ON JUDGING AT FIELD TEIALS. 



59 



was, I think, a mistake as regards backing, which is as inherent in some breeds as 

 the point, and quite as difficult to impart by education. 



ME. BRAILSFORD'S SCALE OF POINTS AS USED AT STAFFORD AND 



SHREWSBURY. 



The scale used at Bedford and Bala was somewhat different ; but still it did not 

 introduce the negative points. I insert it as filled up at Bala by " The Prior " in 

 the case of the celebrated Hamlet : 



"IDSTONE'S" SCALE, AS USED AT BEDFORD AND BALA. 



Now, supposing Hamlet had refused to back, he would only be mulcted 

 10 points from the above totals ; whereas, according to my ideas, he ought to 

 lose 20. Moreover, there is no calculation made for " dropping to wing and 

 shot," two most important items in the utility of a pointer or setter. Taking 

 these considerations into view, I proposed for adoption at the Vaynol trials the 

 following modifications of the Bedford and Bala scale, which was originally 

 intended only to test dogs used for stud purposes. This, when filled up for a dog 

 of average merits, would be as follows : 



