ENGLISH SETTER.—Canis familiaris. 
There aré several breeds of these animals, three of which are represented in the 
engraving. The Dog which occupies the foreground is an ordinary English Setter, the 
seated Dog towards the back is a Russian Setter, and the reclining Dog is an Inish Setter. 
Each of these breeds possesses its particular excellences, which are combined in expe- 
rienced and skilful hands by careful admixtures of one breed with another. 
The Russian Setter is a curious animal in appearance, the fur being so long and 
woolly in texture, and so thoroughly matted together, that the form of the Dog is rendered 
ite indistinct. It is by no means a common animal, and is but seldom seen. It is an 
dmirable worker, quartering its ground very closely, seldom starting game without first 
‘king them ; and possessed of a singularly delicate nose. In spite of its heavy coat, it 
bears heat-as.avell as the lighter-clad pointer, and better than the ordinary English Setters, 
with their ouaty locks. When crossed with the English Setter it produces a mixed breed, 
which seems to be as near perfection as can be expected in a Dog, and which unites the 
good properties of both parents. A well-known sportsman, when trying these Dogs 
against his own animal, which he fondly thought to be unrivalled, found that the Russian 
animals obtained three points where his own Dog only made one. and that from their 
quiet way of getting over the ground they did not put up the birds out of gun-range, as 
was too often the case with his own swifter-footed Dogs. 
The muzzle of this animal is bearded almost as much as that of the deerhound and 
the Scotch terrier, and the overhanging hair about the eyes gives it a look of self-relying 
intelligence that is very suggestive of the expression of a Skye terrier’s countenance. The 
soles of the feet are well covered with hair, so that the Dog is able to bear plenty of hard 
work among heather or other rough substances. 
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