Since writing "All about Dogs" I have come across what I think is the earliest attempt at classification of the varieties of the canine race, as it occurs in a book over three hundred years old, being a treatise on "Englishe Dogges," by Dr. Johannes Caius, published in 1576, and he divides the many different breeds into three grand divisions of Sporting Dogs, Useful Dogs otherwise employed, and Toys. To use his old-world language, he says: "Alle Englishe Dogges be eyther of a Gentle Kinde, servinge the Game; a Homelye Kinde, apte for sundrie necessarie uses; or a Currishe Kinde, meete for manye toyes." He subdivides the first division into two sections - one comprising the breeds used in hunting, such as Harriers, Blood-hounds, Terriers, Greyhounds, Lyemmers, Gaze-hounds, and Tumblers; the other including the breeds used in connection with shooting and fowling, such as the Setter, the Fisher, the Land-spaniel, and the Water-spaniel. The second division, a "Homelye Kinde," contains the "Shepherde's Dogge, the Mastive, or Ban-Dogge," with some others not easily distinguishable, referred to by him as "the Mooner," and the "Tynekers' Curre," the latter being a most opprobious epithet, applied to the most worthless specimens in the present day, and corresponding with the common definition of an "outer Mongrel." The third division, or the "Currishe Kinde," he designates "Curres of the Mongrelle and Rascalle sorte," and sets these forth as of three varieties, "the Wapp or Warner," "the Turnspete," and "the Dancere."

The fact of the arrangement in my "All about Dogs" being roughly somewhat similar to that of the quaint old dog fancier who flourished more than three centuries ago, and the description of it being so quaint, must be my excuse for including it here, in case some of my readers have not seen it.

Dr. Caius, in another part of his treatise, when speaking of some new breed of dog he had been shown as lately brought out of France, says: "Englishemenne be marvellous greedye, gapinge gluttones aftere noveltyes, and covetous Cormorantes of thinges that be seldome, rare, strange, and hard to gette." Which is probably as true now as it was when written so long ago!

I was rather amused to read lately in a doggy book, written within the last twenty-five years: "Thanks to the enthusiasm of Messrs. J. Cumming Macdona, J. H. Murchison, and a few other gentlemen, the magnificent St. Bernard is now a British dog, and so it may be with many another noble breed that need only to come under the genius for stock breeding, so peculiarly English, to have their best qualities fully and quickly developed.

"Of the breeds worthy of being added to our list of British dogs, and that we would like to see more popular, we may mention that handsome dog, the Barsee (Borzois), or Siberian Wolf-hound, splendid specimens of which have been shown by Her Royal Highness the then Princess of Wales, the Right Honourable Lady Emily Peel, and others; that immense dog the Great Dane, the finest specimen of which that has graced the show bench being Mr. Frank Adcock's gigantic dog Satan; that singularly attractive and eminently useful-looking La Vendee Hound, of which Mr. G. De Landre Macdona's Ramonneau is a splendid specimen; the Basset, as represented by Mr. E. Millais' Model and the Earl of Onslow's Iram; and those burly lykes the Thibet Sheep-dogs, of which His Majesty King Edward VII., when Prince of Wales, has shown specimens."

The point which amused me in this matter was that, with exception of the French and Thibet Dogs mentioned (probably not very abundant, even in their own lands), the others have all become very popular in this country, and, at all the larger shows, have extensive classifications and numerous entries, the majority of which, I think, have been bred, as they are certainly owned, by persons in this country, so that the wishes of the writer have been so far fulfilled, and partook rather of the nature of a prophecy on his part.

During my active connection with doggy matters I have seen considerable fluctuations of public favour in regard to many breeds, almost entirely confined to the Non-Sporting and Toy Divisions, as Stag- and Fox-hounds, Harriers, Beagles, Pointers, Setters, Retrievers, Spaniels, Deer-hounds, Greyhounds, and a few others, will probably continue to hold their place with the hunting, shooting, deer-stalking, and coursing community for an indefinite period. I think, although also really Sporting dogs, that perhaps Fox-terriers of both varieties, but mostly Smooth-coated, have had a longer term of popularity than any other kind in my remembrance, though Rough Collies and Irish and Scottish Terriers would run them very hard; and some years since Dachshunds, and afterwards Bassets, had a fairly good time, so had Skye Terriers, particularly the Prick-eared variety, for although I am fond of and have had many good specimens of both, there is no doubt the Drop-eared sort has never been so generally liked as the other, but I never could ascertain the reason.

St. Bernards had a long lease of favour, but they, like Newfoundlands (both the Black and the Black-and-white, known as "the Landseer," and I have on one or two occasions seen more of the latter than the former colour at shows), Great Danes, Mastiffs (alas! wonderfully reduced in numbers of late years, although, above most others, looked on as one of the "national" breeds), Irish Wolfhounds, Deer-hounds, and Borzois, are too large and expensive to buy, keep, and take about the country to become "everybody's money." Dandies had a good run a few years ago, and, for their many charms and sterling merit, should never go out of favour, as, although their virtues are numerous, their faults are few; they can make themselves at home in a palace or a cot.

By-the-bye, I was quite delighted to see lately an article, illustrated with photographs, by Mr. Gambier Bolton, in one of the magazines - the Windsor, I think - of some of the favourite animals of His Majesty the King, then the Prince of Wales, who, like his revered and beloved parents and his charming Consort, is, we know, devotedly fond of animals; and, amongst others, a capital portrait was given of Venus, a Dandie Dinmont Terrier, the inseparable companion and friend of His Majesty, who, the article stated, would never be without her, at home or abroad, and never allowed any one else to feed her but himself If anything could endear His Majesty to the vast multitude of English-speaking dog-lovers more than he is at present, such a trait in his character is the thing to do it.