THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 117 



I do not adduce this fact with the view 

 that any of my readers should make the 

 experiment ; but I quote it merely as a 

 remarkable instance of the effect of chance 

 producing an offspring endowed with 

 instinctive attributes for sporting pur- 

 poses. 



It would scarcely be less difficult to 

 trace the origin of the retriever ; the re- 

 markable and useful qualities this breed 

 are endowed with are rarely to be met 

 with in any other of the canine race. 

 There is no fixed genealogical principle 

 recognised as to the breeding of retrievers. 

 I have known very good ones of all sorts 

 and sizes. I once tried an experiment 

 myself which answered passing well. 



It occurred to me that sagacity was the 

 principal ingredient in the composition 

 of a retriever, and with this idea I crossed 

 a Sussex spaniel, renowned for its exqui- 

 site nose, with a large French poodle of 



