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WALLIS  OF  DCISHM 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


VARIOUS  RETRIEVERS. 


CROSS    BETWEEN   WATER   SPANIEL  AND   NEWFOUNDLAND   DOG— BETWEEN  WATER 
SPANIEL  AND  SETTER  DOG— BETWEEN  SETTER  AND  NEWFOUNDLAND  DOG. 


DOG    BREAKING. 


THE  MOST    EXPEDITIOUS,   CERTAIN,  AND   EASY  METHOD, 

WHETHER  GREAT  EXCELLEXCE  OR  ONLY  MEDIOCRITY  BE  REQUIRED, 

WITH  ODDS  AND  ENDS  FOR  THOSE  WHO  LOVE 

THE  DOG  AND  GUN. 


BY  MAJOR-GENEKAL  W.  N.  HUTCHINSON, 

LATE  COLONEL  GRENADIER  GUARDS. 


FOURTH  EDITION,  REVISED  AND  ENLARGED. 


NEAR  WALTHAM  ABBEY. — Stf*. 


LONDON : 
JOHN    MURRAY,   ALBEMARLE    STREET. 

1865. 


c/ 


LONDON 

B.   CLAY,   SON,   AND  TAYLOR,    PRINTERS, 
BREAD  STREET  HILL. 


PREFACE  TO  FOURTH  EDITION. 


A  FOURTH  preface,  Mr.  Murray  ! ! ! 

There  are  not  sufficient  materials,  although  there  is 
some  fresh  matter,  and  undeniably,  many  excellent 
sketches,  thanks  to  the  clever  artist  F.  W.  KEYL,  and 

the  talented  amateur  John    M n,   who,   contrary 

to  the  advice  of  many  friends,  has  determined  that 
the  sword  shall  be  his  profession  rather  than  the 
pencil. 

Well ! — another  party  shall  speak  for  me,  and  much 
surprised  will  he  be  to  find  the  duty  his  words  are 
performing;  but  they  advocate  so  good  a  cause  that 
I  feel  sure  of  his  forgiveness.  He  writes  in  the  third 
person,  for  we  are  perfect  strangers  to  each  other. 

"  Captain  T r  has  all  his  life  been  a  most  enthu- 

"  siastic  sportsman,  but  never  broke  a  dog,  until  a  year 


£358870 


vi  PREFACE. 

"  ago,  when  he  happened  to  come  across  the  Major- 
"  General's  work  on  '  Dog-breaking/  Since  then  he  has 
"  trained  two  entirely  on  the  system  laid  down  in  the 
"  book.  People  say  they  have  never  before  seen  dogs 
"  so  well-broken — certainly  the  owner  never  has." 

"  Always  an  ardent  disciple  of  St.  Hubert,  Captain 

"  T r  is  now  still  more  so  from  the  increased  grati- 

"  fication  he  derives  from  the  performance  of  animals 
"  trained  entirely  by  himself." 

Eeader,  why  not  give  yourself  a  similar  gratification  ? 

W.  K  H. 


GOVERNMENT  HOUSE,  DEVONPORT, 
December,  1864. 


PBEFACE   TO   THIED   EDITION. 


I  CANNOT  help  congratulating  my  canine  friends,  (and 
may  I  not  their  masters  also  ?),  on  the  circulation  of 
two  large  impressions  of  this  work ;  for  I  trust  that 
many  of  the  suggestions  therein  offered  have  been 
adopted,  and  that  their  education  has  consequently 
been  effected  in  a  much  shorter  period,  and  with  far 
less  punishment,  than  that  of  their  forefathers. 

I  have  endeavoured  in  the  present  edition  to  ren- 
der more  complete  the  lessons  respecting  Setters  and 
Pointers.  I  have  added  somewhat  on  the  subject  of 
Spaniels,  Eetrievers,  and  Bloodhounds.  It  has  been 
my  aim,  also,  to  give  a  few  useful  hints  regarding  the 
rearing  and  preservation  of  Game ;  and  I  shall  be 


viii  PREFACE. 

disappointed  if  the  youngest  of  my  readers  does  not 
derive,  from  the  perusal  of  what  I  have  written,  aii 
assurance  that  he  need  not  take  the  field  wholly 
ignorant  of  all  sporting  matters,  or  without  any  know- 
ledge of  the  best  method  of  "handling  arms." 

W.  K  H. 


PEEFACE  TO   SECOND   EDITION. 


WHEN  Colonel  Hawker,  who  lias  been  styled  the 
"  Emperor  of  Sportsmen,"  writes  to  me,  (and  kindly 
permits  me  to  quote  his  words),  "  I  perfectly  agree 
with  you  in  everything  you  have  said,  and  I  think 
your  work  should  be  preached  in  a  series  of  lectures 
to  every  dog-breaker  in  the  profession,  as  all  these 
fellows  are  too  fond  of  the  whip,  which  hardens  the 
animal  they  are  instructing,  and  the  use  of  their  own 
tongues,  which  frighten  away  the  birds  you  want  to 
shoot,"  I  feel  some  confidence  in  the  correctness  of 
what  I  have  put  forth.  But  there  may  be  points  that 
have  not  been  noticed,  and  some  things  that  require 
explanation,  especially  as  regards  Spaniels  and  Ee- 
trievers.  In  endeavouring  to  supply  these  deficiencies, 
I  hope  my  additional  prosing  may  not  send  the  dog- 
breaker  to  sleep,  instead  of  helping  to  make  him  more 
"  wide-awake." 

W.  K  H. 


PEEFACE   NO   PEEFACE. 

(FOR  FIRST   EDITION.) 


MY  respected  Publisher  has  suggested  that  a  Preface 
may  be  expected.  His  opinion  on  such  a  subject  ought 
to  be  law ;  but  as  I  fear  my  readers  may  think  that 
I  have  already  sufficiently  bored  them,  I  will  beg  them, 
in  Irish  fashion,  to  refer  any  formalist,  who  considers 
a  Preface  necessary,  to  the  conclusion  of  the  work, 
where  a  statement  will  be  found  of  the  motive  which 
induced  me  to  write. 

W.  K  H. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGK 

PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS.       QUALIFICATIONS,   IN  BREAKER, — 

IN   DOG 1 

CHAPTER  II. 

INITIATORY  LESSONS  WITHIN   DOORS.      SHOOTING    PONIES  ...  9 

CHAPTER  III. 

INITIATORY  LESSONS  CONTINUED.      SPANIELS 20 

CHAPTER  IV. 

LESSONS  IN  "FETCHING." — RETRIEVERS -      57 

CHAPTER  V. 

INITIATORY    LESSONS   OUT   OF   DOORS. — TRICKS 76 

CHAPTER  VI. 

FIRST  LESSON   IN  SEPTEMBER  COMMENCED.      RANGING   ....         99 

CHAPTER  VII. 

FIRST  LESSONS  IN  SEPTEMBER  CONTINUED.     CAUTION. — NATURE'S 

MYSTERIOUS   INFLUENCES  111 


xii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

PAGE 
FIRST   LESSON    IN   SEPTEMBER  CONTINUED.       CUNNING   OF  AGE. — 

RANGE   OF   FROM   TWO   TO   SIX   DOGS 129 

CHAPTER  IX. 

FIRST  LESSON  IN  SEFl'EMBER  CONTINUED.       "  POINT  "  NOT  RELIN- 
QUISHED FOR  "DOWN  CHARGE" 150 

CHAPTER  X. 

FIRST   LESSON  IN  SEPTEMBER  CONTINUED.      ASSISTANT. — VERMIN      165 

CHAPTER  XI. 

FIRST   LESSON   IN   SEPTEMBER   CONCLUDED.       BAR. — LEG  STRAP. — 

SPIKE-COLLAR 176 

CHAPTER  XII. 

SHOOTING  HARES.      COURAGE    IMPARTED.  —  "BACKING"  TAUGHT      194 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

HINTS   TO   PURCHASERS.      PRICE   OF  DOGS. — SHEEP   KILLING     .       .       210 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

A   REST  BEYOND    "HALF-WAY   HOUSE."      ANECDOTES  OF  DOGS   ON 

SERVICE  AT  HOME 230 

CHAPTER  XV. 

ANECDOTES  OF  DOGS  ON  SERVICE  ABROAD.      RUSSIAN  SETTERS  .      249 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

DISTINGUISHING  WHISTLES.  "BACKING"  THE  GUN.  RETREAT 
FROM  AND  RESUMPTION  OF  POINT.  RANGE  UNACCOMPANIED 
BY  GUN.  HEADING  RUNNING  BIRDS.  278 


CONTENTS.  xiii 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

PACK 

SETTER  TO  RETRIEVE.      BLOODHOUNDS.       RETRIEVERS  TO  "  BEAT." 

WOUNDED   WILD-FOWL   RETRIEVED   BEFORE   THE   KILLED     .       .       294 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

BECKFORD.      ST.  JOHN.       CONDITION.       INOCULATION.       VACCINA- 
TION.     CONCLUSION  307 


POSTSCRIPT  :    MR.   L G*S   LETTER .       322 

APPENDIX  : 

COVERS,    SHOOTING,    LOADING 328 

TRAPPING. — OWL   AS  DECOY. — HEN  HARRIER. — KEEPER'S   VER- 
MIN-DOGS.— STOATS 331 

REARING  PHEASANTS. — CANTELO. — PHEASANTRIES. — MR.  KNOX      335 

SETTERS.  —  POACHERS.  —  KEEPERS.  —  NETTING     PARTRIDGES.  — 

BLOODHOUNDS. — NIGHT-DOGS 344 

INDEX,  in  which  the  figures  refer  to  the  numbers  of  the  paragraphs, 

and  not  to  the  pages 349 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


VARIOUS  EETRIEVERS Frontispiece. 

SCENE  NEAR  WALTHAM  ABBEY,  1st  Sept.  1847    .     .     Title-page,   r 

OLD-FASHIONED  ENGLISH  SETTER, — EETRIEVERS,  ONE  A  CROSS 
WITH  BLOODHOUND.     (Lesson  VIII.  Par.  141)  .     .     .     .  Page  25 

THE  CHECK— 'HOLD  HARD!' 30— 

A  FOUR-LEGGED  WHIPPER-IN 33 

CLUMBERS.     (Lesson  III.  Par.  141) 43 

WILD  SPANIELS.     (Lesson  XII.  Par.  141) 47 

IRISH  WATER  SPANIEL.     (Lesson  I.  Par.  141) 53 

INCLINED  TO  'EAT' 77- 

BROACHING  A  BARREL 84 

DEAF  TO  THE  VOICE  OF  PERSUASION 90- 

A  SOLICITOR 91- 

EEPLETE  WITH  GOOD  THINGS 95  - 

BACKING  THE  GUN  AGAINST  THE  BIRD 117 

SAFELY  MOORED,  'STEM'  AND  'STERN' 121 

"STIFF  BY  THE  TAINTED  GALE  WITH  OPEN  NOSE 

OUTSTRETCHED  AND  FINELY  SENSIBLE"     .......  124  ~~ 

A  DOG-FISH 125 

"SMALL,  ACTIVE  POINTER."    (Lesson  IX.  Par.  141)     ...  131 

"SHORT-LEGGED   STRONG-LOINED  SUSSEX  SPANIEL."    (Lesson 

XV.   Par.  141) 137 


xvi  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

"  DUKE   OF  GORDON'S  BLACK  AND  TAN   SETTERS."     (Lesson 

XIV.  Par.  141) 141 

LARGE  HEAVY  POINTER.     (Lesson  X.  Pars.  141  and  266)  .     .  157 

CARRYING  A  POINT,  AND  CARRYING  A  POINTER 173  - 

THE  FIRST  COURSE 197  - 

FASHIONABLE  (ENGLISH)  SETTER,  AND  OLD-FASHIONED  POINTER. 

