88 THE TOWER MENAGERIE, 
they displayed more cunning and sagacity than any 
dogs with which he was acquainted, frequently quitting 
the line of scent for the purpose of cutting off a double, 
and recovering it again with the greatest facility. They 
would follow a scent after an hour and a half or even 
two hours had elapsed; and the breed was therefore 
commonly employed in Africa for the purpose of tracing 
a flying enemy to his retreat. They are in fact, both 
for symmetry and action, perfect models; and there are 
few sportsmen who will not regret that there appears no 
chance of crossing our own pointers with this interesting 
breed. A mixed race, combining the qualifications of 
both, would unquestionably be one of the most valuable 
acquisitions to our sporting stock; but, unhappily, this 
union seems to be altogether hopeless; for although 
they have now been more than three years in England, 
and are in excellent health and condition, they appear, 
like many other animals restrained of their liberty and 
kept constantly together, to have no disposition to per- 
petuate their race. The males are remarkably good 
tempered; the female on the contrary is surly and ill 
natured. 
