THE ENGLISH SETTER. 41 



often compared to a scimiter, but it resembles it only in 

 respect of its narrowness; the amount of curl in the blade 

 of this Turkish 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 com- 

 posed of straight, silky hairs; and beyond the root, the less 

 short hair on the flag the better, especially toward the 

 point, of which the bone should be fine, and the feather 

 tapering with it. 



Symmetry and quality (value 5). In character, the Set- 

 ter should display a great amount of "quality," 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 "quality" if he possessed a 

 curly or harsh coat, or if he had a heavy head, with pend- 

 ent, 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 texture and feather of coat (value 5) are much 

 regarded among the Setter breeders; a soft, silky hair, 

 without curl, being considered a sine qua non. The feather 

 should be considerable, and should fringe the hind as well 

 as the fore legs. 



The color of coat (value 5) 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 "blue belton;" 



(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 



