FOR THE FIELD AND FIELD TRIALS. 1 17 



POINTING, BACKING, RANGING, QUARTERING, 

 DROPPING TO WING, UNSTEADI- 

 NESS, BRACE WORK. 



" i 

 CHAPTER VIII. 



POINTING. 



THE pointing instinct, possessed and exhibited by 

 nearly all setters and pointers, is a conspicuous char- 

 acteristic of their methods in capturing "their prey. 

 Contrary to what is commonly maintained, it has 

 no natural reference whatever to the service of man- 

 kind. 



Man observes that he can usefully apply the point- 

 ing trait to his own profit, and he utilizes it accord- 

 ingly. In like manner he utilizes the powerful horse 

 as a beast of burden ; his speed for purposes of rapid 

 transportation; his hide for good leather; yet all 

 these properties were originally for the horse's own 

 benefit. 



The ability to point well is essential to the exist- 



