66 THE DOG IN HEALTH. 



carried, "sting-like" tail is a fine feature in a pointer, 

 and a similar carriage, with a nice feather to the tail, adds 

 greatly to a setter's appearance. Nevertheless, it has so 

 little to do with actual hunting ability that it should count 

 but little in the total estimate. 



Coat. Decidedly silky in the English setter, not quite 

 so much so in the Irish, and harder and coarser in the 

 Gordon. In none should there be any tendency to wavi- 

 ness or curl ; in the pointer not silky, but soft and mellow. 

 In all these breeds the coat should be close-lying and 

 dense. 



Color. To this, great importance is not attached in the 

 English setter or pointer ; liver and white in the latter, 

 and black, white, and tan, and the " blue belton," or white 

 with fine black flecks, giving a roughly ink-splashed ap- 

 pearance, are the most preferred now in the former. In 

 the Irish setter the dark or mahogany-red is the choice 

 color. In the Gordon, color, though it is set down at five 

 per cent., is really valued higher. The same importance, 

 though in a minor degree, is attached to the black and the 

 tan being pure and distinct, as in the black and tan ter- 

 rier ; and though it is admitted that the original Gordons 

 were black, tan, and white, the latter is now greatly ob- 

 jected to, except a little on the breast, which, as in the 

 Irish setter, is of no account. 



The black must be deep and pure, the tan a rich or 

 warm mahogany-red, and confined to a spot over each 

 eye, lips, cheeks, throat, fore-legs nearly to elbows, hind- 

 legs to stifles, and on under side of flag, but not running 

 into its long hair. 



It will scarcely be necessary to add anything to what 



