336 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
although it were his master’s. He stood steadily to his birds ; 
but it was difficult to break him of chasing the Hare. He was 
deficient in speed. His redeeming quality was his excellent 
scent, unequalled in any other kind of dog. 
“ To convince our readers of the value of this particulai 
breed, we may mention the very singular sale of Col. Thornton’s 
dog Dash, who was purchased by Sir Richard Symons for one 
hundred and sixty pounds’ worth of Champagne and Burgundy, 
a hogshead of Claret, and an elegant gun and another Pointer, 
with a stipulation that if any accident befell the dog, he was to 
be returned to his former owner for fifty guineas. Dash unfor¬ 
tunately broke his leg, and in accordance with the agreement 
of sale, was returned to the Colonel, who considered him a for¬ 
tunate acquisition as a stallion to breed from. See Blain or 
Daniel.” 
This animal, which was once considered very valuable, is now 
entirely superseded by the improved, or English dogs. He was 
often what is vulgarly called double-nosed , having a deep fur¬ 
row between the nostrils; and to this peculiarity, I have heard 
the excellence of their scenting powers attributed, of course ab¬ 
surdly. Mr. Youatt, on the contrary, I am surprised to see, at¬ 
tributes the deficiency of the same powers, in a certain French 
breed, having the like deformity, to the same cause. I quite 
agree with Dr. Lewis, in regarding any such reason, whether 
for good or evil qualities, as wholly visionary. 
Ugliness, want of speed, and ill temper, are causes which 
have banished the Spanish Pointer from the kennel of the true 
sportsman. More of the blood is to be found in the Pointer 
commonly used in this country, than in the English breed, the 
points and characteristics of which are well laid down as follows, 
by Dr. Lewis. 
“ The English Pointer will now claim more particularly our 
attention. It is quite useless to go into a general description of 
an animal of whom we have already said much, and with whom 
we are all familiar; but we will endeavor to mention the most 
striking points of the species, which marks can be referred to as 
guides in the purchase of a dog. 
