MR WARK IN REPLY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1095, 24 February 1893, Page 27

MR WARK IN REPLY.

THE KENNEL EDITOR N.Z. MAIL. Sir —My collie, ‘Young England/ is considerably referred to in your issue of the 17th insl. in a manner which compels me to make a few remarks. ‘H.P.T.’s’ notes say that the result of the ballot looks as if the general public agreed with the judge in placirg Claudine over Young England. You will be aware that the prize for the moat fancied (not necessarily the best) dog in the show was only open to first prize winners, therefore so far as the public were concerned, there was no competition between the two dogs. Your anonymous correspondent ‘English Fancier ’ states that he saw Young England with his tail curled right over his back. This statement is absolutely incorrect, as tke deg cannot possibly at any time get his brush over bis back, and as the dog’s brush is rather too straight, naturally the curl cannot be there. He certainly, when excited, carries his brush straight up, and so do Champion Metchley Wonder and Christopher, and such carriage is not disallowed. In fact the judge of the Christchurch show, who has been a breeder for 20 years, reported that his brush was carried absolutely perfectly. Mr Bagnall took objection to his tail, and told me in the ring he would alter it in a week, but I would rather not ‘ fake ’ my dogsasother judges might objeot. Is ‘English Fancier ’aware the first prize winuer carries his brush higher than Young England ? If he is not let him ask Mr Bagnall, who expressed his surprise at it after the judging by saying, ‘I have not seen that before.’ To show who is wrong and who is right tho following may be of use The Scottish Collie Club in their standard of excellence Bay, ‘ Tail, moderately long, carried low when the dog is quiet, gaily when excited, and almoststraight out when running.’ Mr Hugh Dalziel, in his late work on collies, writes thus ‘ Whep a collie greets his fellows, and takes the measure of a stranger his flag is up, his colours are displayed, for no recreant coward is he, but as fond of a free fight as an Irishman. Has he not made the expressive word “ Collieshangie ” ] Although carried well up and curved, not stuck up like a mop handle, the tail is never curled over the back h la Pomeranian. Ignorance on the above point has led to needless outcry, when the collie is Been to carry hia tail over his back when in the ring. The collie is a dog of great spirit, and when he meets his peers, be it at kirk, or market, or in the show-ring, he gets his flag up, as much as to say, “ I’m as good a dog as any of you,” and for this forsooth the inverted telescope critics taboo this dog and write him down as a ring-tailed mongrel.' Mr Bagnall says that Highlander and Young England cock their tails.—l am, &c., R. Wark. Rimu Kennels, Christchurch, 20th February.