(Lesson  XIII.  Par.  141) .     .     .  215 

IRISH  RED  SETTER.     (Lesson  II.  Par.  141) 221 

SCENE  FROM  'CRIPPLE-GAIT.' — 'GAME'  TO  THE  LAST     .     .     .  237— 

DOMINI  AND  '  DOMTNOS  ' .     .  245- 

THE  MIGHTY  KING ,     .         .     .  254— 

COOL  AS  A  CUCUMBER 255 

A  REGULAR  BORE 259 

THERE  ARE  BOUNDS  TO  SPORT    .     .     . 263 

WARM  GREETING  OF  A  GREAT  'BORE'   .     ...     .     .     .     .  266-- 

INVITATION  TO  A  '  WHITE-BAIT  '  DINNER     . 267— 

BRINGING  HOME  THE  BRUSH 269 

SCENE  ON  THE  '  THLEW-EE-CHOH-DEZETH  ' 272 — 

RUSSIAN  SETTER.     (Lesson  XI.  Pars.  141  and  266)  ....  275 

TELL  ME  MY  HEART  (HART)  IF  THIS  BE  LOVE 283 

DIVISION  OF  PROPERTY 297  — 

"EXAMPLE  BETTER  THAN  PRECEPT" 303 

PORTRAIT  OF  BRISK 321^ 

'FouL'  FEEDING.     . 336_ 

A   WELL-TRAINED    BLOODHOUND  .  345^ 


The  Frontispiece,  Vignette  Title,  and  the  Lessons,  are  designed  and 
drawn  on  Wood  by  F.  W.  KEYL.     See  4th  Preface. 


DOG-BREAKING. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PRELIMINAEY  OBSERVATIONS.    QUALIFICATIONS,  IN  BREAKER,— 
IN  DOG. 

1.  Dog-breaking  an  Art  easily  acquired. — 2.  Most  expeditious  Mode  of  imparting 
every  Degree  of  Education,  Time  bestowed  determines  Grade  of  Education. 
In  note,  Col.  Hawker's  opinion. — 3.  Sportsmen  recommended  to  break  in  their 
own  Dogs. — 4.  Men  of  property  too  easily  satisfied  with  badly-broken  Dogs. 
Keepers  have  no  Excuse  for  Dogs  being  badly  broken. — 5.  Great  Experience  in 
Dog-breaking,  or  Excellence  in  Shooting,  not  necessary.  Dispositions  of  Dogs 
vary.— 6.  What  is  required  in  an  Instructor.— 7.  Early  in  a  Season  any  Dog  will 
answer,  a  good  one  necessary  afterwards.  Hallooing,  rating  Dogs,  and  loud 
whistling  spoil  Sport.  In  note,  Age  and  choice  of  birds.  Several  shots  fired 
from  Stooks  at  Grouse  without  alarming  them.  American  Partridges  and  our 
Pheasants  killed  while  at  roost. — 8.  What  a  well-broken  Dog  ought  to  do. — 
9.  Severity  reprobated. —10.  Astley's  Method  of  teaching  his  Horses.— 11.  Fran- 
coni's  Cirque  National  de  Paris. — 12.  Initiatory  Lessons  recommended — to  be 
given  when  alone  with  Dog — given  fasting. — 13.  Success  promised  if  rules  be 
followed.  Advantages  of  an  expeditious  Education.  September  shooting  not 
sacrificed. 

1.  DOG-BREAKING,  so  far  from  being  a  mystery,  is  an 
art  easily  acquired  when  it  is  commenced  and  continued 
on  rational  principles. 

2.  I  think  you  will  be  convinced  of  this  if  you  will 
have  the  patience  to  follow  me,  whilst  I  endeavour  to 
explain  what,  I  am  satisfied,  is  the  most  certain  and 
rapid  method  of  breaking  in  your  dogs,  whether  you 
require  great  proficiency  in  them,  or  are  contented  with 
an  inferior  education.     No  quicker  system  has  yet  been 
devised,  however  humble  the  education  may  be.     The 
education  in  fact,  of  the  peasant,  and  that  of  the  future 
double-first  collegian,  begins  and  proceeds  on  the  same 

B 


2  ART  EASILY  ACQUIRED.  [CH.  r. 

principle.  You  know  your  own  circumstances,  and  you 
must  yourself  determine  what  time  you  choose  to  devote 
to  tuition ;  and,  as  a  consequence,  the  degree  of  excel- 
lence to  which  you  aspire.  I  can  only  assure  you  of 
my  firm  conviction,  that  no  other  means  will  enable 
you  to  gain  your  object  so  quickly  ;  and  I  speak  with  a 
confidence  derived  from  long  experience  in  many  parts 
of  the  world,  on  a  subject  that  was,  for  several  years, 
my  great  hobby.* 

3.  Every  writer  is  presumed  to  take  some  interest  in 
his  reader ;  I  therefore  feel  privileged  to  address  you  as 
a  friend,  and  will  commence  my  lecture  by  strongly 
recommending,  that,  if  your  occupations  will  allow  it, 
you  take  earnestly  and  heartily  to  educating  your  dogs 
yourself.     If  you  possess  temper  and  some  judgment, 
and  will  implicity  attend  to  my  advice,  I  will  go  bail 
for  your  success ;    and  much   as   you  may  now  love 
shooting,  you  will  then  like  it  infinitely  more.     Try  the 
plan  I  recommend,  and  I  will  guarantee  that  the  Pointer 
or  Setter  pup  which  I  will,  for  example  sake,  suppose  to 
be  now  in  your 'kennel,  shall' be  ~a  better  dog  by  the  end 
of  next  season  (I  mean  a  more  killing  dog)  than  pro- 
bably any  you  ever  yet  shot  over. 

4.  Possibly;  you  will  urge,  that  you  are  unable  to 
spare  the  time  which  I  consider  necessary  for  giving 
him  a  high  education,  (brief  as  that  time  is,  compared 
with  the  many,  many  months  wasted  in  the  tedious 
methods  usually  employed),  and  that  you  must,  perforce, 

*  It  may  be  satisfactory  to  others  Hutchinson's  valuable  work    on 

to  know  the  opinion  of  so  unde-  'Dog-breaking'  has  appeared.     It 

niable   an   authority   as    Colonel  is  a  perfect  vade  mecum  for  both 

Hawker.      The  Colonel,    in  the  Sportsmen    and    Keeper,    and  I 

Tenth  Edition  of  his  invaluable  have  great  pleasure  in  giving  a 

Book  on  Shooting,  writes, .  ^page  cordial  welcome  to  a  work  which 

285) — "Since  the  publication  of  so  ably   supplies  my  own  defi- 

the  last  edition,  Lieutenant-Col.  ciencies." 


CH.  i.]  KEQUISITES  IN  AN  INSTRUCTOR.  3 

content  yourself  with  humbler  qualifications.  Be  it  so. 
I  can  only  condole  with  you,  for  in  your  case  this  may 
be  partly  true ;  mind  I  only  say  partly  true.  But  how 
a  man  of  property,  who  keeps  a  regular  gamekeeper, 
can  be  satisfied  with  the  disorderly,  disobedient  troop, 
to  which  he  often  shoots,  I  cannot  understand.  Where 
the  gamekeeper  is  permitted  to  accompany  his  master 
in  the  field,  and  hunt  the  dogs  himself,  there  can  be  no 
valid  excuse  for  the  deficiency  in  their  education.  The 
deficiency  must  arise  either  from  the  incapacity,  or  from 
the  idleness  of  the  keeper. 

5.  Unlike  most   other  arts,   dog-breaking   does   not 
require  much  experience  ;  but  such  a  knowledge  of  dogs, 
as  will  enable  you  to  discriminate  between  their  dif- 
ferent tempers  and  dispositions  (I  had  almost  said  cha- 
racters)— and  they  vary  greatly— is  very  advantageous. 
Some  require  constant  encouragement ;  some  you  must 
never  beat ;  whilst,  to  gain  the  required  ascendancy  over 
others,  the  whip  must  be  occasionally  employed.     Nor 
is  it  necessary  that  the  instructor  should  be  a  very  good 
shot ;  which  probably  is  a  more  fortunate  circumstance 
for  me  than  for  you.     It  should  even  be  received  as 
a  principle  that  birds  ought  to  be  now  and  then  missed 
to  young  dogs,  lest  some  day,  if  your  nerves  happen  to 
be  out  of  order,  or  a  cockney  companion  be  harmlessly 
blazing  away,  your  dog  take  it  into  his  head  and  heels 
to  run  home  in  disgust,  as  I  have  seen  a  bitch,  called 
Countess,  do  more  than  once,  in  Haddingtonshire. 

6.  The  chief  requisites  in  a  breaker  are : — Firstly, 
command  of  temper,  that  he  may  never  be  betrayed  into 
giving  one  unnecessary  blow,  for,  with  dogs  as  with 
horses,  no  work  is  so  well  done  as  that  which  is  done 
cheerfully ;  secondly,  consistency,  that  in  the  exhilara- 
tion of  his  spirits,  or  in  his  eagerness  to  secure  a  bird, 

B  2 


4  HALLOOING  SPOILS  SPORT.  [CH.  i. 

he  may  not  permit  a  fault  to  pass  unreproved  (I  do  not 
say  unpunished)  which  at  a  less  exciting  moment  he 
would  have  noticed — and  that,  on  the  other  hand,  he 
may  not  correct  a  dog  the  more  harshly,  because  the 
shot  has  been  missed,  or  the  game  lost ;  and  lastly,  the 
exercise  of  a  little  reflection,  to  enable  him  to  judge 
what  meaning  an  unreasoning  animal  is  likely  to  attach 
to  every  word  and  sign,  nay  to  every  look. 

7.  With  the  coarsest  tackle,  and  worst  flies,  trout  can 
be  taken  in  unflogged  waters,  while  it  requires  much 
science,  and  the  finest  gut,  to  kill  persecuted  fish.  It  is 
the  same  in  shooting.  With  almost  any  sporting-dog, 
game  can  be  killed  early  in  the  season,  when  the  birds 
lie  like  stones,  and  the  dog  can  get  within  a  few  yards 
of  them ;  but  you  will  require  one  highly  broken,  to 
obtain  many  shots  when  they  are  wild.  Then  any  in- 
cautious approach  of  the  dog,  or  any  noise,  would  flush 
the  game,  and  your  own  experience  will  tell  you  that 
nothing  so  soon  puts  birds  on  the  run,  and  makes  them 
so  ready  to  take  flight,  as  the  sound  of  the  human  voice, 
especially  now-a-days,  when  farmers  generally  prefer 
the  scythe  to  the  sickle,  and  clean  husbandry,  large 
fields,  and  trim  narrow  hedges,  (affording  no  shelter  from 
wet)  have  forced  the  partridge — a  short-winged*  bird — 

*  Rounded,  too,  at  the  extremi-  for  the  table.  Hold  an  old  and 
ties — the  outer  feathers  not  being  a  young  bird  by  their  under 
the  longest — a  formation  adverse  beaks  between  your  fore-finger 
to  rapid  flight.  The  extreme  outer  and  thumb,  and  you  will  soon  see 
feather  of  young  birds  is  pointed,  how  little,  comparatively,  the  old 
and,  until  late  in  the  season,  ac-  beak  yields  to  the  weight.  This 
companies  soft  quills,  weak  brown  rule  applies  equally  to  grouse,  the 
beaks,  and  yellow  legs.  These  legs  of  which  birds  when  young 
(beaks  and  legs)  become  grey  on  are  not  much  feathered,  but  late 
maturity,  or  rather  of  the  bluish  in  the  season  it  is  difficult  to  de- 
hue  of  London  milk — and  the  termine  their  age.  Yet  a  know- 
quills  get  white  and  hard — facts  ing  hand  will  find  a  difference,  the 
which  should  be  attended  to  by  old  birds'  legs  will  still  be  the 
those  who  are  making  a  selection  more  feathered  of  the  two  ;  and 


