Am 20, 1803.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



169 



of the American Field Trial Club in declaring its trials oflE 

 for this year, a loss which is due to the lack of support of 

 the aforesaid. It cannot justly be said that any one is to 

 blame in the matter, but it can justly be said that field trial 

 men are neglecting their own interests when thev neglect 

 such opportunities as those offered by the American Field 

 Trials Club. The membership is made up of enthusiastic 

 sportsmen. There was no desire to make the trials a 

 money-making affair. A keen love of sport was the impel- 

 ling motive. Their earnest efforts should have met better 

 appreciation. It is not right that, in addition to their 

 personal efforts, they should be called on to pay a club 

 deficit out of their pockets. Let us earnestly hope that they 

 have but suspended their interest for this 'year only. It is 

 by such organizations and such membership that field trial 

 interests have true and good advancement. 



The following interesting news item was received from 

 Mr. Thos. Johnson, Winnipeg, Man. He says: "We have 

 always had to suffer delay in starting trials on Monday. We 

 shall have the draw on Monday evening, and the first brace 

 must go down at 7 A. M., sharp. There is quite a lot of dogs 

 in training here. Tom Sheldon is at La Salle with a dozen 

 including King of Manitoba, bought by Manitoba's dry 

 goods king, K. J. Whittaker Speanly, for a nomination in 

 these trials. Tom Hallam is at Dominion City with a string 

 of over a dozen owned by T. G. Davev; J. Spracklin is also 

 at Dominion City with eight owned by W. B. Wells and 

 four by Eddy D. Armstrong, of Detroit, which includes the 

 International Derby winner. J. M. Avent is at Manitou 

 with about sixteen. Sefton Hallam is at Union Point with a 

 Heywood-Lonsdale's dogs which arrived here last week from 

 England; L. W. Smith, of Morrison, 111., with eight, is 

 located about ten miles from Winnipeg. W. Pickering is at 

 his old stamping grounds, near La Salle, with quite a 

 number. Besides the above professional trainers there must 

 be at least a hundred dogs undergoing preparation by 

 amateurs. Capt. McMurdo is expected here in a day or two 

 and will locate at Union Point. Mr. Tway and the three 

 Richards brothers are also expected, so with such an array 

 it would be hard to pick the winner." B. Waters. 



909 SECUHmr BuiiiDiNG. Chicago. 



The Fox-Terrier. 



ET THE TYKE. 



_ Few breeds of dogs have grown so rapidly in public estima- 

 tion as fox-terriers. Twenty-five years since a dog of this breed 

 was only known as an adjunct to a pack of hounds, and at 

 the present time there is no more fashionable breed. It is a 

 most difficult thing to ti-ace the precise origin of the fox-ter- 

 rier, but there can be very little doubt that they .sprang 

 originally from the old English terrier, in which the black 

 and tan predominated. Many people will say that the modern 

 fox-terrier is a manufactured article; now, to a certain extent 

 this is true, and that many of the show, aye, and even of the 

 big prize winners, have a stain in their pedigree, is a fact 

 greatly to be regretted. However, these happily are the ex- 

 ceptions which prove the rule, and in fox-teniers, as in every 

 other animal, man not excepted, the bar sinister is always 

 observable and the old adage that "breeding will tell" is veri- 

 fied again and again. Many examples of this could be proved, 

 but if I mention Trap, Buffer and Rattler I think that will 

 suffice. 



Trap's pedigree was shrouded in mystery, but the belief 

 was that he was descended from a black and tan, and most 

 assuredly many of his puppies bore this theory out, as his 



Euppies were all colors. Buffer's stock were characterized 

 y the beagle ear, %vhich descended to the third and fourth 

 generation, and as for Battler, my candid opinion is that no 

 one (not even Bill Hulse or Jack Terry, to say nothing of the 

 astute "Garge" of Sheffield) actually knew how he was bred, 

 no dog had a better chance than he had, but he was a total 

 failure, Mr. J. S Shepherd's Young Rattler, out of old Lill, 

 being the best he ever got. 



