TJiorotighhred Stallions at Nottingham. 
255 
The best-looking horse, hitherto unknown at shows, was 
unquestionably Aerides, a liver-chestnut by Cx'emorne, out of 
Masdevallia by Mandrake or North Lincoln ; and either way this 
is good hunting blood, as ilaudrake got capital hunters, and 
North Lincoln, during the time he was allowed to serve half- 
bred mares down in the Vale of Aylesbury, was quite exceptional 
as the sire of valuable hunters, one of them selling for 600 
guineas to the late Mr. Gerard Legh. Acridcs belongs to 
the valuable order of hunting sire, as he was purchased for 1,000Z. 
a few months ago, and it is satisfactoiy that he took one of 
the premiums. 
The total collapse of the Scotch classes, both for want of 
merit and unsoundness, was a subject of regret ; but exhibitors 
had only themselves to blame for it, as the want of any value or 
quality about these would-be premium-takers was palpable. 
The result showed the wisdom of having a clause in the regu- 
lations which enabled the Royal Commission to substitute 
other horses in classes in which no merit could be discovered ; 
and in two cases at least very valuable substitutes were found 
from the reserve horses in other classes, as it is quite possible 
that the best hunting sire in the show was Omega, although, in 
point of make and shape, he cannot be quite accepted as a type 
of perfection. His stock is so good, though, and young hunters 
by him are realising such large prices, as to make it a subject of 
congratulation for the breeders of Berwickshire and Roxburgh- 
shire that he is to be at their service. The little brown horse 
Polardme also has done such yeoman service in Shropshire in 
getting hunters of the highest class as to make him a great 
acquisition on the other side of the Border. 
There was certainly a diversity of quality at the Nottingham 
show, but the difference of size and shape gives a very wide 
scope to suit the many ideas on the subject of hunting sires. 
The Judges declined to decorate anything of the naiTow spiry 
order, deficient in bone and substance — such a horse was Canzoni, 
beautifully bred by Petrarch out of Frivolity ; and there was 
another son of Petrarch in Class A, with the same sort of faults, 
and he would not do. Petrarch himself is the most bloodlike 
stallion in England, to my mind ; but his racing stock are often 
light of bone, and it may not be quite the source from which to 
get hunting sires. Other sons of Lord Clifden are much more 
likely to be useful in this direction. Hampton, for instance, 
was a much hardier horse than Petrarch, and his son Sowerton, 
in Class F (No. 85), might be exactly the sort to get good 
hunters. He failed to please the Veterinary Inspectors, however, 
and this was the class in particular that faUed so conspicuously 
in these examinations. It was noticeable that several of the 
