The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-24
From the Richmond Wing.
FIELD SPORTS.


October has opened upon us with glorious
sun, and mild, exhilarating temperature,
which the autumn of no other land can surpass
A summer of consuming heat and desolating
drought 1.-THE mere memory Of which enhances
the sweets of present existence,) is succeeded
by delicious autumn, and along with it THE
consequence CT the continued drought,) an
unprecedented abundance of that species of
game, which gives variety to the delights of
this charming season ofthe year. Birds have
seldom been so numerous in middle Virginia,
and happy is he, who, having good dog and
good gun, has relish for shooting, and lei
sure and opportunity to enjoy this fascinating
and healthful recreation.
The occasion invites few observations
upon shooting in general, gathered from some
little personal experience, much converse
with experienced sportsmen, and some read
ing. ~.
A good dog and good gun are objects of
primary Importance, and absolutely essential
TO the full enjoyment of this charming diver
sion. With dog without a good nose, or
self-willed, intractabe and unsteady, no really
good sport can be had. The legitimate plea
sures are marred and converted into unspeak-
able vexations. The sportsman becomes
exhausted with fatigue in his efforts to control
his dog, and loses his temper and his patience,
and almost VOWS never to take gun in hand
again, when he finds all his efforts unayailing.
Coveys are run over, or sprung without a
stand, and this ever will be the case with bad
nose, bad stock, or one not well broke
We incline to the belief that thoroughbred
dogs are scarcer in Virginia now than they
were some years past and most Of those of
genuine blood have, by neglect, been permit
ted to deteriorate. Sufficient attention has
not been given to the breeding of them. In
many instances, where the stock was orioi-
nally good, they have, to use sportsmans
phrase, been bred in and in" until they have
become absolutely worthless. 1t being true
Of dogs as of their lords as asserted by Don
Juan: ...
Marrying in and in, cousins, aunts and nieces,
Always spolls the breed, if it increases"
The pointer, as found in England, is the
best dog for birds. 1t should have no blood
orthe setter, it being found by experience, that
the admixture of the two, in ninety mine cases
out ola hundred, produces dog which inhe-
rits the vices Of both without the virtues Of
either. He is generally headstrong and I'M
governable, and exceedingly difficult to break
and what is worse, it is necessary to break him
afresh at the opening of every season. The
improved English pointer is the produce Of
the Spanish pointer and the old English blood
hound or talbot. The pointer which has most
Of the blood of the latter is said to be the best.
But as the talbot is now well nigh extinct,
cross on the deep hewed hound is said to pro-
duce the next best pointer We have never
heard Of any efforts thus to improve the stock
in this country. We rely upon England for
our supply. We send FOR PAIR, the strain
Of which, by the process mentioned above, in
the lapse of a few years degenerates, another
is sent for--we emitting altogether TO practice
the maxim, sound in reference to dogs as to
politics, of frequent recurrence to flndamen-
tai principles. ..
A pointer of good nose has broad, capa-
cious-not a thick, chubby head-the head
being the seat Of the ollactory nerves. 1t is
not requisite that the nose should be large, II
the skin and lips are loose.
, We have never seen good setter-we be-
lieve the genuine English setter is not to be
found in this country--t is rare even in En-
gland. The union Of the Pointer and Setter,
as before remarked, generally makes the
worst of dogs--and it is in this hybrid form
that we have generally seen the Setter,
We never heard what character of dogs
the cross of the Pointer and Newfoundland
would make The latter is the most saga,
cious Of the canine species, and his olfactory
powers are exceeded by none. II his saga