THE SPANISH POINTER. 391 



aids so much improved), are produced of various colours, yet the bold brown liver-and-white 

 are the most predominant. These dogs slow as they are, and accustomed to tire with quick 

 work before the intended sport of the day is half over, are yet truly applicable to the purposes 

 of those who are advanced in years, or, labouring under infirmities, feel themselves unable to 



get across a country in the way they could in former years 



"The Pointer we are now treating of, though exceedingly slow, must be generally 

 admitted to be sure; indefatigable and minute in his researches, he is rarely seen to miss his 

 game when game is to be found. . . . When a covey of birds is separated by repeated 

 shots, and are afterwards found singly, the Pointer under description has opportunity to display 

 his best ability, in most industriously recovering these scattered birds, the major part of which 

 (if accompanied by a good shot) are generally picked up to a certainty. To the recovery of 

 winged birds the patient perseverance of this dog is peculiarly adapted ; and for the sport of 

 snipe-shooting alone they are entitled to the preference of every other." 



No further description is necessary of a dog which, as we have before remarked, is practically 

 extinct, as specimens which resemble the dog referred to by Edwards and Taplin are very rarely 

 met with. It may, however, be worth considering if a cross between a good specimen, always 

 provided that such can be procured, with a modern Pointer, might not improve the latter very 

 considerably. Granted that the present dogs excel in strength and activity, is it still not worth 

 experimenting with a dog concerning whose utility many former writers have spoken so very 

 highly ? His nose is certainly a great feature in a Spanish Pointer, and though he is in the 

 habit of knocking up, we think that if a little of his blood were infused into the veins of some 

 of our field-trial Pointers in the present day they would stand a better chance of holding 

 their own in competition with the Setter than they have hitherto succeeded in doing. 



The illustration that is given herewith of the Spanish Pointer is particularly fortunate in 

 portraying his square short head and deep flews to considerable advantage, and his heavy 

 bone has also not been lost sight of by the artist. As in the case of the Russian Setter, 

 it is unnecessary to append a scale of points for judging a breed which is very rarely to 

 be met with. However, it should be borne in mind that depth and squareness of head and 

 immense bone are characteristics of the Spanish Pointer which should never be lost sight of. 



