The Pointer. 171 



had the best of necks and shoulders ; no doubt 

 he threw back to the Spanish pointer. Perhaps 

 few people know that the English pointer 

 comes of Spanish blood, but is of a much 

 lighter form. He was originally obtained by 

 a cross of the Spanish and the fox-hound, and 

 has since been re-crossed with the harrier ; 

 and in my opinion he is far and away the 

 nicest and most interesting dog a sportsman 

 can shoot over. Of course, in the Midlands, 

 nowadays, the chances for him to exhibit his 

 abilities have greatly diminished ; the days 

 when we shot over beautiful high stubbles 

 have disappeared, and in place of them we 

 now have great ugly kitchen gardens. 



"The noble dog, in life the firmest friend, 

 The first to welcome, foremost to defend ; 

 Whose honest heart is still his master's own, 

 Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone." 



How beautifully and aptly Byron has 

 described him ! Such a delightful companion 

 in life was my old Rocket. 



I have headed this chapter ''Shooting and 

 Fishing," but I must at once confess that the 



