i8 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



Good Tvpk of Sirni.R 



their long thighs and vigorous loins. Their 

 undulating silky hair does not render them very 

 suitable for hunting over a bushy country, but 

 in all other respects they are invaluable sport- 

 ing dogs. 



The Scotch, or Gordon, setter has a rather 

 larger head than other setters, with a larger 

 muzzle and longer ears ; he is black, with tan 

 markings on the jaws, above the eyes, on the 

 paws, and on the articulations. If we caii 



beliexe tradition, a Duke of Gordon obtained 

 the breed by a crossing of his dogs with a 

 Scotch collie, or sheep dog, which excelled in 

 hunting partridges. They have had their epoch 

 of fame since 1S53, ^vhen some fine speci- 

 mens of the breed were sent to a bench show. 

 They are, and by good right, much in \'ogue 

 as pleasure dogs and companions. 



The Irish setters e.xcel especially in their 

 magnificent golden or red-brown color, which 

 gives additional charm to their elegant shape. 



H.WDso.ME I'.^iR OF Gordon Si/iters 



Gl-K.\1.\.N ."^lloRl-H.VDiFD HlNTI.NG DOO 



They are by nature quick and agile in their 

 movements, like the English setter, which, 

 however, has rather shorter legs. Their eyes, 

 which are hazel brown, have an expression 

 of great gentleness. 



Certain German sporting dogs. The Ger- 

 man pointing dogs with smooth coats are 

 of quite another kind. The\' are much 

 valued for sporting in their own country 

 and elsewhere, — in Holland, for instance, 

 — for they are strong constitutionally and 

 are not injured by rain or by mud in the 

 ditches. They are excellent for partridges 

 and hares ; they do not always carry their 

 noses in the air, but often follow the trail 

 of the game along the soil. Their usefulness 

 is considerably increased by their almost 

 perfect intelligence and the ease with which 

 they can be trained. Much time elapsed, 

 however, before their breeding was brought 



