150 DOMESTICATED DOGS, 
getting the colour which is similar to his, but there are plenty of 
‘black-and-tan spaniels without going outside the pale of the shoot- 
ing dogs, and there can have been no necessity for adopting this 
expedient for colour alone. Nevertheless, I cannot help thinking 
that this cross has been used, and for the following reasons :—(1.) 
A great number of black-and-tan setters show the red “haw” in 
‘the corner of the eye, which is almost in itself a proof. (2.) The 
nose of this dog is remarkably good, but there is a tendency to 
seek for the foot-scent, and to potter over it at a comparatively 
early age. (3.) There is nothing like the endurance of the English 
and Irish breeds, and the style of gallop is heavy and hound-like, 
rather than clever and active, as in the best strains of the setter. 
With these defects, whether due to bloodhound parentage or not, 
it is by no means surprising that the black-and-tan setter does not 
sustain the reputation which he achieved by means of dog-shows 
and field trials ten or twelve years ago. At the field trials he has 
been very lucky in getting rewards for nose alone, for certainly 
my dog “ Rex,” who won several prizes at Stafford, was not first- 
rate in any other respect. Like most of the Kents, his powers of 
scenting were wonderful, but he must do his work his own way or 
not at all, and after five or six hours he was completely knocked 
up. I have tried a good many of the strain, and seen more in 
other hands, but I have not yet seen one which could be shot over 
with pleasure. They all work “to their own hook,” and are never 
seen to cast an eye at their masters, which I hold to be the essential 
feature in a dog working in aid of the gun; but still with their 
fine noses they may be made very useful by those who do not 
mind working to their dogs, instead of making their dogs work 
to them. 
The deviations in points from the English type are as follows :— 
The skull is heavier than that of either the English or Irish 
setter, with the occipital protuberance much developed, and a 
slight dome on the top, resembling at a humble distance that of 
the bloodhound. ars rather longer also, and eyes very often 
furnished with “sealing-wax,” like that dog. 
The nose is of full width, and seldom has the concave upper line 
of the English dog. 
The flag is rather short, and is apt to be “ teapotty.” 
