THE ENGLISH SETTER. 73 



The supporters of the opinion that Mr. Laverack's pedigrees are incorrect adduce 

 two arguments against him, first, that he has, shortly before his death, given different 

 pedigrees of his stud dogs ; and, secondly, that the average duration of life in 

 each generation, from Dash and Belle, to Countess, Nellie, and Sam, was fully 

 nine years, which is certainly very remarkable, though within the bounds of 

 possibility. The first of these arguments does not go for much, as we all know 

 that after a man has passed his 70th year his memory is not often to be relied on ; 

 and, as to the second, though per se highly improbable, it is, as I have above 

 remarked, by no means impossible. But the discussion of this point is of little 

 practical interest, the " Laverack " breed having been sufficiently tested in practice 

 to stand on its own merits without regard to any theoretical opinions. No one 

 disputes that it is in-bred to an extent which few would care to imitate; and 

 if it could be proved that a cross had been occasionally introduced, instead of being 

 considered to have lost in value, I should estimate it more highly. The discussion, 

 therefore, is purely one of curiosity, and need not influence any breeder in his 

 selection of a breeding stud. 



To this in-breeding is, no doubt, to be attributed the fact that the Laverack 

 setters are very difficult to rear, and that a large proportion of them die of dis- 

 temper. Whether or no the average working " form " of the breed is a high one, 

 is very difficult to decide ; but, undoubtedly, Countess and her sister Nelly were 

 grand specimens of the high-bred setter. Nearly all the pure Laverack dogs which 

 have been shown are too spaniel-like in shape to please my eye, the only exceptions 

 I remember being Prince and Rock, and to some extent the well-known Sam, 

 brother to Countess and Nellie ; nevertheless, they have not the spaniel carriage 

 of the flag alluded to above, which is in them generally trailed like that of the 

 fox, and without any lashing or feathering. Probably it is owing to the excessive 

 in-breeding of the Laveracks injuring their health that they have not succeeded 

 as well as might be expected as sires ; but at all events, from whatever cause, a 

 good deal of disappointment has been felt by breeders on that score. Nevertheless, 

 for work the breed still maintains the high character gained for it in its purity 

 by Countess, Nellie, and Garth's Daisy, and for its crosses by Ranger, Dick, 

 Dash II., Field's Daisy, Prince, Ginx's Baby, Glen, Rhoda, Druid, Norah and 

 Nora, and, last, but not least, that excellent little bitch, Mr. Lloyd Price's Queen, 

 by Blue Prince out of the Rev. S. East's Quaver II. bred by that gentleman from 

 his own old Shropshire blood. 



A great many different strains of English setters might be adduced from all 

 parts of the country, but notably from the north of England, with claims superior 

 to those of Mr. Laverack's strain, up to the time of the institution of field trials. 

 Among these were the Graham and Corbet breeds, those of the Earl of Tankerville, 

 Lord Waterpark, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Bay ley, Mr. Lort, Mr. Jones (of Oscott), Major 

 Cowan, Mr. Withington, Mr. Paul Hackett, and Mr. Calver, the last two being 

 a good deal crossed with Gordon blood. None of these strains were, however, 

 so generally known beyond the immediate circle of their owners' friends as to 

 have gained a universal reputation; and it was not till the public appearance 



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