BREEDING POINTERS, &C. G3 



The period of gestation in the bitch is about sixty-three days, 

 and she produces from four to ten at a litter. The young are 

 brought forth blind : the two eye-lids are not merely glued to- 

 gether, but shut up with a membrane, which is torn off as soon 

 as the muscles of the upper eye-lids acquire sufficient strength 

 to overcome this obstacle to vision, which generally happens 

 about the tenth day. At this period the young animals are 

 extremely clumsy and awkward. The bones of the head are not 

 completed ; the body and muzzle are bloated, and the whole 

 figure appears ill-designed. Their growth, however, is rapid ; 

 and in about six weeks they acquire the use of all their senses. 

 When four months old, they lose their teeth, which are quickly 

 replaced, and are never afterwards changed. 



A dog's age may be tolerably well ascertained by the appear- 

 ance of his teeth. A young dog's teeth generally look clean 

 and white ; at an early period of his existence, his front teeth 

 are serrated, and as he increases in age, this saw-like appearance 

 gradually wears out. At four years old, or perhaps sooner, it 

 is no longer observable : the teeth turn yellow, fade, and drop 

 out as the animal grows old ; and if he be fed principally on 

 bones his teeth become short and blunt at an early period. A 

 dog, if worked hard, will turn grey at eight or nine years of age, 

 and exhibit every symptom of decay such as bad sight, loss of 

 hearing, &c. Fourteen years is the general period allotted for 

 the life of a dog ; but if he be kept to hard labour each season, 

 he will seldom live so long. 



The best time for a bitch to take the dog is the month of 

 March, when the whelps will have all the advantages of the sum- 

 mer, and will have become sufficiently strong to endure the 

 rigour of the hardest winter. 



There are various methods recommended to prevent a bitch 

 from taking the dog, if she happens to become proud at an im- 

 proper period, mo&t of which are ridiculous enough : I know of 



