1 70 THE COMPLETE SHOT 



were inferior in speed and stamina to the best English dogs. 

 In 1870 the author entered a lot of his own breeding at the 

 National Field Trials. They were reported by Mr. J. H. Walsh, 

 then Editor of the Field, to have done " faultless " work, but 

 were slow by comparison with some of the other dogs, and 

 although that gentleman did not think they were beaten, dis- 

 appointment at losing did not disguise from their owner that 

 they were out-classed. From that time to quite recently no 

 pure bred black-and-tan setter has had much of a look in 

 at field trials, until Mr. Isaac Sharp came out with Stylish 

 Ranger. But between the exquisite breaking of Mr. Sharp and 

 the good nose of his dog they managed to get in front of all 

 they met, at a period when field trial dogs were at a rather low 

 ebb, and when in the judges' opinions breaking counted for more 

 than work. If those opinions had obtained in 1870, the author 

 might have won all before him with his black-and-tans, but in 

 that case he would probably never have acquired the knowledge 

 of the infinitely better. 



This first field trial attempt was made with the heavy 

 Kent and Lord Rosslyn sort. The author bred several litters 

 from direct crosses of Lord Rosslyn's best dogs. His second 

 attempt to win field trials was made with the light-made sort of 

 setter from the Lews ; but results were always the same. Still, 

 although those results were true, the black-and-tan breed are 

 never seen to advantage in the low country or in the hot 

 atmosphere of central England. They become twice the dogs 

 late in the season and on the high grounds of Scotland, and 

 their size and long legs are not a hindrance in deep old heather. 

 Moreover, they almost break themselves, or used to, thirty-six 

 years ago, and where hills have moderate angles and shooters 

 interminable patience, they are comfortable dogs to shoot over. 

 Like the Irish, they do not mind wet and cold, and many of 

 them have good noses and carry high heads. But they were 

 different in character from English and Irish dogs. Once, and 

 only once, the author has seen a setter draw down to a brook at 

 some scent, apparently from the other side, but instead of cross- 

 ing to investigate, on this occasion the dog stood up on his hind 



