THE IRISH SETTER 287 



shooting or field work, who do most of the breeding, and whose bench 

 wins and dogs are therefore more widely known and referred to. 



With regard to the appearance of the Irish Setter, the Red Setter 

 Club has published a description, by which it holds these dogs should 

 be judged, the various points being set out as follows : 



Head.- Should be long and lean. The skull oval (from ear to ear), having 

 plenty of brain room, and with well-defined occipital protuberance. Brows 

 raised, showing stop. The muzzle moderately deep, and fairly square at end. 

 From the stop to the point of the nose should be long, the nostrils wide, and the 

 jaws of nearly equal length, flews not to be pendulous The colour of the nose 

 dark mahogany or dark walnut, and that of the eyes (which ought not to be too 

 large) rich hazel or brown. The ears to be of moderate size, fine in texture, set 

 on low, well back, and hanging in a neat fold close to head. 



Neck. Should be moderately long, very muscular, but not too thick, slightly 

 arched, free from all tendency to throatiness. 



Body. Should be long. Shoulders fine at the points, deep, and sloping well 

 back. The chest as deep as possible, rather narrow in front. The ribs well 

 sprung, leaving plenty of lung room. Loins muscular and slightly arched. The 

 hindquarters wide and powerful. 



Legs and Feet. The hind legs from hip to hock should be long and muscular ; 

 from hock to heel, short and strong. The stifle and hock joints well bent, and 

 not inclined either in or out. The fore legs should be straight and sinewy, 

 having plenty of bone, with elbows free, well let down, and, like the hocks, not 

 inclined either in or out. The feet small, very firm ; toes strong, close together 

 and arched. 



Tail. Should be of moderate length, set on rather low, strong at root, and 

 tapering to a fine point ; to be carried as nearly as possible on a level with or 

 below the back. 



Coat. On the head, front of legs, and tips of ears, should be short and fine ; 

 but on all other parts of the body and legs it ought to be of moderate length, 

 flat, and as free as possible from curl or waves. 



Feathering. The feather on the upper portion of the ears should be long and 

 silky ; on the back of the fore and hind legs long and fine ; a fair amount of hair 

 on the belly, forming a nice fringe, which may extend on chest and throat. Feet 

 to be well feathered between toes. Tail to have a nice fringe of moderately long 

 hair, decreasing in length as it approaches the point. All feathering to be as 

 straight and as flat as possible. 



Colour and Markings. The colour should be a rich golden chestnut, with no 

 trace whatever of black ; white on chest, throat, or toes, or a small star on the 

 forehead, or a narrow streak or blaze on the nose or face not to disqualify 



STANDARD OF POINTS 



Head ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 



Eyes ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 



Ears ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 



Neck ... ... ... ... ... 4 



Body ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 



Hind Legs and Feet ... ,. ... ... ... 10 



Fore Legs and Feet ... ... ... .. 10 



Tail 4 



Coat and Feather ... ... ... ... ... 10 



Colour ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 



Size, Style, and General Appearance ... ... .,. 14 



Total ... ... 100 



