1 16 TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 



generous animal to great inconvenience during the intense heat 

 of the month of August, particularly on mountains where water 

 is seldom to be met with. On the whole, the setter is a hardy, 

 high-spirited animal; but he is often found troublesome to 

 break, and can only be kept steady by incessant labour, backed, 

 but too frequently, by severe correction. For those who follow 

 the diversion very ardently, and are out almost every day, the 

 setter will generally be found a valuable acquisition ; but those 

 who enjoy the fascinating amusement of shooting only occa- 

 sionally, will find greater satisfaction in the more steady and 

 better regulated exertions of the pointer. 



The pointer is of foreign origin, and is known, with but 

 slight difference of form, not only in Spain, but in Portugal, and 

 also in France. The pointers that have been brought imme- 

 diately from Spain are heavy and clumsily formed ; those from 

 Portugal are somewhat lighter ; while the French breed is re- 

 markable for a wide furrow which runs between the nostrils, and 

 which gives to the animal's countenance a very grotesque ap- 

 pearance. All the pointers, however, exhibit a very different 

 form and character from the setter : they are thick and heavy 

 creatures, with large chubby heads, long pendant ears, and are 

 covered with short smooth hair ; nor do they always possess that 

 generosity of disposition which is so distinguishing a trait in the 

 character of the setter; in fact, they are of little value till cros- 

 sed with the generous blood of these islands. Yet the conjunc- 

 tion of the setter and pointer is by no means adviseable, since 

 the production generally unites the worst qualities of the two, 

 without any of those requisites, perhaps, for which the two 

 breeds are most highly prized. Sometimes, indeed, a first rate 

 dog is produced between a setter and a pointer ; but it rarely 

 happens ; the cross, at best, is never to be depended on ; and 

 for one good dog thus obtained, there will be found, on an 

 average, twenty very indifferent or bad dogs ; while not the least 



