180 MANUAL FOR YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



and wiry frame, a longer head, a less silky and straighter 

 coat, than those of the English breed. His color ought 

 to be a deep orange-red, or orange-red and white ; a com- 

 mon mark is a strip of white between the eyes, a white 

 ring round the neck, white stockings, and a white tag to 

 the tail ; all the rest deep red. 



Unless the nose, palate, and lips are black, they are 

 not in Ireland esteemed pure ; and I consider the point a 

 test of blood and a proof of hardiness in all breeds; I 

 doubt a liver-colored, and detest a flesh-colored, muzzle. 



The characteristics of the thorough Irish setter are, 

 often savage ferocity of temper, always extreme courage, 

 high spirit and indomitable pluck. They are naturally 

 wild, and given to riot to the verge of indocility, require 

 much breaking, I had almost said continual breaking, a 

 jealous eye, a resolute will, and a tight hand over them. 

 With these, they are of undeniable excellence. 



They are not, however, by any means the right kind 

 for young sportsmen, or for any sportsmen but those who 

 are constantly in the field whenever game is in season ; for 

 such, their hardihood and pluck renders them invaluable. 



They cross well with the English setter, if it can be 

 called a cross, when it is but an intermarriage of cousins, 

 and the progeny lose something of the temper and gain 

 something of hardness. 



The only remaining pure variety of setter to be 

 noticed is the Russian, which is rarely or never met with 

 in this country. 



It is an admirable creature, docile, good and gentle, to 

 a charm. Enduring, beyond any other race, of cold and 



