The Irish Setter. 109 



CHAPTER XVIII. THE IRISH SETTER. 

 BY CORSINCON. 



" A VETERAN SPORTSMAN," author of " A Correct Delineation of the 

 Canine Race," \vriting in 1803, says : " The sporting gentlemen of 

 Ireland are more partial to setters than pointers, and probably they are 

 better adapted to that country. Setters, it is presumed, cover more 

 ground than pointers, are not so liable to be footsore, and can bear the 

 changes of weather much better than the latter, which they term the 

 smooth spaniel. The fields in many parts of Ireland are large, very 

 rugged, and stony ; the rains sudden, sharp, severe, and driving. Setters, 

 therefore, particularly suit the country they go over; to this may be 

 added the grouse shooting, which is excellent, and it is a universally- 

 received opinion that this species of dog only is equal to the fatigues of 

 it." The writer I have quoted from does not attempt any description 

 of the setter in use in Ireland in his sporting days, nor dwell on his 

 points after the manner of our modern dog show critics ; but, instead, he 

 gives briefly the fact that the dog selected by Irish sportsmen was one 

 specially adapted to the circumstances of the country and climate in which 

 he had to work, a most important fact, which I think dog show managers, 

 judges, and others cannot have too often brought under their notice, for 

 there is undoubtedly an evil tendency in our dog show system to forget 

 the fitness of the dog for his work, which should exist, and indeed should 

 be made a sine qud non, and to exalt far above their legitimate value, 

 points of beauty and arbitrary standards of perfection, giving undue 

 weight to matters of comparatively little moment, such as the existence of 

 a few dozen white hairs, more or less, the colour of the eyelashes, and the 

 precise carriage of the tail to a line minutely described and insisted on. 

 I by no means say that beauty and utility should not be combined, but 

 great care should be exercised that in setting up a fancy standard we 

 do not sacrifice to it absolutely essential or even desirable characteristics. 

 I for one have little faith in the fabulous pedigrees I hear of, and as little 

 in the assertions that a shade of colour is a proof of long descent in this 

 or any other breed. Such a thing as well kept stud books must, at least, 



