96 The Dog Book 



what date the setter assisted first he acknowledges cannot be ascertained. 

 Now as to the dog he calls the setter or dog to set for the net. "There are 

 now various kinds called Setters, from their being appropriated to that serv- 

 ice; such as between the English spaniel and the foxhound, ditto and pointer, 

 and the pure pointer simply by himsfelf. Whim gave rise to the first cross, 

 very probably; but most assuredly indolence contrived the latter. None 

 can, however, have any just claim to the appellation, but what is emphatically 

 called by way of eminence, the English spaniel. The Irish insist — theirs 

 are the true Spaniel; the Welsh contend — their s are the aborigenes. Be 

 that as it may: whatever mixtures may have been since made, there were, 

 fifty years ago, two distinct tribes — the black tanned and the orange, or 

 lemon and white. In each class I have seen the short, close coat, and the loose, 

 soft, waved one with an equality of goodness under each description and 

 complexion. These kinds (especially the orange and white) are fond, 

 docile and spirited. Was I ever to break another dog to the net, I should 

 prefer the highest hunter of that sort, to the reduced half breed by the 

 pointer, and engage to perfect him in less time." 



A little further on we find his description of what he desires in the 

 setter: "He should be rather tall than otherwise; flat ribbed and longish 

 in the back: for a dog, where speed is a principle requisite, must as well 

 as a horse, in the language of the turf, 'stand upon ground.' A gentleman 

 who resided some time in Wales tells me this is a true description of their 

 finest setters." 



While describing the pointer and comparing the two breeds he says: 

 "The setter cannot be degraded into a pointer; but the pointer may be 

 elevated to a setter, though but a second class. The setter is only of ser- 

 vice where there is room to run a net, so must be hunted accordingly. Whole 

 coveys are the just attention of the setter. Birds sprung and divided mostly 

 drop in hedgerows, where there is no liberty for action, or in turnips where a 

 horse must do considerable damage in advancing the net." Later on, 

 when it comes to the training of the setter, not one word is written regarding 

 the gun, but simply the net and the use of one dog at a time. The single 

 setter had to quarter his ground exactly as for the gun, but when he found 

 his birds, then the net and that only was used. To show more clearly still 

 that this is so, we turn to the instructions for the training of the pointer and 

 read as follows: "After perusing the former pages some may think this a 

 repetition, altering the name but retaining the mode of tuition. . . . 



