80 THE DOGS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 



since the institution of field trials, in which it has been brought into competition 

 with the English and Irish setter. Both Rex and Young Kent had shown 

 marvellous powers of scent, but exception was taken to their tiring action, and 

 it mast be admitted that six hours' work was enough at one time for either of 

 them, and probably too much for Young Kent. Both dogs also were headstrong, 

 and required severe treatment to keep them under command, and, though neither 

 showed the slightest disposition to unsteadiness on the point, yet both were 

 jealous behind, and it was difficult to make them work to hand. Among the 

 numberless specimens of the breed (black tan) which I have seen at work, not 

 one has shown the solicitude to catch the eye of the shooter which is so essential 

 to that perfect correspondence of man and dog which ensures sport, The pointer 

 or setter ought always to know where his master is, and if put into high covert, 

 such as beans, should raise his head at short intervals above them to ascertain 

 his whereabouts. Now, as far as my experience goes, black-tan setters, and 

 notably the Kents, never do this, and cannot be taken off a scent without very 

 great severity, till they have satisfied themselves of its fallacy. Most of those 

 tried in the field have been dead slow, including Mr. Stokes's Shot, Mr. Purcell 

 Llewellyn's Wick, and Mr. Furner's Dorset ; but Lang, by Reuben, wa.s fast 

 enough for anyone, though not showing much nose, and Mr. Adey's Kate in 

 her puppy season was fast and clever, showing also an excellent nose, while 

 Young Kent displayed fair pace, and Rex was far above the average in this 

 respect. On the whole it may be said that the verdict has gone against the 

 breed in England, and, as far as I know, no breeder of experience in the south 

 adheres to it, with the exception of Mr. J. H. Salter ; nor is it much more approved 

 of on the moors by the general public. 



The points of the black-tan setter are very nearly the same as those of the 

 English dog, the only deviations being as follows: 



1. The skull is usually a little heavier than that of the English setter, but 

 in other respects it resembles it. 



2. The nose, also, is like the English setter's ; but it is usually a trifle 

 wider. 



9. The flag is usually a trifle shorter than that of the English setter, which 

 it otherwise resembles in shape. 



11. The coat is generally harder and coarser than that of the English or Irish 

 setter, occasionally with a strong disposition to curl, as in the celebrated champi -ns 

 Reuben and Regent. 



12. The colour is much insisted on. The black should be rich, without 

 mixture with the tan, and the latter should be a deep mahogany red, without any 

 tendency to fawn. It is admitted that the original Gordons were often black, 

 tan, and white ; but, as in all our shows the classes are limited to black-tan, 

 the long arguments which have been adduced on that score are now obsolete. 

 A. little white on the chest, and a white toe or two, are not objected to ; but a 

 decided frill is considered by most judges to be a blemish. The red tan should 

 be shown on lips, cheeks, throat, spot over the eyes, fore legs nearly to the elbows, 



