THE DOG. 
507 
have been brought about by a cross of the hound at some remote period. Cer-» 
tain it is, the Gordon setter is fond of hunting the rabbit ; in fact, always shows 
a liking for hair. With all his beauty lie is not a favorite with the experienced 
sportsman in England or the United States. 
The points of the Gordon setter are very nearly the same as those of tha 
English dog, excepting the following numbers : 
1. The head is heavier. 
2. The nose is wider. 
9. The “flag” is shorter. 
11. The coat is harsher than either the English or Irish setter, and some* 
limes curled. 
12. The color is important; the black should be deep with a plum shade in 
some lights and without tan hairs; the tan of a red shade, and not fawn-like 
in color. Gordon setters were originally very often black, tab and white, but 
of late years only a little white is allowed, and this must be on the neck, 
chest, or on the toes, in this class at dog shows. The tan should show on the 
lips, cheeks, throat, over the eyes, on the fore legs to the elbows, on the hind 
legs to the stifles, and under the tail, stopping short when comiug to the black, 
the line of color being well defined. 
The most noted strains of Gordon setters are those bred by Messrs. Coatki 
and Barclay -Field in England. 
THE NATIVE SETTER. 
Very little need be said of the native setter, as he is a direct descendant of 
both the English and Irish dog, or in other words a cross or admixture of 
many families of both. So great has been this admixture and we are sorry to 
say pointer blood is many times a part, that our own dog, speaking in general 
terms, has few characteristics to particularize him. No system has been 
followed until late years in the breeding of the setter in America, but lovera 
of this dog are now endeavoring to reach the English standard of excellence in 
using the blood of the Lavarack, Llewellyn and Macdona, for this purpose. 
It is astonishing when we observe the carelessness with which breeders of the 
United States have made their choice of sire and dam, that we are able to find 
so many good field- dogs of American breeding. In Delaware, Maryland and 
Virginia, setters of good quality and fine field performance are often come, 
across, but in comparison with the English dog, they are coarse and 
lumbersame. No description is needed for the native setter ; that of the first 
described will answer every purpose. 
THE DROPPER. 
The dropper is a cross between the setter and the pointer, sometimes pqs^ 
