INSECTS — IRISH SETTER 



Insects. — The coats of dogs naturally provide attractive 

 harbours for insects in general and fleas in particular. The 

 latter form of pest is unavoidable, as a dog which is kept 

 under the very best conditions as regards cleanliness is 

 always liable to be attacked by them when out of doors. 

 (See Fleas y Lice, Ticks ^ 



Irish Setter, — This very elegantly built, attractive 

 member of the setter family has increased a good deal in 

 popularity during the past few years, and it is quite safe to 

 offer the opinion that there are now more good specimens 

 of the breed to be found than was formerly the case. It 

 is certainly a more recent production than either the 

 English setter or the Gordon, but its origin is unascertain- 

 able, and all that can be said about the Irish setter in that 

 respect is that the breed was doubtless in existence some 

 eighty years ago or thereabouts. Since that comparatively 

 remote period the improvement of the Irish setter has been 

 the object of many breeders, the result being that sortiness 

 has increased. As a field-dog the Irish setter excels in 

 pace and possesses a very good nose, but he is apt to 

 be hot-headed and flush birds, so if not kept under con- 

 trol he may upset the steadiness of other dogs working 

 with him. Still, with all his faults, he is a wonderfully good 

 dog on game, and perhaps no greater tribute to his worth 

 has ever been paid than the statement made by the late 

 Mr. Edmund Laverack to a friend, that he contemplated 

 introducing a cross of Irish blood into the famous breed 

 of English setter which bears his name. 



The head of the Irish setter is long and lean, rather 

 domed at the top, the occipital protuberance being well 

 developed, and showing a slight stop between the eyes. 

 The muzzle is long and beautifully chiselled ; the nose, 

 which is large, projecting somewhat, and being of a dark- 

 brow^n colour ; whilst the eyes, which are rather inclined 

 to be small, are a brownish-hazel ; and the ears, which 

 are set on low, should be fine and hang close to the sides 



III 



