The Irish Setter 173 



specimen, but anything of that nature is so exceptional that to use the 

 word would obscure my meaning. That Irish setters have been, are and 

 always will be framed after the English model is perfectly true, but that 

 by no means proves that the type of the two varieties is similar, any more 

 than the variations of the English setter towards the Irish type would prove 

 that that is correct for the English. 



"The typical Irish setter stands a little higher than either the English 

 or Gordon setter and is very blood-like or thoroughbred in appearance. 

 His head is long, lean, narrow, high over the forehead and prominent at 

 the occiput, the muzzle of good length, the lips deep but not too pendulous. 

 There should be a well defined and cleanly chiselled stop; the ears should 

 be set low and lightly feathered, hanging closely to the head, and reaching, 

 when extended, nearly to the end of the nose, which should be dark in 

 colour; a light flesh-coloured nose, though possessed by some dogs of good 

 breeding, is by no means desirable. The eyes should be hazel or rich brown, 

 not a gooseberry colour; soft and gentle when at rest, but full of fire and 

 animation when aroused. The neck long, lean, clearly defined where it 

 joins the head and set well into a pair of sloping shoulders. Elbows well 

 let down, forelegs straight and feet well supplied with hair between the 

 toes and with thick sound pads. Chest deep, rather narrow in front, 

 but with plenty of lung room; ribs well sprung; loin arched and strong; 

 stifles well bent and thighs broad and muscular. The hips are somewhat 

 ragged but indicative of great power. A tail of moderate length tapering 

 to a point and carried with no twist or curl. The coat should be short and 

 flat, but soft to the touch and like spun silk where it extends into what is 

 technically called feathering. 



"The colour of the Irish setter is like the red of polished mahogany, with 

 no yellowish cast, but ' In gloss and hue the chestnut, when the shell divides 

 three-fold to show the fruit within.' This red, which may vary from a bright 

 shade to a deep rich hue, belongs exclusively and by right of inheritance to 

 the Irish setter, and excepting a little white that appears occasionally on the 

 head, chest or feet of many good specimens, is the only legitimate colour. 



"The statement that as a breed they are more difficult to control 

 than other setters that have made their variety famous at field trials, or that 

 they train later in life, is contrary to my experience, and I have owned, bred 

 and shot over Irish setters on all varieties of feathered game North and 

 South since 1868. Besides which, here are potent facts of record to the 



