34 Modern Dogs. 



out, and in no case where it appears so marked 

 should a prize be given the dog, or should it be 

 used for stud purposes. However, I give the 

 following chief portion of the club's description 

 because it was issued by an authoritative body : 



There seems to be little authentic information as to the origin 

 of the Gordon setter. Authorities, however, agree that originally the 

 colour was black, white, and tan ; the opinion of the late Dr. Walsh 

 (" Stonehenge ") that he is a compound of collie, bloodhound, and 

 English or Irish setter, and that the foundation of the breed was 

 derived from a mixture of these is to a large extent borne out by 

 the general character of the dog, as exhibited in the best speci- 

 mens. Of late years no doubt the breed has been tampered with 

 for show purposes, and crosses, more particularly with the Irish 

 setter, with the idea of improving the colour, have been resorted to 

 to the detriment of the dog, both for show bench and field pur- 

 poses. Probably the pale buff in the place of tan frequently verg- 

 ing on stone colour, and the diffusion over the body, instead of 

 being developed on the recognised points, is mainly due to this 

 cause ; if so, it will require careful breeding through many gene- 

 rations to eradicate. ... In the best bred Gordons we almost 

 invariably find the leading features of the colley, the bloodhound, 

 and the setter, and perhaps in about equal proportions, giving what 

 we call the type. 



The head of the Gordon is much heavier than that of the 

 English setter, broad at the top between the ears, the skull slightly 

 rounded, the occiput well developed, and the depth from the 

 occiput to the bottom of lower jaw much greater than in the 

 Laverack or English Setter ; the width between the eyes should 

 perhaps not be too great, speaking with caution ; the nose mode- 

 rately long and broad across the top giving room for the nerves of 

 scent, in fact the opposite of snipyness, the nostril well distended, 

 making this the widest part of the nose ; the shape of the under 



