THE SETTER. 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 :— 
*t How, in his mid-career, the spaniel struck 
Stiff by 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. 324), 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 he 
