THE POINTER 249 



so successful seem to be entirely absent in him. These are the 

 features that may legitimately be called "fancy points," and are 

 chiefly derived from the Foxhound cross. 



It is well known that a few show dogs have won at field trials ; 

 but the fact remains that those which are not of this type have taken 

 the most prominent position as field-trial runners. And those 

 that by their excellent qualities prove the best in the field are 

 generally the most unlike what has been considered a good- 

 looking, show-bred Pointer. 



The following are the points of the old-fashioned working 

 Pointer, to which pure type, happily, sportsmen and exhibitors alike 

 seem to be reverting : 



Head. This should be lengthy; the eye being just half-way between occiput 

 and nostril. There should be a well-pronounced stop between the eyes, and 

 a good drop from skull to set-on of the well-dished muzzle. At the junction 

 between skull and muzzle the head should be cleanly cut : this seems to 

 give character to the face ; when this part is filled up, it makes the head 

 look what is called "gummy." The skull should be wide between the ears: 

 dogs with wide and full temples are the most intelligent and have the best noses ; 

 they should not, however, have large or prominent cheek-bones. The lips, thin 

 yet ample, should not hang down like the Bloodhound's, nor yet taper up to nostrils 

 so much as the Foxhound's. 



Eyes. These should not be sunken like the Hound's, but large and full of 

 animation and intelligence. A sullen, hard-looking eye is to be avoided : it is 

 frequently the indication of a headstrong, ungovernable animal, almost worthless 

 in the field. 



Ears. These should be thin and silky, and of medium length. They should 

 be set high on the skull, and hang flat to the cheeks. 



Keck. This should be long and muscular, springing out cleanly from the 

 shoulders, and joined to the skull in the same way. It should be slightly arched. 



Fore Legs. These should be straight and strong ; the arms muscular ; the 

 elbows well let down, and coming down well under the body not out at elbow, 

 or pigeon-toed. The pastern should be slanting and of fair length. 



/'iv/. These should be of proportionate size to the dog, and pointed like those 

 of the hare. 



Shottlders. These should be long, fine, and sloping backwards. Great 

 attention should be given to them, as a dog with a thick, loaded, straight 

 shoulder will have a cramped, stilty, laboured gallop. 



Chest. This should be deep, but not too wide ; the ribs well sprung from 

 the backbone, and massive. 



Body. This should be well developed and powerful ; a weak, tucked-up 

 body is a great defect, indicating lack of constitution, and a clog without that 

 will not be capable of enduring consecutive days of hard work. The back ribs 

 should be deep, the loin appearing to spring from them, as excessive length 

 from last rib to hip and a concave loin form a very objectionable combination. 



Loin. This should be slightly arched, very wide, strong, and muscular. 



Hind Legs and Thighs. It is upon these that a dog chiefly depends for 

 his propelling leverage. If they are weak and ill formed, the dog is a poor 

 "stayer." The thighs should be very long and muscular, well developed, with 

 a prominent second thigh ; the stifle long and well-bent ; the hocks large aiid 

 strong and parallel not turned-in, often called "cow-hocked" ; the hip-bones 

 wide apart and placed as high as the line of the back. The dogs with wide, 

 ragged hip-bones are generally endowed with speed and endurance. 



