THE SHEPHERD'S DOG. 65 
field, as it is too slow and heavily built an animal for the present fast style 
of sporting. 
_ The modern English Pointer is a very different animal, built on a much 
lighter model, and altogether with a more bold and dashing air about it. 
While it possesses a sufficiently wide muzzle to permit the development of 
the olfactory nerves, its limbs are so light and wiry that it can match almost 
any dog in speed. Indeed, some of these animals are known nearly to equal 
a greyhound in point of swiftness. 
This quality is specially useful, because it permits the sportsman to walk 
forward at a moderate pace, while his Dogs are beating over the field to his 
right and left. The sagacious animals are so obedient to the voice and gesture 
of their master, and are so well trained to act with each other, that at a 
wave of the hand they will separate, one going to the right and the other to 
the left, and so traverse the entire field in a series of “tacks,” to speak 
nemies crossing each other regularly in front of the sportsman as he walks 
orward. 
When either of them scents a bird, he stops suddenly, arresting even his 
foot as it is raised in the air, his head thrust forward, his body and limbs fixed, 
and his tail stretched out straight behind him. This attitude is termed a 
“point,” and on account of this peculiar mode of indicating game, the animal 
is termed the “ Pointer.” The Dogs are so trained that when one of them 
comes to a point he is backed by his companion, so as to avoid the disturb- 
ance of more game than is necessary for the purpose of the sportsman. 
The most useful variety of the canine species is the sagacious creature on 
whose talent and energy depends the chief safety of the flock. 
As the SHEEP-DOG is constantly exposed to the weather, it needs the 
protection of very thick and 
closely-set fur, which in this 
Dog is rather woolly in its 
character, and is especially 
heavy about the neck and 
breast. 
The muzzle of this dog 
is sharp, its head is of mo- 
derate size, its eyes are 
very bright and intelligent, 
as might be expected in an 
animal of so much sagacity 
and ready resource in time 
of need. Its feet are strongly 
made, and sufficiently well 
protected to endure severe 
work among the harsh 
stems of the heather on 
the hills, or the sharply- , i iy: 
cutting stones of the high SHEPHERD’S DOG.—(Canis famitiaris.) 
road. Probably on account 
of its constant exercise in the open air, and the hardy manner in which it is 
brought up, the Sheep-dog is perhaps the most untiring of our domesticated 
animals. 
As a general rule, the Sheep-dog cares very little for any one but his master, 
and so far from courting the notice or caresses of a stranger, will coldly with- 
draw from them, and keep his distance. Even with other Dogs he rarely 
makes companionship, contenting himself with the society of his master 
a’one. 
F 
