332 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



having a light tan spot over each eye, and a tan shadowing 

 round the muzzle, and a few liver spots on the body. No tint 

 is preferable to this. Black and tan is an undeniable, though 

 uncommon color for the Pointer, coming probably from Fox- 

 hound blood ; and pure black dogs are frequent and good. I dis- 

 like a black and white spotted Pointer, it has a currish look, to 

 say the least of it. 



The more highly bred any animal is, the better he will be, 

 I believe, in all respects. The Pointer's skin becomes infi- 

 nitely tenderer, and his whole frame more delicate and fine- 

 drawn, by high breeding ; but so much does he gain thereby, 

 in pluck and courage, that I have seen pure-blooded dogs of this 

 strain tearing their way through cat-briar brakes, literally bleed- 

 ing at every pore, and whimpering with pain, while great, 

 coarse-bred, hairy brutes, of six times their apparent power of 

 frame, and capacities of endurance, slunk away like curs, as 

 they were, unable to face the thorns. 



In every animal, from the man, in whom I believe it tells the 

 most, down to the bullock and the Berkshire hog, I am an im- 

 plicit believer in the efficacy of blood and breeding to develop all 

 qualities, especially courage to do, and courage to bear — as well 

 as to produce the highest and most delicate neiTOUS organiza- 

 tion ; and I would as willingly have a cur in my shooting ken- 

 nel, as a mule in my racing stable, if I had one. 



I will now proceed to notice briefly, as becomes the scanti- 

 ness of his use in this country, 



THE COCKING SPANIEL. 



This beautiful, intelligent, and useful dog, which, like the 

 Pointer, is, as his name indicates, probably of Spanish origin, is 

 very little known or used in this country, except as a pet and 

 plaything for ladies ; and yet there is no country in the world 

 for which, from the gi-eat prevalence of woodland over open 



