The Pointer. 239 



parts of the country, that the black pointers are the 

 best to kill game over, " because such have the 

 better noses and the more stamina, and birds lie 

 better to a black dog than to a white one." The 

 latter idea prevails in a somewhat similar way as 

 to wild animals foxes, otters, &c. bolting better 

 to a white terrier than to a coloured one ; but 

 whether there is anything in such a statement we 

 cannot give an opinion, though our experience is 

 by no means a small one in the matter of foxes and 

 otters. 



Before entering on to the show period of the 

 pointer and the introduction of field trial competi- 

 tions, he was, no doubt, more used to the gun than 

 he has been since. Shooting surroundings have been 

 much changed during the past thirty or forty years. 

 Battues and artificial breeding of game have been 

 introduced on a large scale ; improved agricul- 

 ture and general cultivation have further altered 

 matters ; so have the close cropping of the land, 

 the use of machines for mowing and reaping, and 

 increased drainage. Under the old system the 

 stubbles remained as high as a pair of shooting 

 boots, the after grass required dogs to work it, rents 

 were lower, and the farmer could afford to have a 

 " rushy pasture " or two on his land, which, being 

 ill-drained, grew coarse " bent " grass, that afforded 



