FOREST AND STREAM 
43 
flportitfg Slews from Jfbqozd. 
I F English chroniclers, correspondents and special re- 
porters have given somewhat ambiguously the account 
of the famous ceremony which united in holy bonds the 
Grand Duchess Marie of Russia and the Duke of Edinburgh, 
getting sadly mixed up in their translations of the Greek 
liturgy, and' even misspelling the lady’s titles, (the exact 
distinction between Cezravna and Czravna being not yet 
'perfectly understood,) in regard to the Imperial hunt 
which followed the ceremony, our English friends, being 
undoubtedly more at home in sporting matters, have given 
us a most interesting account. His Grace of Edinburgh 
has no small reputation as a hunter, having battled with 
the lordly elephant, and so, perhaps, his Imperial father- 
in-law made up the Gatchina chase for his son in law’s 
benefit. Russia eschews the admirable English fox chase 
or the less sportsmanlike boxed-up stag hunt, and tracks 
the bear in his lair, and takes to killing wolves. There 
must be a peculiar gorgeousness about an Imperial bear 
hunt, and manners and customs, taken no doubt from the 
period of Ivan the Terrible, are still in vogue. The bear 
is aroused to action by a band of horn players, who play, 
in unison, grand hunting fan-fares , and awaken bruin from 
his slumbers. If, however, ursus is hibernating and dor¬ 
mant, even after the band has given him a symphony of 
Wagner’s, he is aroused from his den and slumbers by a 
spearsman, and the hounds are let slip on the quarry. When 
the bear bolts or is brought to bay, a rifle shot ends the 
strife. Then the animal is put on a sledge of honor, with 
six prancing steeds to haul him, and with jingling bells the 
cortege glides through the snows. On the occasioirof the 
Gatchina hunt the bag was fair enough, to wit, one bear, 
thirteen wolves, two foxes, and a few hares. We wonder 
whether the fine looking Duke Alexis when he joined 
General Ouster on the breezy prairies of the West had not a 
better time of it when they laid the buffalo low? Though 
our gallant Yankee General does like musical effects, insist¬ 
ing that when he fought the Sioux his own men went at it 
more lustily while‘‘Garry Owen” was being played, we 
hardly think the noble Russ or the General had any other 
music than the most glorious of all, the human voice, as 
with excited clieers and wild whoops and hurrahs they 
charged the lumbering buffalo on their fleet steeds on the 
grassy plains. 
—“Idstone,” the clever correspondent of the Field , has 
a most amusing letter in the last number of our most worthy 
contemporary. Speaking of .the ‘‘many new and startling 
plans and theories started of late as to the uses of sporting 
dogs,” he hits the nail on the head when he says that con¬ 
trivances are made for getting the game up to the guns, in¬ 
stead of the guns, as in old days, going after the game. In 
writing about “driving game,” this most excellent authori¬ 
ty speaks of the sportsman of the day being lowered into a 
pit, (coffin like,) screening the front of his cache with furze, 
and most amusingly tells of a letter received by him from 
some infatuated pot hunter, who asks for “a subterranean 
retriever accustomed to being buried alive.” One most in¬ 
teresting portion of this communication is where Idstone 
says; “as to using pointers and setters in covert with bell* or 
without them , (the Italics are our own,) I am and have been 
using them in this manner for an American sportsman * 
* But why use setters when there are dogs constituted 
on purpose. If they stand, where are they? If they don’t 
stand, what will they be in the open by and by? And then 
as to backing where they cannot see one another. They do 
it in America because it is their fashion and their system, 
and it answers; but if they took to spaniels the}'' would find 
their account in it, and they would never go to setters 
again, for they would answer bettter. * * * How 
is it a setter’s business to flush game, and is a dog put into 
a covert to flush it or not?” To this we have to reply that 
with us our American dog is called to perform a great 
many more parts than his English canine brother. He 
may not do each one thing as well as the special dogs of 
various breeds used in making up the English sportsman’s 
equipage, but for all around work, a jack of all trade busi¬ 
ness, for rough work “of open country, interspersed with 
thorns, jungles, patches, and muddy places,” as mentioned 
by Idstone, and for long going, a hundred miles or more of 
ranging, all additional i equirements which we ask of him, 
our setter serves us wonderfully. About belling our dogs, 
however, that is a novel point which though we have heard 
of, we have never known to be practised, save with set¬ 
ters in the long prairie grass. 
