136 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



narrow in front. The ribs well sprung, leaving plenty of lung room. 

 Loins muscular and slightly arched. The hind-quarters wide and 

 powerful. Legs and Feet The hind-legs from hip to hock should be 

 long and muscular ; from hock to heel short and strong. The stifle 

 and hock joints well bent, and not inclined either in or out. The fore- 

 legs should be straight and sinewy, having plenty of bone, with elbows 

 free, well let down, and, like the hocks, not inclined either in or out. 

 The feet small, very firm ; toes strong, close together, and arched. 

 Tall The tail should be of moderate length, set on rather low, strong 

 at root, and tapering to a fine point, to be carried as nearly as possible 

 on a level or below the back. Coat On the head, front of legs, and 

 tips of ears the coat should be short and fine ; but on all other parts 

 of the body and legs it ought to be of moderate length, flat, and as free 

 as possible from curl or wave. Feathering The feather on the upper 

 portion of the ears should be long and silky ; on the back of fore and 

 hind-legs long and fine ; a fair amount of hair on the belly, forming a 

 nice fringe, which may extend on chest and throat. Feet to be well 

 feathered between the toes. Tail to have a nice fringe of moderately 

 long hair, decreasing in length as it approaches the point. All feather- 

 ing to be as straight and as flat as possible. Colour and Markings 

 The colour should be a rich golden chestnut, with no trace whatever of 

 black ; white on chest, throat, or toes, or a small star on the forehead, 

 or a narrow streak or blaze on the nose or face not to disqualify. 



III. THE BLACK AND TAN SETTER. Originally this variety 

 was known as the Gordon Setter, but this title was only partly 

 correct, as the particular dogs first favoured by the Duke of 

 Gordon, from whom they took the name, were black, tan, and 

 white, heavily built, and somewhat clumsy in appearance. 

 But the introduction of the Irish blood had the effect of making 

 a racier-looking dog more fashionable, the presence of white on 

 the chest was looked upon with disfavour, and the Kennel 

 Club settled the difficulty of name by abolishing the term 

 " Gordon " altogether. 



Very few of this variety have appeared at field trials for 

 several years past, but that cannot be considered a valid reason 

 for stigmatising them as " old-men's dogs," as some narrow- 

 minded faddists delight in calling them. On the few occasions 

 when the opportunity has been presented they have acquitted 

 themselves at least as well as, and on some occasions better 

 than, their rivals of other varieties, proving to be as fast, as 

 staunch, and as obedient as any of them. A notable example 

 of this occurred during the season of 1902 and 1903, when Mr. 



