The Pointer 313 



the next selection in the march of improvement, and was bred to Sir Walter, 

 and the result was ten dogs and bitches that proved able to win prizes. In 

 this litter were the champions Westlake Surprise and Westlake Ornament. 

 Startle was also bred to Mott Regent, a brother to Sir Walter, and 

 Westlake Chancellor from that litter took a first at New York in 1903, 

 at which show Westlake Surprise won in winners' class and in 1904 took 

 the reserve to her sister Ornament. Since then, we believe, Mr. Westlake 

 has been experimenting in interbreeding between the progeny of Startle, 

 but as he has not been exhibiting this year, owing to an accident in the 

 late winter, we have yet to learn with what success. 



We have dwelt a little more at length on what has been accomplished 

 by this gentleman, because his success has not been attained by the 

 lavish use of money in expensive purchases, but as economically as any 

 man could wish to do. It will be observed, however, that he did not tie 

 himself up by buying a dog, but came to the New York show, saw the best 

 dogs of the day and used his own judgment as to which to breed to, nothing 

 but the best being good enough for that purpose. The three dogs selected 

 from time to time were the best of their day according to the record. The 

 rest was judicious selection of the home material. What this gentleman 

 did was and is open to all, and while equal success might not reach a very 

 large number, yet it is very certain that pointers would improve materially 

 by individual effort of this kind. And there never was a better time for 

 the small breeder than now, for good pointers are very scarce. In dogs we 

 have nothing to equal such as Beaufort, Graphic, Naso of Kipping, Lad of 

 Kent, Sir Walter or dogs of that class. Mark's Rush is the most successful 

 of late years, and is the best dog at present, but that does not put him on a 

 parity with the best we have had. On the other hand, there are many excel- 

 lent bitches, and in that sex the average of quality is good, which means 

 much in estimating prospects of possible improvement. 



There is also no predominating kennel of pointers, such as we have 

 had in the past. Mr. Frank Gould, Mr. Clarence Mackay, Mr. Brokaw, 

 Mr. Walton Ferguson, Jr., have retired after more or less brief experiences 

 in the show ring, and as they say on the turf, it is a very open field for the 

 man who cannot keep a large kennel, but wishes to do a little breeding and 

 try to get a few prizes. 



So far we have said nothing of the pointer as a field dog, in which line 

 he has a vast number of supporters. At one time pointers were looked 



