40 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



up-and-down gallop. StiHes well bent and set wide apart, 

 to allow the hind legs to be brought forward with liberty in 

 the gallop. 



Legs, elbows, and Jiocks (value 12). The elbows and 

 toes, which generally go together, should be straight; and 

 if not, the "pigeon-toe," or in-turned leg, is less objec- 

 tionable than the out-turn, in which the elbow is confined 

 by its close attachment to the ribs. The arm should be 

 muscular, and the bone fully developed, with strong and 

 broad knees; short pasterns, of which the size, in point of 

 bone, should be as great as possible (a very important 

 point), and their slope not exceeding a very slight deviation 

 from the straight line. Many good judges insist upon a 

 perfectly upright pastern, like that of the Foxhound; but 

 it must not be forgotten that the Setter has to stop himself 

 suddenly when at full stretch he catches scent, and to do 

 this with an upright and rigid pastern causes a consider- 

 able strain on the ligaments, soon ending in "knuckling 

 over;" hence a very slight bend is to be preferred. The 

 hind legs should be muscular, with plenty of bone, clean, 

 strong hocks, and hairy feet. 



The feet (value 8) should be carefully examined, as upon 

 their capability of standing wear and tear depends the util- 

 ity of the dog. A great difference of opinion exists as to 

 the comparative merits of the cat and hare foot for stand- 

 ing work. Foxhound masters invariably select that of the 

 cat; and as they have better opportunities than any other 

 class of instituting the necessary comparison, their selection 

 may be accepted as final. But as Setters are especially 

 required to stand wet and heather, it is imperatively neces- 

 sary 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 flag (value 5) is in appearance very characteristic of 

 the breed, although it sometimes happens that one or two 

 puppies in a well-bred litter exhibit a curl or other malfor- 

 mation, usually considered to be indicative of a stain. It is 



