The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-27 00:00:00

The Agricultural-hall, Islington, is now a centre
of special attraction. Within its walls is congre-
gated one of the most curious assemblages ever wit-
nessed. It might be too much to say that the
gathering conducts itself altogether without noise
' or indecorum, but material guarantees are certainly
provided against any violent breach of the peace, or
any sudden assault upon the shins of any of her
Majesty's lieges. Each member of the concourse is
also kept by a stout collar and chain from incom-
moding or getting too close to his neighbour—a
precaution in every way judicious and necestiary, as
certain little incidents occurring from time to time
plainly show. International exhibitions are now
in fashion, and are fast receiving novel and sin-
gular developments. Perhaps the display at
the Agricultural-hall is neither the least striking
nor the least interesting of these develop-
ments ; and when one department of ani-
mated nature has been internationally illustrated, it
may be that all the rest in turn, er in combination
will follow. Be that, however, as it may, a rare
opportunity is now offered to the people of the me-
tropolis for studying one chapter in natural history
under peculiar advantages; for the Islington col-
lection abounds in every species and variety com-
prised within the wide circle of canine nomencla-
ture. There you have mustered, in the most con-
venient order for methodical inspection, a vast
array of " hounds, greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels,
curs, shoughs, water-rugs, demi-wolves"—in short
all that barks or is 'cleped by the name of dog.
Other dog shows have been held in this country,
but the present one far surpasses them all in the
excellence of the individual specimens no less than
' in the magnitude and completeness of the general
array.
The sporting dogs occupy the ground floor, along
which run low platforms plentifully littered with
straw, on which they are marshalled to receive the
attentions of their visitors. Commodious cages of
light wire netting are set apart for the tribe of
beagles, harriers, and foxhounds, to furnish:a goodly
contingent of which the best kennels in the king-
dom have been ransacked. The Prince of Wales's
pack contributes three couples of the finest hariers,
and 13 couples of the Duke of Beaufort's famous
foxhounds claim a central compartment all to them-
selves, in right of their pre-eminence. Many other
distinguished huntsmen are exhibitors. For some
specimens in this class very high prices are put
down. For example the figure £5OO is set against
a hound named Royal belonging to Mr. Colmore.
Among the best animals in the show are the black
and can shaggy coated otter hounds, most of which
appear by some accident to have slipped out of
the catalogue, A very handsome, fleet-like Russian
wolf hound, the property of the Duchess of Man-
chester, and valued at £l,OOO, attracted a great
deal of admiration. A less pleasing interest was
excited by an American and a Cuban slave-hound,
fierce and terrible in aspect. Blood-hounds, pointers,
retrievers, spaniels, and setters are very numerously
represented, the last named class looking particu-
larly glossy and graceful. Leaving the collection of
field dogs, the visitor ascends to the gallery, where
a bewildering variety of all the non-sporting classes
compete for his attention. First come the sheep
dogs of the English and Scotch breeds,—homely-
looking, but useful animals, whose quiet, faithful
habits make them great favourites. Next these is
the noble race of mastiffs—courageous and strong.
An English specimen of this valuable class, 33
inches in height, 1801 b. in weight, and not in-
aptly named " the Governor," won a considerable
amount of notice from the spectators, and a prize of
£lO from the judges. Then follow the far-famed
Mount St. Bernards and the trusty Newfoundlands,
whose ccmspicuous merits elicit the warm approval
of all. The next candidates are the surly forbid-
ding tribe of bulldogs, whom the cautious visitor
will admire, if he admires them at all, at a respect-
ful distance. A massive-jawed, powerful, but
moderate-sized specimen of this repulsive-looking
variety, rejoicing in the cognomen of King Dick,
and whose merits are appraised in money at £52 10s.,
carries off the first prize, in virtue, no doubt, among
other high qualities, of his superlatively ugly phy-
siognomy. The bull-terriers and terriers of the black
and tan, the white smooth-haired, and the fleecy
breeds, then succeed, until the Skyes, Dandie Din-
monts, Italian greyhounds, and King Charles spaniels
bring us into the thick of the pet and fancy classes.
Here, of course, the fair visitors linger longest, and
most fondly. These little canine aristocrats wear all
the airs and enjoy all the luxuries befitting their de-
licate nurture. Encircled in the neatest of cages,
sometimes enclosed in glass cases, and generally re-
clining upon the daintiest and softest of cushions,
they always receive the homage paid them with the
most perfect nonchalance. Poodles, pugs, toys, and
all other native and foreign lapdogs, prized either
for their diminutivess, their beauty, or their ugli-
ness, have a prominent place assigned them in this
endless collection. Several extra classes are appended
to the voluminous catalogue, amongst which are
monster dogs, Pomeranians, Japanese, Maltese,Chi-
nese, Dalmatian, Australian, Brazilian, and Esqui-
maux. In the monster variety Arslan, or the Lion,
belonging to Mr. Frank Buckland, gained the "high
commendation" of the umpires ; while Samson, a
noble-looking lion mastiff from Algiers, the pro-
perty of Mr. N. A. Woods, was singled out for a
£lO prize by his peerless characteristics. The en-
tire number of entries is nearly 1,700; and in con-
sequence of the very large muster in some of the
classes, the directors have added considerably to the
original prize list. The whole arrangements of the
show are excellent ; and the enormous size and pe-
culiar construction of the hall afford remarkable fa-
cilities for exhibiting the specimens to the best ad-
vantage. Throughout Monday and yesterday a
constant stream of spectators poured into the build-
ing, their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales being among the visitors on the opening
day. The show will continue open for the re-
mainder of the week, and, as the price of admission
is now reduced, the hall will no doubt be thronged
by the mass of holyday-keepers.
The award of the judges being a lengthy docu-
ment we have only space for the principal prizes,
which are as follows :