IN selecting the setter for the first of the articles on the dog in the present series, I have not intended to fix the comparative claims of these two dogs to superiority in the field. It is alleged that the field trials have not done much towards settling this vexed question, which, however, they could only do irrespective of those enduring qualities not capable of being tested even at Bala, where, on two occasions, several hours have been devoted to a single trial. As far as they go, until this year (1877), the two breeds have been nearly equally successful when first-class specimens have been tried together, excluding that phenomenon, Sir B. Garth's (now Mr. Lloyd Price's) Drake. Countess (setter) and Belle (pointer) have each won once when tried together, while the latter and Banger (setter) have also exchanged wins; so that, exclusive of Drake, who was never pitted against a setter till long past his prime, the balance has not been struck, except in so far that, while Belle defeated Banger single-handed, the latter only won from her in the braces.

In the present year however, the setters have gone ahead, both at Shrewsbury and Horseheath. At the former trials the two breeds did not come together, but as far as could be judged without this, the setters were far superior to the pointers; and at Horseheath, where the same dogs were entered in the Horseheath Stakes, the setters had the advantage, two of each breed being left in for the last two rounds, and Dash II. winning the first prize, Mr. Whitehouse's Rapid (pointer) being second. Mr. G. Brewis's dog also won the club cup which was open to both breeds, Blue Bell HI. being second to him.

Among pointers there are no national divisions corresponding with those of the setters. There are, however, two distinct varieties, strongly marked by colour, viz., the lemon and white and the liver and white, besides the black and white, the whole liver, and the whole black strains; but these last are not common in the present day, and the appearance of one on the show bench is almost as rare as a black swan. Among the liver and whites the dogs are often too heavy for much speed or endurance - a remarkable exception being the celebrated Drake, bred by Sir R. Garth, and sold by him at a high figure in his seventh season to Mr. R. J. Lloyd Price, of Bala, at which advanced age he went as fast, and showed as good a nose as most puppies even of high class. This dog was in his day the fastest and most wonderful animal that ever quartered a field, and his race up to a brace of birds at Shrewsbury in the field trials of 1868, when the ground was so dry as to cause a cloud of dust to rise on his dropping to their scent, was a sight which will probably never be seen again. He was truly a phenomenon among pointers.

His extraordinary pace compelled his dropping in this way, for otherwise he could not have stopped himself in time, but when he had lost pace in his seventh season he began frequently to stand up, as represented by Mr. Baker, who never saw him till then. In appearance he is not taking, having a plain head with a somewhat throaty neck; but his frame is all through good, and there is no lumber about him. He could not, therefore, be considered a model for imitation, and consequently I have added a very beautiful and racing bitch to represent the strain - in which this sex is generally to be preferred for work, being lighter and more active. This bitch, Mr. Lloyd Price's Belle, was bred by Lord H. Bentinck, and was bought by Mr. Price for 101. after winning a third prize at Manchester. She was at first fearfully headstrong, and chased hares for many weeks persistently, being far beyond her puppyhood and unbroken; but the perseverance of a young, and till then unknown, breaker, Anstey, overcame these defects, and being tried in private to be good, she was entered at Vaynol field trials in 1872, when she won the prize for braces, and also that for bitches, being left in to contest the disputed point of priority in the two breeds with Mr. Whitehouse's Priam against Mr. Llewellyn's Countess and Nellie, both setters.

In this trial she succumbed to Countess, but turned the tables on her at Bala in 1873. Being possessed of this beautiful and excellent bitch, Mr. Lloyd Price naturally desired to match her, and Drake being put up to auction, together with the whole of Sir R. Garth's kennel, he was purchased in his seventh season for 1501., and retained by his new owner for his own use alone. Previously, however, Drake had got several dogs of high class, including Viscount Downe's Bang, Drake II., and Mars; but, considering the run he had at the stud, his stock could not be said to have come out as well as might be expected in public, though in private their character was well maintained. Crossed with Belle, a litter considerably above the average was obtained, including Mallard and Beau, but none coming up to the form of either sire or dam, and not equal to Eos, who was subsequently from her by Mr. Win. Statter's Major. A third litter by the old dog died when a few days old, so that Mr. Price has been unfortunate with him; but a litter from a bitch bearing the euphonious name of Nimble Ninepence promises well, and a younger litter, bred the same way, are coming on.

Mr. Statter has also bred Dick, successful at Bala and Ipswich, from a daughter of Drake by his Major, who was descended from the good old-fashioned strains of Lord Derby, Mr. Antrobus, and Mr. Edge. Major was a fast, resolute dog, and ranged in beautiful style, but he behaved very badly at Bala in 1867 (his only public appearance), having just returned from the moors, and not owning the partridge scent, as is often the case with even the steadiest grouse dogs. It should be remembered that in these days fast pace is demanded far more than in those when pointers were used in the south for beating high stubbles in fields of 20 acres or less, and when the heavy breeds of Mr. Edge, Lord Derby, and Mr. Antrobus were able to do all that was desired, delicacy of nose and steadiness, both before and behind, being the chief essentials required. At present the pointer is regarded as a grouse dog rather than a partridge finder, and hence he must be not only fast, but enduring. By careful selection, however, and some luck, Sir E. Garth was able to breed Drake, and Lord H. Bentinck also obtained Belle, while Mr. Statter has been little behind them with his Major, Dick, and Rex. In the South Mr. S. Price has produced his Bang, Mike, and Wagg, the first not quite up to the pace of the above dogs, but closely approaching it.

He is descended from Brockton's Bounce, one of the old heavy sort, who, however, showed fair pace at Southill in 1865, but crossed with the lemon and white strain of Mr. Whitehouse, which I must now proceed to describe. Mr. Lloyd Price has recently added Wagg to his kennel for stud purposes, and in the present year (1877) has obtained a very fast and clever puppy from Devonshire, viz., Bow Bells, by Bang out of Leech's Belle - Mr. Whitehouse's Rapid is another Devonshire bred dog of recent celebrity, being by Chang out of Romp.