CHOOSING A DOG. 213 



Laverack speaks of a visit to Castle Gordon, two years 

 after the death of the Duke, and says, "then and now, all 

 the Gordon Castle Setters were black, white and tan." 



Without regard to where the cross was obtained, all 

 judges agree that the only admissible colors for the Gordon 

 are black and tan; black, white and tan; deep red; and 

 pure black. These colors must also be extreme shades 

 thut is, the black must be a raven black, and the red a rich 

 blood hue. This restriction of color certainly marks this 

 dog as clearly as possible, and when taken in connection 

 with his peculiar form, renders it impossible to confound 

 him with any other. The only possibility of error would 

 be in mistaking the red Gordons for Irish dogs, but the 

 build and general appearance of the two differ so much 

 that there is but little chance for this, provided the exam- 

 iner has any knowledge of the two breeds. 



Now, as each of these great varieties of Setters has its 

 own predominant color, it becomes evident that it is pos- 

 sible for a good dog to have a bad color: that is, for a good 

 dog in the field to be of a color which proves he has other 

 blood in his veins than that which his name indicates. For 

 instance, if a man has an orange and white, liver, or liver 

 and white dog and calls him a Gordon, the skilled judge, 

 knowing that such colors do not belong to the Gordon at 

 all, at once pronounces the dog not pure. Neither would 

 a blue ticked dog pass for Irish, nor a blood red for a Lav- 

 eraek, unless in the latter case sufficiently strong evidence 

 be brought forward to prove descent despite the suspicious 

 color. 



Color, then, affords one of the best standards by which 

 a purchaser can judge the purity of blood in the Setter 

 offered him. It is also essential that he have sufficient idea 

 of the build and form of each breed to avoid error when 

 the colors confound him. 



Being assured of the blood, examine the dog carefully to 

 see that he is well formed for endurance, pace, nose, and 

 intelligence. In the Setter, the head should be high and 

 arched between the ears. The nose, from the corner of 



