This is but another example of the potency of blood, as every one of these dogs, on one side at least, and some of them, such as Isinglass and Ballycolman, with several crosses, trace to Palmerston. He was indeed a king among kings, and living, as he did, to almost twice the usual span of a Setter's existence, it is perhaps hardly to be wondered at that his blood is rarely wanting in any of the best bench or field dogs of the day.

Champion Donal MacSwine (36,240), the dog illustrated at Fig. 63, is a good representative of the Irish Red Setter. Although he was never sent to compete at field trials, yet he is an excellent worker, despite his weight of years. Every August he accompanies the writer to his shoot on the mountains, and he can do a day's work that will compare favourably with that put in by the younger ones. He first came out on the show-bench in 1893, when he competed successfully as a puppy at the Dublin Show. From that time onward to 1899 he continued his winning career, placing to his owner's credit firsts at all the more important shows, including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Armagh, Dublin, Strabane, and Belfast, amongst others; while he also secured winning brackets in Scotland. Donal MacSwine is by Garryowen Junior (24,599) by the famous Garryowen (8,262) out of Mac's Little Nell (19,714); and his dam is Jiel MacSwine (31,320) by Major-General out of Norah. He thus combines some of the best blood extant.

The best time for breeding is in the spring. If the pups are born in May, the mother will be quite ready for the moor in August, while the pups will be sufficiently grown and strong to stand the ensuing winter's cold, and be ready for the following summer for the necessary hand-training preparatory to their actual entry on birds in August, when they may be worked daily for a few hours without injury.

Selection of the pups is a difficult matter, but dogs are so prolific that, with a good strain to start from, perseverance and a hard heart are all that is requisite to secure a good field dog and bench winner before many seasons are over. The real sportsman should, however, be ruthless in destroying, no matter how handsome, the dog that shows want of stamina, keenness, speed, nose, or other qualities requisite for perfect field work. When the pups are able to get about, they should have ample room to play, a small well-fenced paddock, if possible, with a dry and comfortable kennel to retire to at night or if wet, answering this purpose admirably. With this exercise their feet and legs are properly formed, and their muscles developed. When about four months old they might be more confined, but taken out for regular exercise on a mountain or in the fields, and put under some discipline, but not in any way to restrain their running, which in this way they take up much more readily than if allowed their freedom about a place all day. Their feeding should be regular and varied, without too much meat, at three months old getting four meals daily, which should be gradually reduced to two meals at nine months. With clean, dry, roomy kennels, proper feeding, and exercise, the breeder will be spared many of the ills which so often fall on those who attempt too much, with but too little knowledge.

Fig. 63. - Mr. J. H. Swiney's Irish Setter Champion DONAL MacSwine.

For the bench, given the possession of a handsome animal, no special advice is necessary further than to keep the dog in health by the above means. If in proper health, the coat will have a fine gloss and lie, which may be somewhat improved by regular grooming with comb, brush, and chamois. Dogs should not be shown when out of coat or condition, which happens at least once yearly to every dog. It also tends to success if a Setter be trained to show himself properly, though this is frequently very difficult, and sometimes impossible to do.

Let the showman, however, remember that he is no true lover of the breed if he is content to rest on his bench laurels; but he will gain the respect of every sportsman if he has his dog properly broken, and regularly shot over, and, if possible, tested at field trials, where, if successful, he will increase the value of his animal tenfold, and at the same time have the satisfaction of knowing that he has done all he could to crystallise the qualities for which, after all, the breed exists - namely, bringing game to his master's bag.