second with Puss, positions which the same dogs had occupied at Ashburnham Hall, Chelsea, a few months earlier. However, at the latter place the class had been divided for dogs over 10lb. in weight, and for dogs under 10lb. in weight, and a somewhat similar arrangement as to size came to be generally adopted a little later on.

Thus early we find considerable confusion with regard to these bull terriers, solely from the persistence with which their owners stuck to the names of "Madman" and "Puss." Already several bearing both names were shown, and won prizes too, and, although they came to be entered in the first volume of the "Kennel Club Stud Book," no reliance can be placed upon many of the pedigrees published therein. Mr. Joe Walker showed a Puss in 1864, so did Mr. Hinks, and the Stud Book, published in 1874, contains no fewer than twelve bull terriers called "Madman," many of which, I have no doubt, were one and the same animal; and the same volume contains five bitches named "Puss." To separate one from the other, and to verify all the pedigrees, which, as I have said, in many cases were extremely doubtful, would be impossible now.

The dog Madman (2739), which once belonged to the writer, was of a strain distinct from that found in Birmingham, being by a very good old dog of Mr.

Joe Walker's called Crib, from Mr. James Roocroft's Puss. Both these breeders also had white English terriers, with which they had, I fancy, at some time or other crossed the Hink's strain of bull terriers, producing a very nice style of dog, not so heavy and massive as those from the Black Country. This dog Madman was a handsome and companionable creature, and as good a swimmer as ever entered the water. Bull terriers are often good water dogs, and I remember the late Mr. Tom Pickett, of Newcastle, telling me of a bull terrier that he had, I think it was Wallace, a prize winner, which won a swimming match in the Tyne.

Still, dealing with the doubt that clings to the early bull terriers' pedigrees, to further complicate matters the name "Victor" became a fashionable one, and, including a "Young Victor," six such appeared in the first Stud Book, and there are an equal number called "Rebel." We must, however, presume there was but one real "Madman," and that belonged to Hinks; Dr. Walsh illustrated him in the "Dogs of the British Isles," and he, like all contemporary writers, speaks highly of the sagacity of the bull terrier, and of his adaptability as a companion. He alludes to rough or wire-haired bull terriers, which are, however, of no account, nor ever were; and there is no doubt that the modern

strain is in a great measure due to the animals that sprang from the midland counties, and some few that were bred in the big towns of Lancashire.

The "Madmans," Pusses," "Victors," and "Rebels" were for the most part large dogs, and for general excellence would compare most favourably with the best specimens seen to-day. I remember some of them very well indeed, as a fact the best of the above at one time or another belonged to personal friends of mine. Were I asked to name the best large-sized bull terrier I ever saw, I should undoubtedly plump for Young Puss, first shown by Mr. G. Smith, jun., of Manchester, who at one time had the strongest team of bull terriers in the country, and later by Mr. W. G. Rawes, Kendal. She was a beautiful bitch in every way, about 40lb. in weight; one, indeed, with which we could find no fault. She had dark hazel eyes, almond shaped, and not round, a level mouth (which some of our more modern winners have not), and was as handsome a dog as anyone need desire to possess. Born in 1869, she was contemporary with other good specimens, including Victor-old Victor, first belonging to Mr. J. H. Ryder, next to Mr. G. Smith, jun., and afterwards sold to Mr. Cleasby Chorley, of Kendal, with whom he died. Victor was found smothered in his box at the Crystal Palace show in

D

June, 1872, and it was the writer who first opened that box and discovered the fatality.

As there are some who consider this dog the best bull terrier that ever lived, a line or two may be given him. Victor, who, for a wonder, had no pedigree provided, was a 45lb. dog, with a big head, rather bigger and coarser than I liked-thus I preferred Young Puss to him—a perfectly shaped body, nice dark eyes, good neck and shoulders, and remarkably straight fore legs; in the latter respect, and at the shoulders, he beat any bull terrier I ever saw. He had a well shaped and well carried stern, which was, however, rather coarse. When Mr. Chorley first bought Victor he was a bad-tempered, evil-disposed dog, but in this respect he improved much-whether this arose from the taste for "good ale," which he soon developed, I can scarcely say, but Victor did like ale, and not only would he drink a quart of the beverage, but become intoxicated, and next day evidently ailing with that aching head said to follow a night's debauch, "a glass of bitter" would set the old dog right again.

Following him as a celebrity, came patched Victor," a white dog with a fawn or brown patch on one ear, a big dog of undoubted excellence, but when the "patch" did not put him out of the prize

Whatever truth

list some sensation was caused. there might have been in the story that was bandied about relating to this dog, the writer cannot state; but it was said when he won his earlier prize or prizes he was the property of one of the judges who placed him third in priority, and who afterwards sold him for a large sum. As the parties to the transaction have been dead many years, there can be no harm in alluding to what was common report at that time, especially as it gives some little idea of what could occur at dog shows before the Kennel Club had become "so great a power in the land."

Another notable bull terrier of the same date was Rebel (2770), and this dog had likewise belonged to Mr. Smith, jun., and sold by him to Mr. W. H. Akerigg, who turned him over to Mr. Leonard Pilkington, now one of our most popular greyhound coursers. Although Rebel had on occasions beaten Young Puss, to whom he was said to be brother, he was only a second-rate dog alongside her, and inferior to both the Victors already named.

I have mentioned these dogs at considerable length because I believe they were as good as, if not superior to, anything we have at the present time, and when they were in their prime the classes of bull terrier were better filled than is the case now.