Stonehenge’s “The Dog”: The Setter. One of the most important documents of the canine European literature of all time

Points of the English setter :—
Value
Skull . . . . . . 10                            Legs,elbows, and hocks . . 12
Nose . . . . . . . 10                          Feet . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Ears, lips, and eyes . . 4             Flag . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Neck. . . . . . . . . 6                        Texture and feather of coat . 5
Shoulders and chest . 15           Colour . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Back, quarters, and stifles 15    Symmetry and quality . . . . 5
Total . . 100
The skull of this dog differs from all others, being intermediate between that of the field-spaniel and the pointer’s, indicating almost with certainty that the breed was established by a cross between the two, but, when tried nowadays, producing what is called ” the dropper.” Though this dog is useful enough in the first generation, and often exactly like one or the other of his parents ; yet, if the cross is persevered with, the result is always a failure. The occipital protuberance of the pointer is absent, and the brows are more distinct, the skull itself being narrower across the ears. The nose should, on the average, be at least 4 inches long from the corner of the eye to the tip, and as wide as possible, without the slightest approach to ” snipiness,” but not quite so square as the pointer’s. In the best breeds the upper outline is slightly hollow, and the brows should be raised at a sharp and decided angle from it with a leanness in front of the eyes which is very characteristic. As in the pointer, and for the same reason, the nostrils should be wide apart and patulous, and the end of the nose moist and cool. Excepting in white setters or very pale lemon and whites, the end should be always black or dark liver, and even in them it is preferred of that colour ; but a pink nose may be pardoned in a whole white dog. The teeth should be quite level.