282 BRITISH DOGS 



withers, and rather drooping quarters. They had a great reputation 

 as working dogs, and undoubtedly possessed great staying powers. 

 A number of these were observed in America, where the Black- 

 and-tan Setter was a great favourite, and is deservedly so at the 

 present time. In France and Belgium this variety is even more 

 popular than on this side. 



While this variety probably owes much to the Red Setter, 

 and we have a number of examples of this introduction as 

 Moll IV., bred by a Champion Irish Setter out of a Black-and-tan 

 bitch still, those who have tried it in recent years find it difficult 

 to produce the desired result, usually getting the progeny all black 

 with an odd red one. Mr. Purcell Llewellin has crossed with the 

 Laverack, producing a beautiful orange Belton. 



This handsome Setter will always have his admirers, and the 

 success of Stylish Ranger in recent field trials may probably induce 

 others to compete more frequently with the English and Irish 

 varieties, and possibly repeat the success gained by this breed in the 

 early sixties. Stylish Ranger was bred by Mr. Chapman, and is 

 by Heather Crack out of Fairy, and trained by his owner, Mr. Isaac 

 Sharpe (Keith, N.B.). In the opinion of the latter, " If you get the 

 right breed of Gordon, I think they are the best of all Setters ; but 

 I don't like them too heavy nor with thick shoulders. Most of the 

 puppies quarter their ground naturally, and point first time they go 

 on the moor, and I think they are more easily trained than any 

 other breed of Setter. I have had Gordons for twenty-five years, 

 and I very seldom get a waster." Heather Crack, the sire of Stylish 

 Ranger, was a frequent winner on the bench, which is another link in 

 support of our belief that our sporting dogs, or at least our Setters, 

 have not been ruined by " benching " them. 



Many good sportsmen who have had experience of this variety 

 believe that they are hardier and have greater stamina than any 

 other breed of sporting dog, and on a bad scenting day they 

 certainly often excel in " picking up a scent." They are invaluable 

 at finding wounded game, and, possibly owing to their fondness for 

 dropping their nose, have had some detractors. Again, it has been 

 asserted that they are hard to train and are difficult to control. 

 Undoubtedly the Gordon is a bold dog, of high courage, and of a 

 lively temperament, and while there may be instances of dogs 

 impatient of control, still the average of this variety is a very high 

 one, and, to again quote from those gentlemen whose names have 

 been already mentioned in this article, " they don't often have a 

 bad Gordon." 



In the selection of a puppy of this breed the colour is naturally 

 of the first importance, because, no matter how handsome he may 

 be in other respects, the loss of the characteristic markings will 

 deprive the puppy of the greater part of. his beauty. Luckily for 



