100 DOMESTICATED DOGS FOB THE GUN. 



those of the spaniel. The " leather" should be thin and soft, car- 

 ried closely to the cheeks, so as not to show the inside, without 

 the slightest tendency to prick the ear, which should be clothed 

 with silky hair little more than two inches in lengta. The lips 

 also are not so full and pendulous as those of the pointer, but at 

 their angles there should be a slight fullness, not reaching quite to 

 the extent of hanging. The eyes must be full of animation, and 

 of medium size, the best color being a rich brown, and they should 

 be set with their angles straight across. 



4. The neck has not the full rounded muscularity of the pointer, 

 being considerably thinner, but still slightly arched, and set into 

 the head without that prominence of the occipital bone which is 

 so remarkable in that dog. It must not be " throaty," though the 

 skin is loose. 



5. The shoulders and chest should display great liberty in all di- 

 rections, 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, nota- 

 bly 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, how- 

 ever,' that the " ribs should be well sprung behind the shoulder," 

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



6. Back, quarters, and stifles. An arched loin is desirable, but 

 not to the extent of being " roached " 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 for 

 ward with liberty in the gallop. 



7. Legs, elbows, and hocks. The elbows and toes, which gener- 

 ally go together, should be set straight ; and if not, the " pigeon- 

 toe " or in-turned 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 



