328 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



as perfectly under command, as on the last ; that I have seen 

 them tried, day in and day out, for weeks together, with the 

 most admirable imported Pointers, and that they proved always 

 equal to them ; in late Snipe-shooting, when the water is cold 

 and skimmed with ice, or m autumn shooting in thorny and 

 briary covert, they beat them out of sight. 



I may mention here a brace which I possessed, and over 

 which I shot eight seasons, never allowing any person to hunt 

 them on a single occasion after their leaving the breaker's hands, 

 except myself, and keeping them at steady work. One was a 

 liver and white English dog, broke by Mr. Sandford, of New- 

 Jersey, whom I have mentioned before ; the other a red Irish 

 Setter, with a white ring and four white stockings, broke by 

 Dilke. They were both undeniable dogs, but the liver and 

 white was the best retriever I ever saw. The test of their ex- 

 cellence is in the fact that in 1836, the late Mr. Peter G. Barker, 

 of New- York offered me, and I refused, eight hundred dollars 

 for the brace. They had cost me two hundred, and I had shot 

 over them four seasons afterward, when the price was bid. 

 I have only farther to say that I never regretted the refusal, as 

 I never saw in all respects a brace of dogs so perfect. 



I shall now proceed to the Pointer. 



THE POINTER. 



It is conceded that this animal is the offspring of the two 

 ancient races knovioi as sagaces, or intelligent, and pvgnaces or 

 beUicosi, or warlike, and I am inclined to think, myself, that his 

 share of the latter blood, is even greater than is generally im- 

 agined. His intelligence, except so far as indicated by his 

 power of scenting his game, is of rather a low order, and though 

 docile and easily commanded, he is not generally sagacious, or 

 afliectionate. Neither his temper nor other qualities, except in 

 the field, greatly recommend him; but for the steady pursuit of 



