UPLAND SHOOTING. 253 



I should presume that, for Grouse shooting in general, the 

 Pointer would be preferable to the Setter, as this bird is noto- 

 rious for its dislike to watery or marshy ground, — and it is the 

 Pointer's preeminent merit that he can endure more hours of 

 thirst, than any other of the dog kind. The Setter, on the con- 

 trary, very speedily loses his power of scenting, and soon after- 

 wards his whole energy and strength, in hot weather, where ' 

 water is not to be obtained. For this reason, to the Eastward, 

 in New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, in all of which, brush plains, 

 pines, and oak barrens, the soil is equally dry and sterile, the 

 Pointer is as much prefei-red, as he is in the similarly dry Par- 

 tridge shooting of England. The British moors, on which the 

 Red and Black Grouse are found, abound with springs, well- 

 heads, brooks, and morasses, and on these the greater speed, 

 daring, and dash of the Setter, as well as the advantage he de- 

 rives from his well-protected hairy feet, gives him the call 

 decidedly over his smooth-haired rival. 



Mr. Audubon observes on this point, " In the western coun- 

 try they rarely stand before the Pointer ; and I think the Setter 

 a more profitable dog there ;" but I must confess myself entirely 

 at a loss to comprehend the meaning oi this passage. 



In Europe, it is very true that the Setter naturally crouches 

 close to the gi-ound, falling flat on his belly when he comes on 

 the scent of his game even at full speed, and flattening himself 

 the nearer to the earth, the nearer he is to his game, while the 

 Pointer invariably stands erect to point his game. 



If this distinction held good in this country, the meaning of 

 the above passage would be clear, but such is not the case. 

 There is no difference whatsoever, of which I am aware, in the 

 style of Pointers and Setters finding and pointing their game 

 on this side the Atlantic. I have always shot over Setters, pre- 

 ferring them, by all odds, for general work, and have owned at 

 least a dozen good ones myself since I have been in the country, 

 besides shooting over scores belonging to other persons, and 

 I never in a single instance have seen a Setter set a bird in 

 America. This is not a distinction of training but of natural 



