508 
ILLUSTRATED STOCK DOCTOR. 
sessing the long silky hair aud feather of the former, and not unfrequently tho 
short satin-like coat of the latter, but often times having a texture between the 
two. It is an error to suppose by breeding the setter and pointer together one 
can obtain the good qualities of either or both. By unions of this nature it 
is seldom a good animal is obtained, yet it is true the offspring may sometimes 
turn out fair field-dogs, but their dispositions are never such as are desired, 
they are cross and sullen, and if good workers on game, headstrong, self-willed 
and unable to transmit such good traits as they may possibly have to their 
progeny, whether bred to either a pure setter or pointer. The majority of 
native setters owe thejr poor quality to introduction of pointer blood ; but of 
late years we are glad to be able to say our sportsmen and breeders are opposed 
to the cross, and the dropper is not looked upon with favor. We cannot see 
why it is wheij such fine specimens of each race can be so readily obtained iu 
all purity, that the abominable admixture is ever indulged in. A description 
of the dropper is not needed. 
THE POINTER. 
The modern pointer is descended from the Spanish dog of this name, intro- 
duced into England nearly three centuries ago, and is so improved by judicious 
crosses, that the heavy, slow and awkward appearance of the latter is now 
entirely lost, and we have instead a quick, active and invaluable dog for field 
work. The pointer finds and points his game similar to the setter, erect and 
rigid, his short hair enabling him to hunt on the prairies where water is scarce 
and to continue without this necessity for a much longer time. In New Jersey, 
Delaware aud Maryland, and in countries where the quail invariably takes to 
briery thickets when flushed, the pointer is at a disadvantage, and in cold aud 
rainy weather he suffers greatly on account of his short coat. Never- 
theless we have seen them so highly strung and ambitious as to work wher- 
ever desired at a risk of injury to themselves. The modern pointer has been 
brought to its present state of perfection by crosses of the fox hound to give 
him additional speed and nose. He differs greatly from the setter in being 
furnished with a close, compact, short and fine coat of hair lying close to hia 
gk;n ; the better he is bred the more satin-like it becomes. 
The pointer also differs from the setter as follows : 
Head moderately large ; wide in proportion to its length, with high fore- 
iiead. Eye of medium size, muzzle broad with square outline not receding 
as in the hound ; “ flews ” not very pendent ; ears not set back so far as the 
setter’s, also more rounded and less drooping. 
The head should be set well on the neck with that peculiar rise at the base 
where it is joined, only seen in the pointer. The neck should not be too 
wrinkled or have too much loose skin visible under it, which gives the dog a 
® thyoaty ” appearance as it is called. The body of good length, strong loiuf^ 
