THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
like survivors of an old breed that had run down, by neglect, or want 
of a suitable cross. They also were somewhat curly. There are few Irish 
red setters, even in these days of pedigrees and careful breeding, that 
do not show a small portion of white; which would point to their descent 
from red and white ancestry. A celebrated dog. Dr Stone’s Dash, who 
was never exhibited without being placed, had a large share of white. 
Two of the very finest red dogs were old Palmerston and Richardson’s 
Dick. These two dogs had much in common, and as they both came from 
the north of Ireland it is fair to suppose them to be good examples of 
the breed in that part. There was a strong family likeness between them, 
both being long, low dogs, with fine frames, and without that herring - 
gutted, tucked up appearance so commonly seen in Irish setters. They 
had first-rate heads, were square in muzzle, with well-shaped skull and 
low -set ears. 
While they thus resembled each other in bodily make and shape, there 
it ended, for while Palmerston had the temper of an angel, Dick was a 
perfect devil. The writer was a witness at Birmingham Show of one of 
his outbreaks. Dick was lying on the bench, to all appearance asleep. 
Some man, passing by, turned to look at him. A sudden flash of red, 
and in one instant the man was sent flying up against the opposite bench, 
the blood streaming from his face. The rapidity in which the thing was 
done is beyond belief. It was as if a great red snake had suddenly uncoiled 
itself. That was the old-fashioned Irish temper, very different from what 
now obtains. The Irish setters of the past were more troublesome to 
keep in kennel together than the average of the English breed, as they 
were of a jealous temperament, and apt to quarrel, and being so quick, 
sinewy, and active, they might do each other a serious mischief if no one 
was present to part them. 
There used to be an old Irish breed kept by the family of the de Freynes, 
of Frenchpark. These, by this time, no doubt, have become extinct, for, 
several years ago, they had come down to only a very few specimens, 
in .the hands of two old ladies of that family, and were not broken, but 
only kept as family heirlooms, and for their purity of blood. Now that 
Ireland is passing into the hands of small peasant proprietors, the death - 
knell of all such old family breeds is sounded, as the old family estates 
are being broken up, and the gentry leaving the country, a state of things 
apparently likely to follow in England. Thus the old palmy days of sport 
will be gone, never to return. 
246 
