dated 1685 such an instance, and history also records that Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, systematically broke in setting dogs in 1385), does it not therefore, in the light of our greater knowledge, seem an easy transition to have produced our present Setter without having had recourse to the many mythical crosses that many writers in their ingenuity have ascribed to them, in their anxiety to account for the particular type as seen in the Black-and-tan Setter? Does it not seem exceedingly probable that, by selecting a long-legged Spaniel, a very easy step in the production of a Setter has been gained? When, too, one sees the present type of exhibition Spaniel, and how by following this process to what an extreme lowness in leg and length of body, etc., has been carried, cannot one easily follow a graduation towards the other extreme? Is it necessary, therefore, to believe that the peculiar points of the Black-and-tan Setter have been produced by crossing with the numerous other varieties of Hound, Collie, Bloodhound, etc.? Undoubtedly the necessary touch of romance in the history of the breed is supplied, if we accept the story of the poaching Collie at Gordon Castle, and to which many of the undoubted good qualities of this breed are ascribed. Are we to accept the theory of the Bloodhound cross, because of the pronounced "haw" in the eye of this Setter and the high occipital protuberance, both of which in our present animals are not so marked as they were twenty years ago, and happily the former feature is now rarely noticeable? How often was this peculiarity of the orbit evident in our best specimens of Sussex and Clumber Spaniel, and yet there was no suggestion of Bloodhound cross promulgated in their case! In the same way, to explain the characteristic colour of this breed we have had many advocates that it was obtained from the Collie aforesaid or the Bloodhound.

The late Rev. T. Pearce states that 1820 was the period when this breed was brought into special prominence at Gordon Castle. One cannot forget that the Irish Setter, or at any rate dogs of that colour, as a distinct breed have been longer in existence; and coming down to more recent times, we have trustworthy evidence of a fresh introduction of Irish blood to produce the rich mahogany tan which is a special feature of the Black-and-tan Setter at the present time. To give an instance of this, when exhibitions were not the colossal ventures that they are now, and when all the varieties of Setters had to compete together, a noted breeder of the Black-andtan, the late Mr. Binnie Bishopriggs, exhibited a Black-and-tan bitch, that was awarded a second prize, being beaten by an Irish Setter. In those days the tan markings were undoubtedly of a lighter shade, and the rich deep colour of the Irish dog attracted the attention of this noted breeder, and suggested the wish that if he could obtain such beautiful tan with the deep glossy black, a more handsome animal

would be the result. The experiment was tried, and some notable winners were produced. In the early days of exhibitions undoubtedly a number of Black, white, and tan Setters appeared in the ring; but the force of public opinion, whether from the novelty or otherwise, gradually asserted itself in favour of the Black-and-tan, and the tricoloured dogs disappeared.

At the first dog show, held at Newcastle in June, 1859, Mr. J. Jobling's Dandy, a Black-and-tan, was successful in a class open to the varieties of Setter, and in the following November, at Birmingham, Mr. Burdett's Brougham gained the award. At those early exhibitions and before the varieties were classified, the Blackand-tan Setters were very prominent in the prize list, so much so that the admirers of the other varieties induced the management to provide separate classes.

It was indeed a misfortune that breeding should have banished the tricoloured dogs, because, apart from the question of whether this was the original colour in the locality whence this particular animal sprang, there can be no difference of opinion as to their beauty and even advantages from a working point of view. It would not be a difficult matter to resuscitate this charming combination of colour, since all breeders know that numbers of puppies in every litter of Black-and-tans exhibit white markings to a more or less extent, possibly an additional proof of the prominence given to this colour in the early days of the breed. The hope expressed in the First Edition of this work that classes would be provided for such at our exhibitions has unfortunately not been fulfilled.

The effect of such exhibitions on this particular variety of Setter has undoubtedly been most beneficial, as it has on all our sporting dogs. Many will cavil at this statement, perhaps, and point to a particular example of a decided loss in stamina, in olfactory power, or general unsuitability for their work. While this is true of some breeds, it cannot be admitted in the case of Pointers or Setters, and more particularly in the case of Black-and-tan Setters. If one were to place side by side the handsome, racy-looking dogs of this breed which now adorn our show benches and those of even twenty years ago, an unprejudiced observer would admit the improvement. Even in the early eighties one frequently saw in the prize lists a number of heavy-headed dogs, with light eyes showing excess of haw, angular cranium, neck "throaty" and short, loaded shoulders, long backs with want of depth at the back ribs, with a curly coat, and a general appearance of Spaniel all over. What have we now by contrast? An upstanding, racy-looking dog, with full, intelligent brown eyes, a longer head but " sweeter," smaller ears low set on a finely rounded cranium, longer neck fitted on to "hunting" shoulders, with the scapula close together and high in contrast to the low, round, heavy shoulders of the older type, chest deeper,

and though not so round perhaps as formerly, yet well carried back, giving plenty of room for the lungs. Nor does one see now the long, slack-loined animals deficient in back rib and diagnostic of non-staying powers. In quarters, too, as a rule, an improvement is noticeable→→ short stifles and long pasterns with the consequent "cowhock" is unknown, but instead the long stifles with plenty of thigh muscles set on short pasterns and firm, compact feet. Will any one deny that these are not better animals with greater capacity for endurance than their ancestors? In those early days, about the middle of last century, much credit is due to Mr. Brown (of Melton Mowbray), Mr. Burdett (Birmingham), Rev. T. Pearce (of Morden), and Mr. Calver (Norfolk). Kent, exhibited by Sir S. Hoare at the Ashburnham Hall in 1863, and afterwards by the Rev. T. Pearce ("Idstone "), was a noted dog in his day. Several of his progeny were very successful, and many dogs of the present day have some of this blood.

