The judges were two well-known Englishmen of the past, Messrs. William Lort and Sam Handley.

There seems to have been no divisions of the sections, but Sporting and Non-Sporting Classes mixed, as the catalogue commences with small entries in Mastiffs, St. Bernards, and Newfoundlands, then goes on with Blood-hounds, Deer-hounds, and Greyhounds. Of these last there was a good entry (which reminds me of some of my youthful experiences in coursing in the Emerald Isle, where I have seen more hares set on the move by the beaters in one day and, on some occasions, in one large field, than our present-day sportsmen would see in a week in this country in the ordinary way). There was a good muster of Pointers, Setters (particularly the native variety), and Retrievers (with Mr. S. E. Shirley, M.P., well in front in the Wavys, the first occasion I have noticed his name in connection with them); and Irish Water-spaniels (but not other sorts) were well represented with such names as Messrs. Skidmore, Doyle, Morton, Boyle, and Captain Arbuthnot. There was a good entry of Fox-terriers, with the names of Messrs. Shirley, Bassett, Mendel, and Captain Howley all in the winning list; while Bull-dogs and Bull-terriers were well supported by Mr. Shirley and others; and most of the prizes in Sheep-dogs and Smooth Terriers fell to Mr. H. Lacy. There were small entries in most of the others, the name of Mrs. Foster being prominent amongst Broken-haired Terriers and Rough-coated Toy Terriers, as it has so often been since.

The Second Annual Scottish National Exhibition of Sporting and Fancy Dogs, held in the Burnbank Drill Hall, Glasgow, on February 27th, 28th, and 29th, 1872, under the management of Mr. H. Martin, secured an entry of 719.

The judges appointed were the following: Messrs. S. E. Shirley, M.P. (the first mention of his acting in such a capacity of which I have found notice), W. Lort, J. Barrow, J. Scott, and G. Dart.

In the Sporting Division the largest entries seem to have been made in Fox-terriers (divided into Smooth and Rough or Wiry-haired, with Mr. J. H. Murchison strongly in evidence), Pointers, Setters, Retrievers, Spaniels, and Otter-hounds, in which last the late Mr. J. C. Carrick took all the prizes; but the Rev. J. Cumming Macdona and Mr. J. Shorthose were well amongst the Pointers and Setters.

The Non-Sporting Classes were just fair all through, perhaps the best entries being in Skyes, Dandies (with Shamrock and Harry Bertram amongst them), Toy-terriers (Rough and Smooth), and Variety Classes under 14 lb. and over 20 lb. in weight.

This was followed on May 7th, 8th, and 9th, 1872, by the Second Annual Scottish Metropolitan Exhibition of Sporting and Fancy Dogs, held in the Hall of the Royal Gymnasium, Edinburgh, under the management of Mr. John Douglas, and with Mr. J. M. D. Brown as secretary, when an entry of 631 was obtained.

The judges on this occasion were: Messrs. S. E. Shirley, M.P., W. Lort, S. Handley, F. Somner, and J. Nisbet.

Amongst Sporting Classes the best filled were Pointers, Setters, Retrievers, and Spaniels. There were small entries in Blood-hounds (with Major Cowen in front), Deer-hounds, Greyhounds, Fox-hounds, Fox-terriers, and some others, Mr. J. C Carrick again carrying off all the prizes for the picturesque Otter-hounds from Carlisle, Messrs. J. H. Murchison and S. Mendel accounting for most of the honours in Fox-terriers, other well-known names appearing amongst the owners of the winning Pointers, Setters, and Spaniels.

Non-Sporting Classes generally filled well, some of the largest being Bedlington, Black-and-tan, Bull, Skye, and Dandie Dinmont Terriers. Rev. J. Cumming Macdona and Mr. Murchison took all the prizes with St. Bernards, which appeared low down in the catalogue. Mastiffs and Newfoundlands had not many supporters, and there were only a few Bull-dogs; but most of the Toy varieties then in fashion had some representatives.

The following month - on June 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th, 1872 - the Third Grand National Exhibition of Sporting and other Dogs was held at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, under the management of Mr. John Douglas, with Mr. W. Roue as secretary. The entry was a large one for those days - 1,044.

The judges elected were the following: Greyhounds, Lord Lurgan (whose name became so well known afterwards in connection with his Master McGrath); Deer-hounds, Lord Lurgan and Mr. S. Handley; Fox-terriers, Messrs. W. Lort, ,J. Walker (Halifax), and J. Walker (Wrexham); Pointers, Setters, Retrievers, and Spaniels, Messrs. Lort and Walker; Mastiffs, Messrs. A. B. Ashfordand S. Handley; Dandies, Mr. J. Nisbet; other Non-Sporting Breeds, Messrs. J. Barrow and S. Handley.

Pointers, Setters, and Retrievers, as well as Spaniels (having more separate classes than usual), came up well, with a good entry of Fox-terriers, seemingly Smooth only. Blood-hounds had some well-known specimens shown by Major Cowen, Mr. J. K. Field, Captain Clayton, and Mr. Bird; of Deer-hounds there was a small entry; Greyhounds had Mr. J. H. Murchison in the front rank; also a good lot of Harriers and some Otter-hounds and Beagles appeared.