—The death of Baron Meyer de Rothschild deprives the 
English turf of one of its leading patrons. The possessor 
of untold wealth, as early as 1841 Rothschild spent a 
princely fortune oh his stables, and though the dark blue 
and yellow cap. of his jockeys did not always come in the 
first, still he had allotted to him a notable share of racing 
victories. The Mentmore stables were among the most 
famous establishments, and some of the best stock now in 
England was raised by him. It is said by English horse 
critics that he looked for size and bone in the selection of 
his horses rather than for the more modern “fashionable” 
horse. Whether it was an acquired taste or not we cannot 
state, but up to the last fifteen years he was a fgir horse¬ 
man, and could follow the staghounds with the most reck¬ 
less crack-brained riders, but since about 1850 failing health 
caused Baron Rothschild to desist from such manly sports. 
—Mr. Frank Buckland gives an account of a visit paid 
to Grimsby, and tells us that from this place, largely inter¬ 
ested in fishing, no less than 36,300 tons of fish were shipped 
last year, principally cod, worth £540,000, the ton of fish 
averaging about £15. There is an interesting point in this 
article in regard to fish which Mr. Buckland calls 
“sprangs,” which he thinks are the young of the cod, and 
he purposes to settle this question by placing some of the 
sprangs in the Brighton aquarium. These fish are small, 
averaging 15 inches in length and weighing two pounds, 
comparatively worthless as food, being worth some half a 
dollar of our money the thirty fish. Mr. Buckland thinks if 
they are young cod they should be protected, or ought not to 
be caught until they attain a proper size. It would be inter¬ 
esting to have some of our fishermen or icthyologists 
give their opinions on the subject in regard to the appear¬ 
ance of our young cod. 
—Mr. A.' Spalding, of the Boston Base Ball Club, 
is noticed in the English papers as being now in Lon¬ 
don. We think Mr. Spalding is desirous of showing our 
English friends the nature and character of our American 
game. We are pleased to state that the cricket authority 
of a leading English paper, Land and Water , expressed the 
hope that the Boston club will be kindly received, and with 
the same cordial reception that has always greeted tlieir 
countrymen who have crossed the Atlantic on similar oc¬ 
casions. 
he ^fennel 
SETTERS CROUCHING vs. POINTERS. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
It is a singular fact that in England setters used to crouch or set their 
game, while in America they almost invariably point it erect and stand¬ 
ing, or partially so, as does their comDanion of the chase, the pointer. 
“Frank Forrester,” in his “Field Sports,” remarks: “In America 
wherever I have shot, East or West, in Canada, or in the States, I have 
but twice in five and twenty years seen a setter set, and then it was acci¬ 
dental. so far as this—that the dog usually stood ” He speaks of having 
shot over a dog, both in England and America, which he broke in the old 
country and says of him: “Ido not think I ever saw him point in his 
old country; I know I never saw him set m his new,” and concludes by 
saying: “I should like vastly to arrive at something concerning this 
strange point in Natural History, but it defies conjecture.” 
I s'*all not pretend to fathom this intricate question, but will merely 
put forth an opinion which may in a slight measure go toward answer¬ 
ing it. In England great pains is taken in the breaking and training of 
setters, vastly more so than in America, and while the owner of the dogs 
is not able to shoot over them, and seldom he is not, he has them regu¬ 
larly worked and practiced by his professional breaker and gamekeeper 
whose business it is to see that not a point in their careful training shal 
be lost for want of use. 
Setters in England draw on their gamesplendidly, and this is particu - 
larly looked to and the necessity of great caution in this act is impressed 
on the canine mind. Is it not natural, then, that a setter originally in 
his unimproved state a spaniel and taught to crouch should set his birds 
where carefulness has been so drilled into him? 
In America we are content to have a dog that will lindhis game nicely, 
point and retrieve, and back his companion’s point. This is all that is 
absolutely necessary to us Americans; every person here is to a great ex¬ 
tent his own breaker, and we have no gamekeeper to educate our setters 
while we are occupied at our factories, counting houses, or warerooms. 
Again, may it not be that the setter “Frank Forrester” speaks of as hav¬ 
ing been a croucher while in England and a pointer while in America, 
having been hunted with a standing dog in this country, learned that 
crouching was not necessary, and followed the example of his compan¬ 
ion? Dogs are very imitative. It is folly to suppose, as I have heard, that 
the atmosphere or the peculiar scent of our American game causes this 
transformation in the habits of the English trained setter when hunted 
here. 
