32 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



Rlack W 



Spotted (jKr.max Wa'i'ciiuog 



weig'h more than twelve pounds if he belongs 



to the small kind, or more f- - 



than twenty pounds if he be- 

 longs to the large kind. ! 

 ]^ointcrs and retrievers. ' 

 The very noble English sport- j 

 ing dog, called a pointer, who 

 owes his name and universal i 

 reputation to his excellent 1 

 manner of pointing out the 

 game, originated probably in 

 Spain. The modern pointer, 

 bred and improved with the 

 utmost care (though subjected 

 now and then to the caprices of sport and 

 fashion), differs in the present da\' from his 

 Spanish ancestors and is an honor to Eng- 

 lish breeding. He is e.\clusi\-el)' employed 

 by English and American sportsmen to 

 discover and point OLit the game ; and his 

 wonderful flair (perception) transmitted 

 from generation to generation, his admir- 

 able immobility from the moment he scents 

 the game, and the willingness with which 

 he lends himself to training cannot be lofi 

 much praised. The pointer seeks eagerly 

 with ra|)id stejw ; but the game of late 

 years growing more and more wild, he is 

 less used now than foimerl)'. The grouse, 

 especially, no longer hnding as much shel- 

 ter in the fields, fly more hurriedly. To 



H 



this we must add that beating for game 

 has become so much the fashion that the 

 pointer is less in demand. 



It is said that he was frequently crossed 

 in former times with the bulldog and the 

 gre}'hound. When the race was sufficiently 

 improved magnificent breeds were obtained ; 

 among which may be mentioned the white 

 and brown pointers of Garth, Bentinek, 

 Arkwright, and Price, and the yellow and 

 white dogs of Whitehouse, Brierly, and 

 Salter. It may be said of the modern 

 [jointer that he has but one defect, — his 

 weak constitution. He is a model of beauty. 

 A magnificent gallop, rapid motions, an im- 

 posing air, and an expressive, undulating 

 tail are characteristics of this noble dog. 

 is every muscle performs its function when 

 - - 1 he is at work, and he gives him- 

 self body and soul to the task 

 confided to him. The sports- 

 man often goes out with a pair 

 of pointers who, as they seek, 

 approach each other obliquely. 

 When one dog finds game the 

 other respects him by stand- 

 ! ing still, which evidently re- 

 quires severe training. 



Pointers for exhibition must 

 have broad chests of good 

 depth, between two legs as 

 barrels of a gun. The feet 



i;i,.\cK .\Nii White Wolf Doc;s 



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