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 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 (purchased from Mr. Shirley). He mated her with the incomparable Champion Moonstone, and the result was Champion Blackthorn, sire of Black Paint, dam of Black Drake, sire of Champion Black Queen, dam of Champion Black Quilt, sire of - well! let us hope something good. These, with their sons and daughters, sisters, brothers, cousins, and aunts, have filled the writer's list of wins to a very satisfactory tune, and he believes he holds the record sale price for both dogs and bitches - viz. Champion Black Quilt (to Mr. Cooke), £200, and Champion Black Queen (to Lord Redes-dale), 145 guineas.