It is not often one has the pleasure of coupling husband and wife together as ardent fanciers, but it may be truthfully done in this case, for it would be difficult to say which is the more enthusiastic of the two about their several hobbies, and, in a very extensive experience of fanciers in all ranks of life, I never remember to have met a couple who devote so much time and trouble to the various branches of the Fancy, in which they have taken such a prominent position.

Lady Alexander has, I am pleased to say, become a staunch supporter of the Smooth Collies, whose praises I have so often sounded, and has already gathered round her some representative specimens in Champion Irthlingborough Village Lass, Champion Veto, Mountain Boy, Ballochmyle Mars, Sedgemere Peach, Ballochmyle Starlight, and Perfect Picture, all of high degree, and we are likely to see some more Smooths of type and quality emanating from such distinguished stock. Lady Alexander with her cats probably occupies even a higher position in the Cat Fancy than she has yet attained in the Kennel World, as she has spared no trouble or expense to get together a grand train of several varieties of Short-hairs. This is another hobby of mine, in which I have taken some hundreds of prizes at many of the best shows, and I should say that at the present time Lady Alexander owns the best collection of Blues, Tortoiseshells, Red Tabbies, Tortoiseshell-and-white, Black, Manx, and White, Short-haired Cats, in the possession of any one person in the country, and is the founder and a very active supporter of the British Cat Club recently started.

LADY ALEXANDER'S (OF BALLOCHMYLE) SMOOTH COLLIE MOUNTAIN BOY.

SIR CLAUD ALEXANDER (OF BALLOCHMYLE), BART.

From photo by Elliott & Fry.

I am very pleased to hear this energetic lady has taken up two more of the Short-hairs, the Brown and Silver Tabbies, both of which were in want of patronage and support in influential quarters.

Accompanying this sketch are portraits of two of Lady Alexander's prize-winning Smooth Collies.

Lady Alexander does not confine herself entirely to four-footed pets, as she also keeps several varieties of poultry, and from an early age was a keen fancier of Black Cochins, some of which variety she still has, and, if I mistake not, has occasionally acted as a judge of some of the breeds of poultry.

I do not think she has launched out to any great extent as an exhibitor of birds, except Black Cochins, as I have said; but now that they have secured, at their new residence, Faygate Wood, Sussex, suitable location for this branch of the Fancy, I have no doubt we shall see more of their feathered stock at the shows.

Sir Claud Alexander has been for many years - I think he told me ever since he was a schoolboy - a staunch admirer of one of his national breeds, the Skye Terrier, and has often acted as their judge at leading shows.

LADY ALEXANDER'S (OF BALLOCHMYLE) SMOOTH COLLIE CHAMPION IRTHLINGBOROUGH VILLAGE. LASS.

From photo by Sir C. Alexander, Bart.

He is an active member of the Committee of the Kennel Club, and a liberal supporter in general of anything relating to dogs and dog shows. Although he goes in for both Drop-eared and Prick-eared Skyes, I think, perhaps, at the present time his team of the latter is rather the stronger of the two.

SIR CLAUD ALEXANDER'S SKYE BALLOCHMYLE LEVITY.

From photo by Sir C. Alexander, Bart.

SIR CLAUD ALEXANDER'S SKYE BALLOCHMYLE BROTHER BEAUTIFUL.

From photo by Sir C. Alexander, Bart.

As I have said before, I am very partial to Skyes, and although there are several strong kennels of these beautiful animals in England and Scotland, and I have had many hundreds of them before me at different times, I do not remember any that have been put down in better form than those shown by Sir Claud, and very few anything like as good. Those who know anything of this variety will be aware of the importance of coat and condition, which will often turn the scale in close competition.

To mention all the victories of the "Ballochmyle" contingent in a sketch of this kind would be impossible, as they have taken nearly everything open to Skyes whenever they have been shown; but I should like to just give the names of some of the leading members of the kennel, which owes so much to the personal care and attention of their popular owner: Ballochmyle Turn Turn, Champion Accrington Wonder, Bendigo, Ballochmyle Bashful, Ballochmyle Levity, Champion Ballochmyle Beautiful, Young Rosebery, Lily Scott, Olden Times, and Miss Billee. There are many more whose names I do not remember, but the above form a very typical and representative lot of the highest quality and character.

I am pleased to be able to give portraits of these enthusiastic fanciers, who are both entitled to take high rank amongst Doggy People, with whom they are deservedly welcome and popular. Besides the excellent portraits of Sir Claud and Lady Alexander, I am glad to be able to give pictures of two of the handsome Skye Terriers from the kennel of the former.