be the
penalty adjudged to him for so heinous an offence; for a well-trained
falcon is of great value. You can readily imagine that neither it nor
the greyhound could be properly broken unless the instructor possessed
much judgment and perseverance. The sport is very exciting; but the
spectator must be well-mounted, and ride boldly, who would closely
watch the swift, varying evolutions of the assailing party, and the
sudden evasions of the helpless defendant."

[Illustration]

[Illustration: THE POINTER.]

THE POINTER.

"The subtle dog scours with sagacious nose
Along the field, and snuffs each breeze that blows;
Against the wind he takes his prudent way,
While the strong gale directs him to the prey.
Now the warm scent assures the covey near;
He treads with caution, and he points with fear.
The fluttering coveys from the stubble rise,
And on swift wing divide the sounding skies;
The scatt'ring lead pursues the certain sight,
And death in thunder overtakes their flight."--GAY.

This dog has been crossed and re-crossed so often with the fox-hound,
the setter, and the old Spanish pointer, that the originality of the
present breed may be questioned, especially as the pointer has been
less noticed by writers on dogs than any other of the species. How
well do I recollect in my early youth seeing the slow, heavy,
solemn-looking, and thick-shouldered Spanish pointer, tired with two
or three hours' work in turnips, and so stiff after it the next day,
as to be little capable of resuming his labours. And yet this dog,
fifty years ago, was to be met with all through England. How different
is the breed at the present time! By crossing with the fox-hound, they
have acquired wonderful speed, and a power of endurance equally
surprising, while their shape is beautiful and their sense and
animation strongly marked in their intelligent countenances.

The old pointers were either nearly white or variegated with large
liver-coloured patches. We now see them either completely
liver-coloured, or of a flea-bitten blue or grey, or else black, with
fine sterns showing much blood, and extremely thin ears. There can be
no doubt but that the crosses by which they have obtained the
qualities and appearance I have mentioned, render the task of breaking
them in to point, back, and drop to charge, one of no small
difficulty. These habits, having been acquired in the original breed,
had probably