FIELD SPORTS, 



there was the greatest hope of relief. In this he has not 

 been disappointed, but has been able to perform much 

 more mental labor than when he spent the whole day 

 over his writing desk. Two hours per day, from five to 

 seven, P. M. in the summer season, spent in this manner, 

 with a good pointer, will give all the exercise which mid- 

 dle aged men, of ordinary constitutions, require. Dur- 

 ing this time, the exhilaration of the mind, and the mo- 

 tions of the muscles, are constant ; not a little of the in- 

 terest arising from the wonderful instinct and sagacity, 

 which a well bred pointer dog exhibits in the field, and 

 which the lover of rural sports, however often he has wit- 

 nessed it, never sees with indifference. The admirer of 

 nature, who for the first time beholds the phenomena 

 which these animals exhibit, when " beating the field," 

 and " standing at a point," will not only be intensely in- 

 terested, but often struck with astonishment at what he 

 sees. The dog runs backwards and forwards, a little 

 before his master, with his nose elevated above the grass 

 or bushes, until he scents the bird, (which is always on 

 the ground,) when he walks slowly, and carefully, to 

 within a rod or two of it, and then stands perfectly still, 

 with his nose pointing to the exact spot where the game 

 lies. The sportsman proceeding to the spot, sends the 

 dog forward to "flush" the bird, and shoots it as it flies, 

 the dog again standing until the game falls, when he 

 brings, and lays it at his master's feet. 



In these dogs the pointing is a natural property, or per- 

 haps an acquired instinct, and may be seen in young an- 

 imals of good blood, without the least training. The 

 training therefore, does not consist in learning the animal 

 to point, but only to obey the commands of his master, 

 with respect to the moment of flushing the game, of 

 bringing it, and of keeping within a certain distance from 

 him, &c. 



And now who ca*n account for the reason why this 

 extraordinary property was conferred on this animal, un- 

 less it was intended by the Giver to be employed by 

 man in the manner \ve have described ; for in no other 

 respect can it be of the least use to the dog or his mas- 

 ten We cannot but believe therefore, that there was 

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