CH.  i.]  HALLOOING  SPOILS  SPORT.  5 

unwillingly  to  seek  protection  (when  arrived  at  maturity) 
in  ready  flight  rather  than  in  concealment.  Even  the 
report  of  a  gun  does  not  so  much  alarm  them  as  the 
command,  "  Toho,"  or  "Down  charge/'  *  usually,  too,  as 
if  to  make  matters  worse,  hallooed  to  the  extent  of  the 
breaker's  lungs.  There  are  anglers  who  recommend 
silence  as  conducive  to  success,  and  there  are  no  expe- 
rienced sportsmen  who  do  not  acknowledge  its  great 
value  in  shooting.  Eate  or  beat  a  dog  at  one  end  of  a 
field,  and  the  birds  at  the  other  will  lift  their  heads, 
become  uneasy,  and  be  ready  to  take  wing  the  moment 
you  get  near  them.  "  Penn,"  in  his  clever  maxims  on 
Angling  and  Chess,  observes  to  this  effect,  "  if  you  wish 
to  see  the  fish,  do  not  let  him  see  you ;"  and  with  respect 
to  shooting,  we  may  as  truly  say,  "  if  you  wish  birds  to 
hear  your  gun,  do  not  let  them  hear  your  voice."  Even 

a  loud  whistle  disturbs  them.     Mr.  0 1  of  C e 

says,  a  gamekeeper's  motto  ought  to  be, — "  No  whistling 

its  feet  will  be  more  worn  and  which  come  from  the  hills  to  feed ; 

extended.  If  you  spread  open  the  and,  curious  to  say,  several  shots 

wing  of  any  game  bird,  you  will  are  often  obtained  before  the  pack 

find  the  upper  part  (near  the  second  takes  wing.  The  first  few  reports 

joint)  more  or  less  bare.  The  less  frequently  no  more  alarm  them, 

that  part  is  covered  with  feathers  than  to  make  the  most  cautious  of 

the  younger  is  the  bird.  the  number  jump  up  to  look 

A*  poulterer  once  told  me  that  around,  when,  observing  nothing 
at  the  end  of  the  season  he  judged  that  ought  to  intimidate  them, 
much  of  the  age  of  birds  by  the  they  recommence  feeding.  By 
appearance  of  their  heads.  commencing  with  the  undermost 
"  Ware "  sunken  eyes,  and  birds,  the  Americans  sometimes 
tainted  or  discoloured  vents— they  shoot  in  daylight  all  the  Par- 
have  been  too  long  out  of  the  tridges  (as  they  erroneously  call 
kitchen.  them)  roosting  on  a  tree ;  and 

*  The  following  facts  are  strong  poachers  in  this  country,  by 

evidences  of  the  correctness  of  this  making  a  similar  selection,  often 

assertion.  Late  in  the  season  far  kill  at  night  (using  diminished 

more  grouse  than  ought  to  be  are  charges)  several  Pheasants  before 

shot  by  "gunners,"  to  use  an  Ame-  those  that  are  on  the  topmost 

rican  expression,  — "  true  sports-  branches  fly  away.  A  strong  breeze 

men "  1  can  hardly  term  them —  much  favours  the  poacher  by 

who  conceal  themselves  in  large  diminishing  the  chance  of  the 

stooks  of  grain,  to  fire  at  the  birds  birds  much  hearing  him. 


6  WHAT  A  DOG  OUGHT  TO  DO.  [OH.  i. 

— no  whipping — no  noise,  when  master  goes   out  for 
sport." 

8.  These  observations  lead  unavoidably  to  the  in- 
ference, that  no  dog  can  be  considered  perfectly  broken, 
that  does  not  make  his  point  when  first  he  feels  assured 
of  the  presence  of  game,  and  remain  stationary  where 
he  makes  it,  until  urged  on  by  you  to  draw  nearer — that 
does  not,  as  a  matter  of  course,  lie  down  without  any 
word  of  command  the  moment  you  have  fired,  and  after- 
wards perseveringly  seek  for  the  dead  bird  in  the  direc- 
tion you  may  point  out, — and  all  this  without  your  once 
having  occasion  to  speak,  more  than  to  say  in  a  low 
voice,  "  Find,"  when  he  gets  near  the  dead  bird,  as  will 
be  hereafter  explained.     Moreover,  it  must  be  obvious 
that  he  risks  leaving  game  behind  him  if  he  does  not 
hunt  every  part  of  a  field,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  that 
he  wastes  your  time  and  his  strength,  if  he  travel  twice 
over  the  same  ground,  nay,  over  any  ground  which  his 
powers  of  scent  have  already  reached.     Of  course,  I  am 
now  speaking  of  a  dog .  hunted  without  a  companion  to 
share  his  labours. 

9.  You  may  say,  "How  is  all  this,  which  sounds  so 
well  in  theory,  to  be  obtained  in  practice  without  great 
severity  ? "     Believe  me,  with  severity  it  never  can  be 
attained.     If  flogging  would. make  a  dog  perfect,  few 
would  be  found  unbroken  in  England  or  Scotland,  and 
scarcely  one  in  Ireland. 

10.  Astley's  method  was  to  give  each  horse  his  pre- 
paratory lessons  alone,  and  when  there  was  no  noise 
or  anything  to  divert  his  attention  from  his  instructor. 
If  the  horse  was  interrupted  during  the  lesson,  or  his 
attention  in  any  way  withdrawn,  he  was  dismissed  for 
that  day.     When  perfect  in  certain  lessons  by  himself, 
he  was  associated  with  other  horses,  whose  education 


CH.  i.]  ASTLEY  AND  FKANCONI.  7 

was  further  advanced.  And  it  was  the  practice  of  that 
great  master  to  reward  his  horses  with  slices  of  carrot 
or  apple  when  they  performed  well. 

11.  Mons.  A.  Franconi  in  a  similar  manner  rewards  his  horses. 
One  evening  I  was  in  such  a  position,  at  a  performance  of  the 
Cirque  National  de  Paris,  that  I  could  clearly  see,  during  the  Lutte 
des  Voliigeurs,  that  the  broad-backed  horse  held  for  the  men  to 
jump  over  was  continually  coaxed  with  small  slices  of  carrots  to 
remain  stationary,  whilst  receiving  their  hard  thumps  as  they 
sprang  upon  him.  I  could  not  make  out  why  the  horse  was 
sniffing  and  apparently  nibbling  at  the  chest  of  the  man  standing 
in  front  of  him  with  a  rein  in  each  hand  to  keep  his  tail  towards 
the  spring-board,  until  I  remarked  that  a  second  man,  placed  in 
the  rear  of  the  other,  every  now  and  then,  slily  passed  his  hand 
under  his  neighbour's  arm  to  give  the  horse  a  small  piece  of 
carrot. 

.12.  Astley  may  give  us  a  useful  hint  in  our  far  easier 
task  of  dog-breaking.  .We  see  that  he  endeavoured  by 
kindness  and  patience  to  make  the  horse  thoroughly 
comprehend  the  meaning  of  certain  words  and  signals 
before  he  allowed  him  any  companion.  So  ought  you, 
by  what  may  be  termed  "  initiatory  lessons,"  to  make 
your  young  dog  perfectly  understand  the  meaning  of 
certain  words  and  signs,  before  you  hunt  him  in  the 
company  of  another  dog — nay,  before  you  hunt  him  at 
all;  and,  in  pursuance  of  Astley's  plan,  you  ought  to  give 
these  lessons  when  you  are  alone  with  the  dog,  and  his 
attention  is  not  likely  to  be  withdrawn  to  other  matters. 
Give  them,  also,  when  he  is  fasting,  as  his  faculties  will 
then  be  clearer,  and  he  will  be  more  eager  to  obtain  any 
rewards  of  biscuit  or  other  food. 

13.  Be  assured,  that  by  a  consistent  adherence  to  the 
simple  rules  which  I  will  explain,  you  can  obtain  the 
perfection  I  have  described,  (8)  with  more  ease  and  ex- 
pedition than  you  probably  imagine  to  be  practicable  ; 
and,  if  you  will  zealously  follow  my  advice,  I  promise, 
that,  instead  of  having  to  give  up  your  shooting  in 


8  QUICK  TRAINING.  [CH.  i. 

September,  (for  I  am  supposing  you  to  be  in  England) 
while  you  break  in  your  pup,  you  shall  then  be  able  to 
take  him  into  the  field,  provided  he  is  tolerably  well 
bred  and  well  disposed,  perfectly  obedient,  and,  except 
that  he  will  not  have  a  well-confirmed,  judicious  range, 
almost  perfectly  made ;  at  least  so  far  made,  that  he 
will  only  commit  such  faults,  as  naturally  arise  from 
want  of  experience.  Let  me  remmd  you  also,  that  the 
keep  of  dogs  is  expensive,  and  supplies  an  argument 
for  making  them  earn  their  bread  by  hunting  to  a  useful 
purpose,  as  soon  as  they  are  of  an  age  to  work  without 
injury  to  their  constitution.  Time,  moreover,  is  valuable 
to  us  all,  or  most  of  us  fancy  it  is.  Surely,  then,  that 
system  of  education  is  best  which  imparts  the  most 
expeditiously  the  required  degree  of  knowledge. 


CHAPTER  II. 

INITIATORY  LESSONS  WITHIN  DOORS.     SHOOTING  PONIES. 

14.  One  Instructor  better  than  two.— 15.  Age  at  winch  Education  commences.— 
In-door  breaking  for  hours,  better  than  Out-door  for  weeks, — 16.  To  obey  all 
necessary  Words  of  Command  and  all  Signals  before  shown  Game. — 17.  Un- 
reasonableness of  not  always  giving  Initiatory  Lessons — leads  to  Punishment — 
thence  to  Blinking. — 18.  Dog  to  be  your  constant  Companion,  not  another's. — 
19,  21,  22.  Instruct  when  alone  with  him.  Initiatory  Lessons  in  his  Whistle 
—in  "  Dead" — "  Toho  " — "On" — 20.  All  Commands  and  Whistling  to  be  given 
in  a  low  Tone.— 23 to  26.  Lessons  in  "Drop"— Head  between  fore-legs— Setters 
crouch  more  than  Pointers. — 24.  Slovenly  to  employ  right  arm  both  for 
"Drop"  and  "Toho." — 27.  Lessons  in  "Down-charge" — Taught  at  Pigeon- 
match — Rewards  taken  from  Hand. — 28.  Cavalry  Horses  fed  at  discharge  of 
Pistol— Same  plan  pursued  with  Dogs.— 29.  Dog  unusually  timid  to  be  coupled 
to  another.— 30.  Lessons  at  Feeding  Time,  with  Checkcords. — 31.  Obedience  of 
Hounds  contrasted  with  that  of  most  Pointers  and  Setters. — 32.  Shooting 
Ponies — how  broken  in.  —  33.  Horse's  rushing  at  his  Fences  cured — Pony 
anchored. 

14.  IT  is  seldom  of  any  advantage  to  a  dog  to  have 
more  than  one  instructor.     The  methods  of  teaching 
may  be  the  same ;  but  there  will  be  a  difference  in  the 
tone  of  voice  and  in  the  manner,  that  will  more  or  less 
puzzle  the  learner,  and  retard  rather  than  advance  his 
education.     If,  therefore,  you  resolve  to  break  in  your 
dog,  do  it  entirely  yourself :  let  no  one  interfere  with 
you. 

15.  As  a  general  rule,  let  his  education  begin  when 
he  is  about  six  or  seven  months  old,*  (although  I  allow 

*  But  from  his  very  infancy  four  months  old  being  made  quite 

you  ought  not   to  have   allowed  au  fait  to  the  preliminary  drill 

him  to  be  disobedient.  You  should  here   recommended.     This    early 

have  made  him  know — which  he  exercise  of  their  intelligence  and 

will  do  nearly  intuitively— that  a  observation  must  have  benefited 

whip  can  punish  him,  though  he  them.     The  questionable  point  is 

ought  never  to  have  suffered  from  the  unnecessary  consumption  of 

it.     I  have  heard  of  pups  only  the  instructor's  time. 


10  USE  OF  INITIATORY  LESSONS.  [CH.  n. 

that  some  dogs  are  more  precocious  than  others,  and 
bitches  always  more  forward  than  dogs,)  but  it  ought  to 
be  nearly  completed  before  he  is  shown  a  bird  (132). 
A  quarter  of  an  hour's  daily  in-door  training — called 
by  the  Germans  "  house-breaking  " — for  three  or  four 
weeks  will  effect  more  than  a  month's  constant  hunting 
without  preliminary  tuition. 

16.  Never  take  your  young  dog  out  of  doors  for  in- 
struction, until  he  has  learned,  to  know  and  obey  the 
several  words  of  command  which  you  intend  to  give 
him  in  the  field,  and  is  well  acquainted  with  all  the 
signs  which  you  will  have  occasion  to  make  to  him 
with  your  arms.     These  are  what  may  be  called  the 
initiatory  lessons. 

