UPLAND SHOOTING. 
329 
we have much pleasure in laying before the reader the opinion 
on this subject of one of the most experienced authorities in 
England, We speak of Mr. Lang, the well-known gunmaker 
of the Haymarket, to whom we are indebted for the subjoined 
letter to that interesting inquiry :— 
“‘ Having had considerable experience in breeding from some 
of the first kennels in England, Ireland, and Scotland—amongst 
them those of the late Duke of Gordon, Captain Ross, Mr. Os- 
baldeston, and other celebrated sportsmen; and having also spent 
many years, and much money, in the endeavor to produce a supe¬ 
rior description of Pointers and Setters, an account of my pro¬ 
gress may be useful. I begin with my opinions concerning 
Pointers, by stating where I consider them superior, and where 
inferior, to Setters. 
“ ‘ Pointers are better for Partridge* shooting, as they are 
milder in disposition, more tractable, and closer rangers; the 
latter a property of all others the most desirable, if you want to 
kill birds after the first fortnight in the season. They want also 
less water than Setters, who often suffer much in hot weather, in 
districts where it is not to be found. True, Pointers require 
more walking to, to beat their ground properly; but I am per¬ 
suaded, that if, instead of racing through the middle of a field, 
as though they were walking for a wager, and thus giving their 
dogs no earthly chance, young sportsmen were to go slower 
than they generally do, they would do more justice to them¬ 
selves, their dogs, and their preserves. Few Pointers can stand 
work on the moors—where the cream of all shooting is to be 
had—unless they have been bred, or have been regularly worked 
on them. I know many gentlemen who greatly prefer them, 
when so bred, to Setters; but Scotch Pointers are not so highly 
* It must be remembered that this quotation is from an English book, and 
that the English Partridge is the bird spoken of above, there being no Partridge 
in America. The argument held above, would be perfectly applicable to QuaL 
shooting, were Quail only found in the open, but as they betake themselves, as 
soon as flushed, to the densest covert, the Setter is here, more than anywhere* 
in the ascendant. 
