FOREST AND STREAM, 
53 
Jpru fennel. 
—We have inquiry from a correspondent in Cuba for a 
colley, or shepherd dog. Can any of our readers, either 
in the United States or Canada, inform us of any thorough¬ 
bred ones for sale; dogs say from two to three years old? 
— In answer to many inquiries, we would say that the 
address of Mr, 3. B. Dilley, the owner of Ranger, is Lake 
City, Minnesota, not Michigan, as erroneously printed be¬ 
fore- 
SPLIT NOSE POINTERS. 
St. Lotus, February 2-1,1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
If E. H. L. will read again J. W. M.'s article, in Forest and Stream 
of February 3rd, concerning the Baltimore dog show decisions, after J. 
IV M.’s assurance that he meant no reflection on the winning pointer 
because he had a split nose, the article will assume another appearance. 
J. W . M, merely rediculod the idea of the judge awarding the prize, 
simply because he once owned a good dog with a split nose. Hud he 
once owned a good dog with his left eye punched out, and a big wart on 
his right lip, and two inchcB of his tall chopped off. no doubt he would 
have without judgment, nnleas a dog similarly provided with tbeso re¬ 
quirements (?) had been on exhibition. Equally ridiculous is the rea¬ 
son given by another of the judges, that because the dog was light- 
colored (white I think) he could be seen farther in the field, and should 
have the prize on the bench. Where did this judge learn that color m 
pointers eecuied any points on the bench? if my memory serveB me, 
only ten points are given for the combination of color, symm ctry, and 
style. It is said one judge declared Stroniberg’a dog too finely bred. 
What was the dog at the show for but to show his fine breeding? Had 
it been a fiold trial, it would have made no difference what his breeding 
was. o. W. ST. made his criticisms of the awards to correct, if possible, 
the flagrant errors of judgment on tile part of the directors, and of the 
judges after they were chosen. Baltimore can get up as fine a display 
OI sporting dogs, owned by her citizens, as any city in America, com¬ 
paratively speaking, and since quite an interest is awakened there on 
the subject, let her go to work right to make her next show a grand sne- 
cess; but by all means let her get competent judges. If any gentleman 
is asked to bo a judge, and does not feel sure that he knows enough 
about a dog to pass judgment, let him bB candid enough to decline to act. 
But J. W. M. has something to say toE. H. L. about his pets—the split 
nose pointer. Wheu he went home, after reading E. H. L.'a article, he 
took down from his book-caBO the first work on the dog that came to 
hand—Voualt—haviDg made up his mind to quote only from one anthor, 
be his views what they might, and to select only our worst. Youatt 
says. “The French pointer is distinguished by a furrow between his 
nostrils, Which materially interferes with the accutcncss of smell.” 
Lewis, the author of Youatt's woik, American edition, can’t see why 
the spilt nose-"the slight deviation from nature"—should affect the 
properties of the olfactory apparatus, bat does not question that they 
are inferior in scenting powers to English dogs, “The furiow is merely 
a deformity,” he says, and "must have been originally the result of ac¬ 
cident, but has beeu extensively Inherited by succeeding generations 
until it has become a distinctive mark of a class of dogs." 
The split nose is a deformity, nothing more or less, and a very ugly 
one at that, as E . H. L. will admit, if it were fonnd in a man, a horse, a 
bull, orany other animal. A hair lip in a dog would be just as desirable. 
The peculiarity does not belong to pointers either, for Joe Turner, of 
Baltimore, has a little terrier with it, and Henry Unicom, of Baltimore, 
has a bull biich with it also, and there are plenty of curs in St. Louis 
with it. If E. H, L. thinks it an improvement in the pointer, ho can 
get some of Turner's or Malcolm’s stock to cross with his pointers. I)id 
he ever hour of a spliL nose pointer winning on the bench or in the field 
in England? J. W. M. docs not deny that a split nose pointer can be a 
good dog, but he dues deny that the dog is a good one because of his 
split nose, and he denies that the split nose makes any dog better than 
if he bad a perfect nose, and he denies that the split nose makes the dog 
more stylish or higher headed. And ho asserts that wheu that split nose 
doggeta briers or tough grass caught in that split nose, he will wish he 
had the old ordinary sort of a nose for the once. With kindest feelings 
for E. U. L.j I remain, yours truly, J. w, M. 
