320 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SrORTS 
A great deal of absurd nonsense has been written about the 
Dreed and race of the Setter, from the mass of which I shall select 
the following passage for two reasons, first that it reaches the 
very climax of possible stupidity, and second, that it is from the 
pen of one who should know better, at least to merit the reputa¬ 
tion he has acquired; being no other than the person who has 
gained very considerable celebrity as the author of “ The Sports¬ 
man in France,” “ The Sportsman in Ireland and Scotland,” 
and “ The Sportsman in Canada.” 
After stating that the Setter is his favorite dog in the field, 
and decidedly the most useful for general shooting in France,” 
Mr. Tolfrey actually proceeds to give the following receipt for 
making a breed of Setters, forgetful, apparently, that it is 
very unnecessary to set about making, what nature has already 
made in perfection to our hand, and quite ignorant, it should 
seem, that it is impossible to make a pure strain from any com¬ 
bination of crosses. There is no doubt whatever that the true 
Setter is a pure strain of unmixed Spaniel blood, the only 
improvement produced in the breed arising from its judicious 
cultivation, by the selection of the largest, healthiest and hand¬ 
somest individuals of both sexes from which to rear a progeny, 
and by the careful development of their qualities, by scientific 
feeding, exercising, and bringing into condition. The following 
receipt may therefore make a useful mongrel, but can no more 
make a Setter, than crossing a Quagga, a Zebra and a Cana¬ 
dian pony—all varieties of the horse breed—can make a 
thorough-bred. 
“ The preliminary step,” he says, “is to put a fine bred and 
unexceptionable Pointer bitch to a noted Foxhound; you will 
then have laid the foundation of three essential qualities, speed, 
nose and courage. Docility and sagacity are also requisites, 
and to obtain them cross the offspring with the small and 
slender race of Newfoundland dog. The produce will be as 
near perfection as possible; they will take to the water, re¬ 
trieve, and for general shooting will be found the very best and 
most useful animal the sportsman can desire.” 
