336 Modern Dogs. 



Gordon setters performing at Field Trials during the 

 past ten years that I have attended them, and I 

 think this must be taken as proof positive that he 

 is not so good as either the English or Irish strains. 



Even on the show bench he is not what he was. 

 Mr. Jobling's Dandie won the first prize at the first 

 dog show ever held, and took the cup as the best 

 setter in the exhibition. Then " Idstone's " Kent in 

 his day (1863-65) won pretty well all before him in 

 the ring, and created quite a furore when he first 

 appeared at Cremorne in 1863, exhibited by Sir 

 Edward Hoare. He there won the first prize, and, 

 notwithstanding the fact of his being without pedi- 

 gree, was purchased by Mr. Pearce for about ^30. 

 Although Sir Edward Hoare had obtained this dog 

 from a rabbit catcher on the Hothfield estate, who 

 said it had been suckled on a cat, pains were taken 

 to find out that he had a pedigree. In the end 

 his dam was said to be a black and tan bitch of 

 " Adamson's," his sire Shot by Mr. Jobling's 

 Scamp his Nell, the latter by a liver and tan dog 

 of Sir Matthew Ridley's. No doubt Kent was 

 properly bred, for his stock were so far satisfactory 

 both in field work and in appearance. 



Perhaps there may be a brighter future for the 

 Gordon setter now that a club has been established 

 to look after his welfare. Still, it should have held 



