314 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



A great deal of absurd nonsense has been written about the 

 breed and race of the Setter, from the mass of which I shall select 

 the following passage for two reasons, first that it reaches the 

 very climax of possible stupidity, and second, that it is from the 

 pen of one who should know better, at least to merit the reputa- 

 tion he has acquired ; being no other than the person who has 

 gained very considerable celebrity as the author of" The Sports- 

 man in France," " The Sportsman in Ireland and Scotland," 

 and " The Spoitsman in Canada." 



After stating that the Setter is his favorite dog in the field, 

 and decidedly the most useful for general shooting in France," 

 Mr. Tolfrey actually proceeds to give the following receipt for 

 jviAKiNG A BREED OF SETTERS, forgetful, apparently, that it is 

 very unnecessary to set about making, what nature has already 

 made in perfection to our hand, and c^uite ignorant, it should 

 seem, that it is impossible to make a pure strain from any com- 

 bination of crosses. There is no doubt whatever that the true 

 Setter is a pure strain of unmixed Spaniel blood, the only 

 improvement produced in the breed arising from its judicious 

 cultivation, by the selection of the largest, healthiest and hand- 

 somest individuals of both sexes from which to rear a progeny, 

 and by the careful development of their qualities, by scientific 

 feeding, exercising, and bringing into condition. The following 

 receipt may therefore make a useful mongrel, but can no more 

 make a Setter, than crossing a Quagga, a Zebra and a Cana- 

 dian pony — all varieties of the horse breed — can make a 

 thorough-bred. 



" The preliminary step," he says, "is to put a fine bred and 

 unexceptionable P obiter bitch to a noted Foxhound ; you will 

 then have laid the foundation of three essential qualities, speed, 

 nose and courage. Docility and sagacity are also requisites, 

 and to obtain them cross the offspring with the small and 

 slender race of Newfoundland dog. The produce will be as 

 near perfection as possible ; they will take to the water, re- 

 tiieve, and for general shooting will be found the very best and 

 most useful animal the sportsman can desire." 



