THE SETTER 151 



not often seen out of their own country, a prejudice existing 

 against them in England, where they were supposed to be 

 difficult to break, and always inclined to be unsteady; Since 

 the institution of shows, however, and the exhibition of the 

 splendid specimens which we have seen in them, the Irish setter 

 has been more highly valued, and now takes his share of the 

 work on Scotch and Welsh moors as well as on his native 

 mountains. I have seen several at work, and certainly have 

 no reason to think them more unsteady than their English rivals, 

 but neither will compare with the pointer in that respect. They 

 are slashing goers, with heads and flags well up, and the latter 

 lashed merrily in most cases, though, like the English dog, not 

 invariably so. In endurance they are quite up to the best 

 English form, but not above it, as far as I know, though I confess 

 I have not had sufficient experience of them to settle this vexed 

 question. The differences in shape from the English breed are 

 not great, but sufficient to distinguish the one from the other. 



The most famous old strains are the La Touche, Lord Clancarty's, 

 Lord Dillon's, Lord de Fresne's, Lord Lismore's, the Mont Hedges, 

 the Marquis of Waterford's, and Lord Eossmore's. 



The value of the points is the same as in the English dog, the 

 following being the variations in shape, &a : — 



The skull is narrower, and rather longer from the forehead to 

 the occiput; occipital protuberance as marked as in the pointer-; 

 brows very high. 



Nose said to be more developed in length and width ; rarely 

 hollow above, as in the English dog. End of nose a deep 

 mahogany colour or very dark flesh ; not black, and by preference 

 not pink. 



Eyes, ears, and lips. — Eyes a rich brown, resembling the 

 mahogany red, of the Gordon setter. They are soft but sparkling 