Washington, D.C., February 26th, 1676. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
I would like to add my testimony to that of “E. H. L." in relation to 
split or double nose pointers. I have owned and limited one for the last 
eight years, and never shot oyer a finer dog in my life. He was staunch 
and reliable on all kinds of game, and his get have all turned out well. 
His mother and sire were imported during the summer of 1860, and he 
was one of a litter of seven, all dogs, bom on shipboard. His sire and 
dam were a deep rich red, and he took after them in color. This coming 
Bummer, If lie lives, Barnoy will he fifteen years old, and I am afraid Ins 
days of usefulness arc over. Last fall Barney was only good for a few 
hours a day, but the time he did hunt was well putin. I never Baw him 
make a false poiut, or flush a bird in my life. 
- I agree with "E. U L." that evidence can be accnmnlated which, 
while it may not show the superioiify at spilt nose dogs, will not show 
them inferior in the least to their single nose brothers. I hope others 
who have Owned double nosu pointers will give a notice of their useful¬ 
ness. Jab. N. Davis, Jn. 
Portland, Me., February 18,1876. 
Editor Forest And Stream:— 
In the Forest and St be am of 17th inst., I have just read a letter by 
"E. H. I.." on the subject of pointers and “split noses.” 1 think, from 
what I have seen of pointers, that they are far inferior to setters for our 
work here in Maine, and, while I have no doubt that the pointer is the 
dog for the Western prarics, 1 think his friends arc claiming too mnch 
when they bold that he is better for general New England shooting. 
Now, I am a lever of sol ters, and am so strong in my preference that I 
Would not "take the gift” of tile bluest-blooded pointer in this country 
on the condition that I should keep him and shoot over him bore in 
Maine, because the well bred pointers, (that I have seen), “with hide 
like velvet,” will “hunt for two days among bull briers,” if his owner 
has the heart to let him; but he is equally sure to como out at night (of 
the second, if net the first day) with "his mottled sides ensanguined as 
were Lady Macbeth's hands,” “when from enrs to hip not a finger could 
tie laid upon him and not be freecood with his blood. 
Now, no one doubts the cosrage Of the well-bred pointer, hut who, 
save a butcher, conld enjoy hunting with an “affectionate" dog, with 
whose "docility” he has been “comforted,” anil then glory in hiB com¬ 
ing iu at the end of the second day of his master’s sport, so torn and 
lacerated that his proud master could wash tils hands in the gore cxnd- 
ing from every "frescoed” pore of his velvet-skined favorite. Because 
I have a good setter, and E. H. L. has a good pointer, is no reason for 
cash to decry the other's dog. The impartial truth is that both dogs are 
good. For some work the setter is best; for other work the painter, and 
perhaps in some cases they are equally good, 
In regard to the “split nose" business, I think argument is unneces¬ 
sary, if not absurd. It is Simply a defect— i. e. a "cleft palate"—and 
E. H, L. might as well argue that a sportsman with a similiar defor¬ 
mity would shoot better than a man perfectly formed, as claim that 
a dog with the same deformity is belter than one perfectly formed, lu 
cithei the deformity does not affect the special qualities sooght Tor, and, 
fiS it is a deformity, I for one should far prefer a weli-fonned dog to one 
with tho unsightly deformity of a cleft palate, oveiflf tho deformed one 
happened to be a little hotter. 
But as to this point I will only say, farther, that f road with much in¬ 
terest the article by your Kennel Editor npon this subject, and think 
there is nothing to bo Bald iu addition thereto. My own experience has 
been too limited to be of value as testimony; but such as it is I will give 
it. I have known personally three split nosed pointers and two split 
nose Betters, and not one of the five wns worth “a tinker,s condemna¬ 
tion,” although two of the pointers and ono of the setters were of 
undeniably good stock, and of one of the pointers, in particular, [ know 
that his mother was called the champion of "Tantrcmar Parish " His 
father was a very fine dog, all his brothers and sisters were splendid 
dogs, and he was perfectly worthless. 
