Chapter 4 ~ Variations ~ from "Bird Dogs, Their History and Achievements" by A. F. Hochwalt, 1922

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Chapter 4

(~Excerpt~)
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Variations

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from:
"Bird Dogs, Their History
and Achievements"

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by A. F. Hochwalt

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Published by Sportsman Digest
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Cincinnati (United States of America)
1922

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The foregoing chapters are devoted to the various family trees that go to make up the history of the English Setter in America, but there are certain variations that play a certain part in the evolution of the breed which deserves at least some mention.

Among such is the setter May Fly, imported by G. O. Smith, in 1901. May Fly came direct from the kennels of R. Purcell Llewellin, but he is not a Llewellin in the sense that it is understood in this country. In the pedigree of this dog is some of the Irish Setter blood which Llewellin introduced into his kennel before the days that he began experimenting with the Duke-Rhoebes.

At this juncture, it is expedient to point out that Mr. Llewellin was not so keen to keep the Duke-Rhoebe-Laverack blood unadulterated as his American satellites. When he found it necessary to introduce new blood, he did so and this new blood comes through some of the dogs that go to make up the breeding of May Fly.

Naturally, here in America, the one-hundred-percenters had little to do with May Fly, but others who were looking for bird dogs had no such qualms. May Fly proved to be a good influence through certain lines. He produced bird dogs and many of his daughters carried on this quality when bred to the regulation lines.

An instance of this is Commissioner, the dog which won the National Championship in 1912. In a direct line, May Fly produced a number of minor winners also, chief among which was Courier Journal.

Another dog which at the present time is prominently before the public is Phil's Speed Ben, owned by William Smathers, of Atlantic City, New Jersey. This dog comes through Phil S. which is by Prince Whitestone, the National Champion of 1907.

Prince, on his dam's side, had the Prince Lucifer blood which comes from Count Noble, though Prince Lucifer was an out-cross on his dam's side. The dam of Phil S. was Brit Fly, strong in the May Fly blood.

Consequently, it is easy to understand why Phil's Speed Ben, the son of Phil S., is a bird dog. He comes from bird dog families on all sides. Judge Endicott, owned by Allen B. Endicott, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, is a litter brother and fully as good but he died young ...

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