the orange and whites, or lemon and whites, a coloured nose is desirable, though it must not be spotted. The jaws should be exactly equal in length, "pig jaw," as the receding lower one is called, being greatly against its possessor, nor should he be undershot. 3. Ears, lips, and eyes (value 10).—With regard to ears, they should be small, shorter than the pointer's. The "leather" should be thin and soft, carried closely to the cheeks, almost folding from their roots, so as not to show the inside, without the slightest tendency to prick; the ear should be partly clothed with silky hair, but there must not be too much of it. The lips also are not so full and pendulous as those of the pointer, but at their angles there should be a slight fullness, not reaching quite to the extent of hanging. The eyes must be full of animation, and of medium size, the best colour being dark brown, and they should be set with their angles straight across. The head and expression of the English setter are pleasing. 4. The neck (value 5) has not the full rounded muscularity of the pointer, being considerably thinner, but still slightly arched. It must not be "throaty," though the skin is loose. 5. The shoulders and chest (value 15) should display great liberty in all directions, with sloping deep shoulder blades, and elbows well let down. The chest should be deep rather than wide. The ribs well sprung behind the shoulder, and great depth of the back ribs should be especially demanded. 6. Back, quarters, and stifles (value 15).-An arched loin is desirable, but not to the extent of being "roached" or "wheel-backed," a defect which generally tends to a slow up-and-down gallop. Stifles well bent, and set wide apart, to allow the hind legs to be brought forward with liberty in the gallop. 7. Legs, elbows, and hocks (value 12).-The elbows and toes, which generally go together, should be set straight; and if not, the pigeon-toe" or inturned leg is less objectionable than the out-turn, in which the elbow is confined by its close attachment to the ribs. The arm should be muscular, and the bone fully developed, with strong and broad knees, short pasterns, of which the size in point of bone should be as great as possible (a very important point), and their slope not exceeding a very slight deviation from the straight line. The hind legs should be muscular, with plenty of bone, clean strong hocks, and hairy feet. The feet (value 8).-A difference of opinion exists as to the comparative merit of the cat and hare foot for standing work. Masters of foxhounds invariably select that of the cat, and, as they have better opportunities than any other class for instituting the necessary comparison, their selection may be accepted as final. But, as setters are specially required to stand wet and heather, it is imperitatively necessary that there should be a good growth of hair between the toes, and on this account a longer but thick foot, well clothed with hair on and between the toes is preferred. This hair on and between the toes acts as a protection on rough stony ground, and it is said that amongst the flints of some countries a setter can on this account work for a day where a pointer would be placed hors de combat in half an hour. 9. The flag (value 5) is in appearance characteristic of the breed, although it sometimes happens that one or two puppies in a well-bred litter exhibit a curl or other malformation, usually considered to be indicative of a stain. The setter's flag should have a gentle sweep downwards; and the nearest resemblance to any familiar form is to the scythe with its curve reversed. The feather must be composed of straight silky hairs; close to the root the less hair the better, and again towards the point, of which the bone should be fine, and the feather tapering with it. 10. Symmetry and quality (value 10).—In character the setter should display a great amount of quality," which means a combination of symmetry, as understood by the artist, with the peculiar attributes of the breed under examination, as interpreted by the sportsman. Thus, a setter possessed of such a frame and outline, as to charm the former would be considered by the sportsman defective in " quality" if he possessed a curly or harsh coat, or if he had a heavy head, with pendant bloodhoundlike jowl and throaty neck. The general outline is elegant, and very taking to the eye. 11. The texture and feather of coat (value 5) are much regarded, a soft silky hair without curl being a sine qua non. The feather should be considerable, and should fringe the hind as well as the fore legs. 12. The colour of coat (value 5) is not much insisted on, a great variety being admitted. These are as follows: Black and white ticked, with large splashes, and more or less marked with black, known as "blue belton; orange and white, ticked and marked as in the blacks or blues; liver and white, ticked in a similar manner; black and white ticked, with tan markings; orange or lemon and white ticked; black and white; liver and white. Pure white, black, liver, and red or yellow are sometimes seen, but are not desirable. |