80 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DO*?. 



and another about the same time, in possession ol Mr. Mather, 

 an artist, resident in Edinburgh. These little dogs had ex- 

 quisite noses, and would set game as stanchly as any other 

 pointer, but were, of course, too small for field use. 



THE ENGLISH POINTER. 



This has evidently been produced by a cross between the 

 Spanish variety and the foxhound ; and it is to this circum- 

 stance that we are to attribute his energy and fire. 



The English Pointer is remarkable for his extraordinary 

 stanchness. Pluto and Juno, property of the celebrated 

 Colonel Thornton, stood for an hour and a quarter in the act 

 of pointing, without moving during the entire of that time, 

 while they were being drawn and painted by the late eminent 

 artist, Mr. Gilpin. 



A well-trained Pointer is very valuable, and will fetch a 

 high price. Dash, a fine pointer, also belonging to Colonel 

 Thornton, was sold for 160 worth of champagne and Bur- 

 gundy, one hogshead of claret, an elegant gun, and another 

 Pointer, with the proviso, that if any accident should at any 

 time disable the dog, he was to be returned to the colonel, at 

 the price of 50 ! (Sportsman's Repos.) 



The following anecdote proves the perfection of training to 

 which Pointers may be brought by proper discipline. A 

 friend of Mr. Jesse's " went out shooting with a gentleman 

 celebrated for the goodness of his breed : they took the field 

 with eight of these dogs. If one pointed, all the rest imme- 

 diately backed steadily. If a partridge was shot, they all 

 dropped to charge, and whichever dog was called to bring the 

 bird, the rest never stirred till they were told to do so." 

 (Anec. Dogs., p. 2S3.) 



A Pointer hates a bad shot ; my old friend Captain Brown 

 relates the following capital anecdote. A gentleman having 

 requested the loan of a Pointer dog from a friend, was inform- 

 ed by him that the dog would behave very well so long as he 

 could kill his birds ; but if he frequently missed them, the dog 

 would run home and leave him. The Pointer was according- 

 ly sent, and the following day was fixed for trial ; but, un- 

 fortunately, his new master happened to be a remarkably bad 

 shot. Bird after bird rose and was fired at, but still pursued 

 its flight untouched, till at last the dog became careless, and 

 often missed his game. As if seemingly willing, however, 

 to give one chance more, he made a dead stop at a fern bush, 



