132 THE AXGLKH AXD HUXTSMAX 



If such men as Laverock could not fathom the depths of 

 the mystery surrounding' the origin of the Setter dog, the 

 reader will pardon us for candidly admitting our inability 

 to do so. Therefore, let us leave off as we began there is 

 nothing definitely known as to the origin of the English 

 Setter, which is also true of all the other older breeds of 

 dogs. 



We could quote the writings of early authors on the 

 possible origin of all the other old breeds of hunting dogs, 

 but this would be imposing upon your time and patience, in- 

 as much as we would have established nothing for a surety 

 at the end, so we will allow our remarks and quotations on 

 the English Setter to answer for the other older breeds of 

 hunting dogs. 



Big Game Hunting: 



This is a fascinating subject one upon which we like 

 to write but we must admit there is intermingled with our 

 feelings a sense of regret, of. sadness, because the big game 

 of the United States is really and truly well-nigh a passing 

 memory, an episode in the evolution of our progress as a na- 

 tion that is almost dead and gone forever. 



But a ray of sunshine and hope gleams through the dark 

 clouds of despair for there is Canada and Alaska yet- -big 

 game's last retreat in North America. AVe turn, then, hope- 

 fully to the North, to the great virgin forests and wast;>- 

 places as yet practically untouched and untrod by man. 



AVhen our forefathers came across the seas to this 

 country there was not only game of all kinds in abundance, 

 but there existed an actual over-supply. Subsequently, the 

 different colonies (and later the various States) found it 

 necessary to offer bounties for the pelts of the different 

 species of game animals that proved a source of annoyance 

 to the early settlers in their pursuit of life and liberty. 



With the steady encroachments of civilization on our 

 wild, each year they have become less plentiful in many 



