might possibly but for this 

 have gone on to a fatal issue. 



I recommend all who have large kennels, at all events, to 

 keep a first class thermometer on hand and use it whenever 

 a dog seems really seriously out of sorts. If the instrument 

 shows a temperature of over 104 degrees in eveu a puppy, 

 suspicions of serious trouble should be aroused, and if this 

 elevation is maintained hour after hour prompt treatment 

 should be resorted to. The thermometer will also often 

 enable a, breeder to ascertain whether it is necessary to 

 seek medical assistance, and, if the expert is distant, to 

 obviate the necessity of frequent visits on his p&r$ by re- 

 porting the temperature and other symptoms by mail. 



Wesley Mills, M.'D., D.V.S. 



LORD CLOVER'S PEDIGREE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I observe that Dr. Cryer now charges me directly with 

 "sending out pedigrees to the public that cannot be sus- 

 tained." Kindly permit me to state that I have nevpr sent 

 out a pedigree of any kind whatever to the public. I have 

 never used a Lord Clover stud card at all. I have never 

 advertised the dog's services. I have never as much as sent 

 out a circular to the public on which his breeding was 

 printed. I have never projected his pedigree in type in any 

 way, shape, form or manner outside of this correspondence, 

 nor have I used any stud cards formulated by former owners 

 oftheanimal. It is a matter of regret that Dr. Cryer should 

 descend to tactics of this kind." I asked nothing but the 

 barest justice and simplest act of courtesy 

 at his hands. It is a pitiable reflection on 

 the amiable character of the breed with 

 which the doctor is associated that this 

 courtesy was denied me. As it is I do not 

 care to strike a man who is on his knees. 

 In accepting Hugh Dalziel's enunciation of 

 Lord Clover's pedigree be finally admits all 

 that was asked of him. So far as the show 

 record of Lord Clover and his ancestors is 

 concerned I am perfectly willing to concede 

 that I know little and care less about it. 

 Dr. Cryer was not asked to certify to show 

 ring credentials, nor did the term champion 

 appear in any of my letters to him. It was 

 a question of blood, not blue ribbons, and 

 the doctor blundered in branding as spuri- 

 ous that which the English breeders assured 

 me was genuine. I am not responsible for 

 the errors made by former owners of the 

 dog, and respectfully decline to act as scape- 

 goat at the behest of any one. I had nob as 

 much as seen Dr. Cryer's book when I was 

 deluged with requests to correct its errors 

 in self-defense. There is nothing particu- 

 larly visionary about these letters, and I 

 can name well known dog owners who 

 would not tolerate half the annoyance to 

 which I was subjected while granting Dr. 

 Cryer a reasonable opportunity to remedy 

 his mistake without injury to any one or 

 humiliation' to himself. 



In conclusion allow me to define the 

 principle for which I contend through all 

 this "fuss and feathers." In my judgment 

 no man has the right to publish in book 

 form or otherwise anything that by exagger- 

 ation or "omission" tends to injure his 

 neighbor's stock or reputation without first 

 giving that neighbor a fair chance to cor- 

 rect whatever mistakes he may have made. 

 Thanking you for unlimited courtesies, 

 Thos. I. Ballantine. 



FRIAR BOB. 



.WINNING CLUMBER TEAM AT BIRMINGHAM, 

 Owned by ,Tas. Thorp.Hinks, England. 



ment was strictly accurate. Such a oue costs three dollars, 

 but for ordinary work a good instrument can be secured at 

 a lower price; nevertheless it does not pay to buy a cheap 

 thermometer. 



As the temperature is reliable only when taken in the 

 rectum, it is well to use all precautions to insert the instru- 

 ment carefully, first covering the end with a little vaseline, 

 oil or lard. It should be introduced about three inches and 

 held steadily in place for fully eight minutes, always being 

 careful to see that the mercury is shaken down to read as 

 low as 99 degrees. Any first-class druggist can furnish the 

 proper instrument and explain how to use it. 

 Returning to the table given above, it will be seen that: 

 1. There is a "temperature curve" or variation for the 

 twenty-four hours, i. c, there is a period of maximum and 

 minimum temperature. 2. This varies for each individual 

 dog, though to a slight degree. 3. These periods of great- 

 est and least temperature do not occur for each individual 

 at exactly the same time, even in 'the ease of dogs of about 

 the same age and kept under precisely the same conditions. 

 This is still more clearly seen in the table below for the 

 puppies of the same litter. 4. The minimum for the adult 

 dog does not fall to 100deg.; the maximum may r^ach 

 nearly 102>^deg. So there may be a variation of about 2deg. 

 in the twenty-four hours. 



From this it follows that we must not conclude that a dog 

 has an elevated temperature unless it exceeds lOSJ-^deg., 

 provided his normal temperature is not known to be lower. 

 It might be objected that I am drawing conclusions from a 

 single table based on the temperature curve of two dogs, but 

 I have numerous other tables which correspond with the 

 above and warrant the general conclusions drawn. 



