46 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



type is displayed, not only in the over-prominent occiput, 

 the pendulous ears, the deep flews, but also in the voice and 

 in the carriage of the tail; and above all, in the abominable 

 style of so many Irish Reds in the field, who follow scent 

 with nose close to the ground, carrying their tails curved 

 over their backs without any action at all. 



Many sportsmen of modern ideas condemn the Red 

 Setter on account of these defects found in individuals, and 

 there is a wide-spread prejudice that he is very head- 

 strong, requiring breaking every season, and is unreliable 

 on game; yet few that have owned really good ones are 

 willing to concede all this. Such assertions have their 

 origin, not in practical trial of good specimens of the breed, 

 but largely in the rehearsal of superannuated writings. 



If you will compare the oldest works on the dog with 

 our modern writings, especially of English origin, you will 

 find the same old story, copied by one from another, credit 

 seldom being given; and the whole breed suffers to-day 

 from the criticisms probably well deserved of some rank 

 specimen that may have lived before the flood. 



This is not an uncommon occurrence in books on various 

 subjects, more especially those treating of natural history; 

 and we may often excuse the author, for he errs through 

 ignorance. 



No breeder of any of our best strains of Irish Setters will 

 acknowledge that they are less tractable or more forgetful 

 than other sporting dogs indeed, I know many that are per- 

 fect in disposition, at home or afield; and while they are full 

 of fire and are high-strung as a rule, if given the proper train- 

 ing, they will prove all right, and even more enduring than 

 most other breeds of Pointers or Setters. The fact that many 

 professional hunters use and prefer the Red Setter, speaks 

 volumes in favor of his high' qualities and endurance. 

 For the hardest kind of every-day work, during the whole 

 season, we see many market-shooters use the Red dog, as 

 the most reliable to work on partridge and woodcock, in 

 cold or hot weather alike. Are not these men competent to 

 select the dog that suits their purpose best \ They certainly 



