THE DOG. SO 



a decided preference ; (in fact, a good setter will an- 

 swer every purpose of a springer or cock-dog), which 

 is easily accounted for the setter, being a more 

 hardy animal, and better defended by nature from 

 briars, &c. will penetrate thickets that a pointer will 

 scarcely look at. It is necessary to give a setter more 

 exercise immediately before the season commences 

 than a pointer stands in need of, which arises from 

 his more hardy nature. A pointer is better adapted 

 for a person who shoots very little, on account of his 

 docile disposition ; whereas, when a setter is but little 

 shot over or exercised, he is very apt to become wild 

 and unruly. With regard to which of the two has 

 the best nose, many will be found of opinion that 

 the pointer, in this respect, is superior : this notion, . 

 however, has perhaps in many cases been hastily 

 adopted; and arisen from the greater inclination 

 which the pointer generally manifests to set; he will 

 puzzle much in a place which birds have left some 

 time, and which a setter will scarcely notice; but 

 this is not a proper criterion to form a judgment on 

 this head : -the dog, whose superiority is evident on 

 bad scenting days, as well as other circumstances 

 arising from practical experience, can alone decide 

 this point. It is but fair, at ihe same time, to remark, , 

 that I have generally found the setter the best at re-- 

 covering a lost bird, as well as at footing.* 



* Fooling birds, is following them by track ; it is often:; 

 necessary to recover a wounded bird this way. 



