THE POINTER. 117 



a perfect score of 100 points, on the following basis of work: 

 Nose, 30; pace and style of hunting, 20; breaking, 20; 

 pointing (style and steadiness in), 15; backing, 10; draw- 

 ing on game, or reading, 5; total, 100. 



Belle was rather too light in muzzle and head to suit 

 many of our modern critics, and lacked heaviness of bone 

 and a certain coarseness which many later favorites have 

 possessed; but she represented a very successful type and 

 weight of dog, of which we have ourselves owned and shot 

 over many grand specimens. It is a question whether a 

 resort to her type might not do away with much of the 

 pottering and " heel- work" in which many of the present 

 field-trial dogs are so expert. 



What the Pointer needs is more dash, vim, energy, love 

 of his work, and less lumber to carry with him. He needs 

 lengthening out and narrowing, and less stockiness and 

 bulkiness of form. The fact has long ago been demonstrated 

 that the long, narrow, deep-chested dog, well ribbed behind, 

 and properly set on his legs, with a correspondingly rakish 

 head, is the proper type of dog to breed, for speed and 

 endurance combined. 



FIELD QUALITIES. 



Much has been written concerning the field qualities of 

 the Pointer, especially when compared with the Setter; but 

 general public sentiment seems to have accorded to him a 

 place by no means inferior to that of any breed of sporting 

 dogs. 



There is no question that for all the purposes to which a 

 dog hunting to the gun can be employed, the Pointer has 

 no superior. His excellent nose, his great stanchness, his 

 power of endurance, and his ability to go without water 

 for a long time, strongly recommend his use for general 

 shooting. While it may be true that his coat does not so 

 well adapt him for constant use in briery thickets, and 

 rough, mountainous countries, ' yet, per contra, this 'very 

 shortness of coat constitutes his strongest recommendation 

 in warm climates, for summer shooting, or in open sections 



