THE DOG. 63 



Let us endeavour to look at the part played by 

 a pointer in the light of cynomorphic theory. 



" Ponto " goes out with his pack (often a very 

 scratch one), his comrades walking on two legs 

 instead of four like ordinary dogs, and carrying 

 their tails, or organs of a somewhat similar aspect, 

 over their shoulders. The pack separate and 

 advance in line, he being appointed to explore 

 in the van and to search the turnips or rape for 

 a tell-tale whiff of the scent of game. The covey 

 is detected, but, being a co-operative and a loyal 

 dog, he does not rush in and try to catch for 

 himself. He therefore stands and waits for his 

 partners to perform their share of the stratagem. 

 All that he has to do is to show them in an 

 unmistakable manner that there is quarry worth 

 having in front of his nose. The pack advance, 

 he generally taking careful note of their approach, 

 the covey rises, the "tails "of the bipedal dogs 

 explode, and Ponto is rewarded by holding in 

 his mouth a palpitating mass of feathers, with 

 perhaps the stimulating flavour of blood, and 

 by a public intimation that the community or 

 pack approve of his conduct and esteem him, 

 what he dearly loves to be thought, " a good 

 dog." 



