Gurtner kindly sent for him. This is a fine dog in many particulars, but I must confess I was rather disappointed, as I had heard so much about him. He is big, fairly marked on his head, white body, with patch of orange on stern and shoulders. His coat is too rough and wavy for one of the smooth. variety, his head is massive, extravagant in lip and dewlap, the muzzle does not cut off square enough, and is narrow at the end, he is deficient in bone in his hind legs, where he is likewise too straight, and he is not the best of movers; nevertheless, he is of good type, and should be invaluable as a stud dog.

"From Lauterbrunnen I went to Biel to see the kennel of Major Fritz Blösch; here I was introduced to a nice orange and white bitch, excelling in head properties, and beautifully marked; also to a good rough-coated dog, orange and white patched body, with a well-marked head, and in splendid condition-his owner thinks a lot of him. I also saw two brindle and white six months' pups, well grown, but poor in head, but Major Fritz Blösch said he had some good ones in the country.

"From Biel I proceeded to Bale, and whilst there called on Dr. and Madam Siegmund, who are both well known as admirers of the St. Bernard. Of course I must go and see the dogs, and the first

to come under my inspection was the rough-coated Czar (he is the sire of the smooth-coated bitch Arosa, imported lately by the Rev. A. Carter). This dog, a handsome orange and white, perfectly marked, stylish dog, is very active, beautiful in symmetry, but he is not quite so heavy in bone as English fanciers like, and his head, though fine in expression, is hardly massive enough in muzzle. Still, I considered him the best rough dog I had seen in Switzerland, and supported my opinion by purchasing him. He had taken first and special as the best rough-coated dog at Zurich Show this year (1893). I then saw a big dog puppy, ten months old, by Czar; he has an enormous head, the expression of which is spoiled by light eyes, and he is not quite sound on his hind legs. Two puppies, four months old, by Czar, are very promising. A good stamp of brood bitch finished this' show.'

"In conclusion, I may say that I had a most interesting tour, thanks to my friends abroad, who were so good in showing me their dogs and imparting all the information I required. English breeders are under the impression that all the best St. Bernards are in England and in America. No doubt many of them are, but let me say there are excellent dogs still left in Switzerland, and the

amount of material for breeding others is almost inexhaustible. In Switzerland they consider the smooths to be the representatives of the pure breed, and the roughs are thought little of except to mate with the smooths, which crossing gives the latter greater size and more stamina. The Swiss view as to the type is very similar to ours, but they lay great stress on the tail being turned up at the end so, J, and not straight as we like it. Some recommend that the bitches should not be bred from till they are at least three years old. I cannot say I agree with them on this point, but Major Fritz Blösch was about the only Swiss I met of my opinion, viz., that a bitch should be bred from at eighteen months old.

"The St. Bernard is still used in Switzerland for the purpose of finding the bodies of lost travellers or guides, and only a short time previous to my visit. a guide was missing, but was ultimately found in a gorge buried in snow to the depth of several feet. The dog marked the spot, the rescue party set to work and, after digging for some hours, found the body in the place indicated by the sagacious animal. Respecting size, the Swiss say a dog from 30in. to 32in. is big enough; they prefer a dog about 30in., and insist that we English go in for nothing but size. I told them they were mistaken in this

idea, and, as examples to the contrary, mentioned the names of our champion dog Keeper and the bitch Gondola."

The following is the English Club's description of the St. Bernard :

"Head.-Large and massive, circumference of skull being more than double the length of the head from nose to occiput. From stop to tip of nose, moderately short; full below eye, and square at muzzle; great depth from eye to lower jaw. Lips, deep throughout, but not too pendulous. From nose to stop straight. Stop, abrupt and well defined. Skull, broad, rounded at the top, but not domed, with somewhat prominent brow.

"Ears. Of medium size, lying close to cheek, but strong at the base, and not heavily feathered.

"Eyes.-Rather small and deep set, dark in colour, and not too close together, the lower eyelid drooping, so as to show a fair amount of haw.

Nose. Large and black, with well-developed nostrils.

"Teeth.-Level.

"Expression.

Should betoken

dignity, and intelligence.

benevolence,

Neck.-Lengthy, muscular, and slightly arched,

with dewlap developed.

"Shoulders.-Broad and sloping, well up at the

withers.

"Chest.-Wide and deep.

"Body.-Back, level as far as the haunches, slightly arched over the loins; ribs well rounded, and carried well back. Loin, wide and very muscular.

"Tail.-Set on rather high, long, and, in the longcoated variety, bushy; carried low when in repose, and, when excited or in motion, slightly above the line of the back.

"Legs and Feet.-Fore-legs, perfectly straight, strong in bone, and of good length. Hind legs, heavy in bone, well bent at the hocks, and thighs very muscular. Feet, large, compact, with wellarched toes.

"Size.-A dog should be at least 30in. in height at the shoulder, and a bitch 27in. (the taller the better, provided the symmetry is maintained); thoroughly well proportioned, and of great substance. The general outline should suggest great power and capability of endurance.

"Coat. In the long-coated variety, should be dense and flat; rather fuller round the neck; thighs feathered, but not too heavily. In the short-coated variety, should be dense, hard, flat, and short, slightly feathered on thighs and tail.

"Colour and Markings.-Red, orange, various