THE ENGLISH SETTER 69 1 



Vivacity of temper ; he, however, is not so easily 

 broken in as the pointer, and requires a certain degree 

 of training every season to make him continue staunch. 

 There have been, however, various instances of setters 

 being self-taught. 



The setter ranges with great speed, and is a very 

 hardy dog. Many prefer him to the pointer ; and if 

 water is plentiful he is certainly more useful ; for his 

 feet are much better defended against the sharp cutting 

 of the heath than those of the pointer, as a great 

 deal of hair grows between the toes, and round the 

 ball of the foot, of which the pointer is almost 

 destitute. Besides, he ranges much faster, and can 

 endure much more fatigue. He can serve in thick 

 coverts, where a pointer will not enter, and on this 

 account is useful in woodcock-shooting, where sDrinp"ers 



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or cockers are not kept. 



Formerly the setter was used for the purpose of 

 taking partridges with the draw-net ; and was gener- 

 ally taught to squat down when the game was within 

 a proper distance — hence the name setter. 



The setter, besides his uses in the field, is much 

 employed in duck-shooting, as he is an excellent 

 swimmer, and takes the water very readily. He is 

 naturally of a timid disposition, and much afraid of 

 correction, which, if inflicted with too much severity, 

 never fails to render him ever afterwards unfit for 

 field-sports. He becomes what is termed blinked, 

 and in this case is so overpowered with fear, when 

 threatened with correction, that he will sink at his 

 master's feet, and will steal away, after which it will 

 be impossible to rouse him to further exertion in 

 finding game ; consequently it is of much conse- 

 quence that both breaker and master should cautiously 

 ascertain the dog's natural character. 



