UPLAND SHOOTING, 
337 
“ It is a difficult matter to put on paper, in a manner satisfac 
tory either to the reader or writer, the peculiarities of any ani¬ 
mal, whereby he may judged pure or mixed. However, there 
are, generally, some few points in each species, that can be se¬ 
lected as proofs of their genuineness and ability to perform cer¬ 
tain actions peculiar to the race. 
“ But, after all, more reliance must be placed upon the good 
faith of the seller, or the previous knowledge of the strain from 
which the purchaser selects*—and what is better than either, 
from actual observation in the field; all of which precautions 
may, nevertheless, prove abortive, and our dog be worthless. 
“ As regards the size of the English Pointer, we may say, 
that he averages in length about three feet, from the tip of the 
muzzle to the base of the tail, and from twenty-two to twenty- 
six inches high. His head not bulky, nor too narrow, the fron¬ 
tal sinuses largely developed. 
“ The muzzle long, and rather tapering, the nostrils large 
and well open, the ear slightly erect, not over long, and the tip 
triangular; if too pendent, large and rounded at the tip, there 
is too much of the hound present. The eyes lively, but not too 
prominent; the neck rather long, and not over thick, the chest 
broad, the limbs large and muscular; the paws strong, hard, 
and wide. The body and loins thin, rather than bulky, the hind 
quarters broad, and the limbs in the same proportion with the 
fere members; the tail long and tapering.” 
To this there is very little to be added, except that the higher 
the breed, the shorter, the sleeker, and the more satiny the skin, 
and the thinner the ear. Any tendency to long hair about the 
stern or legs, hints loudly at a Setter cross, which improves nei- 
her the temper nor the qualities of the dog. 
Like Setters, Pointers are of all colors, and I know not that 
any color has the preference ; but as in the Setter I should dis¬ 
trust liver color, which I regard as properly a Pointer color, so 
in the Pointer I look with suspicion on red or yellow, that being 
a Setter or Spaniel tint. There is a very pure and high strain 
of Pointers, principally white, with liver-colored ears and faces, 
