272 POINTING NATURAL TO SPOKTINa BOGS. 



noise as possible ; no vociferous screaming of 

 "So ho!" "Down charge!" &c. &c. All loud 

 exclamations will produce the certain effect of 

 scaring away the birds. A short whistle to at- 

 tract the dogs, if ranging too wide, and a wave of 

 the hand are sufficient. Our pointers were taught 

 to drop whenever the hand was held up, so that 

 if one dog took a point in one direction whilst the 

 other was quartering in another, a short whistle 

 brought him round instantly, and seeing the hand 

 held up, he dropped immediately where he stood. 

 There is a great deal of unnecessary cruelty often 

 practised — too often, I fear — in breaking young 

 pointers. The best bred will, as a matter of course, 

 require the least trouble, but with all patience and 

 good temper must be practised extensively, to attain 

 the desired end of willing obedience. 



The pointer is not so entirely an artificial animal 

 as many have been led to suppose ; for pointing or 

 setting his game is natural to every sporting dog, 

 although in a very modified degree, I have seen 

 greyhounds, even in an enclosed country, when 

 passing by the side of a hedgerow, stand suddenly 

 still upon winding or seeing a hare, and after re- 

 maining a minute or two, as if rooted to the spot, 

 dash at their game. Spaniels and terriers I have 

 seen do the same thing scores of times, with rab- 