17.  Think  a  moment,  and  you  will  see  the  importance 
of  this  preliminary  instruction,  though  rarely  imparted. 
Why  should  it  be  imagined,  that  at  the  precise  moment 
when  a  young  dog  is  enraptured  with  the  first  sniff  of 
game,  he  is,  by  some  mysterious  unaccountable  instinct, 
to  understand  the  meaning  of  the  word  "  Tpho  ?"    Why 
should  he  not  conceive  it  to  be  a  word  of  .encourage- 
ment to  rush  in  upon  the  game,  as  he  probably  longs  to 
do ;   especially  if  it  should  be  a  partridge  fluttering 
before  him,  in  the  sagacious  endeavour   to  lure  him 
from  her  brood,  or  a  hare  enticingly  cantering  off  from 
under  his  nose  ?     There  are  breakers  who  would  correct 
him  for  not  intuitively  comprehending  and  obeying  the 
"  Toho,"  roared  out  with  stentorian  lungs ;   though,  it 
is   obvious,  the  youngster,  from   having  had  no  pre- 
vious   instruction,   could    have   no   better    reason  for 
understanding  its  import,  than  the  watch-dog  chained 
up  in   yonder  farm-yard.     Again  he   hears   the  word 
"Toho" — again  followed  by  another  licking,   accom- 
panied perhaps  by  the  long  lecture,  "  'Ware  springing 


CH.  IL]  DOG  YOUR  COMPANION.  11 

birds,  will  you  ? "  The  word  "  Toho  "  then  begins  to 
assume  a  most  awful  character ;  he  naturally  connects 
it  with  the  finding  of  game,  and  not  understanding  a 
syllable  of  the  lecture,  lest  he  should  a  third  time  hear 
it,  and  get  a  third  drubbing,  he  judges  it  most  prudent, 
(unless  he  is  a  dog  of  very  high  courage)  when  next 
aware  of  the  presence  of  birds,  to  come  in  to  heel ;  and 
thus  he  commences  to  be  a  blinker,  thanks  to  the 
sagacity  and  intelligence  of  his  tutor.  I  do  not  speak 
of  all  professional  dog-breakers,  far  from  it.  Many  are 
fully  sensible  that  comprehension  of  orders  must  neces- 
sarily precede  all  but  accidental  obedience.  I  am  only 
thinking  of  some  whom  it  has  been  my  misfortune  to 
see,  and  who  haye  many  a  time  made  my  blood  boil  at 
their  brutal  usage  of  a  fine  high-couraged  young  dog. 
Men  who  had  a  strong  arm  and  hard  heart  to  punish, — 
but  no  temper  and  no  head  to  instruct. 

18.  So  long  as  you  are  a  bachelor,  you  can  make  a 
companion  of  your  dog,  without  incurring  the  danger 
of  his  being  spoiled  by  your  wife  and  children ;  (the 
more,  by-the-bye,  he  is  your  own  companion  and  no 
other  person's  the  better)  and  it  is  a  fact,  though .  you 
may  smile  at  the  assertion,  that  all  the  initiatory  lessons 
can  be,  and  can  best  be,  inculcated  in  your  own  break- 
fast-room. 

19.  Follow  Astley's  plan.     Let  no  one  be  present  to 
distract  the  dog's  attention.     Call  him  to  you  by  the 
whistle  you  propose  always  using  in  the  field.     Tie  a 
slight  cord  a  few  yards  long  to  his  collar.     Throw  him 
a   small  piece  of  toast   or  meat,  saying,  at  the  time, 
"Dead,  dead/'     Do  this  several  times,  chucking  it  into 
different  parts  of  the  room,  and  let  him  eat  what  he 
finds.     Then  throw  a  piece  (always  as  you  do  so  saying, 
"Dead"),  and  the  moment  he  gets  close  to  it,  check 


12  "LEAD."— "TOHO."— "OK"  [CH.  n. 

him  by  jerking  the  cord,  at  the  same  time  saying, 
"  Toho,"  and  lifting  up  your  right  arm  almost  perpen- 
dicularly. By  pressing  on  the  cord  with  your  foot, 
you  can  restrain  him  as  long  as  you  please.  Do  not 
let  him  take  what  you  have  thrown,  until  you  give 
him  the  encouraging  word,  "  On,"  accompanied  by  a 
forward  movement  of  the  right  arm  and  hand,  some- 
what similar  to  the  swing  of  an  under-hand  bowler  at 
cricket. 

20.  Let  all  your  commands  be  given  in  a  low  voice. 
Consider  that  in  the  field,  where  you  are  anxious  not  to 
alarm  the  birds  unnecessarily,  your  words  must  reach 
your  dogs'  ears  more  or  less  softened  by  distance,  and, 
if  their  influence  depends  on  loudness,  they  will  have 
the  least  effect  at  the  very  moment  when  you  wish 
them  to  have  the  most.     For  the  same  reason,  in  the 
initiatory  lessons,  be  careful  not  to  whistle  loudly.* 

21.  After  a  few  trials  with  the  checkcord,  you  will 
find  yourself  enabled,  without  touching  it,  and  merely 
by  using  the  word  "  Toho,"  to  prevent  his  seizing  the 
toast  (or  meat),  until  you  say  "  On,"  or  give  him  the 
forward  signal.     When  he  gets  yet  more  perfect  in  his 
lesson,  raising  your  right  arm  only,  without  employing 
your  voice,  will  be   sufficient,  especially  if  you  have 
gradually  accustomed  him  to  hear  you  speak  less  and 
less  loudly.     If  he  draw  towards  the  bread  before  he 
has  obtained  leave,  jerk  the  cord,  and  drag  him  lack  to 
the  spot  from  which  he  stirred.     He  is  not  to  quit  it 
until  you   order  him,   occupy  yourself  as   you  may. 
Move  about,  and  occasionally  go  from  him,  as  far  as 
you  can,  before  you  give  the  command  "  On."     This 

*  It  may  be  fancy,  but  I  have       other  birds  regarded  the  sports- 
imagined  that  coveys  hatched  near       man's  whistle, 
railway  stations  have  less  than 


CH.  ii.J  "DROP."— "DOWN  CHARGE."  13 

will  make  him  less  unwilling  hereafter  to  continue 
steady  at  his  point  while  you  are  taking  a  circuit  to 
head  him,  and  so  get  wild  birds  between  him  and  your 
gun,  (265,  284.)  The  signal  for  his  advancing,  when 
you  are  facing  him,  is  the  "  beckon"  (see  37). 

22.  At  odd  times  let  him  take  the  bread  the  moment 
you  throw  it,  that  his  eagerness  to  rush  forward  to  seize 
it  may  be  continued,  only  to  be  instantly  restrained  at 
your  command. 

23.  Your  left  arm  raised  perpendicularly,  in  a  similar 
manner,  should  make  the  young  dog  lie  down.    Call  out 
"  Drop,"  when  so  holding  up  the  left  hand,  and  press 
him  down  with  the  other  until  he  assumes  a  crouching 
position.     If  you  study  beauty  of  attitude,  his  fore-legs 
ought  to  be  extended,  and  his  head  rest  between  them. 
Make  him  lie  well  down,  occasionally  walking  round 
and  round   him,  gradually  increasing  the  size  of  the 
circle — your  eyes  on  his.     Do  not  let  him  raise  himself 
to   a   sitting  posture.     If  you   do,  he  will   have  the 
greater  inclination  hereafter  to  move  about :  especially 
when  you  want  to  catch  him,  in  order  to  chide  or  correct 
him.    A  halt  is  all  you  require  for  the  "  Toho,"  and  you 
would  prefer  his  standing  to  his  point,  rather  than  his 
lying  down,*  as  you  then  would  run  less  risk  of  losing 
sight  of  him  in   cover,  heather,  or  high  turnips,  &c. 
Setters,  however,  naturally  crouch  so  much  more  than 
Pointers,  that  you  will  often  not  be  able  to  prevent  their 
"  falling  "  when  they  are  close  to  game.     Indeed,  I  have 
heard  some  sportsmen  argue  in  favour  of  a  dog's  drop- 
ping,  "that  it  rested    him."     An   advantage,   in   my 

*  This  is  one  reason  for  giving  chance  of  being  cowed  in  learning 

initiatory  lessons  in  the  "Toho"  the  "Drop."     If  the  latter  were 

before  the  "Drop."     Another  is  taught  first,  he  might  confound 

that    the  dog  may  acquire    the  the  "  Toho "  with  it. 
''Toho"   before  he  has  run  the 


14  "TOHO."— "DROP."  [CH.  ii. 

opinion,  in  no  way  commensurate  with  the  incon- 
venience that  often  attends  the  practice. 

24  If  you  are  satisfied  with  teaching  him  in  a 
slovenly  manner,  you  can  employ  your  right  arm  both 
for  the  "  Toho  "  and  "  Drop  ; "  but  that  is  not  quite  cor- 
rect, for  the  former  is  a  natural  stop,  (being  the  pause 
to  determine  exactly  where  the  game  is  lying,  pre- 
paratory to  rushing  in  to  seize  it,)  which  you  prolong 
by  art,*  whilst  the  other  is  wholly  opposed  to  nature. 
The  one  affords  him  great  delight,  especially  when,  from 
experience,  he  has  well  learned  its  object :  the  latter  is 
always  irksome.  Nevertheless,  it  must  be  firmly  esta- 
blished. It  is  the  triumph  of  your  art.  It  insures 
future  obedience.  But  it  cannot  be  effectually  taught 
without  creating  more  or  less  awe,  and  it  should  create 
awe.  It  is  obvious,  therefore,  that  it  must  be  advan- 
tageous to  make  a  distinction  between  the  two  signals, 
— especially  with  a  timid  dog, — for  he  will  not  then  be 
so  likely  to  blink  on  seeing  you  raise  your  right  hand, 
when  he  is  drawing  upon  game.  Nevertheless,  there 
are  breakers  so  unreasonable  as  not  only  to  make  that 
one  signal,  but  the  one  word  "Drop"  (or  rather  "Down") 
answer  both  for  the  order  to  point,  and  the  order  to 
crouch !  How  can  such  tuition  serve  to  enlarge  a  dog's 
ideas  ? 

25.  To  perfect  him  in  the  "  Down,"  that  dimcult  part 
of  his  education, — dimcult,  because  it  is  unnatural, — 
practise  it  in  your  walks.  At  very  uncertain,  unex- 
pected times  catch  his  eye,  (having  previously  stealthily 
taken  hold  of  the  checkcord— a  long,  light  one,)  or 
whistle  to  call  his  attention,  and  then  hold  up  your  left 

*  I   know  of  a  young  man's  cording  to  the  method  just  recom- 

readmg  the  first  edition  of  this  mended.     He  succeeded  perfectly, 

book,  and  taking  it  into  his  head  Some    Terriers   have   been   made 

to  teach  his  Terrier  to  point  ac-  very  useful  for  cover  shooting. 


CH.  ii.]  USE  OF  CHECKCOED.  15 

arm.  If  he  does  not  instantly  drop,  jerk  the  checkcord 
violently,  and,  as  before,  drag  him  back  to  the  exact 
spot  where  he  should  have  crouched  down.  Admit  of 
no  compromise.  You  must  have  implicit,  unhesitating, 
instant,  obedience.  When  you  quit  him,  he  must  not 
be  allowed  to  crawl  an  inch  after  you.  If  he  attempt 
it,  drive  a  spike  into  the  ground,  and  attach  the  end  of 
the  checkcord  to  it,  allowing  the  line  to  be  slack ;  then 
leave  him  quickly,  and  on  his  running  after  you  he  will 
be  brought  up  with  a  sudden  jerk.  So  much  the  better: 
it  will  slightly  alarm  him.  As  before,  take  him  back  to 
the  precise  place  he  quitted, — do  this  invariably,  though 
he  may  have  scarcely  moved.  There  make  him  again 
"Drop" — always  observing  to  jerk  the  cord  at  the 
moment  you  give  the  command.  After  a  few  trials  of 
this  tethering,  (say  less  than  a  dozen)  he  will  be  certain 
to  lie  down  steadily,  until  you  give  the  proper  order  or 
a  signal  (21),  let  you  run  away,  or  do  what  you  may  to 
excite  him  to  move.  One  great  advantage  of  frequently 
repeating  this  lesson,  and  thus  teaching  it  thoroughly,  is, 
that  your  dog  will  hereafter  always  feel,  more  or  less,  in 
subjection,  whenever  the  cord  is  fastened  to  his  collar. 
He  must  be  brought  to  instantly  obey  the  signal,  even 
at  the  extreme  limit  of  his  beat. 

