Irish and Gordon Setters 105 



regarded as a defect in an English setter is 

 entirely permissible in the Irish. Many of the 

 best have the flank tucked up and the loin curved, 

 suggesting the contour of a greyhound. These 

 greyhound lines, however, do not make extreme 

 speed. A good Irish setter is fast, but the speed 

 is not that of field trials. It is galloping rather 

 than running. 



Mr. Guthrie of Mexico, Missouri, and some 

 other gentlemen in the West have recently dis- 

 cussed the plan of selecting specially fast and 

 heady Irish setters with the object of breeding 

 them up to field trial class. It is much to be 

 desired that gentlemen like Mr. Guthrie, who 

 has abundant means and is an indefatigable stu- 

 dent of the breeding science, will pursue this 

 object perseveringly. Whether or not he suc- 

 ceeds in meeting the English setters and pointers 

 on equal terms, he is at least likely to restore to 

 some extent the old popularity of a breed which 

 has great utility as a hardy, ready, and reliable 

 bird dog. 



The Gordons have been even less successful 

 than the Irish in retaining the affections of the 

 multitude of shooting men. The reason usually 

 given by sportsmen who have tried and discarded 

 them is that they are self-willed and hard to 

 handle without having class which would be a 

 compensation for extra trouble in education. No 