In field trials about this time Black-and-tan Setters did more than hold their own, but owing to not perhaps advancing with the times so quickly as the other varieties, they were not so prominent towards the end of the century in these competitions. Writers of this period complain of the heavy shoulders and want of staying power of the Black-and-tans-faults which certainly have been eradicated in our dogs of the present day.

The late Mr. Binnie Bishopriggs was a prominent exhibitor at the leading shows for many years till the late seventies, followed by Mr. Montague Macdonald (St. Martins), whose Champion Young Jock and Dash III. were noted prize winners in the seventies and early eighties. The former was an exceedingly fine performer in the field, with marvellous staying powers, and his blood gave great character to his descendants. At the sale of Mr. Macdonald's dogs Young Jock became the property of Mr. Robert Reid (Lochwinnoch), while Dash III. was purchased by Mr. Chapman (Glenboig), both of whom were already known as admirers of the Gay Gordons. Mr. Gibb (Merkland, Aberdeen) was also a frequent exhibitor at this time.

Many existing kennels of Black-and-tan trace back to old Gordon Castle blood. This is true in the case of the "Rum" kennel, belonging to Sir George Bullough. Forty years ago the late Mr. John Bullough had a brace of Black, white, and tans, Pink and Duchess, and from these are descended the present famous kennels, which have been so successful of recent years at our leading exhibitions. Redruth Colonel (723 B) is a direct descendant of Duchess, and is a splendid example of our present-day type of "Gordon." Mr. Henry Achworth, head gamekeeper to Sir George Bullough, is a firm believer in the Black-and-tans, and finds them eminently suitable for the kind of work they require.

No article on this breed would be complete without special reference to that famous owner and breeder Mr. Robert Chapman

(Glenboig), who for twenty-five years has had an extensive kennel containing as many as sixty and more Black-and-tan Setters. His first brace were Grouse, brother of Young Jock, and Sally, sister of Champion Lorne. During these years and continued to the present day Mr. Chapman's success as an exhibitor of this breed has been unparalleled in the canine world. Among many winners we would select Champion Heather Grouse as the finest specimen of a Black-and-tan Setter that has ever been exhibited, with Champion Heather Nap a good second, and among bitches Champion Kate IV. and Champion Heather Blossom. A large

number from this kennel have been excellent dogs in the field, and Mr. Chapman, who has also an extended experience of other breeds, "has rarely owned a Gordon which wasn't a good worker," and says "the average of working ability in this variety is higher than in any other." He also thinks "that the breed has improved during this period as a whole," but "that at the present time we have not so many of outstanding merit." Mr. Chapman has exported many fine specimens to Australia, New Zealand, France, Austria, and Norway.

In addition to the Glenboig and Rum Kennels, the Black-andtan Setters are exclusively used at Meggernie Castle, Glenlyon (trustees of the late Mr. Bullough), at Garth Castle (Sir Donald

Currie's), at Cluny (Sir Reginald Cathcart's); and amongst others who own or have owned kennels of this breed might be included Lord Lovat, Lord Panmure, the Marquis of Huntly, Lord Saltoun, and Sir James Elphinstone, who could trace the origin of their dogs also to the Gordon Castle strain. Among frequent exhibitors we find Sir George Bullough, Mr. Robert Chapman, Mr. Gibb, Mr. Baillie, Mr. J. C. Hignett (one of whose dogs illustrates the variety), Dr. Charles Reid, in the North; and in the South, Sir Humphrey de Trafford, Mr. Lee Bulled, Mr. Jacobs, Mr. Emery, Mr. Manning, Colonel Le Gendre Starkie, Messrs. Greenbank, Mr. J. R. Tatham, and Mr. Edwin Bishop.

Till recent years breeders in Scotland preferred a deeper tan in their dogs, and this was quite marked in the important exhibitions at Kennel Club shows and Birmingham, where the Northern and Southern kennels opposed each other. At the present time the difference is not so marked, but Northern experts claim that the Southern dogs are still "wanting in quality."

The following are the description and points of the Gordon Setter as adopted by its club, and as these have been issued by a body of prominent breeders, they ought to carry considerable weight. While agreeing with the opinion that the original colour was black, white, and tan, they appear to err in publishing in such the opinion of Dr. Walsh ("Stonehenge") as to the origin of the breed-viz. " that he is a compound of Collie, Bloodhound, and English or Irish Setter." In the absence of all proof for such a statement, surely this was unnecessary. "In the best Gordons we

almost invariably find the leading features of the Collie, the Bloodhound, and the Setter, and perhaps in about equal proportions, giving what we call the type." While this may have been true even twenty years ago, it certainly cannot apply to the breed at the present time. Though the head is perhaps heavier by a trifle than in the English or Irish varieties and deeper in both cranium and muzzle, still, it is not that of a Bloodhound. "Many Gordons show slight 'haw' and 'dewlap'; a proper development of these is probably the true type." The writer cannot agree to this statement, as both of these defects have disappeared from our best kennels, and indeed this also applies to the length of flag, heavy body, especially in the shoulders, and other defects in dogs of last century. Undoubtedly the type more closely resembles the English Setter than formerly, with some minor differences, especially in head, as already mentioned. Breeders have tried to eradicate acknowledged defects in this breed with marked success.

There seems to be little authentic information as to the Gordon Setter. Authorities, however, agree that originally the colour was black, white, and tan. . . . Of late years no doubt the breed has been tampered with for show purposes, and crosses, more particularly with the Irish Setter, with the idea of improving