243 



IN THE LONG GRASS. 

 Photograph by C. Reid, Wishaw. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

 THE SETTERS. 



BY F. C. HIGNETT. 



As in successive Toil the Seasons roll, 

 So various Pleasures recreate the Soul 

 The setting Dog, instructed to betray, 

 Rewards the Fowler with the Feather'd Prey. 

 Soon as the lab'ring Horse with swelling 



Veins, 



Hath safely hous'd the Farmer's doubtful Gains, 

 To sweet Repast th' unwary Partridge flies, 

 At Ease amidst the scatter' d Harvest lies, 

 Wand' ring in Plenty, Danger he forgets, 

 Nor dreads the Slav'ry of entangling Nets. 



i. The English Setter. In some form or 

 other Setters are to be found wherever 

 guns are in frequent use and irrespective 

 of the precise class of work they have to 

 perform ; but it is generally conceded that 

 their proper sphere is either on the moors, 

 when the red grouse are in quest, or on 

 the stubbles and amongst the root crops, 

 when September comes in, and the part- 

 ridge season commences. 



Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, is sup- 

 posed to have been the first person to train 

 setting dogs in the manner which has been 

 commonly adopted by his successors. His 



The subtle Dog now with sagacious Nose 

 Scowres through the Field, and snuffs each 



Breeze that blows, 



Against the Wind he takes his prudent way, 

 While the strong Gale directs him to the Prey 

 Now the warm Scent assures the Covey near. 

 He treads with Caution, and he points with Fear 

 Then least some Sentry Fowl his Fraud descry, 

 And bid his Fellows from the Danger fly, 

 Close to the Ground in Expectation lies, 

 Till in the snare the fluttering Covey rise. 

 " RURAL SPORTS," BY JOHN GAY, 1713. 



lordship lived in the middle of the sixteenth 

 century, and was therefore a contemporary 

 of Dr. Caius, who may possibly have been 

 indebted to the Earl for information when, 

 in his work on " English Dogges," he wrote 

 of the Setter under the name of the Index : 

 " Another sort of Dogges be there, ser- 

 viceable for fowling, making no noise either 

 with foote or with tounge, whiles they 

 follow the game. These attend diligently 

 upon their Master and frame their conditions 

 to such beckes, motions, and gestures, as it 

 shall please him to exhibite and make, either 

 going forward, drawing backe ward, inclining 



