Of course, in the days of the shows I have been writing of there were no divisions into open, limit, novice, maiden, and puppy classes. If you wished to show a dog, you must enter it in the class of its variety or keep it at home, and it was a case of "one dog one prize," not as at the present day, when a really "topping" youngster will what is called "run through his classes " and fairly "scoop the pool." There is much to be said for and against this.

On December 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th, 1865, the Sixth Birmingham Show was held for the first time in Curzon Hall, which has since seen so many gatherings of the canine race and kennel world, with an entry of 781.

The following officiated as judges of the varieties named: Deer-hounds and Greyhounds, Mr. S. Mallaby and Captain Willis; Pointers, Messrs. J. Walker, G. Moore, and J. Laing; Setters, Major Irving, Messrs. J. Sykes and W. Lort; Retrievers, Major Irving, Messrs. W. Lort and J. Walker; Spaniels, Messrs. W. Lort, J. Sykes, and Captain Willis; Sheep-dogs, Major Irving, Mr. W. Lort, Captain Willis, and Mr. J. Sykes; Blood-hounds, Fox-hounds, Otter-hounds, Fox-terriers, Harriers, and Beagles, Messrs. C. Tongue and W. Long; Dogs not used in Field Sports, Messrs. J. Percival and Matthew Hedley.

In the Sporting Division the best entries were in Fox-hounds, Greyhounds, Pointers (exceptionally large and good in both sizes and all classes, puppies being added for the first time here, and the since well-known Mr. J. H. Whitehouse taking four first prizes), Setters (particularly "Gordons"), Retrievers, and Spaniels.

In Non-Sporting Bull-dogs and Bull-terriers were the largest entries, with some specimens of the others.

On December 28th, 29th, and 30th, 1865, the Fifth Manchester Show was held in the Zoological Gardens, with a good entry.

The judges were: Sporting Dogs, Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, Esquimaux, Sheep-dogs, and Dalmatians, Messrs. W. Lort, J. Walker, and J. Sykes; Non-Sporting Dogs, not previously mentioned, Messrs. J. Monsey, D. Ives, and E. Owen.

The best entries were in Large and Small Pointers, Setters, Retrievers, and Fox-terriers in Sporting Dogs; and in Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, Bull-dogs, Bull-terriers, and Scotch Terriers (over and under 7 lb., and over 7 lb. with cropped ears). There was a novelty introduced in a class for puppies of all breeds shown together, in which Setters were first, Black-and-tan Terriers second, and Mastiffs third.

I find no record of any show of importance after the above until December, 1866, when the Seventh Birmingham Show was held, again in Curzon Hall, with a large entry, the number of entries being stated at 831.

The judges were, for the breeds given before their names: Greyhounds and Deer-hounds, Mr. S. Mallaby; Pointers, Messrs. W. Lort and J. Walker; Setters and Extra Class, Lord Garvach and Mr. W. Lort; Retrievers and Sheep-dogs, Messrs. W. Lort and J. Walker; Spaniels, Lord Garvach and Mr. J. Sykes; Blood-hounds, Foxhounds, Otter-hounds, Harriers, and Beagles, Messrs. C. Tongue and W. Long; Fox-terriers, Rev. T. O'Grady, Messrs. C. Tongue and W. Long; Non-Sporting Dogs, Messrs. M. Hedley and J. Percival; with Mr. J. H. Walsh (afterwards better known as "Stonehenge," and for many years Editor of the Field newspaper) as referee.

The entries in Sporting Division were good almost throughout, particularly so in Fox-hounds and Fox-terriers; grand in Pointers (divided into Large, Medium, and Small), and English and Gordon Setters, with Mr. Laverack well in front in the former, as was Mr. Whitehouse in Pointers, Retrievers, and Spaniels.

In Non-Sporting Dogs the entry was fair and representative, Bull-dogs and Bull-terriers, Black-and-tans (large and small), and the various Toy varieties being the best. There seems to have been no class for Dalmatians (since so strongly represented at Birmingham), as I see Mr. Hale's Crib was first in "Large-sized Foreign Dogs," and Mr. Mandeville's Maltese Fido (larger than I like them, but one of the best coated dogs I remember, and with great style and character) was first in like Small class.

In the same month, December, 1866, the Sixth Manchester Show was held, with, for them, the small entry of 390; when the judges were: for Sporting Dogs, except Greyhounds and Deer-hounds, Mr. John Douglas (then apparently in the service of His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, as his address is given as Clumber Park. Notts, though I must say I had forgotten his being so employed) and Messrs. Jefferson and Brailsford, sen.; Greyhounds and Deer-hounds, Mr. T. Booth; Non-Sporting Classes, Messrs. M. Hedley and J. Monsey.

As usual in those days, the largest entries in the Sporting Division were in Pointers (large and small), Setters, Retrievers, and Greyhounds.

In Non-Sporting there was a good entry in Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, Bull-terriers, better than in Bull-dogs, Fox-terriers (placed here in this division), Scotch Terriers (divided into three parts - over and under 7 lb., and "cropped"), and Toys.

This time they gave a class for Sporting Puppies, in which Pointers, Clumbers, and Greyhounds were the order; and for Non-Sporting Puppies, in which our old friend Mr. Edwin Nichols won with Mastiffs; Black-and-tan Terriers and Scotch Terriers (not a bit like those now shown under that title) being second and third respectively.

Nearly a whole year seems to have elapsed before another show of importance took place. I wonder what present-day exhibitors would say, who think themselves very moderate indeed (I know I thought so when I was in the swing of it) if they show once a month only, as the next record I have been able to obtain is of the Eighth Birmingham Show in December, 1867, with an entry of 691, the judges being Messrs. J. Lang, \V. Long, S. Mallaby, John Percival, Mathias Smith, J. Walker (Halifax), and J. Walker (Wrexham), with Mr. J. H. Walsh as referee.

The entry of Sporting Dogs was large and representative, particularly in Pointers (divided into Large, Medium, and Small, and subdivided into sexes), Fox-terriers (although Smooth only were shown), Setters, Retrievers, Spaniels, and some Hounds.

In Non-Sporting Classes the entries were more scanty, some varieties being unrepresented, Bull-dogs, Bull-terriers, Black-and-tan and Toy Terriers being the largest.

In December, 1867, what was called the Seventh Dog Show was held at Zoological Gardens, Manchester, with 514 entries.

The following were the judges: all Sporting Breeds, except Deer-hounds and Greyhounds, Messrs. John Douglas, Lucas (Dudley), and Close (Cheshire); Greyhounds and Deer-hounds, Mr. T. Booth (Southport); Non-Sporting Breeds, Messrs. J. Monsey (Norwich) and Roue (Bristol).

The entries throughout the show were fairly good, Pointers, Grey hounds, Setters, and Retrievers being the largest amongst the Sporting Dogs; and Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, Bull-dogs, Bull-terriers, Scotch Terriers (still like large Yorkshires), and Fox-terriers (still Smooth only) being in the majority amongst the others. I see some well-known names of the past, such as Messrs. J. A. Cowen, J. R. and E. Field, S. Atkinson, H. D. Kingdon, the Hon. T. W. Fitzwilliam, Mr. Peter Eden, and Rev. W. J. Mellor, were amongst the exhibitors at this show.