5 28 
CARNIVORES. 
Retrievers. 
any trace of black, and little or no white; but there is one strain characterised by 
its red and white coloration. It is a rather more “ leggy ” animal than its English 
cousin, with a narrower and rather longer head, more produced nose (of which 
the colour is generally deep mahogany), and more tapering ears, which, when 
extended, should reach nearly to the nose. 
The Gordon, or black-and-tan setter, is now characterised by its mixture of jet- 
black and mahogany-tan colours, although the original breed was black, tan, and 
white. It is a heavier animal than either the English or Irish breeds, this 
heaviness being specially shown in the head, which makes some approach to that 
of the bloodhound. The nose is relatively wide, and rarely shows the concave 
profile of the English setter; the tail is rather short; while the coat, although in 
some strains silky, may be much coarser than in the other breeds. The Welsh 
setter, which shows a great amount of variation in colour, is distinguished from the 
preceding by its curly coat. Finally, the Russian setter, according to “ Stone¬ 
henge,” •“ is almost entirely concealed by a long woolly coat, which is matted together 
in the most extraordinary manner, and which would lead to the supposition that 
he would be unable to stand heat as well as our early setters; but, on the contrary, 
he bears it almost like a pointer.” 
This name is applied to large dogs employed for retrieving game 
on land, in contradistinction to the water-spaniels which are used for 
the same purpose in water. These dogs have more or less Newfoundland blood in 
them, and trace their other parentage to the water-spaniel or setter. The curly- 
coated retriever, which may be either black or tan, is the product of a cross 
between the smaller black Newfoundland and the water-spaniel. It is characterised 
by the short hair of the face, and the tail devoid of any fringe, although covered 
to within a few inches of its extremity with short crisp curls. The hair on the 
body is closely and crisply curled. The wavy-coated retriever may be either a 
pure-bred small black Newfoundland, or a cross between it and the setter. 
The Newfoundland dog, of which there are three distinct breeds, 
is regarded as nothing more than a large spaniel, and its general form 
and the facility with which it may be crossed with spaniels and setters seem to 
fully bear out this view. The especial characteristic of the Newfoundland is its 
well-known fearlessness of water, and the readiness with which it will risk its own 
life to rescue human beings from drowning. The true Newfoundland, as represented 
in our illustration, is the largest breed, and should stand from 25 to 30 or 31 
inches in height at the shoulder. The coat should be shaggy and somewhat oily, 
and the tail long and bushy and slightly curled on one side; the colour black, 
with or without some admixture of white; the specimens with the least white 
being the most admired. Sometimes the black has a rusty tinge. The head in the 
best-bred animals is large and broad, and nearly flat on the top, with a well-marked 
ridge at the eyes; while the expression of the countenance conveys a look of 
grandeur and intelligence without fierceness. The muzzle is relatively wide, and 
clothed with short hair; while the skin on the forehead should show some slight 
wrinkles. Both the ears and eyes are relatively small; the former being covered 
with short hairs, which become slightly longer at the edges; while the latter should 
be brown in colour and mild in expression. The neck has no distinct frill; while 
Newfoundland. 
