DOMESTIC DOGS. 



537 



The pointer differs from the hounds in hunting by "body-scent" instead of 

 by "foot-scent." The most ancient breed appears to have been the old Spanish 

 pointer, which stood relatively high on the legs, and had a heavy clumsy head, 

 with a long, wide, and squared nose, pendulous upper lips, with ears nearly as large 

 us those of the bloodhound, and a massive throat and distinct dewlap. This 

 pointer was of a surly disposition, slow in pace, and apt to give chase to hares. 

 His redeeming point was, however, his marvellous perception of scent, and the 

 perseverance with which he would work his game. The Portuguese pointer is of 

 rather shorter build, with badly-formed legs and feet, and a long and fully-fringed 

 tail, and displays the same faults of character as the Spanish breed. The French 

 pointer is distinguished by the presence of a furrow between the nostrils, which 

 renders its sense of smell less acute. It is, however, a better shaped and more 

 active dog than either 

 of the two preceding 

 breeds, with more 

 power for hard work, 

 but quarrelsome and 

 given to hare-chas- 

 ing. The modern 

 English pointer is 

 the lightest and best- 

 shaped dog of the 

 whole group, and is 

 believed to have been 

 derived from the 

 Spanish breed, with 

 some intercrossing 

 either directly with 

 the greyhound or in- 

 directly through the 

 foxhound. 



This breed is characterised by its compact and well-knit build, sloping 

 shoulders, straight muscular limbs, and spirited action. The head is still 

 relatively large, but the pendulous upper lips, dewlap, and the heaviness of 

 the throat have been lost. The nose should be long, broad, and square in 

 front. The eyes are moderately large, soft, and intelligent, the colour varying 

 from buff to dark brown. A peculiarly rounded outline on the upper side of 

 the neck marks the well-bred pointer, which can hardly be described in words. 

 The tail is as straight as possible, with no trace of a fringe, sharply pointed at 

 the end, and carried low. The coat is soft, although not silky. With regard to 

 colour, there are two strains, distinguished as the "lemon -and -white" and the 

 "liver -and -white," which are the most numerous and the most esteemed; in 

 addition to which there are entirely black and entirely liver-coloured pointers, 

 the latter being very rare. There are also black-and-white, and black, white, 

 and tan varieties ; a dog with much white being preferred, in order that he may 

 readily be seen among turnips. There has been much rivalry as to the merits of 



ENGLISH POINTER. 



