THE BETTER. 177 



acteristics were fully developed, retaining the name of 

 spaniel. Gay calls him the " creeping spaniel," and 

 Thomson, that accurate observer and close describer of 

 nature, thus writes of him, in terms that leave no question 

 as to what manner of dog he alludes to : — 



"How, in his mid-career, the spaniel struck 

 Stiff hy the tainted gale, with open nose 

 Outstretched," &c. 



It is stated by Mr. Blaine, that the setter is still called 

 in Ireland the English spaniel. If it be so, it would go 

 far to disprove the generally received idea that the Irish 

 setter is an original family, if not, as some suppose, the 

 original stock. I doubt, however, both the fact, and the 

 deduction. 



In my " Field Sports " (vol. i. p. 3^f>), I surmised that 

 " the Irish dog is undoubtedly the original type of the set- 

 ter in Great Britain." 



I have, since writing this, seen reason entirely to alter 

 my opinion ; which was induced by the large admixture of 

 Irish blood which has been introduced into many of the 

 choicest English families, those especially which run to 

 orange and white with black noses and muzzles ; one 

 family, in particular, with which I had most acquaint- 

 ance. The races are, however, I think, now, where not 

 intentionally interbred, entirely distinct. 



The English dog is distinguished by his inferior bone 

 and stoutness ; superior grace and delicacy ; the greater 

 length, silkiness, and curl of his coat ; his blandness, 

 affection, good-nature and docility ; in all which points Lc 



