The Irish Setter 177 



so just so long as the prejudice or animosity against them in this country 

 continues to exist. Let the reader put himself in this position for a moment. 

 Suppose he wanted to import a dog suitable for almost any work a setter 

 is called upon to perform, and with a view of a run in a field trials meeting 

 if all went well. He would naturally turn to the foreign sources of infor- 

 mation and he would find such facts as I am now about to give. 



"The first Irish setter to gain prominence in field trials was Plunket, 

 a dog placed on a very high level by that eminent authority Stonehenge 

 in summing up the merits of all the field trials winners up to 1878. 'Ranger 

 may be classed Ai among field trials winners in a quintet including Drake, 

 Countess, Dash II. and Belle; the Irish setter Plunket approaching them 

 very nearly, but not quite reaching their level.' Later on he says regarding 

 the great Dan, the half — or quarter is it — foundation of the Llewellyns: 

 'I have no hesitation in placing him below the first class; but possibly he 

 is entitled to rank in the second along with Plunket and his son and daughter. 

 Kite and Music (Irish), together with Kate, Rex and Lang (Gordons).' 

 Thus we have of the 'Old Guard' of field trials performers, three Irish 

 named in the list of twelve best performers, with but one pointer in the lot. 



"Subsequent to that summing up we had 'the beautiful' Aveline, as 

 she was called; she has been already referred to and the story of her great 

 work need not be repeated. Airnie, by a son of Frisco out of a daughter of 

 Cocksure, won the Puppy Stakes at the English K. C. Trials, and by defeating 

 a pointer became the winner of the Derby; second, third and fourth in the 

 Puppy Stakes also going to the Irish. Airnie was also second at the National 

 Trials; second in the St. Leger Stakes and Irish Setter Puppy Stakes at the 

 Irish Grouse Trials in the same year, and second the following year in the 

 All-Ages Stakes at the same meeting. She was bred by Col. J. K. Milner, 

 who owned her sire and dam. Cocksure, it must not be forgotten, was 

 also the sire of Mac's Little Nell, winner of First Puppy 1885, Second All- 

 Ages and Brace Stakes 1886, Irish Grouse Trials; Second All-Ages English 

 K. C, 1888; First All-Ages, and Brace Stakes, Irish Grouse Trials, 1889; 

 Second AU-Ages and Third Grand All-Ages, same club, 1890. 



"Isinglass, the only Irish setter at the National Trials in 1893, was 

 second to Fancy Fair, beating Mr. Llewellyn's Jessie Wind'em. He was 

 also second for the Setter Derby, and second for the Puppy Stakes. At the 

 Irish Trials he won the St. Leger Stakes for Irish setters and was third 

 in the All-Ages Stakes for all breeds. Isinglass was by Wrestler, the dog 