One word more as to the merits of the two doge—setter and pointer— 
I have never had the good fortune to meet with an "affectionate” poin¬ 
ter, although I have seen many that were clean limbed, sleek-haired, 
springy, etc.; but I have rarely seen a setter that was not affectionate, 
and most of them very strongly so; and this latter quality or tho Better 
would alone cover a "multitude of sine" if they existed in him, ns they 
donot.ms Judies. I admit that, as E. II. L. claims, tho pointer’s "re¬ 
tention of knowledge when once brokon" is far superior to the setter's 
in the field, and also believe (hut they are easier to train, save for re¬ 
trieving, but I don’t think any one won id think of calling a pointer a 
‘‘loveable” dog, and 1 know some who do call a setter thusly, Mac. 
If sportsmen, in giving their experience in regard to the 
merits of the two varieties or dogs—setters and pointers— 
would divest themselves of all prejudice in tho matter, 
amateurs who are looking for information upon the sub¬ 
ject would he loss frequently led astray in selecting their 
dogs to shoot over. We know of no otic who has given 
the matter a more thorough practical trial than ourselves, 
We have made periodical trips to the prairies during the 
past twenty years, sometimes using pointers and sometimes 
setters, with the view of testing their qualifications, und 
now let us say that we cannot agree with our correspond¬ 
ent that the pointer is the host dog for the Western prai¬ 
ries. During the first month of grouse shooting there, say 
from the 15th of August, wheu the season opens, until the 
middle of September, a pointer would, no doubt, he equal¬ 
ly as serviceable as any setter, and perhaps not be quite so 
much affeeled by the heat. But we do not advise our 
shooting friends to go to the prairies to shoot grouse, 
snipe, and ducks before the middle of September. It is 
true that daring the first few weeks of the season much larger 
bags of grouse can be made, but then the weather is frequent¬ 
ly so excessively warm that there is little comfort for man 
or dog, and then frequently large lots of game spoil on the 
hands of the shooters before it can be used, consequently, 
years ago, we resolved never to go to the prairie to Bhoot 
before the middle of September, and then we find not only 
enough grouse to make excellent sport, besides the fine 
snipe and duck shooting to be found after that time up to 
the 1st of November; and during that time we have found 
that the setter is decidedly preferable to the pointer. 
We have, however, done much shooting on the Ohio 
bottoms in Virginia and Ohio, and in other places where 
the Canada thistles abound, the burs of which become so 
wound into the feathering of the Better as to almost make 
him useless. In such places the pointer is decidedly the 
best dog to shoot over. 
In regard to retrieving, our correspondent is in error 
when lie says that the pointer is inferior to the setter. 
When a dog is broken to retrieve artistically, as we have 
our’s broken, there is no difference between the two— 
either will find and retrieve the game surely when or¬ 
dered. 
NATIVE AND IMPORTED SETTERS. 
New York, February 23d, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Very seldom has anything arooeed socli a general interest amongst 
the sportsmen of America, as the question: "Which are the best and 
most suitable dogs for our hunting, the imported English or our own 
setters?" 
Many sportsmen, and mostly the Knights of the so-called Blueblooda 
and importers of English dogs, slick to a certain strain, and don’t allow 
any fresh blood of other strains in their kennels. Hereby they invari¬ 
ably in-breed, the father to his own get, brother to sister, etc.,; and as 
this is against all nutuiallaws, sportsmen should, as mnch as possible, 
not practice it, as it after a while must degenerate the offsprings. 
One writer asked, some time ago, w hen writing against American dogs 
and sportsmen: “ Which dog would the sportsman of America breed 
from, one that Is a very good fieldperformer, without known pedigree 
or one that has never been bunted and knows no birds, but whose 
pedigree we have and know? ’’ Here, I say, it should depend solely 
upon tho dogs themselves. Every good judge of a setter would soon 
detect that a dog is not pure, should the sire have been a bull-dog; but 
should this good field performer bo also good iu shape, coat and color, 
and have some strong, good points, which I wanted to improve on the 
offsprings, as the bitch is weak In those points, I should most surely 
take this dog, even without pedigree, if the pedigreed ono should not 
bo better in said points than the bitch. Forest and Stream has said 
very correctly, that hardly one out of twenty Bportsiuou knows how lo 
handle a dog right in the field, and 1 believe that not one in the same 
number is judge enough of dogs to select right and suitable males in 
breeding. Not only the shape and coat—the body of a dog should be 
considered—but his disposition and field qualities as well. 
