694 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



tuting the necessary comparison, their selection may be accepted as final. But as Setters are 

 specially required to stand wet and heather, it is imperatively necessary that there should be 

 a good growth of hair between the toes, and on this account a hare foot, well clothed with 

 hair, as it generally is, must be preferred to a cat foot, naked, as is often the case, except on 

 the upper surface. 



The Tail. The flag is in appearance very characteristic of the -breed, although it some 

 times happens that one or two puppies in a well-bred litter exhibit a curl or other malforma 

 tion, usually considered to be indicative of a stain. It is often compared to a scimitar, but it 

 resembles it only in respect of its narrowness, the amount of curl in the blade of this Turk 

 ish weapon being far too great to make it the model of the Setter s flag. Again, it has been 

 compared to a comb; but as combs are usually straight, here again the simile fails, as the 

 Setter s flag should have a gentle sweep; and the nearest resemblance to any familiar form is 

 to the scythe with its curve reversed. The feather must be composed of straight, silky hairs, 

 and beyond the root the less short hair on the flag the better, especially towards the point, of 

 which the bone should be fine, and the feather tapering with it. 



Symmetry and Quality, In character the Setter should display a great amount of 

 &quot; quality,&quot; a term which is difficult of explanation, though fully appreciated by all experienced 

 sportsmen. It means a combination of symmetry, as understood by the artist, with the 

 peculiar attributes of the breed under examination, as interpreted by the sportsman. Thus 

 a Setter possessed of such a frame and outline as to charm an artist would be considered by 

 the sportsman defective in &quot;quality&quot; if he possessed a curly or harsh coat, or if he had a 

 heavy head with pendent bloodhound-like jowl and throaty neck. The general outline is 

 very elegant, and more taking to the eye of the artist than that of the pointer. 



The Hair. The texture and feather of coat are much regarded among setter breeders, 

 a soft, silky hair without curl being considered a sine qud non. The feather should be con 

 siderable, and should fringe the hind as well as the fore legs. 



Color. The color of coat is not much insisted on among English setters, a great variety 

 being admitted. These are now generally classed as follows, in the order given: (1) Black 

 and white ticked, with large splashes, and more or less marked with black, known as &quot; blue 

 Belton; &quot; (2) orange and white freckled, known as orange Belton; (3) plain orange, or lemon 

 and white; (4) liver and white; (5) black and white, with slight tan markings; (6) black 

 and white; (7) liver and white; (8) pure white; (9) black; (10) liver; (11) red or yellow. 



The Irish Setter. This breed has great stamina and endurance, as well as valuable 

 qualities in other respects, being sagacious, quick, courageous, and as good on the scent of 

 game as sporting dogs will average. His style of moving is easy, with a free action of the 

 shoulders, and his hind legs brought well under him. There are two varieties or strains of 

 the Irish Setter, the red, and the white and red. &quot;Rory O More&quot; and &quot;Mag,&quot; illustrations 

 of which are given, are both fine specimens of this breed, having won many prizes at shows. 

 &quot;Rory &quot; made his first appearance in public as a show dog in New York under the auspices 

 of the Westminster Kennel Club in 1877. Although then only nineteen months old, he car 

 ried away the first prize from a host of competitors. On the same occasion a $250 cup 

 offered for the finest specimen of a dog of any breed, including native or imported setters or 

 pointers, was awarded to him. 



&quot;Rory&quot; was again on the bench at the shows given in New York in 1879 and 1880, 

 at both of which he was the captor of the highest honors, being awarded the championship 

 again the first year, and the Tiffany necklace the second. He has since that time continued 

 to maintain his good record in capturing prizes. &quot;Mag&quot; was a winner of the first prize in 

 the puppy class at the New York Bench Show in 1880. She was also a winner of the second 

 prize in the open class at New York in 1881. 