Almost the first mention of the terrier is in Dr. Keys' book, 

 in which he describes "Terrarii as small dogs used for chas- 

 ing the leper kind of vermin, and pursuing them under- 

 ground." Mr. H. G. Gibson (one of the best judges of fox- 

 terriers that ever walketdj has often told the writer that he 

 remembered quite as good-looking fox-terriers thirty years 

 ago as exist now, and I well remember a couple of bitches 

 the late Capt. Percy Williams gave my father twenty-five 

 years ago, that could have held their own with the best at 

 the present day. Fury and Wasp, as these two were named, 

 were white with black ticks on theii- ears, which were per- 

 fect, beautiful legs and feet, and really good coats, and as 

 game as pebbles, as they would sooner fight than eat any 

 day. 



The first era in the history of show fox-terriers was the 

 old Jock era, in which may be included Old Tartar, Trap 

 Grove Nettle, Hornet, Grove Trimmer, Gadfly, Ruby, etc. 

 Much might be said for and against many of those men- 

 tioned, and although they might not be up to the present 

 show standard, they were, vnth few exceptions, thorough 

 workmen. Now, it is a well-known fact that old Jock was 

 not a really game dog, and it was averred that when owned 

 and exhibited by the Hon. Thomas Fitzwilliam he used to 

 be allowed to have a rough up with Old Tartar, you could 

 hardly say a fight, 



"If that's a fight indeed. 

 Where you fight on and I stand still and bleed," 



to give the appearance of having been at work; this, of 

 course, may be taken with a large pinch of salt, though my 

 authority was very good. Tartar was a white dog, with a 

 black spot or two on his head, and was bred by Mr. Domville 

 Poole, a well-known hunting man, in Cheshire, and a rare 

 good man with hounds, he was one of the sort immortalized 

 in Edgerton Warburton's hunting songs, as a man 

 "To whom naught comes amiss, 

 One horse or another, one country or this, 

 Spites bad falls and bad horses, undauntedly still 

 Bides up to the motto, be with them I will." 



Mr, Poole sold Tartar to Stephenson, of Chester, and he 

 was after this owned by Mr. Fred. Sale, of Derby, Mr. Woot- 

 ton of Mapperley, the Hon, Thos. Fitzwilliam (for whom he 

 begot Tyke) and Mr. Cropper. Tartar was as game a dog as 

 ever went to ground, in fact, he was too game, as he would 

 sooner murder a fox than bolt him, and he was very chary of 

 throwing his tongue. Tartai-'s best son was undoubtedly 

 Tyke, who, however, showed the bull-terrier cross unmistak- 

 ably in his fine coat and stern. Poor Tyke met with a sad 

 end, as after Mr. H. Gibson had purchased htm for $600 

 he was killed one night in the kennel at Brokenhurst by the 

 writer's Boxer. Old Trap's pedigree could never be ascer- 

 tained, but thei-e was no doubt that he had a large admix- 

 ture of black and tan blood in his veins, and it is my opinion 

 that breeders should be most careful about using this blood 

 indiscriminately; murder will out. When Trap was put to 

 Violet (by Old Jock) she had, I think, five puppies. Three of 

 them had more black and tan than white, and the only do"- 

 in the litter worth rearing was an all white dog named 

 Tyrant. Now, this dog's stock were all noted for their long, 

 lean heads, and as a rule for their very ordinary legs and 

 feet. Grove Jvettle was a big, long-backed bitch, but withal 

 » goodish stamp, and was the dam of some good terriers, her 

 daughter, Cottuigham Nettle, taking perhaps more after her 

 than any other, (irove Trimmer was from the same strain 

 and when I knew him, as the property of my fi-iend, the 

 Rev. De Castro, was a rare good stamp and as game as a 

 pebble. Hornet was bred by the Hon. Thos. Fitzwilliam, 

 and was a corky, nice sort of dog, but his actual pedigree is 



shrouded m mystery, as it was always said that he was out 

 of a common kennel terrier, and put on to old Grove Nettle 

 as a puppy, and sent out to the world as her reputed son. 

