When "Stonehenge" published his first edition of the "Dogs of the British Islands," about ten years ago, he wrote anent retrievers that they must be either "black or black and tan, or black with tabby or brindled legs," pointing out'that the brindled legs were indicative of the Labrador, to which breed we owe many of the best qualities the wavy-coated retriever possesses 5 but in the present day a black and tan or a brindled-legged dog would stand no chance in competition, however good, because the self-coloured dogs have been brought to such perfection that they would equal, if they did not excel, the marked one in all points, and possess the desired jet black colour in addition, having thereby something in hand to win with over their handicapped competitors. One of the best working retrievers I ever saw in my life was a black and tan dog, the property of Mr. Gavin Lindsay, The Holm, Sanquhar, and in point of symmetry and good looks fit to compete with anything I ever saw exhibited, but that his markings would throw him out.

These tan markings are, no doubt, got from the Gordon setter, and are easily enough bred out.

Perhaps the sires that have exercised most influence in stamping- the character of the present generation of retrievers under discussion are the two Wyndhams, the one the property of that well known and successful breeder, Mr. J. D. Gorse, the younger dog owned by Mr. T. Meyrick, M.P., the latter dog much used by that other most successful of retriever breeders, the late JohnD. Hull; Paris, owned by Mr. S. E. Shirley, M.P., and bred from imported Labrador parents; Major Allison's Victor, and Mr. Chattock's Cato, both without known pedigree. Dr. Bond Moore paid considerable attention to this breed some years ago, his kennels were principally of Hull's strain, and he had some remarkably fine specimens. I remember seeing a litter of Midnight's, if I mistake not, in Dr. Bond Moore's kennels, in which were two fine pups of a pale liver colour, although both parents and grand parents were jet black.

The strains of the various breeders are now getting pretty well commingled, and Mr. Shirley, who I consider is now the foremost of retriever breeders, has in his the blood of nearly all the old notabilities in conjunction with his own special Paris and Lady Evelyn strain.

The coat has undergone very considerable modifications in this strain. In old Wyndham (Meyrick's), the wave became a ripple - almost a surge - over the hips; and a grandson of his that I now own, and who greatly resembles Wyndham in other respects, has this peculiarity in a very marked degree. Now, however, we have many with coats as flat almost as that of a smooth-coated dog, which I think an excess in the opposite direction; and personally I think, as a point of beauty, there is nothing" to compare with a nice and regular wavy coat.

MR. S. E. SHIRLEY'S WAVY-COATED RETRIEVER "THORN." Sire Victor (K.C.S.B. 1883) - Dam Young Bounce (K.C.S.B. 1981).

In general appearance this dog in some degree resembles the Newfoundland, but is less in size, not so clumsily built, and altogether lighter and more active looking; and, not having so deep and shaggy a coat, he shows himself built on finer lines.

The head is, for his size, large and long, with a good development of brain before the ear - the muzzle is long and squarer than in the curly-coated variety; his capacious mouth should hold a set of large and white teeth.

The ears should be small and lie close to the head, set on well back and low, quite free from fringe, but covered with soft silky hair.

The eye large, dark in colour, mild in expression, and the haw never exposed.

The neck, although muscular, is longer than in the Labrador, and has that more supple appearance and freer action meant to be expressed by the term "airy."

The shoulders should slope well, and be well clothed with muscle like the forelegs, which latter should be straight and of moderate length, giving an average at shoulder of 23in. to 24in.

The chest should be broad, but not to the extent of pushing out the elbows from the straight line with the body, which would rob the dog of his speed.

The back, loins, and hind quarters should all be strong, in keeping with the fore quarters, without positive heaviness, so that the dog may with ease carry a hare a distance over rough ground, stone dykes, or field gates.

The feet should be of moderate size, compact, and with good hard soles, and the interstices between the toes protected with hair; a splay foot, with spreading toes, is very objectionable.

The coat should be abundant and close, and long enough to fall in gentle and regular waves, which is preferable to a perfectly flat coat. The colour should be a jet glossy black, and quite free from tan, brindled, or white markings, but as I do not think there are many dogs whelped without more or less white hairs on the chest, it is better, in my opinion, not to allow a trifle of that kind to weigh for so much as to offer an inducement to plucking.

The stern should be strong and gaily carried, but not curled over the back; it should not be so strong or so bushy as that of the Newfoundland, but plentifully furnished with feather.

The subject of our illustration is S. E. Shirley (M.P.), Esq.'s, Thorn.

Mr. S. E. Shirley's Thorn has not only proved successful in the show ring, but is good in the field, and has proved eminently successful at stud, his stock including Loyal, first at Birmingham and Alexandra Palace; Wave, winner of first and also champion retriever prize at Birmingham; Transit, first at Crystal Palace and Oxford; Trace, first at Alexandra Palace; Raven, first and cup at Warrington; and many others. Mr. Shirley informs me, whilst Thorn's stock rule, good workers, he has found the cross with the Paris blood and Thorn better for work than the Thorn and Lady Evelyn blood.

The following particulars of weights and measurements of wavy-coated retrievers have been furnished by the owners:

Mr. S. E. Shirley's (M.P.) Thorn: Age, 5 years; height at shoulder, 22½in.; length from nose to set on of tail, 37in.; length of tail, 15in.; girth of chest, 29½in.; girth of head, 16½in.; girth of forearm, 9in.; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 10½in.; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 10in.

Mr. Gr. Thorpe-Bartram's Bonnie Lassie: Age, 3½ years; weight, 541b.; height at shoulder, 21in.; length from nose to set on of tail, 36in.; length of tail, 13in.; girth of chest, 28in.; girth of loin, 22in.; girth of head, 17½in.; girth of forearm, 7½in.; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 9iin.; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 10in.; girth of neck midway between head and shoulders, 16½in.; length of nose from eye to tip, 4in.; length from elbow to top of shoulder, 11in.; length of ear from tip to set on at skull, 5½in.

Mr. G. Thorpe-Bartram's Bogle: Weight, 731b.; height at shoulder, 25½in.; length from nose to set on of tail, 41iin.; length of tail, 15iin.; girth of chest, 32in.; girth of loin, 24½in.; girth of head, 20in.; girth of forearm, 9in.; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 11in.; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 10½in.; girth of neck midway between head and shoulders, 19in.; length of nose from eye to tip, 4¾in.; length from elbow to top of shoulder, 12½in.; length of ear from tip to set on at skull, 6iin.