35 



CHAPTER XLIV. 



THE ENGLISH SETTER. 



WHATEVER the origin of the Setter may have been, there can be no possibility of a doubt but 

 that he holds a position second to none in the canine world in the present day. The beauty of 

 the dog's coat and the brilliancy of his colours, coupled with his use and intelligence in the 

 field, cannot fail to make the Setter a favourite with all who really admire and love a 

 good dog. Another important feature in connection with his popularity, and which has 

 been no small support to it, is the amount of national jealousy and prejudice which has 

 been from time to time imported into discussions on the breed, as, naturally enough, each 

 variety finds keen supporters amongst its fellow-countrymen. To explain our meaning 

 we must at once allude to the fact that in the present day Setters are divided into 

 three distinct varieties viz., the English Setter, the Irish Setter, and the Gordon Setter. 

 This latter breed is recognised as the Scottish national Setter, its origin being traced to 

 Gordon Castle, Aberdeenshire, and will, with its Irish relative, be fully alluded to presently. 

 There was an old Welsh breed, too, of black-and-white Setters which is almost extinct, 

 though frequently pathetically alluded to by veteran sportsman hailing from the Principality 

 in question. 



In various localities throughout the country families or strains of Setters from special 

 lines adopted in breeding doubtless with the object of producing the dog best suited to the 

 country over which they were to be worked assumed peculiarities distinguishing them from 

 each other, and became known by special names, such as the kennels which became known 

 for breeding good ones. The Earl of Carlisle has a strain, specimens of which have 

 occasionally been shown, and which display strongly-marked Spaniel characteristics, and 

 from the tendency to curl in the coat, the top-knot more or less developed, and their 

 general shape, suggest their having been grafted on the Water Spaniel. In the Marquis 

 of Bute's kennels in the west of Scotland there was long, and probably still is, a 

 strain of black Setters, and numerous kennels of extent had strains specially their own with 

 some distinguishing feature. The Beltons, famous in the northern counties, are a superb 

 race, and form the great base of the now famous Laverack Setter, on which again is 

 founded the majority of the great kennels so favourably known throughout the country, and 

 which has an immense popularity with American sportsmen. 



Whether any of the modern and present-day breeders have resorted to a Spaniel cross 

 direct, we are not in a position to state, but that such might be done with advantage in 

 some instances we do not doubt. 



In spite, however, of the numerous families into which the Setter is now divided, there 

 can be no doubt that the origin of each was the Spaniel, and it is a curious subject for 

 contemplation that Spain (as will be seen in the chapter on Pointers) should have the 

 credit of supplying us with the three breeds of sporting dogs Spaniels, Setters, and Pointers 

 upon which we English so greatly pride ourselves. The credit of improving these dogs 



