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, 
