THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 439 



that man be called a good sportsman who thus wan- 

 tonly destroys his own sport. Indeed, good sports- 

 men seldom ride on the line of the tail-hounds. 



* THE POINTER. 



This breed of dogs originally came from Spain, but 

 has now been naturalised in this country, and of late 

 years great attention has been paid to preserve th^ 

 race in all its purity. The pointer has a sliort head, 

 a broad forehead, great extension of nose and nostrils, 

 short legs, a square back, and a circular form of body; 

 it is remarkably strong across the loins, and in the 

 hinder quarters. 



The colours most esteemed in these dogs, are the 

 white and the brown, or liver-coloured. The Spanish 

 pointer is remarkable for the aptitude and facility with 

 which it receives instructions, and may be said to be 

 almost self-taught ; he rarely misses his game, and his 

 perseverance and patience peculiarly adapt him for the 

 recovery of wounded birds ; for snipe-shooting, this dog 

 is valuable above all others. On the other hand, the 

 English pointer requires very great care and attention 

 in breaking and training, but will undergo much more 

 fatigue : he is generally used to find partridges and 

 pheasants. In disposition they are docile and tractable, 

 but excessively timid. 



No pointer can be considered well taught, and con- 

 sequently useful, unless he be staunch to bird, dog, 

 and gun : this is to say, as soon as a bird or covey is 

 scented, he must stand ; when the dogs in advance 

 stand, the other must point, or, in other words, back 