I give as an additional example the consecutive tempera- 

 tures in one day for a Great Dane bitch, eight months old. 

 Hours. Deg. F. Hours. Deg. F. 



THE TEMPERATURE OF THE DOG. 

 r PHE books are as silent on this subject as on the peculiar- 

 ly ities of the pulse; and I have known a practitioner of 

 veterinary medicine conclude that a certain specimen was 

 suffering from pneumonia, basing his conclusion ou the 

 temperature largely, which temperature was only slightly 

 over 102 degrees Fahrenheit. 



Our knowledge of the subject of animal heat has of late 

 btfen greatly advanced. It seems now to be pretty clear that 

 the vital processes on which the heat of the blood and tis- 

 sues depend are under the influence of the nervous system. 

 In other words, they are heat producing and heat regulating 

 nervous mechanisms, which are in part at least situated in 

 the brain. 



Fever may arise when these different nerve centers or col- 

 lections of cells do not work in harmony. They are very 

 apt to be disordered by the shock of a sudden change of ex- 

 ternal temperature, commonly termed "catching cold," and 



8:30 A. M ...102.8 



10.00 A. M 101.9 



2:00 P. M 101.3 



4:15 P. M 101.5 



6:15 P. M 101.7 



8:00 P. M 101.1 



10.00 P. M 100 5 



It will be seeu that in this case the. temperature in one in- 

 stance i-eached almost 103 deg. 



The temperature in puppies is rather higher and decid- 

 edly more variable than in grown dogs. The following 

 table for two English setter puppies of the same litter, nine 

 months old, illustrates this less than it does the variations 

 for the same breed and individual kept under precisely the 

 same conditions: 



Temp, in 



Hour. degrees F. 



8:30 A.M 102.2 



1 1:00 A, M 102.6 



2:00 P.M 102.7 



5:00 P. M 101.7 



7:00 P. M 101.9 



9:00 P. M 102.0 



Temp, in 



Hour- degrees F. 



8:30 A.M 102 5 



11:00 A. M 102.4 



2:00 P. M 102.5 



5:00 P.M 101.9 



7:00 P. M 101.9 



9:00 P.M .101.6 • 



It will be notiped that the temperature in the case of one 



DEPRECIATION. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Your special reporter says of Gloversville 

 show: "The great feature of the show was 

 the quality of the exhibits; in fact, quality 

 was better represented than at most of the 

 shows of the recent Canadian circuit." He 

 then mentions that this was chiefly owing 

 to the exhibits of certain kennels that 

 he names. As a matter of fact, all or nearly all these 

 kennels were represented on the Canadian circuit, and 

 iu many cases by better dogs than those they sent to Glov- 

 ersville. Several of the winners at the latter show were 

 beaten over and over again on the Canadian circuit, and 

 any one who knows our show dogs well and compares the 

 winners of the recent Canadian shows with those at Glovers- 

 ville, will be able to judge how erroneous is the statement 

 of your reporter. It is doubtful if there was a single show 

 on the recent. Canadian circuit that did not surpass Glov- 

 ersville both in numbers and quality; while it is a matter 

 susceptible of demonstration that the general average of the 

 Canadian shows, both in quality and numbers, was much 

 in advance of that little show out of which your reporter 

 tries to make so much. 



Excepting the largest shows in the United States, those of 

 the last Canadian circuit will bear favorable comparison 

 with any on the continent. Your repot ter is welcome to 

 his own opinions as to the quality at Gloversville; but when 

 he makes comparisons he should stick to the truth, and 

 avoid gratuitous depreciation. 



ViceJ?residext C. K. C. 



FIELD TRIALS AND FIELD WORK. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have read with great interest the communications in the 

 various weekly journals concerning the true uses of field 

 trials, most of the late comments being suggested by the 

 queer award to Antonio over Maid of Kent. Nominally, 

 the field trials are supposed to call out and carry to perfec- 

 tion the qualities of the dog which are of the greatest use 

 and conduce most to the pleasure of his master when hunt- 

 ing. But verily, if the drift of events, at High Point es- 

 pecially, afford any indication, the tendency is more and 

 more to cultivate speed and a disposition to stay out of: 

 sight for an hour or two, and to ignore the old-tashioned 

 attributes of a good dog— namely, a good nose and ability 

 to find and retrieve game. 



Clearly, we must drop our setters and pointers and take 

 to greyhounds. Seriously, though, there is no sense in the 

 contention that the work at our field trials should be so 

 different from the work of the same dog out for a day of sport 

 with his master. That there is a vast difference we all 

 know; but, if field trials are ever to become generally in 

 favor it is necessary to make them resemble something' like 

 a day's sport in the field which one would like where game 

 is plenty. Few of us are rich enough to have two dogs 

 educated, one for field trials and another for one's own field 

 sport. 



The field trials are becoming a farce if intended to show 

 the field qualities which make a dog valuable tor nose and 

 bird-finding qualities, If not intended for that why not, 

 call them races, 1VJ A, wHATTATf, 



