It is generally supposed that this breed is a cross between the Labrador dog, or the small St. John's, Newfoundland, and the setter; but in the present day the most successful on the show bench, as above remarked, have been apparently, and often admittedly, pure. In the belief that the nose of the pure Labrador is inferior to that of the setter, I certainly should advise the cross-bred dog for use; but to be successful on the show bench, under such judges as Dr. Bond Moore, Mr. Handley, and Mr. Lort, the competitor should display as little as possible of the setter. In all other respects Major Allison's Victor was perfect, his symmetry being of the most beautiful order; but Dr. Bond Moore could not forgive his setter-like ears, and his fiat was against him. According to my general rule, I shall therefore describe this breed in its show form, the following being the numerical value of the points:

Points Of The Black Wavy-Coated Retriever

Grand Total 100.

1. The Skull (Value 10)

1. The skull (value 10) should be long, wide, and flat at the top, with a very slight furrow down the middle. Brow by no means pronounced; but the skull is not absolutely in a straight line with the nose.

2. The Nose And Jaws (Value 10)

2. The nose and jaws (value 10) are to be considered from two points of view - first, as to the powers of scent; and secondly, as to the capacity for carrying a hare or pheasant without risk of damage. For both purposes the jaws should be long, and for the development of scenting powers the nose should be wide, the nostrils open, and its end moist and cool.

3. The Ears And Eyes (Value 5)

The ears must be small to suit the ideas of the Labrador fancier. With the setter cross they are considerably larger. In any case they should lie close to the head, and be set on low. With regard to the hair on them, it must be short in the Labrador; but in the setter cross it is nearly as long as in the setter itself. The eyes should be of medium size, intelligent-looking, and mild in expression, indicating a good temperament.

4. Neck (Value 5)

Whatever be the breed of this dog, his neck should be long enough to allow him to stoop in seeking for the trail. A chumpy neck is especially bad; for, while a little dog may get along on a foot scent with a short neck, a comparatively large and unwieldy dog tries himself terribly by the necessity for crouching in his fast pace.

5. The Loins And Back (Value 10)

5. The loins and back (value 10) must be wide and deep, to enable the retriever to carry a hare over a stone wall, a brook, or gate.

6. The Quarters And Stifles (Value 10)

6. The quarters and stifles (value 10) must be muscular, for the same reason; and, to enable the retriever to do his work fast enough to please the modern sportsman, with ease to himself, the stifles should be set wide apart.

7. The Shoulders (Value 10)

7. The shoulders (value 10) should be long and sloping; otherwise, even with a proper length of neck, the dog cannot stoop to a foot scent without fatigue.

8. The Chest (Value 4)

8. The chest (value 4) should be broad as well as deep, with well-developed back ribs.

9. Legs, Knees, And Hocks (Value 10)

When tolerably fast work is to be done by a heavy dog, it is important that these parts should be strong and free from disease in their joints. Hence the legs must not only be long and muscular, but they must be clean and free from gumminess. The knees should be broad, and the hocks well developed, and clean.

10. The Feet (Value 5)

10. The feet (value 5) are rather larger proportionately than in the setter, but they should be compact, and the toes well arched. Soles thick and strong.

11. The Tail (Value 5)

11. The tail (value 5) in the "Bond Moore" type should be bushy, and not feathered, which is a sign of the setter cross. It should be carried gaily, but not curled over the back.

12. The Coat (Value 5)

12. The coat (value 5) is short, but not so short as in the pointer or hound; set close, slightly wavy, and glossy.

13. The Colour (Value 5)

13. The colour (value 5) should be a rich black, free from rustiness. In many good imported dogs there is a white star on the breast, and a white toe or two; but the fashionable breeders now go in for a total absence of white, and this point is therefore to be estimated accordingly, as long as Dr. Bond Moore and his coadjutors maintain their position. That the public do not agree with him is plain from the fact that, in answer to an advertisement offering to give away several puppies bred by him with white on their toes, Ac., he received more than 150 applications. It also shows that even his own breed cannot be depended on for absence of white, and that it is purely an arbitrary sign, altogether independent of race. Hence, in my opinion, it is absurd to disqualify a dog absolutely because he shows a small white star or a white toe, but it is quite within the powers of the judge to penalise him to the extent of the allowance for colour in the scale of points.

14. Symmetry And Temperament (Value 10)

The symmetry of this dog is often considerable; and, though there is no grandeur, as in the large Newfoundland and St. Bernard, still there is a due proportion of size and strength, with elegance all through, which takes the eye, and should be valued highly. The walk of the Labrador is not so loose and shambling as that of the large Newfoundland. The evidences of good temperament should be regarded with great care, since the utility of this dog mainly depends on it. A sour-headed brute, with a vicious look about the eyes, should at once be penalised to the full extent of this point, and a retriever shown with a muzzle on, as has often happened, should be regarded with great suspicion. Of course a dog may be so savage in a show as to require a muzzle, yet perfectly mild and inoffensive in the field; but such cases are exceptional, and a judge ought always to satisfy himself of the general good temper of a retriever requiring a muzzle.

Mr G. Brewis's Paris has been very successful on the show bench, and has a fine body and good coat, but I confess I neither like his head nor his short jaw. Nevertheless, it is impossible at present to find a better type of the pure Labrador. Melody is a beautiful specimen of the setter cross.