POINTERS AND SETTERS. 389 



ion to the rear. They should be slightly turned in, or 

 "cow-hocked," a formation necessarily accompanying 

 the out-turned stifle (Fig. 5, B). The pasterns (two points) 

 should be short, nearly but not quite upright, and suffi- 

 ciently strong in bone. The feet (eight points) should 

 have strong, well-arched toes, set close together, with 

 hard, horny pads beneath. Strength and arch of toe and 

 hardness of pads are for work; closeness of toes, for 

 beauty rather than for use. 



The tail (five points) must be strong in bone at the 

 root, but diminish as it leaves the body, and gradually 

 taper to a point. It should be carried a little above the 

 line of the back, without any tendency to curl at the tip. 

 Symmetry and quality (seven points) involve what is 

 usually expressed by the word style, as well as a gener- 

 ally high and well-balanced endowment of the essential 

 features of the breed. As an indication of good breed- 

 ing, this is a very important count in selecting a 

 pointer. 



The coat (three points) should be soft to the eye, but 

 hard and dense to the touch. The color (five points) 

 admits of great variety, as above stated, but should be 

 bright and clear, with distinct markings. (Total 100 

 points.) 



The "speed lines," so called, are identical in both 

 pointers and setters. While their possession is the proof 

 of great merit, one should not accept an animal for 

 breeding purposes that does not also possess in a high 

 decree the distinctive characteristics of the breed. Beware 

 of hound-like or greyhound-like pointers, or of setters 

 with spaniel or collie appearances about them. In regard 

 to strength of limbs, that depends not on bulk of bone so 

 much as on good articulation. Short and square joints 

 are weak, no matter how much bone. Good joints 

 should reach far up and down the limb, while their 



