NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DOG. 81 



with his nose pointed downward, the forefoot bent, and the 

 tail straight and steady. In this position he remained firm till 

 the sportsman was close to him, with both barrels cocked ; then 

 moving steadily forward for a few paces, he at last stood still 

 near a bunch of heather, the tail expressing the anxiety of 

 the mind by moving regularly backwards and forwards. \t. 

 last, out sprung a fine old blackcock. Bang, bang, went 

 both barrels but the bird escaped unhurt. The patience of 

 the dog was now quite exhausted, and, instead of dropping to 

 charge, he turned boldly round, placed his tail between his 

 legs, gave one howl, long and loud, and set off as fast as he 

 could to his own home. 



Pointers have been known to go out by themselves in search 

 of game, and if they found, to return for their master, and, 

 by gestures, induce him to take his gun, and follow them to 

 the spot. 



The comparative merits of Pointer and Setter have been 

 made the subject of considerable controversy. Much may 

 be said on both sides, and I shall myself have a few words to 

 say when I come to treat of the latter dog. 



THE DALMATIAN, OR CARRIAGE DOG.* 



Thio is a very handsome dog, in every respect similar to 

 the pointer. It is not, in its present state, remarkable for sa- 

 gacity or fineness of scent ; but these deficiencies may have 

 arisen from the disuse of its natural powers through so many 

 generations. One instance of a Dalmatian having been bro- 

 ken to the gun, fell, some years ago, under my own observa- 

 tion, and the dog proved himself worthy of his training. Co- 

 lonel Smith figures a large and showy dog as the supposed ori- 

 ginal of the Dalmatian. His figure is taken from a print pub- 

 lished at Cadiz a number of years ago. The original had 

 been brought from India. This figure is, however, very dis- 

 similar from our carriage-dog, and resembles far more the 

 tiger-hound, already described. 



THE RUSSIAN POINTER. 



This dog is covered with coarse, wiry hair, like the Rus, 

 sian terrier. He is somewhat less in stature than the ordina, 

 ry pointer, and is lower in the shoulder. His nose is cleft, 



* This is a perfectly distinct variety from the Great Dane, and by no 

 means to be confounded with him. 



