THE ENGLISH SETTEE. 77 



5. The shoulders and chest (value 15) should display great liberty in all 

 directions, with sloping deep shoulder blades, and elbows well let down. The 

 chest should be deep rather than wide, though Mr. Laverack insists on the contrary 

 formation, italicising the word wide in his remarks at page 22 of his book. 

 Possibly it may be owing to this formation that his dogs have not succeeded at 

 any field trial, as above remarked ; for the bitches of his breed, notably Countess 

 and Daisy, which I have seen, were as narrow as any setter breeder could desire. 

 I am quite satisfied that on this point Mr. Laverack is altogether wrong. I fully 

 agree with him, however, that the " ribs should be well sprung behind the shoulder," 

 and great depth of the back ribs should be especially demanded. 



6. Sack, quarters, and stifles (value 15). An arched loin is desirable, but 

 not to the extent of being "reached" or "wheel-backed," a defect which 

 generally tends to a slow up-and-down gallop. Stifles well bent, and set wide apart, 

 to allow the hind legs to be brought forward with liberty in the gallop. 



7. Legs, elbows, and hocks (value 12). The elbows and toes, which generally 

 go together, should be set straight ; and if not, the " pigeon-toe " or inturned leg 

 is less objectionable than the out-turn, in which the elbow is confined by its close 

 attachment to the ribs. The arm should be muscular and the bone fully developed, 

 with strong and broad knees, short pasterns, of which the size in point of bone 

 should be as great as possible (a very important point), and their slope not exceeding 

 a very slight deviation from the straight line. Many good judges insist upon 

 a perfectly upright pastern, like that of the foxhound ; but it must not be forgotten 

 that the setter has to stop himself suddenly when at full stretch he catches scent, 

 and to do this with an upright and rigid pastern causes a considerable strain on the 

 ligaments, soon ending in " knuckling over ; " hence a very slight bend is to be 

 preferred. The hind legs should be muscular, with plenty of bone, clean strong 

 hocks, and hairy feet. 



The feet (value 8) should be carefully examined, as upon their capability of 

 standing wear and tear depends the utility of the dog. A great difference of 

 opinion exists as to the comparative merits of the cat and hare foot for standing 

 work. Foxhound masters invariably select that of the cat, and, as they have 

 better opportunities than any other class of instituting the necessary comparison, 

 their selection may be accepted as final. But, as setters are specially required 

 to stand wet and heather, it is imperatively necessary that there should be a good 

 growth of hair between the toes, and on this account a hare foot, well clothed with 

 hair, as it generally is, must be preferred to a cat foot naked, as is often the case, 

 except on the upper surface. 



9. The flag (value 5) is in appearance very characteristic of the breed, although 

 it sometimes happens that one or two puppies in a well-bred litter exhibit a curl or 

 other malformation, usually considered to be indicative of a stain. It is often 

 compared to a scimitar, but it resembles it only in respect of its narrowness, the 

 amount of 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 compared to a comb ; but 

 as combs are usually straight, here again the simile fails, as the setter's flag 



