CHARACTEKISTICS OF THE POINTER. 



83 



that it can match almost any dog in speed. Indeed, some of these an- 

 imals are known nearly to equal a greyhound in point of swiftness. 



This quality is specially useful, because it permits the sportsman to 

 walk forward at a moderate pace, while his Dogs are beating over the 

 field to his right and left. The sagacious animals are so obedient to 

 the voice and gesture of their master, and are so well trained to act 

 with each other, that at a wave of the hand they will separate, one go- 

 ing to the right and the other to the left, and so traverse the entire 



■3^ *^ 



The Pointer {Canis familiar in). 



field in a series of " tacks," to speak nautically, crossing each other 

 regularly in front of the sportsman as he walks forward. 



When either of them scents a bird, he stops suddenly, arresting even 

 his foot as it is raised in the air, his head thrust forward, his body and 

 limbs fixed, and his tail stretched out straight behind him. This atti- 

 tude is termed a " point," and on account of this peculiar mode of in- 

 dicating game the animal is termed the " Pointer." The Dogs are so 

 trained that when one of them comes to a point he is backed by his 

 companion, so as to avoid the disturbance of more game than is neces- 

 sary for the purpose of the sportsman. 



The most useful variety of the canine species is the sagacious crea- 

 ture on whose talent and energy depends the chief safety of the 

 flock. 



As the Sheep-dog is constantly exposed to the weather, it needs the 



