ments are worthy of historical record. In his early days he naturally had but few chances, and it was not until his son Wimpole Peter burst upon an admiring Fancy that breeders began to patronise the sire; but from that time he never looked back. His career was as short as it was brilliant, for he succumbed to gastritis at the comparatively early age of five years.

A very long list of winners by Black Drake may be quoted, and instances have more than once arisen where every prize-winner in half a dozen classes has been his child or grandchild. Amongst the most notable of his winners are Champion Wimpole Peter, Champion Black Queen (Fig. 73), Champion Bring 'Em, Champion Black Squirrel, Black Cherry, Black Maple, Colwyn Clytie, Black Pride, Black Squall, Black Quail, Black Amazon, Luton Melody, Ivy of Batsford, etc., etc.; whilst the big winners Champion Black Quilt and Black Charm claim him as grandsire.

Amongst modern sires Champion Darenth is worthy of more than passing mention, although his average does not approach that of Black Drake; for the former's career at the stud was much more protracted than that of his grandsire. Champion Darenth begat a host of winners, including Champion Blizzard, Lustre, Champion Darwen, Black Cloth (sire of Black Drake), and last, but not least, the beautiful Champion Horton Rector, who himself has made a grand start at the stud as sire of Champion Black Quilt, Horton Fern, Oracle, etc.

It is a somewhat notable fact that for every first-class dog seen of late years there have been at least three first-class bitches, and it would seem that the latter are, as a rule, blessed with superior constitutions. The consideration of this fact opens up a very pretty complication of the question of inbreeding. The last years of the past century saw a very serious preponderance of bitches, and although the dogs have increased since the beginning of the twentieth century, the balance is by no means level.

The writer's personal experience is that the death-rate from distemper is fifty per cent. higher in the case of dogs than in that of bitches, especially where the disease has attacked puppies exceeding nine months in age; an observation that has been noted, but not accounted for, by other devotees of the breed.

The utility of dog shows as a means of maintaining and improving purity of type in the canine race, without impairing utility, has often been called in question, and really the spurious evolution that has taken place in some breeds, notably in Fox terriers and Bulldogs, is greatly to be deplored. It is a case of cause and effect, induced by the exaggeration of type, and the sacrifice of a wellbalanced and symmetrical whole, to the undue and excessive development of some special "fancy" point. For instance, the craze for exceedingly narrow chests in Fox-terriers has evolved this

supposed desideratum at the expense of depth and strength of rib, and consequently of power of loin and quarters. One seldom sees a well-ribbed, square-quartered Fox-terrier nowadays. Again, it was laid down that Bulldogs should be more powerful in front of the saddle than behind it, and that the shoulders should be loose, and the elbows well turned out. Harping on this string, fanciers have produced a result of which they have no reason to be proud; for what do we too often find? Weak, ricketty legs, foundered chests, and wasted loins; rendering what should be a

powerful, active dog, a monstrosity and a cripple. Such examples could be amplified ad infinitum.

Far be it from the writer to maintain that dog shows have, in the aggregate, failed to advance the objects for which they were initiated. On the contrary, the unbiassed and unprejudiced eye cannot fail to see in all directions, signs of a great advance as regards the levelling of type and the elimination of mongrels and wastrels; whilst the British public has had its innate love of the dog cultured and expanded to such an extent that where formerly few had an expert knowledge on canine subjects, it is now a rare thing to find any one who does not know, or who thinks he does not know, all about them. For the harmless hobby of dog-breeding

and dog-showing has advanced with giant strides; and this is particularly noticeable as regards the fair sex, who seem to have taken to the task with that thoroughness and (temporary) ardour which are its distinguishing virtue in all its undertakings.

As regards the exaggeration of type which the writer has so strongly deprecated, it may be that the legion of specialist clubs which have sprung, mushroom-like, into existence (and the cry is "Still they come !") of late years are unwittingly the cause of this hydra-headed evil. It is true they one and all draw up an elaborate scale of points for general guidance; but the average and aggregate of these points are nearly always ignored by the so-called specialist club judges. The fact is that not one man or woman in a hundred is born with the true critical faculty; consequently these would-be wearers of the ermine are quite unable to sum up the balance of physical conformation, but persist on exercising their personal fads. One goes for colour, another for head, a third for legs and feet, and so on, and they look no further. A good dog is thrown out because it does not hold one ear in the approved fashion; a cripple or a monstrosity is honoured with a challenge prize because it has "such a grand head."

All this may seem a digression; but it is worth growling about, and leads up to the satisfactory fact that the Flat-coated Retriever, never having been god-sired by a specialist society, has not suffered in this direction, and, whilst maintaining a sound, symmetrical type, has steadily improved in quality and quantity; so that in this year of grace (1902) no breed is more level, and few more popular. At the leading shows, given a judge in whom the body of the exhibitors have confidence, and also a liberal classification, well-filled classes of high quality are a certainty. On the other hand, at minor shows, where an "allround' judge has to deal with this variety, some of the most powerful Retriever owners hold aloof. This is a great mistake, for amongst the most popular and knowledgable "all-rounders men who know their Retriever quite as well as the so-called specialist. The writer never hesitated to submit his Retrievers to the judgment of such as Messrs. Marples, Gresham, and Astley, and has found little to cavil at in their decisions, whether they were favourable to himself or the reverse. On the other hand, he has known many cases where "experts" in Retriever lore and breeding, but novices in the judicial ring, have completely lost their heads when faced by a large and level class, and have in consequence committed the most obvious errors of judgment.

