I think I cannot introduce this gentleman to my readers better than by quoting the well-chosen words of the Stock keeper in a recent notice of one of his beautiful dogs, Woodmansterne Conrad: -

"There are few fanciers in any breed who have for so long a time persistently and, taking it all round, with such success, devoted themselves to their hobby as the Rev. H. F. Hamilton has to his. He saw the Collie emerge from a Fancy kept by comparatively few, and become one of the most fashionable breeds the world over. It must be added that the rev. gentleman has done his best to keep it at the high standard it has attained. It is also remarkable that he has not only owned some of the specimens in the first rank in the breed, but he has bred them himself."

The subject of the following slight sketch (the materials for which are partly supplied from an excellent notice which appeared some time since in the British Fancier) will be well known to most Doggy People, and to all who take special interest in Rough-coated Collies, as one of the staunchest supporters and most successful breeders and exhibitors since shows have been established, besides being universally popular and the President of the Collie Club for many years.

Before taking up his residence at Woodmansterne, near Epsom, Mr. Hamilton was for a number of years Vicar of Combe St. Nicholas, in Somersetshire, and received a handsome salver from his parishioners, who greatly lamented his leaving them on account of failing health, which, I am glad to say, has greatly improved in his beautiful Surrey living. He has been a successful exhibitor of poultry, confining his attention chiefly to Dorkings and Dark Brahmas; but it is to his connection with Collies to which I wish to refer, as I consider the "Collie Fancy" much indebted to him for the many beautiful specimens he has bred and exhibited, most of which are distinguished by their high quality and "character," combined with great style and finish, so that I have often said I could pick out on the benches those of the "Hamilton strain."

Amongst the first of the Collies found in connection with Mr. Hamilton's name was one called Jessie, then thought good looking, but which would not "pass muster" to-day. Her puppies, however, showed quality, and she was an ancestress of Peggy II., and consequently of Christopher. Next came Tricolour II. by Tricolour, a large black, tan, and white, with blaze of white on neck, always a favourite colour with Mr. Hamilton, and such markings have been perpetuated, by selection, up to the present time. Captain was one of the good sons of Tricolour, and a great prize winner.

The first great success of the kennel was obtained from an alliance between Marcus (a large black-and-white, a very useful stud dog in his day) and Ruby III. (by Tricolour), Champion Madge, whose pedigree is much in evidence throughout the kennel, and other good specimens being the result. Another lucky hit was the purchase of Angus from the Wellesbourne kennels, as Champion Ruthven resulted, who, from union with Champion Madge, sired Champion Peggy II.

REV. HANS F. HAMILTON.

From photo by French & Co., Wallington.

Mr. Hamilton always had a high opinion of the "Cockie" blood, whose male offspring have been better than the females; he also thinks highly of Trefoil in the same way, but found the female descendants of Marcus superior to the males.

Soon after this time Mr. Hamilton added Bissell's Wolf to his string, and although he claimed him at Birmingham, where he took high honours, at what was thought then a fancy price, he was offered double before he took him home! By Wolf and Eva good litters were bred, amongst others Rhoderick (black-and-tan), and by Champion Charlemagne and Eva, Champion Monteith came.

When Peggy II. visited the afterwards celebrated Metchley Wonder, Mr. Hamilton's star began again to "shine in the ascendant." Few breeders can claim to have turned out so fine a team in one litter as Christopher and Grace III., with Percival, Dorothy, Archibald, and Leonard. The two first named caused such a sensation in the Collie World that their names are household words. Dorothy proved a valuable brood bitch. I may mention here that the writer of an article which appeared in the Stock-keeper at the time of a visit to the Hamilton kennels was certainly appreciative of Collie quality, for he said of a litter as follows, in February, 1888: -

"The pick of the kennel, to our idea, was the (Metchley Wonder - Peggy II.) nine months old puppy Christopher, a grand-bodied dog, with profuse coat, magnificent head, sable colour, with white blaze up face, perfect white broad collar, white chest and feet, good tail carriage; in fact, an exact counterpart of his sire at that age, only a trifle larger, and a living illustration of the perfection to which Collie breeding has now been brought."

And he goes on to say of others in the same litter: -

"His litter brother Percival, same colour and markings, but only three-quarter collar, is not quite so big as Christopher, but in other respects resembles him very much. Dorothy, their sister, has nice head and ears, is very fair bodied, with good limbs and coat. One of the most promising and most stylish bitches we have lately come across is Grace III., another of same litter as above. She is a very roomy bitch, with lovely head, nice ears, good coat, sable colour, with white markings, blaze up face, three-quarters broad collar, white chest, feet, and tip of tail. She had just come home from the shepherd, with whom she had been at work."

I may mention, with respect to the last paragraph, that I believe it is the invariable rule that the specimens bred in this kennel are trained to do their work as sheep dogs, and none are sent out but genuine workers.

Although it is not generally known, I have the breeder's authority to say the puppy referred to in the Stock-keeper notice quoted above as Christopher is not the one afterwards so well known under that name, as he unfortunately died, as a puppy, of distemper; and it was his brother Percival, who was renamed Christopher, and took numerous honours under that title.

REV. H. F. HAMILTON'S COLLIE WOODMANSTERNE TARTAN.

From photo by French & Co., Wallington.

I have just named a few of the early efforts and their results. To describe all the grand Collies that have gone through Mr. Hamilton's hands would be almost a work of impossibility, but no one has probably turned out so many champions, which included Rutland, Christopher, Madge, Grace III., Peggy II., Amy, and others; and possibly one of the best he ever bred was Woodman-sterne Lothian, who, after creating a great sensation at the Collie Club Show, held at that time in the Central Hall, Holborn (I fancy since converted into a theatre or music-hall), went home to die, to the grief of his enthusiastic owner and breeder.

It may be interesting to some of my readers, who may not remember the fact, if I state that Champion Christopher, referred to in these notes, was sold by Mr. Hamilton for £6o, and afterwards resold to an American buyer for £t,ooo, or its equivalent; so that from this kennel may be said to have emanated the sensational prices since paid for Collies, which have caused so much excitement throughout the Kennel World of late years.

It will be well known to most of my readers that Woodman-sterne Tartan, a grandson of Dorothy by Champion Rightaway, with broad white collar, wonderful head, ears, full of character, good size, excellent mover and standing on the best of legs, is now very much to the fore.

He came out at the Kennel Club Show and won in every class in which he was entered, besides gaining the "Collie Derby." He has since continued his triumphs, and at the Collie Club Show secured the Sixty Guinea Challenge Trophy, and is proving himself one of the best ever shown. His owner is breeding as carefully as ever, and with Woodmansterne Tartan and other winners, in spite of the keen competition which now exists, still holds his position as one of the foremost breeders of the day, and I am sure I only echo the wishes of all interested in the breed when I say I hope we may long have the pleasure of seeing more specimens coming forward from the Hamilton kennels, and their owner, for many years to come, making his appearance amongst the Doggy People, with whom he is so justly popular.

MRS. HANNAY.

From photo by J. Thomson.

I give a good portait of Woodmansterne Tartan, the well-known winning Collie who is mentioned in the above sketch.