 How far this may be correct I do not know, but my authority 

 was old Cross, who was at Wentworth at the time looking 

 after the terriers, and who was afterward with Mr. F. Sale 

 at Derby. Certain it is, however, that, although he had all 

 the chance in the world he was a total failure at the stud. 



After the old J ock dynasty came the Trimmer era, which 

 included Trimmer, Belloua. Pincers, Fermosa, Celt and sev- 

 eral more of the same ilk, all of which were tarred with the 

 same brush, viz., no legs, feet or substance to speak of and 

 very little coat. Then came a very different stamp of terrier 

 that erred on the other side, inasmuch that thev were too 

 big, with lots of bone, but bad shoulders. Among others 

 that may be mentioned were Vandal, Diver, Jester, etc. The 

 two former were dogs that weighed 24 or 351bs. , and were 

 dogs that were as capable of running with hounds or going 

 to ground to a fox, as a pig is capable of flying. Vandal was, 

 if I am not much mistaken, shown under more than one ped- 

 igree and never got one worth its salt. Diver was also a fail- 

 ure, although when Mr. Wm. Allison had him and also Mr. 

 Hopkinson, he had every chance. Diver's sister, however. 

 Mr. J. S. Shepherd's Patch, produced champion Lille, Guilty 

 and Careless, all big prize \vinners. Jester was sold by Crop- 

 per to John Holmes, of Beverley, and resold by him to Mr. 

 Allison; with a parti-colored nose, he was a coarse, common 

 dog, btit undeniably game, and few dogs were tried as he 

 was; his stock were never really first-class and his pedigree 

 more than doubtful. To .speak of Buffer, is to speak of the 

 sire of possibly the best terrier that ever looked through a 

 collar— Buffet. This dog was sold by his breeder, Mr. H, G, 

 Gibson, to Chas. Littleworth, huntsman to the Hon. Mark 

 RoUe, for SIO, on the understanding that he was not 

 to be sold. When the dog was about fifteen months old 

 Littleworth sho\ved him at Nottingham and, as he thought 

 put a prohibitory price on him, viz., -5125. The writer on 

 seeing the dog at once made up his mind to buy him, 

 although he was in awful condition, covered with mange 

 and full of worms, and on going to the secretary's oflice met 

 Mr. Joseph Shepherd coming out. "Hello, Shepherd, been 

 buying?" "Yes sir," was the answer, "the best poor dog I 

 ever saw." "Who is he?" I asked. "Littleworth's, come 

 and see him." "^Yhat will you take for buying him?" was 

 my next question. "A hundred to you," was the reply, but 

 as money was not as plentifitl as it might have been I very 

 reluctantly had to miss the opportunity that I had waited 

 for for years— that of owning the best fox-terrier in the 

 world. Shepherd kept Buffet for some time, and after a 

 most successful show career sold him to Mr. Gillett, of 

 Hull, for .$500, who in his turn sold him to Mr. Hyde, of 

 Warwick, for $1,250, being the largest price ever paid for a 

 fox-terrier. Bttffet was as nearly perfection as it is possi- 

 ble for a dog to be. his only defect being that his ears, 

 although carried perfectly, were ju.st a shade large and his 

 feet were, perhaps, not as good as they might have been, 

 but take him all in all I very much doubt whether "I e'er 

 shall look upon his like again." His stock were disappoint- 

 ing, as they one and all took after old Buffer, especially in 

 the ear, and this has been shown even to the fourth and fifth 

 generations. 