If 1 should have a bitch, slow iu her action, with passable scouting 
powers and a very short head, J would not mate her with a dog that was 
also slow, had no better nose and head than the bitch, and if be bud an 
English pedigreo a mile long. No, I should take the fastest dog avail¬ 
able, with better nose, and along better formed head than the bileb, 
even if I only knew about his pedigree, that dam and sire huve been 
Bimply trusty Yankee setters. The pedigrees have shamefully been 
neglected by the most of our Americas sportsmen, and I hope that in 
a couple of years nobody need breed to n dog where only dam and sire is 
known. To keep a detailed record of the looks and disposition of each 
dog, wonid be a very interesting addition lo the mere names in pedigree. 
Many sportsmen breed also too much to color alone, and think that 
by crossing a black and tan with a red setter, or a red one with a lemon 
and white one, they would fare worse than breeding to a dog of the same 
color, although he might bo much inferior in every respect. Let all 
sportsmen remember, that the highest perfection of a setter consists of 
“ good field performance, good shape and coat, and that to accomplish 
good field Berformauoe there must be a faultless shaped body:” 
It would be ridiculous to say: wo had no good American dogs, and as 
much wrong to run all English dogs down, aB both countries have good 
and bad ones. But if some newly imported setter represents the best 
or England, I am bound to believe that many of the American breeders 
have been fully as successful as their Euglish cousiuB. For example, 
look at the difference In shape, disposition and color, of tho imported 
Lnveracks. Pride " is a rather noble, well built," dog, 1ml slow In Ills 
action; Fairy " Is not so well proportioned, too short legged, but nevor 
thclcss vary fast, and Ruby was not mock bigger than a “ Dachshund," 
and was by no means a bitch to give credit to the English dogs. Mr. 
Purcell Llev.’ellin, by crossing some selected dogs of the Laverack 
wilh tho Rhoebe-strain, seems to he the moat successful breeder now in 
England, as in the offspring of this cross, called the Field Trial breed, he 
has comblnod good field qualities with fine coat and forms. 
By carefully crossing the imported English dogs with some of our 
American good ones, wo will get offspring which may excol both. This 
has been done already, as many fine setters were imported long berore 
the latest rush, “ and in my opinion we have now some dogs fully as 
good as the best in England.” Justus. 
Kenned Produce.—'T he red Irish setter bitch Rnby, (see Forbbt and 
Stream Kennel Register, No. 82, page II, hook A), owned by W. R. 
Holuirt, of Newark, N. J., dropped a litter of fourteen, Bix dogs and 
oipht bitches, to Dan, the property of Judge C. E. Pratt, of Brooklyn. 
All the pups are red, or rod and white, very little white. Ruby is from 
a pair or red Irish setters. Imported in 1873 by Gen. Ducat, of Chicago. 
Dan is all red, from the Rodman Dtujh strain, (ace Burges h pedigrees, 
No. 120). These pupa cannot Tail to do justice to their breeding* 
The black pointer bitch Mab, belonging to G. A. Strong, of West 
Meriden, Conn,, recently gave birth to ten puppies, bj’x dogs and four 
bitches, tired by Pete. Mab in of tho Dc Pcyster strain. 
§nchting and § anting. 
All communications from Secretaries and friends should be mailed no 
later than Monday In each week. 
HIGH WATER. FOR THE WEEK. 
Date. 
Boston, 
New York. 
Charleston. 
Mar- 
3 
10 
0 
26 
n 
4') 
Mar. 
3. 
4 
40 
1 
27 
eye. 
40 
Mht. 
4.... 
5 
U 
2 
38 
I 
52 
Mar. 
5. 
7 
8 
3 
53 
3 
8 
M;tr. 
6. 
8 
24 
5 
4 
24 
Mar. 
V . 
9 
26 
6 
13 
6 
38 
Mar. 
8. 
