212 HUNTING DOGS. 



among huntsmen, some claiming even in this 

 day that it improves eitlier type of dog* for his 

 given duties. Purists, hoAyeyer, insist on keep- 

 ing them pure and undefiled. 



In appearance the pointer is hirger than the 

 setter, and giyes one an impression of solidity 

 and strength ; his coat sliould be soft and niel- 

 lo \y, but not absolutely silky. The hair is short 

 and straight. 



The setter's coat should be long, straight and 

 silky (a slight waye is admissible) which should 

 be the case with the breeches and fore legs^ 

 which, nearly down to the feet, should be well 

 feathered. The color may be either white and 

 black, white and orange, white and lemon, white 

 and liyer, or black, white and tan ; those Ayithout 

 Iieayy patches on the body, but flecked all oyer, 

 called Belton, preferred." 



There is, as in most other questions of hunt- 

 ing and shooting experiences, wide difference of 

 opinion as to the relatiye yalues of the two breeds 

 for practical field work and bench purposes. 



The casual field shooter will not go wrong 

 in selecting either kind, so long as he secures a 

 creditable and really representatiye indiyidual. 



A distinct setter strain is the black and tan 

 Gordon. Writes an authority: 'Tlie Gordon is 

 a mucli heavier dog in all his parts than the 

 English setter; coarser in skull, thicker in 