Just about this time Mr. H. Gibson bought Foiler of 

 Mr. T. Wootton, and he was a nailer in every way, and if I 

 were to commence breeding fox-terriers again, would get all 

 the Foiler blood I could lay my hands on, as I consider it 

 almost the most valuable blood that is to be got. After 

 these cracks mentioned above came a rage for the Belvoir 

 blood, but although they have as a rule great bone and good 

 coats, are apt to be thick in their shoulders and too broad in 

 the chest, two very essential points in a terrier, although 

 Brokenhurst Joe, who was imported to this country by Mr. 

 Prescott Lawrence, was remarkably good in these respects. 

 Mr. Luke Turner, of Richmond House; Leicester, who is one 

 of the oldest exhibitors and breeders m England, has done 

 more for the Belvoir blood than any one else, and such 

 animals as Brokenhurst Joe, Belvoir Joe, Richmond Joe, 

 Burbidge's Nettle and Olive ai-e among some of the cracks 

 from his kemiels. 



And now to come to what a true fox-terrier should be. 

 Authorities differ very much as to size, for my own part I 

 think that the best .size for dogs is from 17 to 191bs., and for 

 bitches from 15 to ITlbs., but there can be no hard and fast 

 rule, as so much depends on the conformation of the dog 

 himself; for instance, I have seen terriers of only IGlbs! 

 weight, that had thick, clumsy shoulders, that could not go 

 to ground, whereas one weighing 19 or 201bs,, with really 

 good shoulders, could do so with ease. The head of a fox- 

 terrier may be divided into three parts, viz: Skull, jaw 

 including mouth, and ears. The skull should be flat and 

 not too narrow, no stop or indentation being visible be- 

 tween the eyes, the jaw should be long and powerful, the 

 lips perfectly tight, nose as black as ebony, the teeth 

 perfectly level, neither one that is undershot, or pig-jawed 

 being allowable, the eyes should be small, dark, and if I may 

 be allowed to use the term (and it probably expre,sses it 

 better than any other) full of devil; ears small and V-shaped, 

 and of such texture as to stand thick coverts, thorns, etc.; 

 a fox-terrier's neck and shoulders should be like a' race 

 horse's, the latter being oblique and well into the back, and 

 the former a good length witli no "neckcloth" at the .setting 

 on of the head and neck; back strong as a castle, with lon^- 

 quarters; the legs should be as straight as arrows, no devif^ 

 tion being permissible either at shoulders, elbows or knees 

 and hocks very near the ground. With regard to feet, the 

 round cat-like foot is the most in favor, and it certainly gives 

 the dog the most taking appearance, but from experience I 

 am inclined to think that a foot of this descriiition is the 

 most liable to give way, and many huntsmen have told me 

 that hounds toes' are more liable to go down when they have 

 the cat foot so much prized, than when the foot is more of 

 the hare shape. Tlie stern should not be fine but of a fair 

 thickness and carried gaily, but not curled over the back. 

 The coat is a most important item, and one that for lon-^ 

 was sadly neglected. It should be strong and harsh, though 

 perfectly smooth, and when a terrier has a coat of this tex- 

 ture, he can 1 think stand more wet and exposure than bis 

 wiie-hatred congener, as when a smooth-haired terrier gets 

 wet, he dries himself in a brace of shakes, whereas let a 

 wire-haired one get thoroughly soaked, it takes him a long 

 time to get dry, and in the meantime if in winter his coat 

 probably fi-eezes. As to color, white should predominate, 

 with markings of black, and various shades of tan; liver 

 red or brindle markings being decidedly objectionable. ' 



Few breeds of dogs alter more from piippyhood to maturity 

 than the fox-terrier. Therefore, I .sUoula strongly advise 

 breeders, whenever practicable, never to part with puppies 

 until it can be ascertained what they are really likely to grow 

 into. I have frequently seen as many as forty and Ufty^puj)- 

 piea from seven to thirteen months old at Mr. H. Gib- 

 son's, at Brokenhurst, during the months of April and May, 

 having just come in from the various cottagers and small 

 farmers. He was then in the habit of publishing his sale 

 list and had a good idea of the value to put on each. 