It cannot be said English dogs were stauncher in their crouch than ours 
are in their stand; but certain it is we do not pay that attention we 
should to the breaking of setters, and I fear wc are not in a condition 
just at present to compete for honors in a trial in the field until we know 
the rules of working dogs in the field. I have myself seen but one per¬ 
fect croucher in all my travels (there may be hundreds more). He was 
notably so, and was owned and trained by a careful and particular ama¬ 
teur breaker, Dr. Henry Tradell, and the dog “Rake” of the Gilder- 
sleeve strain; none of his ancestors have ihe same characteristic, which 
is some argument that training had a great deal to do with it. I once 
shot woodcock over him in Bartram’s thicket, in the Twenty-seventh 
Ward of our city, when he invariably crouched in his point, with belly on 
the ground and flag tail erected high and plainly visible. “Homo.” 
Crouching in the setters instead of pointing is easily 
accounted for. When Frank Forester used to shoot in 
England, which is now some thirty odd years ago, some 
of the breeds of setters us6d to set or crouch instead of 
point, simply because the setter of that period followed 
the natural instinct of his ancestors. Some hundred years 
ago or more the setter was invariably called the “setting 
spaniel.” The difficulty of accounting as to how the set¬ 
ters of to-day attained the method of pointing has puzzled 
the hest naturalists, breeders, and sportsmen of the world. 
Stonehenge says that Daniel, in his “Rural Sports,” vol. 
ii., p. 290, gives a copy of a bond, signed by John Harris 
October 7, 1485, in which he covenants to keep for six 
months and break a certain spaniel to “set partridges, phea¬ 
sants, and other game in consideration of ten shillings of 
lawful English money.” Thus it can be shown that as 
early as the fifteenth century a dog similar to a spaniel, and 
therefore not a pointer, was used for setting game, and 
there is reason to believe that at that time, and for a long- 
period subsequently, the setter did actually drop and not 
standi as the pointers now do; but how this change was ef¬ 
fected we do not exactly know, though there can be no 
doubt of the fact. Prior to the introduction of the nt 
gun it was impossible to shoot birds flying, and these dogs 
were used in aid of the net which was drawn over both 
dog and game, and hence a crouching setter was more use¬ 
ful than a standing pointer; but when the gun came into 
general use the pointer, from being more visible a,s he kept 
his upright posture, was selected in preference, and the set¬ 
ter rejected, until in course of time certain breeds of that 
dog were known to imitate the pointer in the standing po¬ 
sition, and after a still further lapse of time the old crouch¬ 
ing style of setting was lost. Thus, we believe, it came to 
pass that the English setter imitated the pointer, but 
whether it was effected by crossing with the pointer it is 
difficult to say. We know now by experience that the first 
cross between the two, commonly called “a dropper,” is a 
useful dog, possessing the properties of each, but it does 
not answer to go on breeding from it, either on the side of 
the sire or dam, and therefore, judging from analogy, the 
effect has not been produced in this way 
, Marlboro, Monmouth Co., N. J , / 
February 23, 1874. f 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
I am very happy indeed to learn that our English cousins have kindly 
consented to bring their dogs over here for the proposed trial, as many 
now on both sides will have an opportunity to witness and enjoy the 
sport that would otherwise have been deprived of the pleasure. 
Our Western prairie country is preferred by those gentlemen. I believe, 
to test the skill of the competing dogs. It undoubtedly affords ample 
ground and game, but in my humble opinion not the most difficult in 
some respects to thoroughly test the good qualities of the dogs. Now I 
think more broken, uneven country, with thicket or heavy covert of 
some kind, where game would be more likely to elude the keen scent or 
activity of the dogs would be better. And besides this, if at the same 
time a friendly trial of the marksmanship of the owners of the competing 
dogs was desired (and let us have both by all means), I am sure it will be 
more difficult shooting in this kind of country than the open level prairie, 
I would therefore most respectfully suggest, if convenient and agreeable 
to all parties interested, that a match be arranged in some desirable local¬ 
ity in the East—say New Jersey, Delaware or Virginia—where grouse 
and quail are plenty, and the face of the country such as will fully de¬ 
velop the good or bad qualities and management of the dogs. And theu, 
too, this would be but simple justice to the dogs, as some are accus¬ 
tomed to hunting over, and broken for one kind of country, and others 
for an entirely different kind. I sincerely trust, therefore, our distant 
friends will be induced to try their dogs in both sections of the country, 
and thus afford many more and true lovers of the noble animal and the 
exciting and exhilerating sport.an opportunity to enjoy it. I say this as 
I fear many ard situated so they cannot leave their business or families 
to go out West, to be gone lofig enough to attend the trial. I would also 
take the liberty to suggest the months of October or November for 
shooting in this country, as it will be too warm for the dogs or sports¬ 
men earlier in the season, and in the East I think the law permitting 
shooting does not expire before the middle of October or first November. 
I think, however, in the West they shoot in August or September; but 
then the game is young and tame, and not near as difficult for the dogs 
to find or the gunner to kill as later, when full feathered, full grown, 
strong and wild, and will try the qualities of both hunter and dogs more 
•thoroughly. 
