Bo WlTH BOAT AKD GtJN IN THE YANGTZE VALLEY. 



lies flatter, but still to some extent, the same objections that have been advanced against the 

 retriever and spaniel apply to the graceful setter. Seeds will find their way into his feet 

 and ears and armpits and the thick hair between his toes; and when it is remembered that 

 one cruel grass-seed between the toes is enough to lame a dog, and one seed in the ear quite 

 sufficient to set up an annoying cankerous discharge, the reasonableness of not shooting 

 over a valuable animal until the seeds have been rendered harmless by the frosts should be 

 willingly admitted ; and if one's setter is only to be available for shooting purposes for a 

 couple of months in the year at most, the question of expense alone is one worth a passing 

 consideration. One point in favour of setters is that they can stand rougher work and face 

 ice-cold water better than pointers, especially the Irish dogs, and they are certainly more 

 companionable. 



POINTERS. 



The preceding objections have been raised not against the virtues of the dogs 

 enumerated but against the unsuitableness of their coats for work in this climate until the 

 cover lightens and the seeds are down. Something may be done towards mitigating the 

 seed evil by working the dogs in canker-caps, but still their necks and feet are ever open 

 to the reception of the fell annoyance. Now, pointers may be said to go immune through 

 these trials: seeds very seldom get into their ears, and are without much difficulty extracted 

 from their feet, while the "set" of the short hair of their coats is not favourable to their 

 lodgement. 



What seems to be required for shooting throughout a season is a strong, well-broken, 

 but, perhaps, not too highly-bred pointer : one that will take the water, face the thick covers, 

 and possibly retrieve ; and there are such dogs in the place. A sentimental objection to 

 pointers is that they are not so companionable as the other breeds, which is true to a certain 

 extent ; but it must be remembered that when a pointer is on business he means business, 

 and that is exactly what he is wanted for. In choosing a pointer always try to get one with 

 sloping shoulders, long, airy neck, a deep but not broad chest, and a loin, arched, very wide 

 strong and muscular. Some useful pointers occasionally arrive here from Germany. For 

 the most part they are well educated and good at retrieving, but they run big and heavy, 

 and are too much given to "pottering and hunting on their own." A last word may be said 

 in favour of the pointer : he can be worked from the beginning to the end of the shooting 

 season, whereas it is little less than cruelty to take a spaniel or setter out before December, 

 even though his coat be closely clipped a precaution that every considerate sportsman 

 should certainly take. 



If the foregoing considerations be anything worth, the reasonable answer to the 

 question this chapter commenced with is that the pointer is the most suitable dog for shooting 

 purposes in North China. 



FOX TERRIERS. 



Only those who have seen a good fox terrier out with the gun can form any idea 

 what a really useful little animal he can be. Imbued as a good terrier is with the very 

 strongest sporting instincts he only waits the opportunity to exhibit them. He will not 

 only face the very thickest cover, but he can work his way through and under obstacles 