Now, one word on entering fox terriers .to their work. 

 Never begin too early: let them take their time, as verv often 

 puppies are utterly spoilt by being entered too young, as 

 many never really tackle to work until they ai-e a year or a 

 year and a half old. One notable instance may 'be given, 

 viz., that of old Cottingham -Vettle, as when John Holmes 

 had her prior to selling her to Gibson she would not look at 

 a rat, although eighteen months old; but about a month 

 afterward went to ground to an old badger of her own accord 

 in the New Forest, and ever afterward was as game as a 

 pebble. 



The writer owned her grandson Boxer (by Bitters out of 

 Brokenhurst Nettle, by Hornet out of Cottingham Nettle), 

 who always seemed to be more inclined to play with rats 

 than to kill them, but when any big game was on foot he 

 was all there, whether it was badger, fox, cat or a bit of 

 scrapping. The best way is to let puppies see an old dog kill 

 a few rats, and they will soon follow the good example. One 

 of the worst faults a terrier can show is indecision, because 

 as sure as ever he does, be it a badger, cat or a martin, he 

 will get more than he bargains for. To give an instance of 

 really game terriers, an intimate clerical friend of mine put 

 two of his to ground to a badger about 7 o'clock one morn- 

 ing, and as it was a most difficult earth to dig, on account of 

 old tree roots and rocks, it was after dark before they were 

 got out, with one dead badger, another just alive and two 

 young ones dead. Of course both dogs were fearfully pun- 

 ished and could barely stand. However, they were carried 

 home through the woods, it was a beautiful moonlight night 

 and almost as light as day, and as they were crossing a ride 

 two badgers were seen and the terriers put down; they 

 tackled one and after some hard fighting held him until 

 secured. Venom never got over this, and died shortly after- 

 ward from the effects, but Pickle, although his jaws were 

 literally laid bare, lived to fight many a good battle. About 

 this time Pickle's owner was at Magdalen College, 

 Cambridge, and - the Ma.rquis of Huntley was there at the 

 same time. Now, the latter had just given 1300 for Tyrant, 

 to Wootton of Nottingham, and after some talk about the 

 fighting qualities of Tyrant and Pickle, a match was made 

 for $bOO a side, half forfeit; however, two or three days before 

 the match was to have been fought the Marquis paid forfeit, 

 and it was a lucky thing for Tyrant he did so. The follow- 

 ing is rather apropos of gameness, or rather the want of it. 

 When Belloua was shown at Portsmouth she was awarded 

 the champion prize. The bitch happened to be chained at 

 the end of the bench, and in close proximity were the prize rab- 

 bits; one of the lop-eared ones escaped from his pen and came 

 hopping along among the dogs. Belloua catching sight of 

 this monstrosity, attempted to commit suicide by hanging 

 herself, and when Mr. S. W. Smith (alias Big Smith) found 

 her, she was nearly dead. There is little doubt that fox- 

 terriers are growing in favor in this coimtry, mainly owing 

 to the enterprise of the Messrs. Rutherford, Belmont and 

 Thayer, who have spared neither trouble nor expense in pro- 

 curing the best blood obtainable. I sincerely hope that they 

 may have the success they so richly deserve, and that their 

 good example be followed by others, and that the hardy, 

 game, companionable and beautiful little dog may ere long 

 be as fashionable as the wretched little toy dogs that com- 

 mand such large figures. 



Field Trials of 1893. 



Peedictions were rife last field trial season that the nota- 

 ble boom in field trials during last year would be even ex- 

 celled in 1893. All signs pointed that way, but the best laid 

 plans of mice and dogmen "aft runaglee." The default of 

 the Gen1 ral Field Trial Club, owing to the lamentable fact of 

 Mr. Tracy's death, seems to have started the decline. Then 

 the New England men went short on birds and now the 

 American Field Trial Club are short on entries, and with the 

 cold prospect of a "squeeze" in the financial department cry 

 Hold, enough 1 before they are hurt. This is good policy. 

