MR. L G'S LETTER. 327 



do nothing but put up the birds. In mid-day, when there was but 

 little scent, their nasal organs seemed quite to fail them, and being 

 fast they constantly ran into coveys before they could stop them- 

 selves. 



"I was once asked to be umpire in a match between a pointer and 

 a setter. It was to be decided by which of the dogs got most points 

 in the day. As this was the agreement, I was obliged to abide by it 

 and decide accordingly : but that is not the test by which the supe- 

 riority of dogs ought to be determined. I presume what is really 

 wanted in a dog is usefulness to his master in killing game. If so, that 

 dog ought to be considered best which gets his master most shots 

 within a rise not exceeding forty yards.* The setter being faster and 

 taking a much wider range, got by far the most points, therefore I 

 was compelled to award him the prize ; but the pointer made twenty- 

 two points to which the party got twenty-one shots. The setter got 

 thirty points, but only sixteen of them could be shot to, and he put 

 up thrice as many birds as the pointer. I could mention twenty 

 other similar instances of trials between pointers and setters, but I 

 should fill half-a-dozen more sheets and not interest you. It is getting 

 dark, so I will conclude my long yarn. 



" I am, Sir, 



" Your obedient servant, 



(Signed) "JOS FT. LANG." 



In the correctness of this reasoning I fully concur. "W. N. H. 



