THE DOG. 47 



but it resembles it only in respect of its narrowness, the amount 

 ot curl in the blade of this Turkish weapon being far too great 

 to make it the model of the setter's flag. Again, it has been com- 

 pared to a comb, but as combs are usually straight, here again the 

 simile fails, as the setter's flag should have a gentle sweep ; and the 

 nearest resemblance to any familiar form is to the scythe with the 

 curve reversed. The feather must be composed of straight silky 

 hairs, and beyond the root the less short hair on the flag the better, 

 especially towards the point, of which the bone should be fine and 

 the feather tapering with it. 



" Symmetry and quality (value 5). In character the setter should 

 display a great amount of ' quality,' a term which is difficult of 

 explanation, though fully appreciated by all experienced sportsmen. 

 It means a combination of symmetry, as understood by the artist, 

 with the peculiar attributes of the breed under examination, as 

 interpreted by the sportsman. Thus a setter possessed of such a 

 frame and outline as to charm the artist, would be considered by 

 the sportsman defective in l quality' if he possessed a curly or 

 harsh coat, or if he had a heavy head with pendent bloodhound- 

 like jowl and throaty neck. The general outline is very elegant, 

 and more taking to the eye of the artist than that of the pointer. 



" The texture and feather of coat (value 5) are much regarded 

 among setter breeders, a soft silky hair without curl being con- 

 sidered a sine qua non. The feather should be considerable, and 

 should fringe the hind as well as fore legs. 



" The color of coat (value 5) is not much insisted on among 

 English setters, a great variety being admitted. These are now 

 generally classed as follows in the order given : 1, Black and white 

 ticked, with large splashes, or more or less marked with black, 

 known as blue Belton ; 2, orange and white freckled, known as 

 orange Belton ; 3, plain orange or lemon and white ; 4, liver and 

 white ; 5, black and white with slight tan markings ; 6, black and 

 white; 7, liver and white; 8, pure white; 9, black; 10, liver; 

 11, red or yellow." 



We would call attention to a repetition in numbers 4 and 7, 



