THE POINTER. 195 



tint is favorable as far more easily seen in thick autumnal 

 covert, than the self-color, which greatly assimilates to 

 the dead leaf. 



Lemon and white, orange and white, tawny and white, 

 particularly if coupled with a black nose and lips, are, in 

 my judgment, highly objectionable, as indicating a cross of 

 setter, which I abominate in the pointer. 



Pure white is rare, but unobjectionable; plain jet- 

 black is also faultless ; but where the black and white are 

 joined, I suspect foxhound blood ; and if to these be added 

 the smallest dash of tan, whether in the shape of eye- 

 spots, muzzles, or feet, I am sure of it. 



Tan eye-spots are sometimes seen in plain black dogs ; 

 and there is a famous but rare English family so charac- 

 terized; and if there be no white whatever, I should re- 

 joice in the possession of a pointer so colored. 



So also in liver, and liver and white dogs, are tan eye- 

 spots found and regarded as beauties, rather than defects. 

 Lord Derby's excellent kennel turns out admirable liver 

 and white dogs, so characterized, and of a stamp well 

 adapted to American shooting, as possessing perfectly pure 

 blood, and quite sufficiently high and fine a strain, with- 

 out over delicacy of coat, and with sufficient stoutness for 

 rough work. 



There is little more to note in reference to the pointer; 

 but there obtains a common error or prejudice in relation 

 to one of his occasional characteristics, which it may ba 

 as well to refute. 



One of the marks, so common as to be almost an in- 

 variable characteristic, of the old Spanish pointer, is what 



