132 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE,

ing steadily forward for a few paces, he at last stood still
near a bunch of heather, the tail expressing the anxiety of
the mird by moving regularly backwards and forwards. At
last, out sprang a fine old blackcock. Bang, bang, went both
barrels, but the bird escaped unhurt. The patience of the
dog was now quite exhausted; and, instead of dropping to
charge, he turned boldly round, placed his tail between his
legs, gave one howl, long and loud, and set off as fast as he
could to his own home.” The pointer has been known to
lie down without bidding beside game which has been dropped
from a bag, after a long day’s shooting, and watch it faith-
fully until relieved on the following day, when the missing
birds were searched for and found.

The Setter, The Setter (Canis Index) divides with the
pointer the duty of attending the sportsman on his shooting
expeditions. According to Captain Brown he was “ originally
derived from a cross between the Spanish pointer and the
large water spaniel and was justly celebrated for his fine
scent.” Many crossings have considerably varied the breed,
of which the Irish is now considered purer than the English
and Scotch breeds. “In figure,” says Colonel Smith, ‘ they
participate of the pointer and the Spaniel, though larger
than the latter. In England they are white, or white with
black or brown marks.” They are intelligent, affectionate
and docile, and often show great sagacity outside the domain
of sport.
The Scent of Col. Hutchinson says, “I was partridge -shooting

the Setter. the season before last with an intimate friend.
The air was soft, and there was a good breeze. We came
upon a large turnip-field, deeply trenched on account of its

damp situation. A white setter, that habitually carried a
lofty head, drew for awhile, and then came toa point. We
got up to her. She led us across some ridges, when her
companion, a jealous dog (a pointer), which had at first
backed correctly, most improperly pushed on in front, but,