170 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



progeny will probably turn out as well as those of more famed 

 ancestry. Of course (as the colonel says) the parents must be 

 so far apart as to prevent any chance of affinity, otherwise 

 the produce may be soft and worthless. I have known a 

 splendidly-bred bulldog in appearance, at bottom turn out an 

 arrant coward from this cause. 



After half a century's experience of dogs and shooting (for 

 I began to handle a gun when a schoolboy), I can assure the 

 tyro that the best pointer I ever had was bred from a sire and 

 dam unknown to any but local fame. I have seen in my day 

 many excellent dogs of high pedigree, but never one which 

 appeared to me his equal. The finest setter I ever possessed 

 was bought for 12 from an obscure kennel. 



By far the most perfect retriever, both for land and water, 

 I ever knew, was also my own, and was the progeny of a 

 water-spaniel and a large wiry terrier bitch. The son was so 

 like his mother that farm -labourers often remarked when 

 passing, " That's a strong terrie." Yet this dog, for acute 

 sense of scent, sagacity, docility, pluck, and perseverance, as 

 well as attachment to his master, was unrivalled. Amongst 

 the numbers of bred retrievers which have belonged to me at 

 different times, the only one that came near him was a large 

 rough mongrel, whose sire I bought (without trial), as having 

 the reputation of being a first-rate worker. His only points, 

 however, were a good nose, and the will (perhaps too much) 

 to use it energetically. His son can best be described by 

 negatives ; he was not a Newfoundland, he was not a water- 

 dog, he was not a rough sheep-collie, but seemed to be a 

 hotch-potch of all three kinds. The dam was a proved and 

 excellent retriever, and her son was her fac-simile in appear- 

 ance and disposition : at deer or roe he could not be excelled. 



As springing dogs have now superseded setters or pointers 

 in many of the great game counties of the south, I may men- 

 tion that the best springer I ever used was a cross between a 

 poodle and a cocker. I paid 5s. for the little creature when 



