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He is employed both in France and Germany in hunting the boar and wolf; which savage animals he fearlessly attacks with courage equal to any dog they possess. We find no mention of this dog in the early Grecian records. The 'pugnaces' and the 'sagaces' are mentioned; but the 'celeres' the swift-footed are not spoken of as a peculiar breed.
By most authors who have inquired into the origin of these varieties of the dog, the 'sagaces' have been generally assigned to Greece the 'pugnaces' to Asia and the 'celeres' to the Celtic nations. In figure, the most high-bred are a prodigy of beauty; their eyes, their hair, their colour, and bodily shape throughout.
Gratius says of these dogs, that they have no pretensions to the deceitful commendation of form; but, at the time of need, when courage is required of them, most excellent mastiffs are not to be preferred to them. The account of the British 'pugnaces' of former times, and also of the 'sagaces' and 'celeres', will be best given when treating of their present state and comparative value.
The pointer being the offspring of the fox-hound and spaniel, is consequently sprung from the two ancient races known as 'Sagaces' and 'Pugnaces' or 'Bellicosi'. He certainly evinces a larger share of the 'Bellicosi' blood than the setter, being ever ready for fight when assailed, while the latter generally exhibits a conciliatory disposition under the most trying circumstances.
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