THE MODERN POINTEE. 89 



this dog Priam, Eap, Joke, Flirt, and Nina, all winners ; besides Macgregor, who is 

 by Sancho out of a grand- daughter of Hamlet. From these successes in the 

 twofold direction of beauty and goodness in the field, Hamlet was in high fashion 

 until the appearance of Sir R. Garth's Drake, since which the contest between 

 the stock of those two dogs has been maintained with varying results, there being 

 little difference in the number of wins between Viscount Downe's Bang II., Mars, 

 Grace II., and Drake II., together with Mr. Lloyd Price's Mallard and Beau, and 

 Mr. Statter's Dick; and, on the other hand, Mr. Whitehouse's Priam, Rap, Pax, 

 Nora, and Blanche. Besides these may be mentioned Mr. Brackenbury's Romp and 

 her produce by Chang, Mr. Whitehouse's Rapid, and Mr. Fairhead's Romp. 

 Mr. Birkett's black and white dog Rector is the only addition to these strains 

 among the chief prize winners, but he is entirely of blood unknown in the field 

 or on the bench. 



During the last five or six years (1875 1882) the liver and white strain 

 has gained ground considerably in public estimation, and has outnumbered the 

 lemon and whites on the show bench. Mr. Lloyd Price's Wagg and Mr. S. Price's 

 Bang have largely contributed to this result ; but, whatever may be the cause, it 

 is impossible to dispute the fact. 



Taking, however, these several strains as representing the modern fashionable 

 pointer, it must be admitted that the result of recent efforts in breeding has been 

 manifested in a great increase of pace, so as to bring the pointer up to the level of 

 the setter in that quality, so important to the grouse shooter, for whom both 

 pointers and setters are now, as already remarked, chiefly demanded. For this 

 reason it is absurd to ignore range and pace in judging at field trials, as has 

 been attempted by certain influential members of the Kennel Club. In any case, 

 to count up the number of times each competitor finds a brace of birds, and decide 

 by that alone, in a trial limited to minutes, is, in my opinion, to give chance too 

 great a " pull " ; and, as I before remarked, range and pace, though not necessary 

 in the south, are essential for grouse dogs, and it is for that purpose that pointers as 

 well as setters are now mainly required. One great advantage in pointers is that they 

 do not require water so often as the setter, or to be rebroken every season more or 

 less. They are hardier too, and do not succumb so easily to the ravages of distemper. 



In the endeavour to increase the speed and stamina of the pointer, the foxhound 

 has been used as a cross by Col. Thornton and others since his time. It is well 

 known that the foxhound is far superior to all dogs in the latter capacity, and 

 equal to all but the greyhound in the former. I have tried several pointers more 

 or less crossed with the foxhound, and most of them have been very fast and 

 stout; but in every instance there was unsteadiness behind, however carefully 

 the dog was broken, and great difficulty has been experienced in getting any 

 "back" whatever. In both the foxhound and the greyhound jealousy is encouraged 

 to the utmost, while in the pointer it is a fatal defect. Hence, although I believe 

 several of our best strains possess in a remote degree a cross of the foxhound, it is 

 not hastily to be introduced, and it takes several crosses back into steady pointer 

 blood to neutralise the defect alluded to. 



