286 THE POINTER. 



When either of them scents a bird, he stops suddenly, arresting even his foot as it is 

 raised in the air, his head thrust forward, his body and limbs fixed, and his tail stretched 

 straight out behind him. This attitude is termed a " point," and on account of this 

 peculiar mode of indicating game, the animal is termed the " Pointer." The Dogs are so 

 trained that when one of them comes to a point he is backed by his companion, so as to 

 avoid the disturbance of more game than is necessary for the purpose of the sportsman. 



It is a matter of some difficulty to teach their lesson rightly, for the Dogs are quite 

 as liable to error through their over-anxiety to please their master as through sluggish- 

 ness or carelessness. Such Dogs are very provoking in the field, for they will come 

 to a point at almost every strange odor that crosses their nostrils, and so will stand at 

 pigs, sparrows, cats, or any other creature that may come in their way, and will hold 

 so firmly to their " point " that they cannot be induced to move, except by compulsory 

 means. This extreme excitability seems to be caused by too close adherence to 

 the same stock in breeding, and is set right by a judicious admixture with another 

 family. 



According to " Stonehenge," the marks of a good Pointer are as follows : " A moder- 

 ately large head, wide rather than long, with a high forehead and an intelligent eye, of 

 medium size. Muzzle broad, with its outline square in front, not receding as in the 

 hound. Flews (*. e. the overhanging lips) manifestly present, but not pendent. The 

 head should be well set on the neck, with a peculiar form at the junction only seen in 

 the Pointer. The neck itself should be long, convex in its upper outline, without any 

 tendency to a dewlap or a ruff, as the loose skin covered with long hair round the neck is 

 called. The body is of good length, with a strong loin, wide hips, and rather arched 

 ribs, the chest being well let down, but not in a hatchet shape as in the greyhound, and 

 the depth in the back ribs being proportionably greater than in that Dog. The 

 tail, or ' stern/ as it is technically called, is strong at the root, but, suddenly diminish- 

 ing, it becomes very fine, and then continues nearly of the same size to within two 

 inches of the tip, where it goes off to a point, looking as sharp as the sting of a wasp, 

 and giving the whole very much the appearance of that part of the insect, but magnified 

 as a matter of course. This peculiar shape of the stern characterizes the breed, and 

 its absence shows a cross with the hound or some other Dog." 



The author then proceeds to recommend long, slanting, but muscular shoulder-blades, 

 a long upper arm, a very low elbow, and a short fore-arm. The feet must be round 

 and strong, and padded with a thick sole, the knee strong, and the ankle of full size. 

 The color is of comparatively small importance, but ought, if possible, to be white, so 

 that the animal may be visible while beating among heather, clover, or turnips. Black 

 or liver-colored dogs are very handsome to the eye, but often cause much trouble to 

 the sportsman, on account of the difficulty of distinguishing them among the herbage. 

 White Dogs, with lemon-colored heads, are the favorites of this author. 



As the Pointer is seldom in contact with its master, except when in the field, its 

 domestic qualities are rarely prized as they deserve to be. No Dog can be properly 

 appreciated until it is a constant companion of man, and it is probable that many Dogs 

 which are set down as stupid and intractable, are only so called because they have 

 been deprived of the society of human beings, through whom alone their higher quali- 

 ties can be developed, and have been confined to the kennel, the yard, or the field. 

 The Pointer is but little known as a companion Dog, but when it is in the habit of 

 living constantly with its owner speedily puts forth its intellectual powers, and becomes 

 an amusing and interesting companion. One of my friends has kindly sent me the 

 following account of a Pointer that belonged to him, and had been constantly with his 

 master for a lengthened period of time. The animal was not an example of the thorough- 

 bred Pointer, but was, nevertheless, a very respectable creature. 



" I ONCE possessed a Dog whose nose, sight, and instinct were well developed ; and 

 as he was my companion for many a day, and my only friend for many months, some 

 of his peculiarities may not be uninteresting. 



The Dog could point a partridge, but he would eat it, too, if he had a chance ; and 

 often when I could not take a day's shooting I have observed my Dog doing a little 