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Amongst the most prominent Retriever judges of the day may be quoted Messrs. S. E. Shirley, E. Allen Shuter, G. R. Davies, C. Phillips, H. R. Cooke, C. J. G. Hulkes, W. Arkwright, and Colonel Cornwall-Legh. The first and last named are amongst the

earliest and most influential patrons of the breed`; in fact, no more enthusiastic Retriever breeder has existed than the Squire of Ettington. It was at the feet of this Gamaliel that the writer sat, and from him that he obtained the nucleus of a strain which, without flattery, may be said to have fairly held its own in the struggle for supremacy. Mr. Shirley is a sound judge of almost any breed of dog, and therefore can hardly be termed a specialist; though naturally enough his knowledge of Retrievers should exceed that of any judge past or present, seeing that he has bred more winners than any other. Amongst his most notable winners may be mentioned Champions Thorn, Dusk, Moonstone, True, Think, Heedful, Hopeful, Wiseacre, Rightaway, and a host of others. Of these, Moonstone stands out a pillar of the Stud Book, and a landmark in the writer's memory, as a dog of exceptional merit, and to whom he is proud to think he awarded the first notch in the tally of his fame.

Of late years Mr. Shirley's success as a breeder and an exhibitor of Flat-coated Retrievers has sadly fallen off. It had dawned upon him that an outcross was was a pressing necessity, and he largely used Rightaway, who had some mysterious alien strain in his pedigree. This was a good-looking dog of considerable quality, though some judges would not stand him at any price. Personally, the writer considers that the introduction of his blood has not proved an unmixed blessing, either to his owner or to Retriever breeders at large. Mr. Shirley has a good dog in his favourite Dare, and lately he exhibited two very nice specimens in Dargai and Woodchat, the latter a most promising youngster that unfortunately yielded to the Reaper before he had time to make his mark.

The genial master of High Legh Hall (Colonel Cornwall-Legh) has always had good Retrievers, and no better judge of the breed exists, though he can seldom be persuaded to officiate. Champions Miner I., Miner III., Kite, and Twidle were all good ones, and, if memory serves me aright, Champion Taut originally hailed from High Legh.

Mr. Allen Shuter is a most painstaking and expert judge, but he is ruthless in carpeting an exhibit that shows one of the failings ("bad set of ears" and "too strong in skull" are his pet aversions) which he considers fatal. Mr. Shuter never shows a bad Retriever, thus proving himself that rara avis a good "home-judge." On the other hand, he has produced some "toppers." Amongst these rare old Champion Darenth is the bright particular star. His success both at the stud and on the show-bench was phenomenal, and he was a perfect workman. Mr. Shuter had the luck to breed a son of the old dog that bids fair to emulate his sire's deeds in all directions; of course I allude to Champion Horton Rector.

Mr. Reginald Cooke's success as a breeder has not been so marked as it should have been, having regard to his pluck and enterprise as an exhibitor, and seeing that he always will have the best, regardless of cost. At times his kennel has been unapproachable, and gems of the first water filled it. The Champions Worsley Bess (the best bitch the writer ever remembers to have seen), Wimpole Peter (ditto, dog), Black Quilt, and Dido of Swynnerton are a quartet to be proud of indeed, and the time is ripe when he can at last point to something "extra special" of his own breeding. Wave of Riverside was good, but Paul of Riverside is better, as he ought to be, seeing that he is the son of the two most perfect Retrievers of all time-Champions Wimpole Peter and Worsley Bess.

Mr. Hulkes has had many good winners, but the best of them, Pettings Mallard, for some unknown reason, failed to make the mark as a stud dog, that might have been expected, having regard to his figure and breeding.

'Lord Redesdale (erstwhile Mr. A. B. Freeman Mitford, C.B.) is very fond of a good Retriever, and has been worthily represented on the show-bench from time to time. His sheet-anchor was Champion Boreas of Batsford, a dog very hard to beat, and one with as great a reputation in the field as on the show-bench. Here again is, so far, a comparative failure at the stud; for, with the exception of Black Charm, the writer can recall no really high-class offspring of this grand dog.

Mr. G. R. Davies, of Hartford, Cheshire, used to keep a large kennel, and was very successful at one time, his stud dog Duke III. begetting for him some very good-class stock, whilst those who purchased his Retrievers at his annual sale were loud in praise of the strain, from a sportsman's point of view.

The name of Retriever exhibitors is legion, and it is only possible to mention a few of the most prominent of the present, while Messrs. Thorpe-Bartram, Gorse, and E. G. Farquharson occur as stalwarts of the past, though perhaps one ought not to include the first named in that category, as he still occasionally sends a useful one to the show-ring. And what can the writer say of himself? His services as a judge have been in fair request, and he is credibly informed that, as a rule, his decisions have given fair satisfaction. It is impossible to please every one, but at least he is always prepared to give a reason for his awards, and, if needs be, to argue it out. His system is a simple one to adopt, but difficult of successful accomplishment. It aims at arriving at the aggregate of the dog's merit firstly considered point by point, and lastly by "the altogether," or relative value of general quality, outline, and symmetry.

The origin of the writer's strain arose from Champion Sloe