THE POINTER. 189 



vidual families, almost ad infinitum / whereas, as we have 

 seen above, the setter, so far as can be ascertained by any 

 investigation, is the natural, aboriginal, spaniel stock im- 

 proved by care and culture, but not by inter-breeding. 



The type of this dog is unquestionably, in the British 

 isles, and the countries which have been thence supplied, 

 the Spanish pointer; but how that variety of the genus 

 arose, by what crossing it was produced, or when it was 

 first known, is now beyond ascertaining. 



It was first introduced into England when the art of 

 shooting on the wing began to be general, replacing the 

 old sport of netting birds, for which the mute spaniel, 

 taught to set, since that time improved into the modern 

 setter, had been used. Its erect position while in the act 

 of pointing, and its lower and more careful style of rang- 

 ing, as well as its superior steadiness, were the qualities 

 which, on its first introduction, caused the preference to be 

 given to it for open shooting; and such are, with justice, 

 the superior excellencies still attributed to it, by those 

 who prefer it to its rival, the setter. 



In form, structure and general appearance, the pointer 

 would appear to be an intermediate link between the 

 spaniel, the smooth-haired hound, and perhaps the fero- 

 cious dog of the bull type the structure of the head, the 

 cerebral development, and the olfactory apparatus clearly 

 connecting him with the former species, his coat, his general 

 shape, and his fine stern pointing to the gaze-hounds, and 

 his heavy jowl, pendulous lips, broad chest, and crooked 

 fore legs, assimilating him to the pugnacious varieties. 



The old Spanish pointer is now almost extinct in Eng- 