 Some fellows might say "It were better to have loved and 

 lost than never to have loved at all," but these are the men 

 who haven't had the grim experience of pulling out their 

 cold dollars to pay for the other people's fun. The American 

 Field Trial Club can still live in anticipation that they may 

 yet hold trials in the future that may be a credit and a 

 pleasure to all concerned, and this is much more pleasant 

 than the memory of a dead failure. The energetic secretary, 

 Mr. Beck, is to be sympathized with, but we trust he will 

 still hold on to the rudder. 



With the diminishing entry in the Eastern field trials, the 

 present collapse of the Central, the abandonment of the 

 American and the New England trials, it behooves the field 

 trial men to draw up closer and support those clubs which 

 are still willing to take the risks. One important fact these 

 clubs should bear in mind, the avoidance of any postpone- 

 ment of announced datesf or closing of entries. As we pointed 

 out some weeks since, this will be prejudicial to therr inteiv 

 ests if persisted in. 



World's Fair Dog Show Abandoned. 



Office of the Dieector General, World's Coltjmbian 

 Exposition, Chicago, 111., Aug. U.—Uduor Forest and 

 Stremn: Referring to the Exposition kennel exhibit, which 

 was postponed from June to Sept. 19, 20, 21 and 22, 1 beg to 

 advise you that in view of the fact that the dates assigned for 

 this exhibit in September come in conflict with dates assigned 

 for the Providence, R. I., show, and the fact that in trying to 

 meet the request of the American Kennel Club, olficially re- 

 questing this department to change the dates named, as they 

 did not desire dates to conflict with shows held under their 

 rules, I have endeavored in every way to find some time other 

 than the dates mentioned that would be available in which 

 to make the exhibit, but have been unable to do so owing to 

 other exhibits arranged that cannot be moved. In presenting 

 the matter fully to the Du-ector-General and to the Council 

 of Administration, I have to inform you that in view of all 

 the circumstances, the executive committee, acting on the 

 recommendation of the Council of Administration, has 

 decided to entirely abandon the kennel exhibit. Very 

 respectfully yours, W. I. Buchanan, 



Chief Dep. of Agriculture (in charge. Dep. of Live Stock.) 



The Primitive American T»og. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



"When they had ordered themselves in the order of a 

 single File, and marched about the space of a myle, by the 

 Sea they espyed five or .sixs people with a Dogge, comming 

 towards them, who were Savages, who when they saw them 

 ran into the Wood and whisled the Dogge after them, etc " 



The foregoing from "Monet's Relations" of the pilgrims of 

 the Mayflower at Provincetown, Mass. (1620), would seem to 

 establish the fact of the presence of dogs in America before 

 the white settlements. C. Hallock. 



Hadley, Mass. 



[This must have been a Boston terrier.] 



Hamilton Kennel Club. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



At the last meeting of the executive committee of the 

 Hamilton Kennel Club the following resolution was unani- 

 mously carried: "That the hea,rtiest thanks of the com- 

 mittee be tendered to the editor of Forest and Steeaj^i for 

 his great kindness in publishing notices of the club's draw- 

 ing-" Wm. J. TULK, Asst. Sec'y. 



American Field Trial Club Trials Declared Off. 



Mr. W. J. Beck, the secretary of the American Field Trials 

 Club, tells us that the board of governors, at a meeting held 

 Aug. 14, declare the trials of this fall off'. But a few more 

 than one-third of the Derby dogs nominated are now in with 

 second forfeit. Even should two-thirds (a good proportion) 

 of these and the same proportion of the All-Age nominations 

 pay starting fee, the club could not possibly meet the purses, 

 to say nothing of the expenses of running the trials. The 

 board saw nothing but disaster ahead and adopted the only 

 course which to it seemed wise. 



