Dogs. 127 



by giving him a run, whether it appears likely 

 to be productive or not. I am aware that in 

 deciding for a setter I shall call down upon 

 my head the denunciations of thousands of 

 lovers of his sturdy rival the pointer — alas ! 

 in these days in not half so many thousands 

 as could be wished. But if my particular plan 

 and reasons for adopting it be correct, it will 

 be seen that a pointer is not ''in it" with a 

 setter, though I readily admit that for all- 

 round shooting the former is equal, if not 

 superior. 



In the first place, then, I must have a fast 

 dog. The extensive open moorlands, where 

 alone I propose to use him, do not commonly 

 contain snipe ''as thick as leaves in Vallom 

 brosa." Two or three per acre is about a 

 fair estimate, and to wander about searching 

 for these in a generous allowance of acreage 

 means a deal of wasted time and energy. 

 Now, with a fast, staunch setter, these birds 

 will be marked one by one in an incredibly 

 short space of time, and you may call in your 

 dog on arriving at more enclosed or marshy 



