120 ifcfnss of tbe 1Rofc, IRffle, anfc 6un 



was not fed, or taken very little notice of, until about 

 eighteen months old, was seldom observed near the 

 lodge, but chanced to be seen one day when Mr. 

 Edward Toomer was there. The brothers were con- 

 cerned together in breaking pointers and setters, some 

 of their own breeding, and others which were sent to be 

 broke by different gentlemen ; of the latter, although 

 they would stand and back, many were so indifferent 

 that they would neither hunt nor express any satisfac- 

 tion when birds were killed and put before them. The 

 slackness in these dogs first suggested the idea that any 

 other animal might be made to stand, and do as well as 

 one of those huntless and inactive pointers. At this 

 instant the sow passed by, and was remarked as being 

 extremely handsome. R. Toomer threw her a piece or 

 two of oatmeal roll, for which she appeared grateful, and 

 approached very near ; from that time they were deter- 

 mined to make a Sporting Pig of her. The first step 

 was to give her a name, and that of SLUT (given in 

 consequence of soiling herself in a bog) she acknow- 

 ledged in the course of the day, and never afterwards 

 forgot. Within a fortnight she would find and point 

 partridges and rabbits ; and her training was much for- 

 warded by the abundance of both which were near the 

 lodge; she daily improved, and in a few weeks would 

 retrieve birds that had ran, as well as the best pointer ; 

 nay, her nose was superior to any pointer they ever 

 possessed, and no two men in England had better. 

 They hunted her principally on the moors and heaths. 

 Slut had stood Partridges, Black Game, Pheasants, Snipes 

 and Rabbits in the same day, but was never known to 