26.  Most  probably  he  will  not  at  first  rise  when  he  is 
desired.  There  is  no  harm  in  that, — a  due  sense  of  the 
inutility  of  non-compliance  with  the  order  to  "  Drop," 
and  a  wholesome  dread  of  the  attendant  penalty,  will 
be  advantageous.  Go  up  to  him, — pat  him, — and  lead 
him  for  some  paces,  "making  much  of  him,"  as  they  say 
in  the  cavalry.  Dogs  which  are  over-headstrong  and 
resolute,  can  only  be  brought  under  satisfactory  com- 
mand by  this  lesson  being  indelibly  implanted, — and  I 
think  a  master  before  he  allows  the  keeper  to  take  a 


16  PUPPIES  AT  PIGEON  MATCH.  [CH.  n. 

pup  into  the  field  to  show  him  game,  should  insist  upon 
having  ocular  demonstration  that  he  is  perfect  in  the 
"Drop." 

27.  When  he  is  well  confirmed  in  this  all-important 
lesson,   obeying  implicitly,    yet   cheerfully,   you  may, 
whilst  he  is  lying  down,  (in  order  to  teach  him  the 
"  down  charge,")  go  through  the  motions  of  loading,  on 
no  account  permitting  him  to  stir  until  you  give  him 
the  forward  signal,  or  say  "  On."    After  a  few  times  you 
may  fire  off  a  copper  cap,  and  then  a  little  powder,  but 
be  very  careful  not  to  alarm  him.     Until  your  dog  is 
quite  reconciled  to  the  report  of  a  gun,  never  take  him 
up  to  any  one  who  may  be  firing.     I  have,  however, 
known  of  puppies  being  familiarized  to  the  sound,  by 
being  at  first  kept  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
party  firing,  and  then  gradually,  and  by  slow  degrees 
brought  nearer.     This  can  easily  be  managed  at  a  rifle 
or  pigeon  match,  and  the  companionship  of  a  made-dog 
would  much  expedite  .matters.     Whenever,  in  the  les- 
sons, your  young  dog  has  behaved  steadily  and  well, 
give  him  a  reward.     Do  not  throw  it  to  him ;  let  him 
take  it  from  your  hands.     It  will  assist  in  making  him 
tender-mouthed,  and  in  attaching  him  to  you. 

28.  In  some  cavalry  regiments  in  India,  the  feeding- 
time  is  denoted  by  the  firing  off  of  a  pistol.     This  soon 
changes  a  young  horse's  first  dread  of  the  report  into 
eager,  joyous,  expectation.     You  might,  if  you  did  not 
dislike  the  trouble,  in  a  similar  manner,  soon  make  your 
pup  regard  the  report  of  a  gun  as  the  gratifying  sum- 
mons to  his  dinner,  but  coupled  with  the  understanding 
that,  as  a  preliminary  step,  he  is  to  crouch  the  instant 
he  hears  the  sound.     After  a  little  perseverance  you 
would  so  well  succeed,  that  you  would  not  be  obliged 
even  to  raise  your  hand.   If  habituated  to  wait  patiently 


rn.  ii.]  LESSONS  AT  FEEDING  TIME.  17 

at  the  "  drop/'  however  hungry  he  may  be,  before  he  is 
permitted  to  taste  his  food,  it  is  reasonable  to  think  he 
will  remain  at  the  "  down  charge,"  yet  more  patiently 
before  he  is  allowed  to  "seek  dead." 

29.  If  your  pupil  be  unusually  timid,  and  you  cannot 
banish  his  alarm  on  hearing  the  gun,  couple  him  to 
another  dog  which  has  110-  such  foolish  fears,  and  will 
steadily  "  down  charge."    The  confidence  of  the  one,  will 
impart  confidence  to  the  other.     Fear  and  joy  are  feel- 
ings yet  more  contagious  in  animals  than  in  man.     It  is 
the  visible,  joyous  animation  of  the  old  horses,  that  so 
quickly  reconciles  the  cavalry  colt  to  the  sound  of  the 
"  feeding-pistol." 

30.  A  keeper  who  had  several  dogs  to  break,  would 
find  the  advantage  of  pursuing  the  cavalry  plan  just 
noticed.     Indeed,  he  might  extend  it  still  further,  by 
having  his  principal  in-door  drill  at  feeding-time,  and 
by  enforcing,  but  in  minuter  details,  that  kennel  disci- 
pline which  has  brought  many  a  pack  of  hounds  to 
marvellous  obedience.*     He  should  place  the  food  in 
different  parts  of  the  yard.     He  should  have  a  short 
checkcord  on  all  his  pupils  ;  and,  after  going  slowly 
through  the  motions  of  loading,  (the  dogs  having  regu- 
larly "down-charged"  on  the  report  of  the  gun,)  he 
should  call  each  separately  by  name,  and  by  signals  of 
the  hand  send  them  successively  to  different,  but  desig- 
nated feeding-troughs.     He  might  then  call  a  dog  to 
him,  which  had  commenced  eating,  and,  after  a  short 
abstinence,  make  him  go  to  another  trough.     He  might 
bring  two  to  his  heels  and  make  them  change  troughs, 
and  so  vary  the  lesson,  that,  in  a  short  time,  with  the 

*  There  is  often  such  a  simila-  struck,  who  for  the  first  time  sees 
rity  in  the  names  of  hounds,  that  them  go  to  their  meals,  one  by 
a  person  cannot  but  be  much  one  as  they  are  called. 

C 


18  SHOOTING  PONIES.  [CH.  n. 

aid  of  the  checkcords,  he  would  have  them  under  such 
complete  command,  that  they  would  afterwards  give 
him  comparatively  but  little  trouble  in  the  field.  As 
they  became  more  and  more  submissive,  he  would 
gradually  retire  further  and  further,  so  as,  at  length,  to 
have  his  orders  obeyed,  when  at  a  considerable  distance 
from  his  pupils.  The  small  portion  of  time  these  lessons 
would  occupy,  compared  with  their  valuable  results, 
should  warn  him  most  forcibly  not  to  neglect  them. 

31.  All  keepers  will  acknowledge  that,  excepting  a  systematic 
beat,  there  is  nothing  more  difficult  to  teach  a  Pointer  or  Setter 
than  to  refrain  from  "  pursuing  Hare."     They  will  concede  that 
there  is  a  natural  tendency  in  the  breed  to  stand  at  game  ;  and,  as 
a  necessary  consequence,  they  must  admit  that  they  would  have 
far  more  trouble  in  weaning  a  young  foxhound  from  the  habit, 
whose  every  instinct  urges  him  to  chase.     And  yet  these  keepers 
may  daily  see  not  merely  one  hound,  but  a  whole  pack  in  the 
highest  condition,  full  of  energy  and  spirits,  drawing  a  cover  alive 
with  Hares,  not  one  of  which  a  single  dog  will  even   look  at. 
Should  not  this  fact  convince  a  keeper,  that  if  he  is  often  obliged 
to  speak  loudly  to  the  brace  of  dogs  he  calls  broken,  there  must  be 
something  radically  wrong  in  his  management '?     Is   he   satisfied 
that  he  began  their  education  sufficiently  early,  and  that  he  has 
been  uniformly  consistent  since  its  commencement  ? 

32.  If  you  have  to  break  in  a  shooting  pony,  you  must  adopt 
some  such  plan  as  that  named  in  27  and  28  to  make  him  steady. 
Your  object  will  be  never  to  alarm  him,  and  gradually  to  render 
him  fond  of  the  sound  of  the  gun.     To  effect  this,  you  will  keep 
the  pistol,  or  whatever  arms  you  use,  for  a  long  time  out  of  his 
sight.     Commence  by  burning  but  little  powder,  and  fire  *  at  some 
distance  from  him.     Always  give  him  a  slice  of  carrot  or  apple 
immediately  after  he  hears  the  report,  and,  if  you  act  judiciously 
and  patiently,  he  will  soon  love  the  sound.     You  may  then  fire  in 
his  presence  (turning  your  back  upon  him,  as  if  he  were  not  a  party 
in  any  way  concerned),  and,  by  degrees,  approach  nearer  and  nearer ; 
but  do  not  go  quite  into  his  stall, — that  would  make  him  shrink  or 
start,  and  you  wish  to  banish  all  nervousness  ;  the  least  precipitation 
would  undo  you  ;  therefore  begin  in  the  stable,  with  only  using  a 
copper  cap.     Need  I  caution  you  against  firing  if  near  any  straw  ? 

33.  Confidence  being  fully  established,  pursue  the  same  plan 
when  you  ride  the  pony.    Again  commence  with  a  copper  cap,  only 


*    It  would  expedite  matters      you  remained  near  the  pony  to 
much  if  the  groom  did  this  while      feed  him,  or  vice  versd. 


CH.  ii.]  RUSHING  AT  FENCES.  19 

by  slow  degrees  coming  to  the  full  charge.  As  before,  always 
reward  him  after  every  discharge,  and  also  at  the  moment  when  you 
pull  up  and  throw  the  reins  on  his  neck.  If  he  finds  he  gets  slices 
of  carrot  when  he  stands  stock-still,  he  will  soon  become  so  anxious 
to  be  stationary  that  you  will  have  to  ride  with  spurs  to  keep  him 
to  his  work.  By  such  means  you  could  get  him  to  lead  over  fences 
and  stand  on  the  other  side  until  you  remount.  Many  years  ago  I 
had  in  Ireland  a  chestnut  which  did  not  belie  his  colour,  for  I 
purchased  him  far  below  his  value  on  account  of  his  great  im- 
petuosity with  hounds.  He  had  a  sad  habit  of  rushing  at  his  leaps, 
but  riding  him  in  a  smooth  snaffle,  and  often  giving  him  slices 
of  carrot,  gradually  cured  his  impatience,  and  he  ultimately  became 
very  gentle  and  pleasant.  A  naval  officer,  well  known  to  a  friend 
of  mine,  finding  he  could  not  by  other  means  make  his  pony  stand 
when  the  dogs  pointed,  used,  sailor  like,  to  anchor  the  animal  by 
"  heaving  overboard  "  (as  he  expressed  it)  a  heavy  weight  to  which 
a  line  from  the  curb-bit  was  attached.  The  weight  was  carried  in 
one  of  the  holster  pipes, — in  the  other  was  invariably  stowed  away 
a  liberal  allowance  of  "  Grog  and  Prog." 


CHAPTER  III. 

INITIATOKY  LESSONS  CONTINUED.     SPANIELS. 

