334 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
as perfectly under command, as on the last; that I have seen 
them tried, day in and day out, for weeks together, with the 
most admirable imported Pointers, and that they proved always 
equal to them; in late Snipe-shooting, when the water is cold 
and skimmed with ice, or in autumn shooting in thorny and 
briary covert, they beat them out of sight. 
I may mention here a brace which I possessed, and over 
which I shot eight seasons, never allowing any person to hunt 
them on a single occasion after their leaving the breaker’s hands, 
except myself, and keeping them at steady work. One was a 
liver and white English dog, broke by Mr. Sandford, of New- 
Jersey, whom I have mentioned before; the other a red Irish 
Setter, with a white ring and four white stockings, broke by 
Dilke. They were both undeniable dogs, but the liver and 
white was the best retriever I ever saw. The test of their ex¬ 
cellence is in the fact that in 1836, the late Mr. Peter G-. Barker, 
of New-York offered me, and I refused , eight hundred dollars 
for the brace. They had cost me two hundred, and I had shot 
over them four seasons afterward, when the price was bid. 
I have only farther to say that I never regretted the refusal, as 
I never saw in all respects a brace of dogs so perfect. 
I shall now proceed to the Pointer. 
THE POINTER. 
It is conceded that this animal is the offspring of the two 
ancient races known as sagaces , or intelligent, and pugnaces or 
bellicosi , or warlike, and I am inclined to think, myself, that his 
share of the latter blood, is even greater than is generally im¬ 
agined. His intelligence, except so far as indicated by his 
power of scenting his game, is of rather a low order, and though 
docile and easily commanded, he is not generally sagacious, oi 
affectionate. Neither his temper nor other qualities, except in 
the field, greatly recommend him; but for the steady pursuit of 
