SHOOTING SETTEES. 59 



a wager, and thus giving their dogs no earthly chance, 

 young sportsmen were to go slower than they generally 

 do, they would do more justice to themselves, their 

 dogs, and their presei^es. Few pointers can stand 

 work on the moors (where the cream of all shooting is 

 to he had) unless they have been bred, or have been 

 regularly worked on them. I know many gentlemen 

 who greatly prefer them, when so bred, to setters ; 

 but Scotch pointers are not so highly bred as south- 

 country dogs, and therefore more calculated for rough 

 work. Many are crossed with the foxhound, which 

 gives them speed and courage as well as hardness of 

 foot; but the produce of the first cross is generally 

 too high-mettled to be managed with ease, being 

 difficult to break from running hares, or to dowti 

 charge ; and, for the most part, very hard-mouthed. 

 You may reckon on six days out of eveiy twelve being 

 rainy in the Highlands ; the wet, and injuries from 

 burnt heather, &c., cause the pointer soon to become 

 foot-sore, particularly between the toes, as he has no 

 hair to protect his feet like the setter. High-bred 

 pointers are also delicate in their appetites, and will 

 not eat the Scotch meal at first. Gentlemen should 

 have plenty of greaves sent to their shooting quarters 

 to mix with it, as meat can seldom be had in the 

 remote grouse countries. They should give orders 

 that their dogs should be fed immediately on their 

 return from the hills, and their feet carefully washed 

 with salt and water: indeed, if gentlemen saw to 

 those things themselves, they would find their account 