10 
21 
6 
21 
St. Augustine Yacht Club- February 'Yid .—Their first 
regatta of the season of 1876, occurred on tho 12th inst., 
and although the arrangement of starting the second class 
and third class yachts in the morning, and the “ Special ” 
class and first class in the afternoon, seemed to offer a 
good chance for a day’s sport, it unfortunately happened 
that a light west wind, alternating wilh flaws, calms, and 
baffling breezes, made the morning's sport rather tame, aud 
the result more chance than otherwise. In the second 
class the America, Belle, Ida Lyon, Saucy Kale and Trav¬ 
eller, ware the favorites for the winners of the first and 
second prizes among the number of starters; and as the first 
three boats entered the race in splendid order, and the'first 
wilh a record second to none, wagers of kid gloves and 
sugars were freely made by tile ladies or gentlemen, who 
backed the bias of their wishes or judgment. The 
America had the leading call among theta, which she 
proved to meriL by winning the prize, the Ida Lyon and 
Traveller making n close fight for the second place, the 
balance of the licet being nowhere. Iu the third class the 
little Eagle and Emma won the victory over their “ small 
fry" competitors. Much regret was expressed at not 
having had a better wind, and as usual the absence of 
the much talked of eight, knot breeze was attributed by the 
tail-endcrs as the cause of their not having been in the van. 
However, with the afternoon race, there was wind enough 
to suit, a steady south cast wind having come up. The 
large yachts, Seminole and Belie, of the Bay, were started, 
ana the former reasserted her claim to the championship 
by winning the stakes. But the event of greater interest 
lay in the special class race. The Lucy, Julia, Maud, 
Daisy Burns, and Nelly, appeared at the buoys, and all 
seemed in good form, hut as for many seasons the Julia 
had proven herself the fastest boat in East Florida, tbc 
prize for her class was anticipated as her property. This 
boat may be remembered as the Brooklyn Belle by some of 
our reaaers, formerly visitors at the Ancient City. At the 
signal the boats all obtained a good start, the Julia having 
the lead to the first buoy, about a mile south of the city, 
which she rounded and bore away before the wind for the 
ship’s channel and tiie buoy at the other extremity of the 
course, miles distance.' The Maud, which seems to 
follow the fleet at the start, had obtained a second position, 
and a minute or two later rounded the southern buoy and 
followed in the Julia’s wake. A stcrn-cliase continued for 
two-thirds of the ten mile course until the second round. 
The greatest interest was experienced by the fact that 
the little Maud previously untried had challenged issue, 
tack and tack, with the Lady Champion, and was showing 
not only a clean pair of heels hut trim ankles, aud eventu¬ 
ally won the prize fairly, without the time allowance due 
her from her longer opponent. 
The Ancient City greatly rejoices on the occasion of 
these regattas, and the spirit of yachting hus been gradu¬ 
ally developed during the past four years, principally due 
to the efforts of Messrs. Edgar, one of whom was nomi¬ 
nated this year for Vice-Commodore of the New York 
Club, but who waived the oflice, it is understood, iu favor 
of a friend. Commodore Morse is a sou of the lamented. 
Sydney E. Morse, and cousin of the patron of tho Morse- 
raere Rifle Range, The Secretary, R, F. Armstrong, is an 
officer of the Royal Halifax Yacht Club of Novia Scotia. 
Dr. J. H. Janeway, late of Fort Wallace, Kansas, aud 
Major Randolph, bolh of the United States—ih Infantry, 
are owners of the yacht Belle. The Club includes nearly 
100 members, who are representatives of nearly every 
section. It is the chief centre and source of the winter’s 
pleasures in St. Augustine, and the natural outcome of 
the social aggregation of gentlemen here who are identified 
with yachting interests at home. Their club house is re¬ 
plete with every comfort, and is the favorite resort of 
members aud their guests. The St. Augustine Yacht Club 
deserves great credit in having passed through the early 
Ordeal of a career. It is lo he hoped they will not strand 
upon the rock of many such organizations; but to have a 
Commodore, Vice-Commodore, Measurer, Doctor, and a 
full organization similar to the large Northern clubs, and to 
propose aud adopt a uniform this year, iu view of the num¬ 
ber of boats owned in the fleet, is rather forcing' maltersinto 
the testhetics, aud is hardly favored by all tho members, 
some one of whom suggested yellow dress coat and red 
embroidered anchor on the flaps. This seusiblorebuke, it 
is to be regretlod, did not prevail. Wo favor tlm healthy 
and hourly amusement of yatching, but deprepalo "the 
snobs” in all organizations, who generally <i(jyylope the 
