112 Report upon the Spring Show of Thoroughbred Stallions 
with plenty of bone, and good riding shoulders, but he has a plain 
head and neck. " What's the odds," however, as the Yorkshire 
dealer said to a would-be-buyer who complained of the size of 
the head of a horse submitted to him, " a horse don't go on his 
head " — at least he is not supposed to, though a season's expe- 
rience in the hunting field leads one to conclude otherwise. 
Mr. Sawrey-Cookson's "Prestonpans," by " Prince Charlie," out 
of " Beatrice," formerly the property of the late Mr. Gretton, 
though entered for competition, was subsequently withdrawn, 
and exhibited with those stallions "not for competition," 
while No. 24 ("Pirate Chief") was likewise absent, owing 
to an accident having befallen some one connected with him. 
"Plumbago'' is a bloodlike horse, but did not strike one as 
anything out of the way. Mr. Wallis's "Prescription," by 
" Carlos," by " Knight of Kars," out of " B. M.," stands very 
nearly 16 2, and, 1 was given to understand, has never been 
ridden. Critics by no means agreed with each other in their 
estimation of him. Some thought him rather lumbering and 
coarse, and more fitted for harness than saddle ; others liked 
him, and regarded him as the probable winner of one of the 
premiums. There can be no two opinions about his shoulders, 
which are good, while his legs are all that could be desired, 
and his back is that of a hunter. Prior to his visit to New- 
castle, I believe "Prescription" had never been out of Ireland. 
" Queen's Herald," by " Trumpeter," out of " Queen Bertha," is 
perhaps a triHe leggy, a fault that is noticeable in most of 
"Trumpeter's" stock, but there is much to like in him. He 
has great bone, and shows a good deal of power and sym- 
metry. "Red-Cap-Sly," by "Sincerity," out of " Birkie," 
comes from Scotland, where his stock are well thought of. 
He is built on quite hunter-like lines, and moves well in his 
walk, in spite of a damaged fetlock, the result of a railway 
accident. " Revolt," a seven-year-old horse, by " Bourbaki," 
out of " Fireproof," by "Arthur Wellesley," does not strike one 
as being likely to sire hunters, and may be passed over without 
further comment. 
" Rockery," now 20 years old, headed the last batch brought 
in to be judged. "Rockery," by " King John," out of "Ladv 
Clare," by " Wild Dayrell," is a cripple, having broken his 
fetlock-joint some years ago. This accident would not have 
interfered with his gaining a premium, had he been deemed 
good enough, but although he has his good points, he was not 
in the first eight when the awards were distributed. Major 
Stap\ltou showed "Sclim," an Arab, by " Ramzes," out of 
" Dyanaza," a very pretty horse, " pretty " being, perhaps, the 
most appropriate term to employ. There was little fault to be 
