CLASSIFICATION OP DOGS. 63 



arch, the quarters be so wide, nor the lower thighs so de- 

 veloped as in the greyhound, but we must not forget that 

 perfect model for speed while we seek to combine this 

 quality with endurance. 



The bone of the legs, the pasterns, and the feet must 

 in strength and formation combine the features of these 

 parts in the greyhound and the foxhound. A dog weak 

 in these is, so to speak, weak all over — i. e., his otherwise 

 fine powers of intellect and body are of little use. The 

 chest is both deep and wide, but not in front or between 

 the fore-legs; capacity is attained by depth and spring 

 of ribs, but the chest must be keeled and in no sense 

 barrel-shaped, though in the English and Gordon setter 

 the back is wide ; the chest must be well ribbed back 

 (deep back-ribs.) In the setter the feet should be all that 

 is attained in the best pointers, but, in addition, have plenty 

 of hair between the toes as an additional protection. 



Coat on all these breeds must be very abundant, espe- 

 cially on ears, legs, breast, and tail, where it constitutes a 

 long fringe or " feather." This feather adds to the grace 

 of the setter, but is of questionable advantage, inasmuch 

 as it tends to catch all burs, etc., and must hamper as well 

 as possibly protect. The tendency seems to be, as greater 

 speed is sought for, to do with less feather, and, we think, 

 wisely. The pointer's coat is short and soft, but not fine 

 (silky, almost) as in the setter's. Yery great fineness of 

 texture of coat in either setters or pointers may indicate 

 lack of stamina, as a coarseness may suggest bad breeding, 

 or that the possessor is wanting in high psychical quality. 



As these breeds are never required " to go to earth," 



there is no necessity for a hard, much less a wiry, coat. 

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