i 3 o DOMESTICATED DOGS. 



and knows that if it is not displayed by a dog exhibited to him 

 for sale he must expect him to " potter " (which is a dwelling 

 on the foot-scent) in a very short time. Even in " roading " a 

 grouse, a well-bred pointer does not drop his nose like a hound, 

 but winds the foot- scent with it held about - breast-high. Pro- 

 bably from neglect in rearing, and afterwards during the summer 

 season, the Spanish pointer in this country becomes slack in his 

 loins, spreading in his feet, and very slow in his gallop, which 

 pace indeed is seldom displayed, a steady trot being the usual 

 one, even when first turned off in a large stubble field. Still a 

 brace of these dogs when well broken would quarter a field 

 almost while their master was walking across it, and they would, 

 never leave a head of game behind, even on the worst scentino- 

 day. I fear this cannot be said of any of our modern breeds, 

 who, it is true, will beat twice as much ground as the Spanish 

 pointer in balf the time, but in so doing will probably flush a 

 covey or two, or possibly leave a few single birds to get up as 

 soon as the guns are over the gate. The engraving heading this 

 article is from a well-known portrait of the old-fashioned do°-, 

 and exhibits him in his best form, with a strong loin and plenty 

 of propelling power ; but though I have seen some scores of the 

 breed in my early sporting days, I never met with such a frame 

 among them. The head, however, is quite correct, and I have 

 little doubt that the original of the portrait was an exceptional 

 animal in respect of body and legs. He is represented with his 

 tail docked, as was invariably the practice in the early part, of 

 this century, owing to the constant lashing of it frequently 

 causing it to bleed, to the great annoyance of the shooter and 

 the loss of strength by the dog. 



