THE POINTER. 421 



prairies, where water is seldom found while "chicken " shooting-, 

 and he can do without that necessity for a much longer time than 

 the setter ; but the latter is frequently used with advantage for the 

 same purpose when a supply for his benefit is taken to the field. 

 In New Jersey, Delaware and Marj'land, and in countries where 

 the game invariably takes to briery thickets on being started, the 

 pointer is at a disadvantage, for we have seen but few that were 

 not intimidated by these thorny coverts, refusing entirely to enter. 

 Moreover, the pointer is more liable to take cold when hunting in 

 wet land than the setter is. 



Far more birds are accidentally flushed by the setter than the 

 pointer, who is generally more cautious, notwithstanding he may 

 be fully as fast. Certainly we cannot condemn those that write 

 in favor of the pointer as having the best nose, for they are given 

 strong proofs of its truth. 



The pointer originally is a cross of the Spanish dog with the 

 grey-hound or fox-hound, by which the delicacy of the nerves of 

 the nose, to some extent, is diminished, and the body rendered 

 more light and elegant. No dog has a higher sense of smell, or 

 shows greater intelligence or docility. The principal reason that 

 he becomes rigid, or points, by the scent of game is from the ex- 

 traordinary condition of his nervous system, acquired hundreds of 

 years ago and handed down to him in a fair unbroken line by his 

 ancestors. A thoroughly broken pair of high-bred pointers are so 

 obedient to the voice and gesture of their master and so well 

 trained to act with each other, that a wave of the hand will sep- 

 arate them, one going to the right and the other to the left, so that 

 they hunt the entire ground, crossing each other regularly in front 

 of the sportsman as he walks forward. There is one matter that 

 is generally overlooked in ranging with the pointer. If in early 

 life you have taught him to retrieve, and a case occurs in the field 

 where he has to cross a stream, as the dog returns with the bird, 

 never tell him "down charge." His coat is so thin, and as we 

 said before, his organization so delicate, that he is sure to catch 

 cold ; therefore by all means allow him to run around a little, tak- 

 ing care not to disturb other game. The color, size, etc., of the 

 pointer have so often been described, we will leave that to the dis- 

 cretion of the sportsman, and remark that they ought, if possible. 



