102 DOMESTICATED DOGS FOR THE GUN. 



10. Symmetry and quality. In character the setter should dis- 

 play a great amount of " quality," a term which is difficult of ex- 

 planation, though fully appreciated by all experienced sportsmen. 

 It means a combination of symmetry, as understood by the artist, 

 with the peculiar attributes of the breed under examination, as in- 

 terpreted by the sportsman. Thus, a setter possessed of such a 

 frame and outline as to charm an artist would be considered by the 

 sportsman defective in " quality " if he possessed a curly or harsh 

 coat, or if he had a heavy head with pendent bloodhound-like jowl 

 and throaty neck. The general outline is very elegant, and more 

 taking to the eye of the artist than that of the pointer. 



11. The texture and feather of coat are much regarded among 

 setter breeders, a soft silky hair without curl being considered a 

 sine quii non. The feather should be considerable, and should 

 fringe the hind as well as the fore legs. 



12. The color of coat is not much insisted on among English set- 

 ters, a great variety being admitted. These arc now generally 

 classed as follows, in the order given : (1) Black and white ticked, 

 with large splashes, and more or less marked with black, known 

 as " blue Belton ; " (2) orange and white freckled, known as 

 orange Belton ; (3) plain orange, or lemon and white; (4) liver and 

 white; (5) black and white, with slight tan markings; (6) black 

 and white ; (7) liver and white ; (8) pure white ; (9) black ; (10) 

 liver; (11) red or yellow. 



THE BLACK-TAN OR GORDON SETTER. 



The black-tan setter, until the institution of shows, was com- 

 monly called "Gordon," from the fact that the Dukes of Gordon 

 had long possessed a strain of setters of that color, which had ob- 

 tained a high reputation. At the first dog show held at Newcastle 

 in June, 1859, Mr. Jobling's (of Morpeth) black and tan Dandy 

 was shown with success in an open class : and in November of the 

 same year Mr. Purdett's Brougham followed suit at Birmingham. 



