228 



SETTER DOGS. 



heels, will hardly find terms too severe for the depraved human character that could encourage 

 or cherish such an epitome of the most brutal features of the canine nature. Dog and man 

 suit each other admirably ; and, had there been no human ruffian, there would have been no 

 canine representation of his own ruffianism. 



That such a similarity should exist is an absolute necessity, inasmuch as the more power- 

 ful nature will inevitably expel the weaker, unless there is something in common between their 

 characters, which will enable the higher being to convey its meaning to the lower, and the 

 lower to receive obediently the mandates of the higher. As the two natures become more 

 assimilated, they produce a corresponding effect in the outer form, and the resemblance 

 extends to form and feature as well as to character. We notice the same effect to be produced 



^ 



/ \\4\\ 'i 



ENGLISH SETTER.— Canis familiaris. 



among human beings when they are much thrown together, and a similar though not so 

 evident a phenomenon takes place between the man and the brute. 



The very form of the Dog tells its character as clearly as the human countenance betrays 

 the disposition of the spirit which moulds its lines. It is most truly said by Bailey,, in that 

 mine of golden poetry, "Festus" : — 



"All animals are living hieroglyphs — 

 The dashing Dog and stealthy-stepping cat, 

 Hawk, bull, and all that breathe, mean something more 

 To the true eye than their shapes show ; for all 

 Were made in love, and made to be beloved." 



As the pointers derive their name from their habits of standing still and pointing at any 

 game which they may discover, so the Settees have earned their title from their custom of 

 "setting" or crouching when they perceive their game. In the olden days of sporting, the 

 Setter used always to drop as soon as it found the game, but at the present day the animal is 

 in so far the imitator of the pointer, that it remains erect while marking down its game. 



There are several breeds of these animals : the ordinary English Setter, the Russian Setter, 

 and the Irish Setter. 