I have been told the shooting season begins earlier in England than 
here, and the summers are much cooler, and if this is so, perhaps it 
would be beet to have the match come off there first; but in reference to 
other matters, others understand them better than my self, and they will no 
doubt be adjusted to the entire satisfaction and mutual advantage of 
contending parties in the forthcoming match. 
I have received the portrait of “Belle,” and must say I can clearly see 
for strength, activity and endurance she will be hard to beat. I would 
like to get the portrait of “Ranger” also. I am more in favor of setter 
dogs for our kind of hunting than pointers. Have owned and broken 
many of both kinds, and some first-class dogs, but at present own only 
one good one and not thoroughly broken yet, or I would be glad to enter 
the match, as I love the dog and sport better than any other animal or 
amusement it has been my fortune to enjoy, and have been an earnest 
and active sportsman for many years, and trust to enjoy many more. 
“Marlboro.” 
Springfield, Mass., February 21,1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
I take a great interest in the International Trial of Pointers and Set¬ 
ters, and hope to be present at it. I have a good setter, but I hardly 
dare enter him, as there are probably many better animals. 
B. F. Bowles, 
Springfield Republican. 
[Mr. Price and Mr. Macdonna have left the matter entirely in the 
hands of the Kennel Club of England, as to the choice of dogs to repre¬ 
sent England in the International Field Trial Challenge, but as we under¬ 
stand the arrangement, Mr. Macdonna will visit this country with his 
dogs,whether the Kennel Club selects his pointers and setters as the best 
field trial dogs or not.— Ed.] 
Chicago, Ill., February 19, 1873. 
Editor Forest and Stream^— 
If the English gentlemen will bring their dogs on here there are many 
sportsmen,- owners of pointers and setters, that will give them a trial on 
the prairies. There are some very fine dogs in this city and neighbor¬ 
hood. The sportsmen here are getting up a State club for the protection 
of game and the enforcement of the game laws. They will meet on 
March 10th and decide when and where the annual tournament shall take 
place, which I think will be some time in June. 
Allow me to return you the thanks of the Prairie Shooting Club of 
Chicago, for information given by you, and at the same time will state 
that I think yours is the best paper in this country devoted to the Forest 
and Stream, and which I hope will be the leading paper for sportsmen. 
Very respectfully, Joseph Butler, 
Sec. Prairie Shooting Club. 
DO DOGS REASON—A LETTER FROM A 
DOG. 
Mr. Editor:— I was lying behind the stove the other evening with 
Pert, and heard my master reading from a paper which he appeared to be 
very fond of, and which, I believe, is called the Forest and Stream, in 
which was discussed as to whether or not dogs were endowed with rea¬ 
soning powers and faculties, or whether the remarkable intelligence dis¬ 
played by us is an exercise only of a. higher order of instinct. I listened 
intently, although I pretended to nod, and as there seems to be different 
opinions upon this subject by different persons, I thought it my duty, as 
one who was able to do so, to settle this question for all time. 
I am a black and tan, and of pure blood, as I have often heard my mas¬ 
ter say, and I have every confidence in my master, and think he is truth¬ 
ful, for I have been almost constantly with him ever since three years 
ago, when a gentleman brought me, a little black thing not vet weaned 
from my mother in the great city, to the country, and my mistress 
brought me up on a bottle. The gentleman brought||me in a ladies’ band- 
box, and I have been with master ever since, and he always has been 
kind and good to me. I know that I am pretty, and don’t -deny that I 
have a fine, black, velvety skin, nice taper legs, beautiful silky ears, and 
slim graceful tail, and I hope I will be pardoned for thus acknowledging 
my vanity, but then you must know I am a female, and, besides, Pert is 
always telling me how nice and fine I am, and what lady can stand to be 
flattered without some few exhibitions of vanity. Pert is a black and 
tail, too, but is not nearly so pretty or shapely as I am, nor is he of as 
pure blood, but of course I would not tell him so, for outside of bis dis¬ 
position to get himself and me into scrapes he is a right good old dog, 
and gives me the nicest of the victuals on the plate and the warmest aifd 
snuggest place behind the stove of cold nights. But outside of all this I 
think I must be a valuable dog, for I heard master say that he gave $25 
for me when I was with mother, and I think $25 must be a great deal of 
money, for my mistress once bought a hat which cost that much, and 
master appeared to be somewhat vexed, and said “you will break me 
up.” 
I like master very much, for he bought me the nicest and prettiest col¬ 
lar-all green leather and gold, and a place on it for “Julia” and his 
