688 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



recover his breath, and before the stag could do so, 

 Comhstri dived, and again seized him by the throat. 

 The stag was soon after taken out of the pool dead." 



We think it very probable that the Irish greyhound 

 is only a variety of the same stock as the Highland 

 greyhound. The former has much smoother hair than 

 the Scottish breed. 



SECTION II. DOGS USED IN SHOOTING. 



THE ENGLISH POINTER. 



The Spanish pointer is the stock from which our 

 English pointer was derived. He is much lighter in 

 form, and much more rapid in his movements. He 

 was originally produced by a cross of the Spanish 

 pointer and the foxhound, and afterwards re -crossed 

 with the harrier. He is now to be met with of a 

 variety of sizes ; but it has been found that when 

 pointers are too large, they are far less active than 

 those which are smaller ; but in this particular there 

 is a variety of tastes. 



The pointer is possessed of a beautiful symmetry 

 of frame ; and in this respect is perhaps the most pro- 

 portionably formed of all the canine race. His docility 

 and pliability of temper are truly astonishing. He 

 enjoys the sense of smelling in an exquisite degree. 



In proportion as the breed of pointers diverge in 

 blood from their Spanish progenitor, the difficulty of 

 training them is experienced, and also that steadiness 

 of the original, which renders them staunch for the field. 



Pointers are never considered complete in training 

 unless they are perfectly staunch to bird, dog, and gun ; 

 which implies, first, standing singly to a bird or covey ; 

 secondly, to backing or pointing the moment he per- 



