366 THE BOOK OF THE Doc. 



the Welsh or Llanidloes Setter, or at all events of pure-bred ones, is as curly as the jacket 

 of a Cotswold sheep, and not only is it curly, but it is hard in texture, and as unlike that 

 of a modern fashionable Setter as it is possible to imagine. The colour is usually white, 

 with occasionally a lemon-coloured patch or two about the head and ears. Many, however, 

 are pure white, and it is unusual not to find several whelps in every litter possessed of one 

 or two pearl eyes. Their heads are longer in proportion to their size, and not so refined- 

 looking as those of the English Setter. Sterns are curly and clubbed, with no fringe on them, 

 and the tail swells out in shape something like an otter's. This breed is more useful than 

 any Spaniel, for it is smart, handy, with an excellent nose, and can find with tolerable 

 certainty at the moderate pace it goes. It usually has the habit of beating . close to you, 

 and is not too fast, being particularly clever at cocks and snipe, which they are no more 

 likely to miss than is a Spaniel. With so much to recommend them, we cannot help 

 repeating that this is a breed well worth saving from extinction, especially as it is so hardy, 

 and far less liable to disease than the modern fashionable dog. Some excellent specimens 

 of this variety have been in the hands of Mr. Charles Beck, of Upton Priory, Macclesfield, 

 and he said that they stood hard work and briary dingles, when he worked them in 

 Wales, better than any breed he could procure. 



There was also a liver-and-white strain of Setter which was well known in the North 

 of England, especially in the Carlisle district. Though this dog was coarse and lumbering, 

 it has been argued, and as often denied, that the famous Laverack blood is tinged with that 

 of this variety. However, this will be more fully referred to almost immediately, when 

 the Laveracks are touched upon. 



Another famous strain of jet-black Welsh Setters is now lost and gone for ever. It 

 was a blood that was to be found in many parts of the Principality, and as a strain wa's 

 second to none. Unfortunately, though jealously guarded by its owners, their interest in it 

 gradually lessened, and it finally has disappeared entirely. 



The Anglesea Setter, as it was once called, did not spring, as might be supposed, from 

 the island of that name, but from Beaudesert, the residence of the Marquis of Anglesea, 

 where it was carefully treasured. They were in character a light, active, very narrow breed 

 of dog, with no chest, though deep in ribs. They were rather leggy, and possessed the 

 habit of standing with their fore-legs and feet close together. This breed of dog was 

 constitutionally delicate, but as long as they stayed, showed great pace in the field. In colour 

 they were mostly black - white - and - tan, and in coat, though not so smooth and flat 

 as a modern Setter, the Angiescas were not nearly so curly as the Welshmen described 

 above. 



To arrive more rapidly at the leading strains in 1880, we now come to the magic name 

 of Edward Laverack, a gentleman who has done more to bring this Setter in all his glory 

 before the public than any other has ever done or is likely to do. Mr. Laverack, who was 

 an ardent sportsman, for half a century was engaged in improving the English Setter, and 

 with most flattering results. The corner-stone of his breeding-stud was a pair he first 

 obtained from a clergyman named Harrison, who resided in the neighbourhood of Carlisle. 

 That he conscientiously followed the principles of strict in-breeding is amply proved by a 

 reference to the pedigree table of Ranger, where it will be observed that all Mr. Laverack's 

 best blood is represented on the one side ; and the success of his system is clearly 

 demonstrated by the position his strain occupies in the estimation of modern Setter breeders. 

 In short, most of the leading strains are either pure Laveracks, or else they partake largely 



