The Pointer 299 



dogs, but which one we cannot say. Most certainly there is no fox- 

 hound apparent in that dog. 



It is difficult to understand why the old timers were perpetually cross- 

 ing to get what they wanted, without considering what their cross-bred 

 dogs would produce when they were mated. Our breeders do not think 

 of that, but select along the line wanted, while still keeping to the breed. 

 It was not until dog shows and the stud book that we really got rid of this 

 crossing breeds, and at this date it is almost impossible of belief that as 

 late as 1868 breeders of the highest intelligence and of the greatest experience 

 were calmly discussing and approving of crossing the foxhound on the 

 pointer. Those who have already read the chapters on the varieties of 

 the setter are already well acquainted with "Sixty-one" and "Idstone," 

 the pseudonyms of the Rev. Mr. Hutchinson and the Rev. Mr. Pearce, 

 both thorough dog men. A correspondent of the London Field wrote that 

 he had decided upon trying the pointer and foxhound cross, and had bred 

 a foxhound bitch to a pointer. He asked for information as to what points 

 he should more particularly attend to in choosing puppies for rearing. 

 American readers will smile when told that this gentleman signed his letter 

 "N. G." One reply was to the effect that dogs bred thus were bad tem- 

 pered, and not easily broken, but to choose puppies that favoured the pointer 

 and to expect little benefit until the cross was carried through another 

 generation or two of the pointer blood. "Sixty-one" said: "As far as 

 my experience goes, I consider the foxhound cross with the pointer most 

 valuable." "Idstone," while deprecating foreign blood, said that if he 

 used a cross it would be the foxhound, but stated that in his opinion there 

 was sufficient sound pointer blood to be had to obviate any necessity of 

 going outside for invigorating the breed. In another sentence he says: 

 "If the pointer must be crossed, would it not be advisable to combine 

 foxhound, bulldog and greyhound ? " What a splendid lottery breeding 

 from such a combination would be! 



Fortunately for the good of the breed, there were plenty of gentlemen 

 who stuck to the line and made no outside casts, selecting their best and 

 continuing the work of improvement till their respective strains became 

 established, and are still landmarks to trace back to. It is not necessary 

 at this time to dwell at length upon those strains, for they have pretty 

 well lost their identity and become welded into the breed as a whole. We 

 refer to such old-time kennels as those of the Earl of Derby, Sir E. Antrobus, 



