384 UPLAND SHOOTING. 



THE POINTER. 



My favorite dog for upland shooting is the pointer; yet 

 I can not claim for him any superiority over the setter, 

 save that his coat does not gather burrs. Other claims 

 that are urged seem to me without foundation; and my 

 preference is founded solely on the pleasure I take in 

 watching the play of the muscles unhidden by long hair. 



The breed is very ancient. As far back as we can trace 

 it, through descriptions by writers and by old pictures, 

 we find that it has not changed in the least in form, size, 

 color, or habits. In certain localities where special work 

 was required, varieties have been developed by outcross- 

 ing to other breeds and by selection; but as regards the 

 breed in general, there has been no change. As to its 

 origin, nothing is known. Italy, Spain, France, and 

 England have in succession excelled in its production, as 

 each has for the time led the taste of the world in sport. 



Regarding the notion of a hound origin, that theory 

 was framed when natural science was less advanced than 

 now, and nothing has been proved to support it. For all 

 we know, it is quite as likely that the hound is derived 

 from the pointer. 



But we do know, to our sorrow, that there have been 

 hound crosses which have greatly injured the pointer in 

 speed, staunchness, and obedience. Generations of care- 

 ful breeding and inbreeding have been required to bring 

 him back to his old-time quality, which we are now 

 beginning to reach in the best strains. 



Under careful breeding for field use, the pointer, 

 wherever found, tends to assume a certain type, which I 

 will now describe: 



The pointer should weigh from fifty to sixty pounds, 

 though good ones are often of greater or less weight. 

 (I must here correct an almost universal error regarding 

 the Spanish pointer 1 s weight, which was not anywhere 



