130 A Book of the Snipe, 



the handsome, graceful " setting dog " is a 

 gentleman first and a sportsman afterwards, 

 which, whether in dogs or human beings, is 

 at all times the pleasantest order of things. 

 He is a little inclined to cringe, perhaps ; 

 but if not encouraged in this, there is no 

 more delightful companion either on or off 

 duty, and none more ready for conversation 

 when the labours of the day are over. 



In the utter solitude of some snipe-shoot- 

 ing quarters this difference of disposition is 

 not to be despised, though I do not pretend 

 that it is to be weighed too heavily when 

 sitting in judgment in the case of setter v, 

 pointer. One word of caution as to the 

 pointer. Never buy a dog which shows 

 undue width of chest, or one whose forelegs 

 show the slightest tendency to bandiness. 

 Such an animal, even if gifted with the best 

 nose in the world, is certain to be a slow 

 mover, and will be a constant source of an- 

 noyance. Nothing is more irritating to an 

 active long-striding sportsman (and it is such 

 that shoot most snipe in the year) than being 



