262 BRITISH DOGS 



by selecting a mate which, in those special particulars, he considered 

 calculated to do so. In this manner Mr. Llewellin may be said to 

 have attained the object for which he had worked for many years 

 viz. the combining of great beauty with surpassing field excellence. 

 And this was abundantly proved by the practical invincibility of 

 his strain, both in the field and on the show-bench. 



Some fine specimens of this strain were exported many years 

 since to America, where they became very celebrated, and appear 

 to have entirely regenerated the transatlantic aboriginal. Report 

 says, however, that in these days "the Llewellin Setter," as bred 

 by American breeders, has greatly deteriorated. This is not re- 

 markable, as inbreeding without the most scientific selection must 

 always be a failure. Some people breed entirely from pedigree, 

 irrespective of looks and performances, others entirely from looks, 

 others again entirely from performances. Each of these methods 

 by itself is suicidal, and must result sooner or later, and generally 

 sooner, in the utter ruin of any breed. 



The Llewellin Setter has been much used for crossing with 

 other breeds, and would have been more so if individuals had 

 not been so very hard to procure. Mr. Llewellin has always been 

 very jealous of his dogs, and on several occasions has refused 

 sums of four figures for certain individuals. Still, wherever this 

 blood has been used, as in the kennels of Captain Lonsdale, who 

 had some good old blood of his own, Colonel Cotes, Mr. Webber, 

 the well-known Bishops, and others, it has had a marked effect. 

 The most noteworthy instance of this that the writer can call to 

 mind was in the case of Mr. Webber, who purchased, many years 

 ago, a Llewellin puppy at Aldridge's, and mixing the blood with his 

 own curious breed, produced such a celebrated dog as " Prince W." 

 In the next generations, however, the principles of selection were 

 disregarded, and the usual result appeared. 



The Llewellin Setter has a peculiar character of its own which 

 once seen is unmistakable. On more than one occasion the writer 

 himself has identified individuals where he had no suspicion what- 

 ever that they could be present. He saw a dog once in the street 

 of a town in the wilds of British Columbia, and spotted it at once. 



The English Setter that one now sees at field trials and 

 shows has dwindled down to a much smaller size than that of its 

 progenitors. Mr. Llewellin's strain alone seems to have preserved, 

 very nearly if not quite, its normal stature. Here are the measure- 

 ments of a dog and a bitch at present in his possession ; they are 

 of the same litter, of unstained pedigree, and about four years old ; 

 both have great beauty and quality, and are perfect in the field. 



Dan Wind 'Em. Height at shoulder, 25^111. ; length from tip of 

 nose to root of tail, 34-in. ; length of head, gin. ; girth of chest, 

 32|in. ; girth of loin, 24gin. 



