286 THE POINTER. 
When either of them scents a bird, he stops suddenly, arresting even his foot as it is 
raised in the air, his head thrust forward, his body and limbs fixed, and his tail stretched 
straight out behind him. This attitude is termed a “point,” and on account of this peculiar 
mode of indicating game, the animal is termed the “Pointer.” The Dogs are so trained 
that when one of them comes to a point he is backed by his companion, so as to avoid 
the disturbance of more game than is necessary for the purpose of the sportsman. 
It is a matter of some difficulty to teach their lesson rightly, for the Dogs are 
quite as liable to error through their over-anxiety to please their master as through 
sluggishness or carelessness. Such Dogs are very provoking in the field, for they will 
come to a point at almost every strange odour that crosses their nostrils, and so will stand 
at pigs, sparrows, cats, or any other creature that may come in their way, and will hold so 
firmly to their “point” that they cannot be imduced to move, except by compulsory 
means. This extreme excitability seems to be caused by too close adherence to the same 
stock in breeding, and is set right by a judicious admixture with another family. 
According to “Stonehenge,” the marks of a good Pointer are as follows. “A mode- 
rately large head, wide rather than long, with a high forehead and an intelligent eye, of 
medium size. Muzzle broad, with its outline square in front, not receding as in the 
hound. Flews (¢.e. the overhanging lips) manifestly present, but not pendent. The head 
should be well set on the neck, with a peculiar form at the junction only seen in the Pointer. 
The neck itself should be long, convex in its upper outline, without any tendency to 
a dewlap or a ruff, as the loose skin covered with long hair round the neck is called. 
The body is of good length, with a strong loin, wide hips, and rather arched ribs, the chest 
being well let down, but not in a hatchet shape as in the greyhound, and the depth im the 
back ribs being proportionably ereater than in that Dog. The tail, or ‘stern, as it is 
technically called, is strong at the root, but, suddenly diminishing, it becomes very fine, 
and then continues nearly of the same size to within two inches of the tip, where it goes 
off to a point, looking as sharp as the sting of a wasp, and giving the whole very much 
the appearance of that part of the insect, but magnified as a matter of course. This 
peculiar shape of the stern characterizes the breed, and its absence shows a cross with 
the hound or some other Dog.” 
The author then proceeds to recommend long, slanting, but muscular shoulder-blades, 
a long upper arm, a very low elbow, and a short fore-arm. The feet must be round and 
strong, and padded with a thick sole, the knee strong, and the ankle of full size. The 
colour is of comparatively small importance, but ought, if possible, to be white, so that 
the animal may be visible while beating among heather, clover, or turnips. Black or 
liver-coloured dogs are very handsome to the eye, but often cause much trouble to the 
sportsman, on account of the difficulty of distinguishing them among the herbage. White 
Dogs, with lemon-coloured heads, are the favourites of this author. 
As the Pointer is seldom in contact with its master, except when in the field, its domestic 
qualities are rarely prized as they deserve to be. No Dog can be properly appreciated until 
it is a constant companion of man, and it is probable that many Dogs which are set down 
as stupid and untractable, are only so called because they have been deprived of the 
society of human beings, through whom alone their higher qualities can be developed, and 
have been confined to the kennel, the yard, or the field. The Pointer is but little known 
as a companion Dog, but when it is in the habit of living constantly with its owner 
speedily puts forth its intellectual powers, and becomes an amusing and interesting com- 
panion. One of my friends has kindly sent me the following account of a Pointer that 
belonged to him, and had been constantly with his master for a lengthened period of 
time. The animal was not an example of the thorough-bred Pointer, but was, neverthe- 
less, a very respectable creature. 
“T ONCE possessed a Dog whose nose, sight, and instinct were well developed ; and as 
he was my companion for many a day, and my only friend for many months, some of his 
peculiarities may not be uninteresting. 
The Dog could point a partridge, but he would eat it, too, if he had a chance; and 
often when I could not take a day’s shooting I have observed my Dog doing a little 
