494 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



Nevertheless, the pointing instinct, if exercised be- 

 yond useful limitations, may be a serious impairment 

 of a dog's usefulness, as, while it fundamentally is an 

 instinct, its usefulness to man depends entirely on its 

 intelligent application in meeting special requirements. 



The pointing instinct of the pointer and setter, com- 

 bined with their propensity to hunt birds diligently, 

 establishes their chief claim to excellence in upland 

 shooting. We do not know whence the pointing in- 

 stinct was derived. Even if we concede that it was 

 a natural evolution from education to dropping for 

 the convenience of the net, this in no wise accounts 

 for its origin in the old Spanish pointer. It is more 

 reasonable to assume that the instinct to point is pres- 

 ent in all breeds of dogs which will hunt birds. Of 

 course, it differs much in degree of intensity and man- 

 ner of application in breeds other than pointers and 

 setters, but it is there, nevertheless. Cur dogs which 

 have been used for all round pot-hunting purposes, 

 acquiring thereby a knowledge of the best methods in 

 the pursuit of birds, oftentimes learn to trail the latter 

 and make use of the point when the birds are located. 

 As a matter of course, they are far inferior to setters 

 and pointers in every respect, in upland shooting, but 

 that is aside from the matter under consideration. 

 When reading birds the cur dog observes the stealthy, 

 mute methods of the setter and pointer, although when 

 in pursuit of fur he may give tongue frantically, as 

 may also the setter and pointer. This seems to indicate 

 that it is an instinct common to all dogs, and exhibited 