.'{4,  35.  Initiatory  Lessons  in  "Dead"  and  "Seek,"  continued. — 36.  In  Signals  to 
hunt  to  the  "right" — uleft" — " forward."— 37.  In  the  "Beckon."  Woodcock 
Shooting  in  America.— 38.  In  looking  to  you  for  instructions. — 39.  In  "Care." — 
40.  Always  give  a  reward.—  41.  In  "Up." — saves  using  Puzzle-peg.  — 42.  Dog  to 
carry  Nose  high. — 43.  Initiatory  Lesson  in  "Footing"  a  Scent. — 44.  In  "Heel." 
— 45.  In  "Gone"  or  "Away." — 46.  In  "Fence"  or  "Ware-fence."— 47.  "No" 
a  better  word  than  "  Ware. " — 48.  Accustomed  to  couples.  —49.  Initiatory  Lessons 
in-doors  with  a  Companion — when  one  "drops"  the  other  to  "drop." — 50.  Makes 
"Backing"  quickly  understood. — 51.  Initiatory  Lessons  with  a  Companion  in 
the  Fields. — 52.  Initiatory  Lessons  save  Time— make  Dogs  fond  of  hunting. — 
53.  Checkcord  described.  Wildest  Dogs  possess  most  energy. — 54.  Advantages 
of  Checkcord  explained— Spaniels  broken  in  by  it.— 55.  Lad  to  act  as  Whipper-in. 
— 56.  Retriever  that  acted  as  Whipper-in.— 57.  Jealousy  made  him  act  the  part. 
Might  be  taught  to  Retriever.— 58.  Instead  of  "  down  charge"  coming  to  "heel." 
— 59.  As  Puppies  kept  close  to  you,  not  to  "self-hunt" — "broke"  from  hare. — 
60.  Blacksmith  straps  Horse's  Leg  above  Hock — Dog's  similarly  confined— Shot- 
belt  round  the  necks  of  wildest. — 61.  Hunted  in  Gorse. — 62.  Age  when  shown 
Game.  Example  of  good  Spaniels  advantageous. — 63.  Perfected  in  "Drop" — 
taught  to  "  seek  dead" — to  "fetch" — entered  at  Hedge-rows  and  lightest  Covers. 
Bells  to  Collars.— 64.  To  hunt  further  side  of  Hedge.— 65.  How  Sportsmen  may 
aid  Keeper.  In  note,  Covers  for  Pheasants.  Hints  to  Tyros  on  Shooting  and 
Loading  (See  Appendix). — 66.  Experienced  Spaniels  slacken  Pace  on  Game. — 
67.  Difficult  to  work  young  ones  in  Silence. — 68.  Spaniels  that  Pointed. — 
69.— Game  first  accustomed  to,  most  liked.— 70.  Principal  requisites  in  Spaniels. 
— 71.  The  signal  "to  point  with  finger." — 72.  Following  Cockers  a  Young  Man's 
•work. — 73.  Education  differs  in  different  Teams. — 74.  One  and  a  half  couple  of 
large  Spaniels  sufficient.  One  of  the  Team  to  retrieve. — 75.  Clumbers  pro- 
curing more  Shots  in  Turnips  than  Pointers.— 76.  Lord  P n's  highly-broken 

Team. — 77.  Of  small  Cockers  three  couple  a  Team.  What  constitutes  Perfec- 
tion.— 78.  Retriever  with  Team.  Duke  of  Newcastle's  Keepers. — 79.  Some 
Teams  allowed  to  hunt  Flick. — 80.  Rabbits  shot  to  a  Team  in  Gorse.  Shooting 
to  Beagles  described  —81.  Markers  necessary  with  wild  Spaniels.— 82.  Cover 
beat  with  wildest  Dogs  before  shot  in.  Woodcocks. — 83.  Old  Sportsmen  prefer 
mute  Spaniels. — 84.  Babblers  bestinsome  Countries.  Cock-shooting  in  Albania. 
— 85.  Hog  and  deer  in  ditto. — 86.  Glorious  month's  sport  in  the  Morea. — 
87.  Handy  old  Setters  capital  in  light  cover.  Attention  necessary  when  first 

entered. — 88.  C' ers  Pointers  as  good  in  cover  as  on  the  stubble.     89.  Pointer 

that  ran  to  opposite  side  of  Thicket  to  flush  Game  towards  Gun.— 90.  Water 
Spaniels,  how  broken. — 91.  Shepherd's  Forward  Signal  best  for  Water  Re- 
trievers.—92.  Wild  Fowl  reconnoitred  with  Telescope. —93.  Qualities  required 
in  Water  Retriever.  In  note,  Poachers  in  Snow.  Beast  or  man  of  one  uniform 
colour  easily  detected.  —  94.  Ducks  emit  a  tolerable  scent— "  Flint"  and 
Mr.  C e's  Setter.— 95.  Steady  Spaniels  in  Rice  Lakes. 

34.  WHEN  your  young  dog  is  tolerably  well  advanced 
in  the  lessons  which  you  have  been  advised  to  practise, 


CH.  in.]  "DEAD."— "SEEK."— SIGNALS.  21 

hide  a  piece  of  bread  or  biscuit.  Say  "  Dead,  dead." 
Call  him  to  you.  (44.)  Let  him  remain  by  you  for 
nearly  a  minute  or  two.  Then  say  "  Find,"  or  "  Seek." 
Accompany  him  in  his  search.  By  your  actions  and 
gestures  make  him  fancy  you  are  yourself  looking  about 
for  something,  for  dogs  are  observing,  one  might  say, 
imitative,  creatures.*  Stoop  and  move  your  right  hand 
to  and  fro  near  the  ground.  Contrive  that  he  shall 
come  upon  the  bread,  and  reward  him  by  permitting  him 
to  eat  it. 

35.  After  a  little  time  (a  few  days  I  mean),  he  will 
show  the  greatest  eagerness  on  your  saying,  at  any  un- 
expected moment,  "  Dead."     He  will  connect  the  word 
with  the  idea  that  there  is   something  very  desirable 
concealed  near  him,  and  he  will  be  all  impatience  to  be 
off  and  find  it ;    but  make  him  first  come  to  you,  (for 
reason,  see  269.) — Keep  him  half  a  minute. — Then  say 
"  Find,"  and,  without  your  accompanying  him,  he  will 
search  for  what  you  have  previously  hidden.     Always 
let  him  be  encouraged  to  perseverance  by  discovering 
something  acceptable. 

36.  Unseen  by  him,  place  the  rewards  (one  at  a  time), 
in  different  parts  of  the  room, — under  the  rug  or  carpet, 
and  more  frequently  on  a  chair,  a  table,  or  a  low  shelf. 
He  will  be  at  a  loss  in  what  part  of  the  room  to  search. 
Assist  him  by  a  motion  of  your  arm  and  hand.     A 
wave  of  the  right  arm  and  hand  to  the  right,  will  soon 
show  him  that  he  is  to  hunt  to  the  right,  as  he  will  find 
there.     The  corresponding  wrave  of  the  left  hand  and 
arm  to  the  left,  will  explain  to  him,  that  he  is  to  make 

*  "Imitative  creatures!"  who  will  be  surprised  to  see  how  quickly 

can  doubt  it  ?    If  you  make  an  old  the  young  one  will  learn  the  trick, 

dog  perform  a  trick  several  times  especially  if  he  has  seen  that  the 

in  the  sight  of  a  young  one  who  old  dog  was  always  rewarded  for 

is  watching  the  proceedings,  you  his  obedience. 


22  LOOKING  FOR  INSTRUCTIONS.  [CH.  in. 

a  cast  to  the  left.  The  underhand  bowler's  swing  of  the 
right  hand  and  arm,  will  show  that  he  is  to  hunt  in  a 
forward  direction.*  Your  occasionally  throwing  the 
delicacy  (in  the  direction  you  wish  him  to  take),  whilst 
waving  your  hand,  will  aid  in  making  him  comprehend 
the  signal.  You  may  have  noticed  how  well,  by  watch- 
ing the  action  of  a  boy's  arm,  his  little  cur  judges 
towards  what  point  to  run  for  the  expected  stone. 

37.  When  the  hidden  object  is  near  you,  but  between 
you  and  the  dog,  make  him  come  towards  you  to  seek 
for  it,  beckoning  him  with  your  right  hand.  When  he 
is  at  a  distance  at  the  "Drop,"  if  you  are  accustomed 
to  recompense  him  for  good  behaviour,  you  can  employ 
this  signal  to  make  him  rise  and  run  towards  you  for 
his  reward,  (and,  according  to  my  judgment,  he  should 
always  join  you  after  the  "  down  charge,"  271).  By 
these  means  you  will  thus  familiarise  him  with  a  very 
useful  signal ;  for  that  signal  will  cause  him  to  approach 
you  in  the  field,  when  you  have  made  a  circuit  to  head 
him  at  his  point  (knowing  that  birds  will  then  be  lying 
somewhere  between  you  and  him),  and  want  him  to 
draw  nearer  to  the  birds  and  you,  to  show  you  exactly 
where  they  are.  This  some  may  call  a  superfluous  re- 
finement, but  I  hope  you  will  consider  it  a  very  killing 
accomplishment,  and  being  easily  taught,  it  were  a  pity 
to  neglect  it.  When  a  Setter  is  employed  in  cock- 
shooting,  the  advantage  of  using  this  signal  is  very 

*  Obedience  to  all  such  signals  day  retrieving,    as  instanced    in 

will  hereafter  be   taught  out   of  277,   it  will  be  your  aim  to  get 

doors  at  gradually  increased  dis-  him  not  to  seek  immediately,  but 

tances :  and  to  confirm  him  in  the  to  watch  your  signals,   until  by 

habit  of  sniffing  high  in  the  air  obeying  them  you  will  have  placed 

(41)  for  whatever  you  may  then  him  close  to  where  the  object  lies, 

hide,  put  the  bread  or  meat  on  a  at  which  precise  moment  you  will 

stick  or  bush,  but  never  in  a  hedge  say    energetically    "Find,"    and 

(175).    With  the  view  to  his  some  cease  making  any  further  signs. 


CH.  in.]  BECKON.— "CARE."  23 

apparent.  While  the  dog  is  steadily  pointing,  it  enables 
the  sportsman  to  look  for  a  favourable  opening/  and, 
when  he  has  posted  himself  to  his  satisfaction,  to  sign 
to  the  Setter  (or  if  out  of  sight  tell  him),  to  advance 
and  flush  the  bird :  when,  should  the  sportsman  have 
selected  his  position  with  judgment,  he  will  generally 
get  a  shot.  I  have  seen  this  method  very  successfully 
adopted  in  America,  where  the  forests  are  usually  so 
dense  that  cocks  are  only  found  on  the  outskirts  in  the 
underwood. 

38.  After  a  little  time  he  will  regularly  look  to  you 
for  directions.     Encourage  him  to  do  so ;  it  will  make 
him  hereafter,  when  he  is  in  the  field,  desirous  of  hunt- 
ing under  your  eye,  and  induce  him  to  look  to  you,  in  a 
similar  manner,  for  instructions  in  what  direction  he  is 
to  search  for  game.     Observe  how  a  child  watches  its 
mother's  eye ;  so  will  a  dog  watch  yours,  when  he  be- 
comes interested  in  your  movements,  and  finds  that  you 
frequently  notice  him. 

39.  Occasionally,  when  he  approaches   any  of  the 
spots  where  the  bread  lies  hidden,  say  "  Care,"  and 
slightly  raise  your  right  hand.     He  will  quickly  con- 
sider this  word,  or  signal,  as  an  intimation  that  he  is 
near  the  object  of  his  search. 

40.  Never  deceive  him  in  any  of  these  words  and 
signs,  and  never  disappoint  him  of  the  expected  reward. 
Praise  and  caress  him  for  good  conduct;  rate  him  for 
bad.     Make  it  a  rule  throughout  the  whole  course  of 
his  education,  out  of  doors  as  fully  as  within,  to  act 
upon  this  system.     You  will  find  that  caresses  and  sub- 
stantial rewards  are  far  greater  incentives  to  exertion 
than  any  fears  of  punishment. 

41.  Your  pup  having  become  a  tolerable  proficient  in 
these  lessons,  you  may  beneficially   extend  them  by 


24  "UP."— NOSE  CARRIED  HIGH.  [en.  in. 

employing  the  word  "  Up,"  as  a  command  that  he  is  to 
sniff  high  in  the  air  to  find  the  hidden  bread  or  meat, 
lying,  say  on  a  shelf,  or  on  the  back  of  a  sofa.  He  will-, 
comparatively  speaking,  be  some  time  in  acquiring  a 
knowledge  of  the  meaning  of  the  word,  and  many  would 
probably  term  it  an  over-refinement  in  canine  education ; 
but  I  must  own  I  think  you  will  act  judiciously,  if  you 
teach  it  perfectly  in  the  initiatory  lessons  ;  for  the  word 
"  Up,"  if  well  understood,  will  frequently  save  your 
putting  on  the  puzzle-peg.  For  this  you  would  be 
obliged  to  employ,  should  your  dog  prove  disobedient 
and  be  acquiring  the  execrable  habit  of  "  raking "  as  it 
is  termed,  instead  of  searching  for  the  delicious  effluvia 
with  his  nose  carried  high  in  the  air.  Colonel  Hawker 
much  recommends  the  puzzle-peg,  but  I  confess  I  would 
not  fetter  the  dog  by  using  it,  unless  compelled  by  his 
hereditary  propensity  to  hunt-foot. 
.  42.  Whenever  birds  can  be  sought  for  in  the  wind, 
the  dog  should  thus  hunt  the  field  (and  the  higher  he 
carries  his  nose  the  better),  for,  independently  of  the 
far  greater  chance  of  finding  them,  they  will  allow  the 
dog  to  come  much  nearer,  than  when  he  approaches 
them  by  the  foot :  but  of  this  more  anon.  (185,  186.) 

