250 



THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 



Colour and Markings. — The colour should be a 

 rich golden chestnut, with no trace whatever of 

 black ; white on chest, throat, or toes, or a small 

 star on the lorehead. or a narrow streak or blaze 

 on the nose or face not to disqualify. 



III. The Black and Tan Setter.— Origin- 

 allv this \-arietv was known as the Gordon 



MRS. F. C. HIGNETTS CH. DUKE OF EDGWOF 



BY BARTON HAROLD HILDA. 



Photograph I'v /•". r. Ui-^ncl! anJ Son, Loslock. 



Setter, but this cognomen was only partly 

 correct, inasmuch as the particular dogs 

 first favoured by the Duke of Gordon, 

 from whom they took the name, were black, 

 tan, and white, heavily built, and somewhat 

 clumsy in appearance. But the introduction 

 of the Irish blood had the effect of making 

 a racier-looking dog more fashionable. In 

 order to be on the safe side, some of the 

 leading shows made their classification to 

 read " Gordon or Black and Tan Setters." 

 so as to meet the assertion of a few of the 

 older judges that if only the old designation 

 of " Gordon " were used they should feel 

 constrained to take notice of such com- 

 petitors as were black, tan and white in 

 colour. But, as a matter of fact, the time 

 had arrived when the presence of white 

 on the chest was looked upon with great 

 disfavour by the generality of exhibitors as 

 well as judges. Now, however, the Kennel 

 Club has settled the matter by abolishing 

 the term " Gordon " altogether. 



Very few of this variety have appeared 

 at field trials for several years past, but that 

 cannot be considered a valid reason for 

 stigmatising them as " old men's dogs," as 

 some narrow-minded faddists delight in 

 calhng them. On the few occasions when 

 the opportunity has been presented they 

 have acquitted them- 

 selves at least as well 

 as, and on some occa- 

 sions better than, their 

 riv-als of other varie- 

 ties, proving to be as 

 fast, as staunch, and 

 as obedient as any of 

 them. A notable ex- 

 ample of this occurred 

 during the season of 

 igo2 and 1903, when 

 Mr. Isaac Sharpe's 

 Stylish Ranger was so 

 remarkably successful 

 at the trials. 



It is very difficult 

 ^,, to account for the lack 



of interest which is 

 taken in the variety 

 outside Scotland, but 

 the fact remains that only about four 

 owners are troubling the officials of shows 

 regularly at the present time. This state 

 of affairs was noticeable a dozen years 

 ago, but not to the same extent as it is 

 to-day, for at that period Mr. R. Chap- 

 man, of Glenboig, was almost monopolising 

 the whole of the prize-money at every show 

 and in all the classes. Few exhibitors 

 cared to enter the lists against him, and 

 the ordeal of winning prizes became all 

 the easier to him. The opening, however, 

 was too good to escape attention alto- 

 gether, so it was not surprising to find that 

 one or two breeders in different parts of 

 the country set quietly to work to produce 

 something good enough to win with. 

 Among others the present writer was at- 

 tracted to the breed, and, out of the first 

 litter which he bred, was rewarded by the 

 production of the famous Ch. Duke of Edg- 

 worth, who, before his exportation to the 

 United States, had an exceedingly long 



