THE SETTER. 147 



without the slightest approach to " snipiness," but not quite so 

 square as the pointer's. In the best breeds the upper outline is 

 slightly hollow, and the brows should be raised at a sharp and 

 decided angle from it, with a leanness in front of the eyes which 

 is very characteristic. As in the pointer, and for the same reason, 

 the nostrils should be wide apart and patulous, and the end of 

 the nose moist and cool. Excepting in white setters or very pale 

 lemon and whites, the end should be always black or dark liver, 

 and even in them it is preferred of that colour; but a pink 

 nose may be pardoned in a whole white dog. The teeth should 

 be quite level. 



Ears, lips, and eyes. — The ears should be shorter than the 

 pointer's in leather, but the hair fringing them brings them in 

 appearance nearly to the same length. The leather must be thin 

 and soft, and must hang close to the cheeks, without the slightest 

 tendency to " prick." The hair is very silky on the ears of good 

 breeds, and is usually about two inches in length. The lips are, 

 perhaps, not quite so full as the pointer's, but there is a decided 

 pouch at the angle, which when on game is usually full of slaver. 

 The eyes are of medium size, more animated than the pointer's, and 

 of all shades of brown, the darker the better. They should be set 

 straight across, and not at any angle. 



The neck has a different contour from the pointer's, not show- 

 ing the decided convexity in either direction peculiar to that 

 dog, and feeling thin and soft to the touch, with a slight hollow 

 on each side. The skin is loose, but no throatiness or dewlap is 

 allowed. 



Shoulders and chest. — In Mr. Laverack's breed, the chest of 

 the dogs is usually very round and barrel-like, making their 

 elbows stand wide apart, and tending to produce a slow pace. 

 In the bitches no such conformation exists, and hence, perhaps, 



