THE SPANISH POINTER. 129 
would be depended on to stand even for half an hour. At that 
time I have seen one pointer remain standing for upwards of six 
hours at least. I left him standing without his master, and found 
him there as I left him more than six hours afterwards on my 
return along the same road. 
The old Spanish pointer, which is now quite extinct in this 
country, was remarkable for a large, heavy head, very long, wide, 
and square nose, pendant flews, large ears, slightly differing from 
those of the bloodhound in shape, width, and thinness, but quite 
as full, and with as much throatiness and dewlap as that dog. 
Behind the shoulders, however, the shapes of the two are quite 
different in character, though it would be difficult to point out 
the variations to an uninitiated amateur. It is, however, in the 
style of seeking their game that the two breeds differ most, and it 
is on this point entirely that the pointer must rest his claim to 
originality. The bloodhound (and indeed all hounds) depends on 
the foot-scent primarily, though he will own the body scent in the 
air when so strong as to prevail over that adhering to the soil. 
On the other hand, the pointer, if pure, disregards the foot-scent, 
and seeks for that of the body with his head in the air. Every 
experienced shooting man expects this peculiar style of hunting 
in his pointers and setters, and knows that if it is not displayed 
by a dog exhibited to him for sale he must expect him to “ potter ” 
(which is a dwelling on the foot-scent) in a very short time. Even 
in “roading” a grouse, a well-bred pointer does not drop his nose 
like a hound, but winds the foot-scent with it held about breast- 
high. Probably from neglect in rearing, and afterwards during 
the summer season, the Spanish pointer in this country becomes 
slack in his loins, spreading in his feet, and very slow in his gallop, 
which pace indeed is seldom displayed, a steady trot being the 
usual one, even when first turned off in a large stubble field. Still 
a brace of these dogs when well broken would quarter a field 
almost while their master was walking across it, and they would 
never leave a head of game behind, even on the worst scenting day. 
I fear this cannot be said of any of our modern breeds, who, it is 
true, will beat twice as much ground as the Spanish pointer in 
half the time, but in so doing will probably flush a covey or two, 
or possibly leave a few single birds to get up as soon as the guns 
I 
