98 DOMESTICATED DOGS FOR THE GUX. 



attention to the breed. Daniel, in his " Rural Sports," vol. ii. 

 p. 290, gives a copy of a bond, signed by John Harris, on Oct. 7, 

 1485, in which he covenants to keep for six months, and break, a 

 certain spaniel to "set partridges, pheasants, and other game," in 

 consideration " of ten shillings of lawful English money." Thus it 

 can be shown, that as early as the fifteenth century, a dog similar to 

 a spaniel, and therefore not a pointer, was used for setting game ; 

 and there is reason to believe that at that time, and for a long 

 period subsequently, the setter did actually drop and not stand as 

 the pointer does ; but how this change was effected we do not 

 exactly know, though there can be no doubt of the fact. The 

 following may be hazarded as the most probable explanation of 

 this change which has taken place in the position of the setter. 

 Prior to the introduction of the flint-gun it was impossible to 

 shoot flying, and these dogs were used in aid of the net which 

 was drawn over both dog and game, and hence a crouching 

 setter was more useful than a standing pointer ; but, when the 

 gun came into general use, the pointer, from being more visible 

 as he kept his upright posture, was selected in preference, and 

 the setter rejected, until in course of time certain breeds of 

 that dog were known to imitate the pointer in the standing posi- 

 tion, and after a still further lapse the old crouching style of setting 

 was lost. Thus, I believe, it came to pass that the English setter 

 imitated the pointer ; but whether it was effected by crossing with 

 that dog it is difficult to say. We know now by experience that 

 the first cross between the two, commonly called " a dropper," is a 

 very useful dog, possessing the properties of each, but it does not 



