The English Setter. 105 



Many other writers might be quoted to the same effect, and it is quite 

 clear that the old setter was simply a spaniel kept to certain work, and 

 as useful to the old sportsman who netted his covey of partridge as his 

 modern representative is to the present "shooter on the wing," who is 

 content to bag his brace by a right and left from his patent breechloader. 

 Somerville, that thorough sportsman and true poet, gives a lucid and very 

 happy description of the working of the setter in the following lines : 



When autumn smiles, all beauteous in decay, 



And paints each chequered grove with various hues, 



My setter ranges in the new shorn fields, 



His nose in air erect ; from ridge to ridge, 



Panting, he bounds, his quartered ground divides 



In equal intervals, nor careless leaves 



One inch untried. At length the tainted gale 



His nostrils wide inhale, quick joy elates 



His beating heart, which, awed by discipline 



Severe, he dares not own, but cautious creeps 



Low-cowering, step by step ; at last attains 



His proper distance, there he stops at once, 



And points with his instructive nose upon 



The trembling prey. On wings of wind upborne 



The floating net unfolded flies ; then drops, 



And the poor fluttering captives rise in vain. 



These were the halcyon days of sport when driving, battues, and 

 mowing machines were alike unknown, and, rude as the appliances 

 for taking game were, they gave full play to the capabilities of a good 

 setter, the clever working of which gave such genuine pleasure to the 

 sportsman. 



Whether the modern setter has been produced from the spaniel by care- 

 ful selection, or by a cross with the pointer or some other breed, it is 

 difficult to decide ; many have supposed the flat coat has been obtained 

 by a cross, but selection would quite account for that, as well as the 

 change in formation. 



Since the institution of dog shows and field trials a considerable impetus 

 has been given to dog breeding, and in the strife for fame none has been 

 so successful as the Laveracks, which, for elegance of outline, are unsur- 

 passed by any breed of dogs. These, and crosses from them, are now 

 pretty well spread over the country, and are also very fashionable in 

 America. Sam, late the property of Mr. W. Wardlaw Eeid, and the 

 subject of our engraving, was a pure Laverack, brother to Mr. Purcell 



