176 BREEDING. 



By these general laws on the subject of breeding we must 

 be guided in the selection of the dog and bitch from which a 

 litter is to be obtained, always taking care that both are as far 

 as possible remarkable, not only for the bodily shape, but for the 

 qualities of the brain and nervous system which are desired. 

 Thus, in breeding the pointer, select a good-looking sire and dam 

 by all means, but also take care that they were good in the 

 field ; that is, that they possessed good noses, worked well, were 

 stout, and if they were also perfectly broken so much the better. 

 So, again, in breeding hounds, care must be taken that the animals 

 chosen are shaped as a hound should be ; but they should also 

 have as many of the good hunting qualities, and as few of the 

 vices of that kind of dog ; and if these points are not attended to 

 the result is not often good. 



To secure these several results the pedigrees of the dog and 

 bitch are carefully scanned by those who are particular in these 

 matters, because then assurance is given that the ancestors, as far 

 as they can be traced, possessed all those qualifications without 

 which their owners would not in all human probability retain 

 them. Hence a pointer, if proved to be descended from a dog 

 and bitch belonging to Lord Sefton, Lord Lichfield, or any well- 

 known breeder of this dog in the present day, or from Sir H. 

 Goodrich, Mr. Moore, or Mr. Edge, so celebrated for their breeds 

 some years ago, would be valued more highly than another 

 without any pedigree at all, although the latter might be superior 

 in shape, and might perform equally well in the field. The 

 importance of pedigree is becoming more fully recognised every 



