no British Dogs. 



have been rare indeed, as so far as I know there is nob a dog living of any 

 breed whatever, if we except hounds, whose pedigree can be traced in a 

 manner that could be considered as proven for even one hundred years, 

 and it would still further mightily surprise me to find that the points of 

 all, or even one of the progenitors, had been as minutely described as 

 modern fanciers require. Hence, I fall back on general facts, and firmly 

 believe, with the writer I have quoted, that Irish sportsmen chose the 

 setter as best adapted to their purposes, and no one who has seen Irish 

 setters, especially as they are to be seen at Irish shows, will doubt that 

 the selection was a wise one, whether the originals were red or white and 

 red, for it is the general characteristic of both ; but I must say, to my mind 

 especially, of the reds, they impress one with their powers of hardihood 

 and endurance and defiance alike of rough country and rough weather ; 

 they have a " devil-may-care" look about them which plainly says it is 

 neither hard work, hard weather, nor hard living that will stop us, 

 although at the same time this same look creates a suspicion, if not of 

 actual stubbornness, at least of a wilful rollicking disposition chary of 

 too close restraint. 



Colour is the point which has been most warmly discussed since shows 

 were introduced, and, without going through the arguments and asser- 

 tions pro and con, I will merely observe that, so far, at least, as English 

 shows and English judges go, the deep blood-red, free from any black on 

 ears, ridge of back, or tail, and with as little white as possible a mere 

 line down the face and star on chest has gained the day, and any dog with 

 much white would in prize competition, judging from decisions of the last 

 few years, be very heavily handicapped, if not absolutely disqualified, and 

 I doubt very much if Dr. Stone' s grand old dog Dash were to visit the 

 scenes of his former triumphs, whether that "white snake round his 

 neck" would not mar his prospects. Our Irish friends provide distinct 

 classes for the reds and red and whites, they being two distinct types of 

 the Irish setter breed a course highly to be approved; for, however 

 little faith may be placed in a vague tradition that would rest purity of 

 blood in a shade of colour, the very existence of such traditions proves 

 that such points had existed in good dogs, and had been consequently 

 noted and valued by old breeders. Speaking personally, I prefer the 

 blood red, with as little white as possible, as it gives to the dogs a more 

 distinct character, or rather it adds to their pronounced family character 



I 



