The Pointer. 123 



may represent the framer's views of it, but I only wish to point out 

 that in matter of minutiae the standard of points used to decide which 

 is the best looking pointer need not be applied to dogs bred for sporting 

 purposes alone, for whether they possess these trifling points or not 

 does not in any way affect their usefulness ; such, for instance, as that 

 a pointer must have a deep stop between the eyes, and a well pro- 

 nounced drop from skull to nose ; no loose skin on his throat, called 

 " throatings " ; ears set on low, and lying flat to cheeks ; a nicely tapered 

 stern, &c. That these are not absolutely necessary to render a pointer 

 good at his work will be clearly understood by every sportsman, and in 

 support of this statement I may add that many dogs remarkable for 

 their excellence in the field do not possess them. That celebrated field 

 trial winner Drake (sold at seven years old for 150 guineas to Mr. 

 Price, of Bala), a marvel in his day, although possessing in a very 

 marked degree the points of endurance, wear and tear qualities, cannot 

 raise any claim to be considered good looking in a show-bench point 

 of view. In general outline he is just the build that is looked for in a 

 dog of whom a lot of hard work is required ; but on critical examina- 

 tion that is, taking into consideration all the little etceteras which go 

 to make up a show-bench winner, he is found very deficient. Only 

 compare him with his kennel companion, the celebrated show-bench 

 winner Wagg, and then the points which make Wagg so successful 

 will be seen to be entirely absent in him. These are the points which I 

 would be understood to call " fancy points." 



I know well that many good-looking dogs have won at field trials, but 

 the fact that many more that are not good-looking have taken the most 

 prominent position as field trial runners remains. Dogs that have, 

 by their excellent qualities in the field, quite charmed me, have been 

 most unlike what is considered a good-looking show-bred bench 

 pointer. 



I know the object of the standard of points was to combine the useful 

 and the beautiful, and that these have not been more successfully 

 united in the pointer of to-day is no reflection on breeders. Pointers are 

 now, there can be no question, far better looking than in former years, 

 but that the best for field purposes are not always the best looking is 

 a well-established fact. In the productions of nature, and of animal 

 nature especially, great beauty and great usefulness are very rarely com- 



