THE POINTER. 195 



tint is favorable as far more easily seen in thick autumnal 

 covert, than the self-color, which greatly assimilates to 

 the dead leaf. 



Lemon and white, orange and white, tawny and white, 

 particularly if coupled with a black nose and lips, are, in 

 my judgment, highly objectionable, a.s indicating a cross of 

 setter, which I abominate in the pointer. 



Pure white is rare, but unobjectionable ; plain jet- 

 black is also faultless ; but where the black and white are 

 joined, I suspect foxhound blood ; and if to these be added 

 the smallest dash of tan, whether in the shape of eye- 

 spots, muzzles, or feet, I am sure of it. 



Tan eye-spots are sometimes seen in plain black dogs ; 

 and there is a famous but rare English family so charac- 

 terized; and if there be no white whatever, I should re- 

 joice in the possession of a pointer so colored. 



So also in liver, and liver and white dogs, are tan eye- 

 spots found and regarded as beauties, rather than defects. 

 Lord Derby's excellent kennel turns out admirable liver 

 and white dogs, so characterized, and of a stamp well 

 adapted to American shooting, as possessing perfectly pure 

 blood, and quite sufficiently high and fine a strain, with- 

 out over delicacy of coat, and with sufficient stoutness for 

 rough work. 



There is little more to note in reference to the pointer ; 

 but there obtains a common error or prejudice in relation 

 to one of his occasional characteristics} which it may be 

 as well to refute. 



One of the marks, so common as to be almost an in- 

 variable characteristic, of the old Spanish pointer, is what 



