48 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



than the fact that there must be no white on him; and it 

 has gone so far that a dog, be he ever so good, that has a 

 white spot would neither be salable, nor would he be ever 

 noticed at a show. You may rest assured that those who 

 judge a Red Setter in that manner have not gone any further 

 than the A, B, C of the matter. I refer all such to the 

 English Stud Book, wherein it is shown that the white is 

 perfectly legitimate, and that it may be found in every good 

 strain for many generations. It is so, has been so always, 

 and will be so forever. Indeed, it is, in my judgment, a 

 proof of purity of blood rather than anything else; for less 

 white is found in strains known to have the Gordon blood 

 than in the absolutely pure. Besides, the English and our 

 American standards admit the presence of white on chest or 

 toes, and a blaze or strip in forehead. The fashion, how- 

 ever, overrules in this, as in many other things, good com- 

 mon-sense; and I see that some of our enterprising breeders 

 are regulating their prices on this basis. Are we progress- 

 ing 3 Not unless we make it our first aim, in breeding, to 

 reach that degree of perfection which we find in the modern 

 English Setter and the high-class Pointer of to-day, in 

 their field-work. 



In order to attain these ends, I see no better way than 

 the rule followed by old-time sportsmen, to always select 

 the best working specimens, those possessed of high speed, 

 grand style, and perfect nose, and mate them with others as 

 good, or if possible, still better. Pay less attention to breed- 

 ing on paper and to the pedigree theory. Never mind the 

 show condition and the dark color, unless we find these all 

 in the one specimen; but remember what has been said 

 before on this subject. 



That one mating of two good specimens will do all you 

 desire, can not be expected. I have frequently noticed 

 that the sire will transmit his good qualities to the bitch 

 puppies, and they again will reproduce them in their male 

 offspring, oftener than directly to their own sons. What- 

 ever quality is bred for, must be constantly looked to for 

 several generations. This is the only sure way to get 