In Non-Sporting, Rev. J. Cumming Macdona and Mr. J. H. Murchison took nearly all the prizes in St. Bernards. There were capital entries of Mastiffs, Bull-dogs, and Bull-terriers, and representative lots of-many of the other varieties, the most being in Black-and-tan Terriers, Pomeranians, and Dandies.

On October 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 1872, was held in the Great Market Place, Nottingham, the Grand National Dog Show, with the Earls Howe and Manners as Presidents; Mr. J. Chaworth-Musters, M.F.H., as Chairman of Committee, and Mr. Wakerley as Secretary. The respectable entry of 843 was secured; the judges chosen for the occasion being: Blood-hounds, Mastiffs, St. Bernards, and Newfoundlands, Messrs. Edgar Hanbury, W. Harrison, and M. B. Wynn; Fox-hounds and Fox-terriers, Hon. T. W. Fitzwilliam, Captain Skipwith, and Mr. Frank Gillard; Deer-hounds, Greyhounds, Otter-hounds, Harriers, and Sheep-dogs, Rev. G. F. Hodson (the first time I find his name appearing as a judge at a large show, but who in after years was one of the best known in the non-professional ranks), Messrs. Hedley and J. Fisher; Pointers, Messrs. S. Brown, J. Phillips, and Colonel Welfitt; English, Gordon, and Irish Setters, and Retrievers, Messrs. S. Brown, J. Phillips, and G. Murray; Spaniels (all varieties, except Toy), Mr. C. B. Hodgson, Rev. G. F. Hodson, and Captain Montresor; Dalmatians, Bull-dogs, Bull-terriers, and all other Non-Sporting varieties not before named, Rev. G. F. Hodson and Mr. John Fisher.

In Sporting Dogs the largest entries were in Pointers and Fox-terriers, Spaniels being next, followed by small lots of Setters, Retrievers, Deer-hounds, Greyhounds, etc.

Non-Sporting had a good average representation, St. Bernards and Sheep-dogs (both divided into Rough and Smooth, a rare event in those days) coming up fairly well. There was only a small entry of Mastiffs; but rather better in Bull-dogs, Bull-terriers, Black-and-tans, and some of the Toys.

The next important show I find mention of was the Thirteenth Dog Show, held in Curzon Hall, Birmingham, December 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 1872, with a large entry.

The following list of judges appeared: Pointers, Messrs. C. E. Lewis and J. E. Brewer; Blood-hounds, Mastiffs, St. Bernards, and Sheepdogs, Mr. Edgar Hanbury; Deer-hounds and Greyhounds, Messrs. Mallaby and J. Fisher; Setters, Messrs. W. Lort and J. Walker (Halifax); Retrievers, Irish Spaniels, and Foreign Sporting Dogs, Messrs. S. E. Shirley, M.P., and W. Lort; other Spaniels, Mr. J. Walker (Halifax); Otter-hounds, Harriers, and Beagles, Mr. J. Walker (Wrexham); Fox-terriers, Messrs. H. Gibson and J. Walker (Wrexham); Newfoundlands, Dalmatians, Pugs, Pomeranians, Maltese, Italian Greyhounds, Toy Spaniels, Toy Terriers, and Non-Sporting Foreign Dogs, Messrs. J. Percival and J. Barrow; Beagles, Bulldogs, Bull-terriers (Smooth), and Black-and-tan Terriers, Messrs.

S. E. Shirley, M.P., and C. Collins; Skyes, Dandies, Bedlingtons, Broken and Wire-haired Terriers, Mr. J. Nisbet.

Amongst Sporting Dogs the largest entry was in Pointers, which were divided into Large, Medium, and Small, and provided with twelve classes; next came Setters, Retrievers, and Spaniels, all good; with small entries in the others, except Fox-terriers, which were fairly good, but Smooth-coated only.

Mastiffs, St. Bernards, Bull-dogs, Bull-terriers, Black-and-tans, Skyes, and Toys were the best filled in the Non-Sporting Classes.

On December 26th and 27th, 1872, the Twelfth Annual Show was held in the Zoological Gardens, Manchester, with an entry of 518.

The judges appointed to officiate were: Sporting Breeds, Messrs. W. Lort and J. A. Handy; Non-Sporting Breeds, Messrs. J. Monsey, Robert Fulton (so well known also amongst the Pigeon Fancy), and C. T. Fisher.

Pointers, Setters, and Retrievers mustered well, Setters and Fox-terriers coming next in numbers, followed by Spaniels and others.

Mastiffs were the largest classes of Non-Sporting, with Black-and-tan Terriers and Scotch Terriers (cropped and uncropped) next in order, and small entries in most of the other varieties and Toys.

On February 26th, 27th, 28th, and March 1st, T873, the Third Dog Show was held in the Burnbank Drill Hall, Glasgow, when they had 600 entries, and Mr. H. Martin acted as secretary.

The judges whose names appeared in catalogue were Messrs. W. Lort, S. Handley, John Douglas, J. Miller, and J. Duncan.

Pointers, Setters, Retrievers, Spaniels, and Fox-terriers were by far the largest entries in the Sporting Classes.

In Non-Sporting Varieties Sheep-dogs, Bull-terriers, Black-and-tans, Skyes, Dandies (with Melrose, Shem, Cloudie, and Lucy Bertram all "in the money"), and Toy Terriers were all well-filled classes, the other varieties having a scanty following, but still not without typical representatives in most of them. Some of the classes at this show were confined to exhibitors in Scotland.