THE MODERN ENGLISH POINTER. 89 



stern characterizes the breed, and its absence shows a cross with th 

 hound or some other dog. The shoulders are points of great im- 

 portance in the pointer, as unless they are well-formed he cannot 

 last throughout the day, and, moreover, he can neither stop him- 

 self nor turn quickly in his work as he ought to do. Hence, a 

 long, slanting, but muscular blade is of vast importance, united to a 

 long upper arm, which again requires for its existence an elbow well 

 let down below the chest, and a short fore arm. This low posi- 

 tion of the elbow is not generally sufficiently insisted on, but in 

 pointers and setters it is all-important, and it will be seen to be 

 particularly well shown in the portrait, page 21. Plenty of bone 

 in the leg, well clothed with muscle and tendon, a strong knee, 

 full-sized ankle, and round strong foot, provided with a thick sole, 

 are also essential to the wear and tear of the fore quarter, while 

 the hind requires muscular haunches and thighs, strong well-bent 

 stifles, large and strong hocks, and the hind feet of the same char- 

 acter as those described for the fore feet. The color should be 

 principally white, in order that the dog may readily be seen either 

 among heather, or in clover or turnips, as the case may be. Liver- 

 colored or black pointers look very handsome, but it will be found 

 that great inconvenience attaches to them, as they will often be 

 lost si^ht of when pointing in either of the above kinds of beat. 

 White, with black, liver, yellow, or lemon-colored heads, are the 

 most prized ; and of these my prejudice is in favor of the last 

 from hiving had and seen so many good dogs of that color. A 

 spot or two on the body, and any number of ticks, are not consid- 

 ersd objectionable, particularly the latter, which are generally ad- 

 mired. Some breeds are distinguished by having numerous white 

 ticks in the color, especially when there are large patches on the 

 body, the marks on the head being usually free from them. Black 

 and white pointers have sometimes also the tanned spots over the 

 eye, and the edges of the black on the cheeks tinged with tan ; but 

 this is supposed to indicate a cross of the foxhound, and no doubt 

 in many cases with truth ; yet I fancy that if a yellow and white 

 pointer is put to a black and white one, the tan will show itself 

 occasionally without any admixture with the hound. The coat oi 