43.  Setters  and  Pointers  naturally  hunt  with  their 
noses  sufficiently  close  to  the  ground, — they  want  ele- 
vating rather  than  depressing.  Notwithstanding,  you 
will  do  well  to  show  your  pupil  a  few  times  out  of  doors, 
how  to  work  out  a  scent,  by  dragging  a  piece  of  bread 
unperceived  by  him  down  wind  through  grass,  and  then 
letting  him  "  foot "  it  out.  Try  him  for  a  few  yards  at 
first ;  you  can  gradually  increase  the  length  of  the  drag. 
You  must  not,  however,  practise  this  initiatory  lesson 
too  frequently,  lest  you  give  him  the  wretched  custom 
of  pottering. 


OLD  FASHIONED  ENGLISH  SETTER,— RETRIEVERS,  ONE  A  CROSS  WITH 
BLOODHOUND. 

HEEL. — "A  backward  low  wave  of  the  right  hand."— Par.  44. 


CH.  in.]  "HEEL."— "GONE."  27 

44.  The  word  "  Heel/'  and  a  backward  low  wave  of 
the  right  hand  and  arm  to  the  rear,  (the  reverse  of  the 
underhand  cricket-bowler's   swing,)   will,   after   a  few 
times,  bring  the  dog  close  behind  you.     Keep  him  there 
a  while  and  pat  him,  but  do  not  otherwise  reward  him. 
The  object  of  the  order  was  to.jnake  him  instantly  give 
up  hunting,  and  come  to  your  heels.     This  signal  cannot 
be  substituted  for  the  "  beckon."     The  one  is  an  order 
always  obeyed  with  reluctance   (being  a  command  to 
leave  off  hunting),  whereas  the  "  beckon "  is  merely  an 
instruction  in  what  direction  to  beat,  and  will  be  at- 
tended to  with  delight.      The  signal  "heel,"  however, 
when  given  immediately  after  loading,  is  an  exception  ; 
for  the  instructions  about  "  Dead,"  in  xi.  of  paragraph 
171,  will  show  that  without  your  speaking,  it  may  be 
made    to  impart  the  gratifying  intelligence    of  your 
having  killed.     See  also  277. 

45.  To  teach  him  to  attach  a  meaning  to  the  word 
"  Gone,"  or  "  Away,"  or  "  Flown,"  *  (select  which  you 
will,  but  do  not  ring  the  changes,)  you  may  now  rub  a 
piece  of  meat  (if  you  have  no  one  but  your  servant  to 
scold  you)  in  some  place  where  the  dog  is  accustomed 
frequently  to  find,  and  when  he  is  sniffing  at  the  place 
say  "Gone,"   or   "Away."     This   he  will,   after  some 
trials,  perceive  to  be  an  intimation  that  it  is  of  no  use 
to  continue  hunting  for  it. 

46.  You   will   greatly   facilitate    his    acquiring    the 
meaning  of  the  command  "Fence,"  or  "Ware  fence," 
if.  from  time  to  time,  as  he  is  quitting  the  room  through 
the  open  door  or  garden  window,  you  restrain  him  by 
calling  out  that  word. 

*  The  least  comprehensive  and  cal  grammarian,  understands  it 
logical  of  the  expressions,  yet  one  to  apply  to  "  fur "  as  well  as 
often  used.  A  dog  being  no  criti-  "  feather." 


28  "WARE  FENCE."  [CH.  in. 

47.  Whenever,  indeed,  you  wish  him  to  desist  from 
doing  anything,  call  out  "Ware,"  (pronounced  "W^ar"), 
as   it   will   expedite  his   hereafter  understanding  the 
terms,  "  Ware  sheep,"  "  Ware  chase,"  and  "  Ware  lark." 
The  last  expression  to  be  used  when  he  is  wasting  his 
time  upon  the  scent  of  .anything  but  game — a  fault  best 
cured  by  plenty  of  birds  being  killed  to  him.    However, 
the  simple  word  "  No,"  omitting  "  Chase  "  or  "  Fence," 
might  be  substituted  advantageously  for  "  Ware."     All 
you  want  him  to  do  is  to  desist  from  a  wrong  action. 
That  sharp  sound, — and  when  necessary  it  can  be  clearly 
thundered  out, — cannot  be  misunderstood. 

48.  That  your  young  dog  may  not  hereafter  resist  the 
couples,  yoke  him  occasionally  to  a  stronger  dog,  and 
for  the  sake  of  peace,  and  in  the  name  of  all  that  is 
gallant,  let  it  be  to  the  one  of  the  other  sex  who  appears 
to  be  the  greatest  favourite. 

49.  When  he  is  thus  far  advanced  in  his  education, 
and  tolerably  obedient,  which  he  will  soon  become  if 
you  are  consistent,  and  patient,  yet  strict,  you  can,  in 
further  pursuance  of  Astley's  plan,  associate  him  in  his 
lessons   with  a  companion.     Should  you  be  breaking 
in  another  youngster,  (though  one  at  a  time  you  will 
probably  find  quite   enough,   especially  if  it  be  your 
laudable  wish  to  give  him  hereafter  a  well-confirmed 
scientific  range,)  they  can  now  be  brought  together  for 
instruction.     You   must   expect   to   witness   the   same 
jealousy  which   they  would    exhibit   on  the   stubble. 
Both  will  be  anxious  to  hunt  for   the  bread,  and  in 
restraining  them  alternately  from  so  doing,  you  exact 
the  obedience  which  you  will  require  hereafter  in  the 
field,  when  in  their  natural  eagerness  they  will  endea- 
vour, unless  you  properly  control  them,  to   take   the 
point  of  birds  from  one  another;  or,  in  their  rivalry, 


CH.  in.]  ACCUSTOMED  TO  COUPLES.  29 

run  over  the  taint  of  a  wounded  bird,  instead  of  col- 
lectedly and  perseverinoiy  working  out  the  scent.  You 
can  throw  a  bit  of  toast  and  make  them  "  Toho  "  it,  and 
then  let  the  dog  you  name  take  it.  In  the  same  way 
you  can  let  each  alternately  search  for  a  hidden  piece, 
after  both  have  come  up  to  you,  on  your  saying  "Dead." 
I  would  also  advise  you  to  accustom  each  dog  to  "  drop," 
without  any  command  from  you-,  the  moment  he  sees 
that  the  other  is  down. 

50.  Those  lessons  will  almost  ensure  their  hereafter 
instantly  obeying,  and  nearly  instantly  comprehending 
the  object  of  the  signal  to  "  back  "  any  dog  which  may 
be  pointing  game. 

51.  When  you  take  out  two  youngsters  for  exercise, 
while  they  are  romping  about,  suddenly  call  one  into 
"  heel."   After  a  time  again  send  him  off  on  his  gambols. 
Whistle  to  catch  the  eye  of  the  other,  and  signal  to  him 
to  join  you.     By  working  them  thus  alternately,  while 
they  are  fresh  and  full  of  spirits,  you  will  habituate 
them  to  implicit  obedience.     When  the  birds  are  wild, 
and  you  are  anxious  to  send  a  basket  of  game  to  a 
friend,  it  is  very  satisfactory  to  be  able  merely  by  a 
sign,  without  uttering  a  word,  to  bring  the  other  dogs 
into  "  heel,"  leaving  the  ground  to  the  careful  favourite. 
Teach  the  present  lesson  well,  and  you  go  far  towards 
attaining  the  desired  result. 

52.  I  trust  you  will  not  object  to  the  minutiae  of  these 
initiatory  lessons,  and  fancy  you  have  not  time  to  attend 
to  them.     By  teaching  them  well,  you  will  gain  time, — 
much  time, — and  the  time  that  is  of  most  value  to  you 
as  a  sportsman ;  for  when  your  dog  is  regularly  hunting 
to  your  gun,  his  every  faculty  ought  to  be  solely  devoted 
to  finding  birds,  and  his  undisturbed  intellects  exclu- 
sively given  to  aid  you  in  bagging .  them,  instead  of 


30 


CHECKCORD  DESCRIBED. 


[CH.   ITT. 


being  bewildered  by  an  endeavour  to  comprehend  novel 
signals  or  words  of  command.  I  put  it  to  you  as  a 
sportsman,  whether  he  will  not  have  the  more  delight 
and  ardour  in  hunting,  the  more  he  feels  that  he  under- 
stands your  instructions?  and,  further,  I  ask  you, 
whether  he  will  not  be  the  more  sensitively  alive  to 
the  faintest  indication  of  a  haunt,  and  more  readily 
follow  it  up  to  a  sure  find,  if  he  be  unembarrassed  by  any 
anxiety  to  make  out  what  you  mean,  and  be  in  no  way 
alarmed  at  the  consequences  of  not  almost  instinctively 
understanding  your  wishes  ? 

53.  In  all  these  lessons,  and  those  which  follow  in 
the  field,   the  checkcord  will  wonderfully  assist  you 


THE  CHECK— 'HOLD  HARD!' 


Indeed,  it  may  be  regarded  as  the  instructor's  right 
hand.  It  can  be  employed  so  mildly  as  not  to  inti- 
midate the  most  gentle,  and  it  can,  without  the  aid  of 


CH.  in.]  SPANIELS  BROKEN  IN.  31 

any  whip,  be  used  with  such  severity,  or,  I  should  rather 
say,  perseverance,  as  to  conquer  the  most  wild  and 
headstrong,  and  these  are  sure  to  be  dogs  of  the  greatest 
travel  and  endurance.  The  cord  may  be  from  ten  to 
twenty-five  *  yards  long,  according  to  the  animal's  dis- 
position, and  may  be  gradually  shortened  as  he  gets 
more  and  more  under  command.  Even  when  it  is  first 
employed  you  can  put  on  a  shorter  cord,  if  you  perceive 
that  he  is  becoming  tired.  In  thick  stubble,  especially 
if  cut  with  a  sickle,  the  drag  will  be  greater,  far  greater 
than  when  the  cord  glides  over  heather.  The  cord  may 
be  of  the  thickness  of  what  some  call  strong  lay-cord, 
but  made  of  twelve  threads.  Sailors  would  know  it  by 
the  name  of  log-line  or  cod-line.  To  save  the  end  from 
fraying  it  can  be  whipped  with  thread,  which  is  better 
than  tying  a  knot  because  it  is  thus  less  likely  to  be- 
come entangled. 

55.  Hunted  with  such  a  cord,  the  most  indomitable 
dog,  when  he  is  perfectly  obedient  to  the  "  drop"  is  nearly 
as  amenable  to  command,  as  if  the  end  of  the  line  were 
in  the  breaker's  hand.  By  no  other  means  can 

SPANIELS 

be  quickly  broken  in.  The  general  object  of  the  trainer 
is  to  restrain  them  from  ranging  at  a  distance  likely  to 
spring  game  out  of  gun-shot,  and  to  make  them  perfect 
to  the  "  down  charge."  If  one  of  these  high-spirited 
animals  will  not  range  close  when  called  to  by  whistle 

*    With  a    resolute,   reckless,  thinner  the  cord  the  more  readily 

dashing    dog    you    may    advan-  does  it  become  entangled, — as  a 

tageously  employ  a  thinner  cord  rule,  a  checkcord  cannot  be  too 

of  double  that  length,  —whereas,  firmly  twisted,— a  soft  one  quickly 

the  shortest  line  will  sometimes  gets    knotted    and    troublesome, 

prevent    a    timid    animal    from  (See  note  to  262.) 
ranging  freely.     By-the-bye,  the 


32  FOUR-LEGGED  WHIPPER-IN.  [CH.  in. 

or  name,  the  breaker  gets  hold  of  the  cord  and  jerks  it ; 
this  makes  the  dog  come  in  a  few  paces ;  another  jerk 
or  two  makes  him  approach  closer,  and  then  the  breaker, 
by  himself  retiring  with  his  face  towards  the  spaniel, 
calling  out  his  name  (or  whistling),  and  occasionally 
jerking  the  cord,  makes  him  quite  submissive,  and  more 
disposed  to  obey  on  future  occasions. 

55.  In  training  a  large  team  it  is  of  much  advantage 
to  the  keeper  to  have  a  lad  to  rate,  and,  when  necessary, 
give  the  skirters  a  taste  of  the  lash,  in  short,  to  act 
as  whipper-in.     The  keeper  need  not  then  carry  a  whip, 
or  at  least  often  use  it,  which  will  make  his  spaniels  all 
the  more  willing  to  hunt  close  to  him. 

