THE sportsman's vade mecum. I'T 



with one of high courage. But don't misunderstand me. 

 In this there is as much difference between a high couraged 

 and a headstrong dog as between a well bred dog and a 

 cur. Is your dog faulty in ranging, may be too high, or 

 may be no ranger at all, m'ate ^'ith the reverse, selecting 

 your pups according to what has been stated above. If 

 possible, always avoid crossing colors. It is a bad plan, but 

 cannot always be avoided, for oftentimes you may see in an 

 animal qualities so good, that it would be wrong to let him 

 go past you. But, then, in Ole offspring, keep to your color. 



From this general statefeent it will be easy to see, that in 

 breeding dogs there is more science and skill required, more 

 attention to minutice necessary, than at first sight appears to 

 be the case. Long and deep study alone enables a person to 

 tell whether any or what cross may be judicious, how to 

 recover any fading excellence in his breed, or how best to 

 acquire that of some one else. We will endeavor to give 

 the experience of some fifteen years — devoted to this subject 

 — to our readers, merely resting on our oars, to describe the 

 various breeds of sporting dogs most desirable for him to 

 possess, together with certain data on which to pin his faith 

 in making a selection from a dealer, though as the eye may 

 deceive, it is always as well to call in the ear as consulting 

 physician, and by diligent inquiry endeavor to ascertain 

 particulars. 



The characteristics of a well bred Pointer may be summed 

 up as follows : and any great deviation from them makes 

 at once an ill bred, or, at all events, a deformed dog. To 

 commence, then, at the head : — the head should be broad at 



