210 MANUAL FOR YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 
bred species, it is the least objectionable of all the 
crosses. It does not produce obstinacy and inferior saga- 
city, as is, I think, usually the case with the pointer cross; 
nor headstrong" wildness, evincing itself in an uncontrol- 
lable desire to chase fur, which is the consequence of a 
foxhound admixture. It generally shows itself in an in- 
creased degree of curliness in the hair, particularly about 
the poll and ears, the latter being also larger, longer, and 
far more fleecily covered in the pure setter. The quali- 
ties which this variety seems to give, are great readiness 
and facility in retrieving, and superior fondness for the 
water. Neither of which points are detrimental, but 
rather the reverse, to the setter. The very best setter I 
ever owned, whose pedigree I do not know, showed strong 
indications of a remote water-spaniel cross in his hair and 
color, though in form and habits he was a perfect setter. 
I never saw so good a retriever, nor a steadier or stancher 
dog, though I have seen hundreds fleeter. One thing is 
certain; water-spaniel blood does not produce riot, since 
the dog is eminently docile. 
I approve of no cross-breeding in dogs of established 
races; yet if I had a family of fine setters, which in the 
course of years had become too nearly connected from 
want of intermixture of some other pure but distinct set- 
ter blood, and none such were attainable, I would not 
hesitate to use one cross of water-spaniel, and should not 
doubt of improving the stock in the second generation 
from the admixture. 
“Of this breed,” says Mr. Youatt, “there are two 
varieties, a larger and a smaller, both useful according to 
