66 THE DOG IN HEALTH. 



carried, "sting-like" tail is a fine feature in a pointer, 

 and a similar carriage, with a nice feather to the tail, adds 

 greatly to a setter's appearance. Nevertheless, it has so 

 little to do with actual hunting ability that it should count 

 but little in the total estimate. 



Coat. — Decidedly silky in the English setter, not quite 

 so much so in the Irish, and harder and coarser in the 

 Gordon. In none should there be any tendency to w^avi- 

 ness or curl ; in the pointer not silky, but soft and mellow. 

 In all these breeds the coat should be close-lying and 

 dense. 



Color. — To this, great importance is not attached in the 

 English setter or pointer ; liver and white in the latter, 

 and black, white, and tan, and the " blue belton," or white 

 with fine black flecks, giving a roughly ink-splashed ap- 

 pearance, are tlie most preferred now in the former. In 

 the Irish setter the dark or mahogany-red is the choice 

 color. In the Gordon, color, though it is set down at five 

 per cent., is really valued higher. The same importance, 

 though in a minor degree, is attached to the black and the 

 tan being pure and distinct, as in the black and tan ter- 

 rier ; and though it is admitted that the original Gordons 

 were black, tan, and white, the latter is now greatly ob- 

 jected to, except a little on the breast, which, as in the 

 Irish setter, is of no account. 



The black must be deep and pure, the tan a rich or 

 warm mahogany-red, and confined to a spot over each 

 eye, lips, cheeks, throat, fore-legs nearly to elbows, hind- 

 legs to stifles, and on under side of flag, but not running 

 into its long hair. 



It will scarcely be necessary to add anything to what 



