The English Setter.—The head should be long and rather narrow, the skull slightly domed and not very broad at base, muzzle long, square and clean, not too pointed at end; nose moderately large, with wide nostrils, ears fine, set on low and lying close to sides of head; eyes, soft, bright and intelligent, not light in colour. Neck very muscular and of fair length; shoulders clean and sloping, chest not wide but deep; back strong and muscular; ribs well sprung and deep; powerful, broad loin; thighs fairly long and muscular; stifles well let down and bent; forelegs well feathered and straight, pasterns short, straight and firm; stern medium length, well set on, almost in line with back, not carried gaily or curled; feet close and compact, slightly feathered between toes. Coat free from any curl, soft, wavy and silky. Colours: blue and white ticked, white with black markings and white with liver markings most favoured, but almost any others allowed except red, and black and tan.
The Gordon or Black and Tan Setters are supposed to have been so called from their original connection with Gordon Castle Kennels. There are, however, said to be many good specimens not in any way related to that particular strain, the colour of which was tricolour, black, tan and white. This variety is heavier than their English or Irish brethren, and shows more of the Hound and less of the Spaniel. The head is stronger, with deeper and broader muzzle and heavier lips, the ears are also somewhat longer, and the eyes often show the haw; the black should be as jet and absolutely free from white. The tan on cheeks and over eyes and on feet and pasterns should be rich and bright and clearly defined, and the feathering on forelegs and thighs should also be tan.
The Irish Setters are higher on the leg than their English cousins, although, in most respects, the conformation of body is precisely the same in both breeds. Head long and narrow, muzzle square, lips moderately deep, ears fine, set low and lying well back, giving a domed appearance to the skull; "stop" well defined, eyes rich hazel or dark brown, soft and expressive. Chest deep and ribs well sprung; shoulders clean and sloping; loin somewhat arched, broad and muscular. Coat, lustrous and rather plentiful, rich, dark red, with a golden tinge, no white allowable, except a star on head or chest.
FLAT-COATED RETRIEVER CH. "RIGHT AWAY" S. E. SHIRLEY OWNER.
The Retriever.—This breed is practically divided into two varieties, one called The Flat, Smooth, or Wavy-coated, and the other the Curly; both, as a rule, are black, but as far as my experience of them goes, more specimens "other than black" are seen amongst "the Curlies" than the others, but I think, undoubtedly, blacks, of either variety, are the handsomest. Both breeds have been brought to a great point of perfection. In the Flat-coated, Mr. S. E. Shirley and Colonel Cornwall-Legh, and in the Curly-coated, Earl Melville and Mr. S. Darbey, can show teams to make a sportsman "tear his hair;" often and often, one of these varieties has taken the coveted prize for the "best sporting dog in the show," and they are remarkable amongst the many charming breeds of sporting dogs bred and established in this country, for their very "matching character," so that, a high bred lot of either variety have a wonderful family likeness, and on the many occasions when I have had to take part in making the awards for the sporting and non-sporting teams, it has been a great pleasure to me to see grouped together, in different parts of an immense ring, teams of the various breeds, often containing the best known specimens of them, quite priceless, and which no money could buy, but most interesting to the lovers of beautiful, and in many cases, perfect specimens of animals.
Show Points of Wavy, Flat, or Smooth Retrievers.—Head long and skull fairly wide; ears small and lying close to head; eyes brown or hazel and showing great intelligence; jaws long, and sufficiently strong to carry a Hare; muzzle fairly large, with full open nostrils; teeth level and sound; neck fairly long; chest deep and somewhat narrow; shoulders clean and strong, set obliquely; ribs deep, and well sprung; body long, with muscular loins; forelegs straight and strong; quarters muscular; stifles fairly bent; feet sound, and well arched; coat long, and straight, and of good quality; black, without any trace of white, is the fashionable colour, but classes for "other than black," are sometimes well filled. White and liver coloured specimens are sometimes met with, but seldom shown. General appearance is that of a strong, upstanding, intelligent dog, of a decidedly sporting character, but quite prepared to take on any class of work required of him as a "general utility dog."