UPLAND SHOOTING. 331 



" It is a difficult matter to put on paper, in a manner satisfac 

 tory either to the reader or writer, the peculiarities of any ani- 

 mal, whereby he may judged pure or mixed. However, there 

 are, generally, some few points in each species, that can be se- 

 lected as proofs of their genuineness and ability to perfoiTn cer- 

 tain actions peculiar to the race. 



" But, after all, more reliance must be placed upon the good . 

 faith of the seller, or the previous knowledge of the strain from 

 wliicli the purchaser selects — and what is better than either, 

 from actual observation in the field; all of which precautions 

 may, nevertheless, prove abortive, and our dog be worthless. 



" As regards the size of the English Pointer, we may say, 

 that he averages in length about three feet, from the tip of the 

 muzzle to the base of the tail, and from twenty-two to twenty- 

 six inches high. His head not bulky, nor too narrow, the fron- 

 tal sinuses largely developed. 



" The muzzle long, and rather tapering, the nostrils large 

 and well open, the ear slightly erect, not over long, and the tip 

 triangular; if too pendent, large and rounded at the tip, there 

 is too much of the hound present. The eyes lively, but not too 

 prominent ; the neck rather long, and not over thick, the chest 

 broad, the limbs laige and muscular ; the paws strong, hard, 

 and wide. The body and loins thin, rather than bulky, the hind 

 quarters broad, and the limbs in the same proportion with the 

 fore members; the tail long and tapering." 



To this there is very little to be added, except that the higher 

 the bi^eed, the shorter, the sleeker, and the more satiny the skin, 

 and the thinner the ear. Any tendency to long hair about the 

 stern or legs, hints loudly at a Setter cross, which imprf)ves nei- 

 ther the temper nor tlie ijualities of tlie do<r. 



Like Setters, Pointers arc of all colors, and I know not that 

 any color has the preference ; but as in the Setter I sliould dis- 

 trust liver color, which I regard as properly a Pointer color, so 

 in the Pointer I look with susp'cion on red or yellow, tliat being 

 a Setter or Spaniel tint. There is a very pure and high strain 

 of Pointers, principally white, \vitli liver-colored ears and faces, 



