HABE-HUNTiNG.] THE DOG, AND ITS VAEIETIES; [english pointee. 



ground, not one in twenty of the hounds will 

 have his nose to it. If there is a long default, 

 the huntsman should attend to the tender- 

 nosed dog, which, perhaps, he disregarded in 

 the morning as a babbler, and whom he pro- 

 nounced worthy of a halter for opening at 

 nothing ; his superior excellence of scenting 

 may now show itself to have merited a different 

 judgment, and may encourage some stancher 

 hound to stoop, which he would not other- 

 wise do." 



Mr. Beckford, in a great measure, coincides 

 with these remarks, and jocularly observes — 

 " Were it customary to attend to the breed of 

 huntsmen, as well as to that of hounds, the 

 family of the silent gentleman, mentioned by 

 the Spectator, would furnish an excellent cross ; 

 and that a female of his lineage, married to a 

 knowing huntsman, would probably produce a 

 perfect hare hunter." 



It is said, that a hare generally describes a 

 circle in her flight, either larger or smaller, in 

 accordance with her strength; and that the 

 female does not make so large a detour as the 

 male hare. Either sex, however, when, having 

 been hunted, and yet escaped, whether by 

 having made large or small circles, will follow 

 nearly the same track again when pursued ; 

 much, however, will depend on her general 

 habits, and whether the country be open or 

 enclosed. In inclosures, and where there is 

 much cover, the dodges of the hare form a 

 complete puzzle to the hounds. Besides run- 

 ning the foil, she frequently makes doubles, 

 which is going forward to tread the same steps 

 back again, purposely to confuse her pursuers ; 

 and the same style in which the first double is 

 made, she generally continues to follow, whether 

 long or short. 



We will not prolong this part of our sub- 

 ject, but conclude it by giving Mr. Beckford's 

 opinion on the harrier pack individually and 

 collectively. "The number of hounds," he 

 says, " should not exceed twenty couple in the 

 field, from the difficulty ol getting a greater 

 number to run well together ; and a pack of 

 harriers (as well as fox-hounds) are incom- 

 plete if they do not. A hound that runs too 

 fast for the rest ought not to be kept. Some 

 huntsmen load them with heavy collars, or tie 

 a long strap round their necks ; a better way 

 would be to part with them ; whether they "o 

 432 



too slow or too fast, they ought equally to be 

 drafted. The hounds most likely to show 

 sport, are between the large ' slow-hunting 

 harrier and the little fox- beagle; the former 

 are dull, heavy, and too slow ; the latter are 

 lively, light, and too fleet ; the first sort have 

 the best noses, and will kill their game at last, 

 if the day be long enough ; the other, on the 

 contrary, dash and are all alive, but every cold 

 blast affects them ; and in a deep and wet 

 country, it is not impossible that some of them 

 may be drowned." He further observes^ — - 

 " that with great trouble, and by breeding, for 

 many years, a vast number of hounds, he has 

 succeeded in his endeavour of getting a cross 

 of both kinds, with great bone and strength, 

 into as small a compass as possible ; that they 

 were handsome, ran well together, had all the 

 spirit that could be wished, and would hunt 

 the coldest scent. In conclusion, harriers to 

 be good, must be kept to their proper game." 



THE ENGLISH POINTER. 



This dog is produced by a cross between the 

 fox-hound and the Spanish pointer, a large, 

 big-boned hound, high in his legs, with a deep 

 jowl, and very heavy ears. This dog is now 

 seldom seen ; like the Talbot, the source, as we 

 presume, of the light, active, but vigorous fox- 

 hound, the old Spanish pointer has merged 

 into the intelligent, vigorous dog, so much 

 prized by the sportsman for its excellent quali- 

 fications. In some breeds of pointers there 

 is, we believe, a cross of the fox-houud, which 

 improves their strength and energy. 



The intelligence of the pointer, and the 

 occupation in which he is so much engaged, 

 has rendered him capable of judging between 

 the qualities of a good and a bad shot. Capt. 

 Brown relates the following anecdote on this 

 subject : — " A gentleman having requested the 

 loan of a pointer dog from a friend, was in- 

 formed by him that the dog would behave very 

 well so long as he could kill his bii'ds ; but if 

 he fi'equently missed them, the dog would run 

 home and leave him. The pointer was ac- 

 cordingly sent, and the following day was 

 fixed for trial ; but, unfortunately, his new 

 master happened to be a remarkably bad shot. 

 Bird after bird rose and was fired at, but still 

 pursued its flight untouched, till, at last, the 

 dog became careless, and often missed his 



