POINTERS AND SETTEES. 393 



cross, they give us the true race type of the English 

 setter as he existed in Europe for several centuries. In 

 stating that for a number of years this breed has eclipsed 

 all others in the field, I wish to record my belief that it 

 results from the fact that the appearance of the coat has 

 protected the breed from the hound, greyhound, and 

 bull-dog crosses that have so injured the pointer. 



Such crosses injure the appearance of the setter's coat 

 so much that their results are weeded out. 



Spaniel, collie, and poodle crosses hurt the coat less, 

 and are, to some degree, allowed to remain, but they do 

 infinitely less damage to the working instincts of a bird 

 dog than the smooth-haired crosses that have been 

 allowed to pollute the best pointer blood, and which 

 have only been bred out again in a few strains. 



The weight of the English setter should approximate 

 that of the pointer, but will average a little less. 



Like the pointer, the setter should stand high at the 

 shoulder and low at the rump, and there is much that is 

 identical in the proportions of working parts. But there 

 are essential differences marking the race type, and these 

 are important as indices of merit, although we should be 

 at a loss to explain their connection with the dog' s work. 



The scale of points is the same as for the pointer, 

 except in regard to coat, and to symmetry and quality, 

 which are rated at five points each. 



The skull should be lighter and narrower between the 

 ears than the pointer's, and should be without the occipi- 

 tal protuberance, although when that is present it is but 

 a trifling fault. The nose should be at least four inches 

 long, and wide at the end. Between the point and root 

 there should be no fullness, and the brows must rise 

 sharply from it. The nostrils should be wide apart, with 

 large openings; end moist and cool; color, black, or dark 

 brown; jaws exactly equal in length. The ears should be 



