33 Modern Dogs. 



a fan in the kennel meadow. . . . Originally 

 the Gordon setters were all black and tans ; 

 now, all the setters in the Castle are black, tan, a d 

 white, with a little tan on the toes, muzzle, root of 

 the tail, and round the eyes. The late Duke of 

 Gordon liked it, as it was both gayer and not so 

 difficult to back on the hillside as the dark coloured. 

 They are light in frame and merry wwkers, and 

 1 better put up half a dozen birds,' says Jubb, ' than 

 make a false point.' 



Various opinions have been expressed as to how 

 the original black and tan setter of the heavy type 

 was obtained. He was a bigger and coarser dog 

 than any other of his race, and his deep rich colour, 

 heavy head, preponderance of haw in many cases, 

 and strong dewlap, betrayed a not very remote cross 

 with the bloodhound ; and, judging from appearances, 

 I have not the slightest doubt that, at one time or 

 another, this hound blood has entered into his com- 

 position. A single dash would do the trick nicely, 

 and such would account for the tendency in some of 

 the heavier Gordons to, like the Irish setter, hunt the 

 ground when at a loss, rather than carry the head 

 high and sniff the wind. 



Impure blood such as this in the strain has never 

 been acknowledged, but even admirers of the breed 

 in " all its purity " have not objected to the state- 



