THE POINTERS. 



285 



This little group of Dogs is representative of two breeds of the POINTER, the two 

 foremost Dogs being examples of the modern English Pointer, and the third, of the 

 Spanish Pointer. The latter of these Dogs is now seldom used in the field, as it is 

 too slow and heavily built an animal for the present fast style of sporting, which makes 

 the Dogs do all the ranging, and leaves to their master but a comparatively small 

 amount of distance to pass over. The nose of this Dog is peculiarly delicate, as may 

 be inferred from its exceedingly wide muzzle, and for those sportsmen who cannot walk 

 fast or far, it is an useful assistant. 



As may be seen from the engraving, the modern English Pointer is a very different 

 animal, built on a much lighter model, and altogether with a more bold and dashing 



POINTERS,- Caais tamlltari*. 



air about it. While it possesses a sufficiently wide muzzle to permit the development 

 of the olfactory nerves, its limbs are so light and wiry that it can match almost any 

 Dog in speed. Indeed, some of these animals are known to equal a slow greyhound 

 in point of swiftness. 



This quality is specially useful, because it permits the sportsman to walk forward, at 

 a moderate pace, while his Dogs are beating over the field to his right and left. The 

 sagacious animals are so obedient to the voice and gesture of their master, and are so 

 well trained to act with each other, that at a wave of the hand they will separate, one 

 going to the right and the other to the left, and so traverse the entire field in a series 

 of " tacks," to speak nautically, crossing each other regularly in front of the sportsman 

 as he walks forward. 



