210 MANUAL FOE YOTJNG SPORTSMEN. 



bred species, it is the least objectionable of all the 

 crosses. It does not produce obstinacy and inferior saga- 

 city, as is, I think, usually the case with the pointer cross ; 

 nor headstrong wildness, evincing itself in an uncontrol- 

 lable desire to chase fur, which is the consequence of a 

 foxhound admixture. It generally shows itself in an in- 

 creased degree of curliness in the hair, particularly about 

 the poll and ears, the latter being also larger, longer, and 

 far more fleecily covered in the pure setter. The quali- 

 ties which this variety seems to give, are great readiness 

 and facility in retrieving, and superior fondness for the 

 water. Neither of which points are detrimental, but 

 rather the reverse, to the setter. The very best setter I 

 ever owned, whose pedigree I do not know, showed strong 

 indications of a remote water-spaniel cross in his hair and 

 color, though in form and habits he was a perfect setter. 

 I never saw so good a retriever, nor a steadier or stancher 

 dog, though I have seen hundreds fleeter. One thing is 

 certain ; water-spaniel blood does not produce riot, since 

 the dog is eminently docile. 



I approve of no cross-breeding in dogs of established 

 races ; yet if I had a family of fine setters, which in the 

 course of years had become too nearly connected from 

 want of intermixture of some other pure but distinct set- 

 ter blood, and none such were attainable, I would not 

 hesitate to use one cross of water-spaniel, and should not 

 doubt of improving the stock in the second generation 

 from the admixture. 



" Of this breed," says Mr. Youatt, " there are two 

 varieties, a larger and a smaller, both useful according to 