56.  Lord  A r's  head  gamekeeper  was  singularly 

aided  :— he  possessed  a  four-legged  whipper-in.     A  few 
years  ago  while  Mr.  D — s   (M.P.  for  a  South  Eastern 
County)  was  with  a  shooting  party  at  his  Lordship's, 
the  keeper  brought  into  the  field  a  brace  of  powerful 
retrievers,  and  a  team  of  spaniels,  among  which  were 
two  that  had  never  been  shot  over.     On  the  first  phea- 
sant being  killed,  all  the  old  spaniels  dropped  to  shot, 
but  one  of  the  young  ones  rushed  forward  and  mouthed 
the  bird.     The  person  who  had  fired  ran  on  to  save  it, 
but  the  keeper  called  aloud,  and  requested  him  not 
to  move.     The  man  then  made  a  signal  to  one  of  the 
retrievers  to  go.     He  did  so  instantly,  but,  instead  of 
meddling  with  the  bird,  he  seized  the  spaniel,  lifted  him 
up,  and  shook  him  well.     The  moment  the  pup  could 
escape,  he  came  howling  to  the  "  heels  "  of  the  keeper, 
and  lay  down  among  his  companions.     The  keeper  then 
confessed  that  a  couple  of  the  spaniels  had  never  been 
shot  to, — but  he  confidently  assured  the  sportsmen,  they 
would  see  before  the  day  was  over,  that  the  pups  behaved 
fully  as  steadily  as  the  old  dogs,  and  explained  to  the 


A  FOUR-LEGGED  WHIPPER-IN.— Par.  56. 


CH.  in.]  RETRIEVER  MADE  BREAKER.  35 

party,  how  the  retriever  did  all  the  disagreeable  work, 
and  indeed,  nearly  relieved  him  of  every  trouble  in 
breaking  in  the  youngsters.  On  the  next  few  shots  this 
novel  schoolmaster  was  again  deputed  to  show  his  pupils 
that  he  would  not  allow  his  special  duties  as  a  retriever 
to  be  interfered  with.  Both  the  young  dogs,  having 
been  thus  well  chastised,  became  more  careful, — made 
only  partial  rushes  to  the  front,  when  a  recollection  of 
their  punishment,  and  a  dread  of  their  four-footed  tutor 
brought  them  slinking  back  to  their  older  companions. 
As  the  keeper  had  averred,  they  soon  learned  their 
lesson  completely, — gave  up  all  thoughts  of  chasing 
after  shot,  and  quietly  crouched  down  with  the  other 
dogs. 

57.  I  can  easily  imagine  that  it  was  a  feeling  of 
jealousy,  which  first  prompted  the  retriever  to  thrash 
some  spaniel  who  was  endeavouring  to  carry  off  a  bird, 
and  that  the  clever  keeper  encouraged  him  in  doing  so, 
instantly  perceiving  the  value  of  such  assistance.     It  is 
worth  a  consideration  whether  it  would  not  be  advisable 
to  train  the  retriever  employed  with  a  team  to  give  this 
assistance.   A  dog  of  a  quarrelsome  disposition  could  be 
taught,  by  your  urging  him,  to  seize  any  spaniel  who 
might  be  mouthing  a  bird,  in  the  same  manner  you 
would  set  on  a  young  terrier  to  fly  at  a  rat. 

58.  Doubtless  it  is  the  highest  training  to  teach  a 
team  to  "  down-charge,"  but  most  breakers  make  their 
spaniels  come  into  "  heel,"  or  rather  gather  close  around 
them,  (by  the  word  "  round  ")  whenever  a  gun  is  dis- 
charged.    This  plan,  though  so  injudicious  in  the  case 
of  pointers  or  setters,  is  but  little  objectionable  in  the 
case  of  spaniels,  for  spaniels  in  their  small  sweep  in- 
wards, are  not  likely  to  spring  game  while  the  guns  are 
unloaded.     It  certainly  possesses  this  merit,  that  it  is 

D2 


36  SPANIELS  BROKEN  IN.  [CH.  in. 

readily  taught  to  puppies,  (with  the  aid  of  a  whipper-in) 
by  the  trainer's  giving  them  some  delicacy  on  their 
rejoining  him.  It  may  be  urged,  too,  that  the  method 
much  removes  any  necessity  for  noise  in  calling  to  a 
dog, — whereas,  with  a  team  trained  to  the  "down- 
charge,"  however  highly  broken,  it  will  occasionally 
happen  that  the  keeper  (or  assistant)  has  to  rate  some 
excited  skirter  for  not  instantly  "  dropping."  Moreover, 
in  thick  cover  an  infraction  of  the  irksome  rule  to 
"  down  charge  "  may  sometimes  escape  detection,  which 
might  lead  to  future  acts  of  insubordination.  The 
lamented  Prince  Albert's  team  of  Clumbers  "  down- 
charge,"  but  the  greatest  attention  could  be  given,  and 
was  given  to  them.  They  were  admirably  broken,  and 
I  might  add,  were  shot  over  by  a  first-rate  hand. 

59.  When  exercising  young  spaniels  it  is  a  good  plan 
to  habituate  them,  even   as  puppies,   never   to    stray 
further  from  you  than  about  twenty  yards.    With  them, 
even  more  than  with  other  kinds  of  dogs  trained  for  the 
gun,  great  pains  should  be  taken  to  prevent  their  having 
the  opportunity  of  "  self-hunting."     If  it  is  wished  to 
break  from  hare,  the  method  to  be  followed  is  mentioned 
in  334,  &c.,  for  with  spaniels  as  with  setters  (or  pointers) 
it  is  always  advisable  to  drag  them  back  to  the  spot 
from  which  they  started  in  pursuit. 

60.  Occasionally  you  may  see  a  country  blacksmith, 
when  preparing  to  shoe  the  hind-legs  of  a  cart-horse 
that  appears  disposed  to  make  a  disagreeable  use  of  his 
heels,  twist  the  long  hair  at  the  end  of  his  tail, — raise 
the  foot  that  is  to  be  shod, — pass  the  twisted  hair  round 
the  leg  immediately  above  the  hock,  and  by  these  means 
press  the  tendon  close  to  the  bone.     The  tail  assists  in 
retaining  the  leg  in  position,  and  thus  for  the  time  the 
limb  is  rendered  powerless.     Acting  much  upon  this 


CH.  in.]  HUNTED  IN  GOKSE.  37 

coercive  principle,  but  discarding  the  aid  of  the  tail, 
some  breakers  slightly  confine  a  hind-leg  of  their  most 
unruly  spaniels  with  a  soft  bandage,  shifting  it  from  one 
leg  to  the  other  about  every  hour.  Possibly  a  loop  of 
vulcanized  india-rubber,  being  elastic,  would  best  answer 
the  purpose.  Restrained  in  this  manner  a  dog  is  less 
likely  to  tumble  about,  and  become  injured,  than  if  one 
of  his  fore-legs  had  been  passed  through  his  collar. 
Other  breakers  when  hunting  many  couples  together, 
fasten  a  belt  with  a  few  pounds  of  shot  round  the  necks 
of  the  wildest.  But  the  sooner  such  adjuncts  to  disci- 
pline can  be  safely  discarded  the  better ;  for  "  brushing  " 
a  close  cover  is  severe  work.  Gorse  is  the  most  trying. 
Its  prickles  are  so  numerous  and  fine,  that  the  ears  and 
eyes  of  every  spaniel  hunted  in  it  ought  to  be  separately 
examined  on  returning  home,  and  well  bathed  in  warm 
water.  Their  eyes  are  peculiarly  liable  to  be  injured,  by 
iust  and  gravel  from  their  hunting  so  close  to  the  ground. 

61.  To  give  young  spaniels  sufficient  courage  to  face 
the  most  entangled  cover,  a  judicious  trainer  will  occa- 
sionally introduce  them  to  thick  brakes,  or  gorse,  early 
in  the  morning,  or  in  the  evening,  when  the  noise  of  his 
approach  will  have  made  the  pheasants  feeding  in  the 
neighbourhood,  run  far  into  it  for  shelter.     The  effluvia 
of  the  birds  will  then  so  excite  the  young  dogs,  especially 
if  cheered  with  good   companionship,   (which  always 
creates  emulation,)  that  they  will  utterly  disregard  the 
pricks  and  scratches  of  the  strongest  furze. 

62.  If  the  time  of  year  will  permit  it,  they  should  be 
shown  game  when  about  nine  or  ten  months  old.     At  a 
more  advanced  age  they  would  be  less  amenable  to  con- 
trol.    Happily  the  example  of  a  riotous  pup  will  not  be 
so  detrimental  to  the  discipline  of  the  rest  of  the  team, 
as  the  example  of  an  ill-conducted  companion  would  be 


38  EXPERIENCED  SPANIELS.  [CH.  in. 

to  a  pointer  (or  setter),  for  the  influence  of  thoroughly 
steady  spaniels  makes  the  pup  curtail  his  range  sooner 
than  might  be  expected.  Finding  that  he  is  not  fol- 
lowed by  his  associates  he  soon  rejoins  them. 

63.  A  judicious  breaker  will  regard  perfection  in  the 
"  drop"  (23  to  26)  as  the  main-spring  of  his  educational 
system.     He  will  teach  his  young  spaniels  to   "  seek 
dead,"  (34,  35,  43)  where  directed  by  signs  of  the  hand. 
He  will  instruct  them  in  "fetching,"  (109,   107,  &c.) 
with  the  view  to  some  of  them  hereafter  retrieving.    He 
will  accustom  them  to  hunt  hedge-rows,  and  light  open 
copses, — because  always  under  his  eye, — before  taking 
them  into  closer  cover.     Nor  until  they  are  under  some 
command,  and  well  weaned  from  noticing  vermin  and 
small  birds,  will  he  allow  them  to  enter  gorse  or  strong 
thickets, — and  then  he  will  never  neglect  (though  pro- 
bably he  will  have  used  them  before)  to  attach  bells  of 
different  sounds  to  the  collars  of  his  several  pupils  (one 
to  each),  so  that  his  ear  may  at  all  times  detect  any 
truant  straying  beyond  bounds,  and  thus  enable  him  to 
rate   the   delinquent    by   name.     In   this   manner,   he 
establishes  the  useful  feeling  elsewhere  spoken  of  (383), 
that  whether  he  be  within  or  out  of  sight,  he  is  equally 
aware  of  every  impropriety  that  is  committed. 

64.  Young  spaniels,  when  they  have  been  steadily 
broken  in  not  to  hunt  too  far  ahead  on  the  instructor's ' 
side  of  the  hedge,  may  be  permitted  to  beat  on  the 
other;— and  this  when  only  one  person  is  shooting,  is 
generally  their  most  useful  position,  for  they  are  thus 
more  likely  to  drive  the  game  towards  the  gun. 

65.  If  a  keeper  is  hunting  the  team,  while  you  and  a 
friend  are  beating  narrow  belts  or  strips  of  wood,*  should 

*  The  printer  finds  tins  note  on       long  that  he  will  place  it  in  an 
covers,  shooting,  and  loading,  so       Appendix. 


CH.  in.]  DIFFICULT  TO  BREAK.  39 

you  and  lie  be  placed,  as  is  usual,  on  the  outside,  a  little 
ahead  of  the  keeper  (one  to  his  right,  the  other  to  his 
left),  you  would  much  aid  him  in  preventing  the  young 
spaniels  from  ranging  wildly,  were  you  to  turn  your 
face  towards  him  whenever  you  saw  any  of  them  getting 
too  far  in  advance,  for  they  will  watch  the  guns  as  much 
as  they  will  him.  They  should  never  range  further  than 
thirty  yards  from  the  gun. 

66.  Among  spaniels  the  great  advantage  of  age  and 
experience  is  more  apparent  than  in  partridge-dogs.     A 
young  spaniel  cannot  keep  to  a  pheasant's  tail  like  an 
old  one.     He  may  push  the  bird  for  forty  or  fifty  yards 
if  judiciously  managed.     After  that  he  is  almost  sure 
from  impatience,  either  to  lose  it,  or  rush  in  and  flush 
out  of  shot,  whereas  an  old  cocker,  who  has  had  much 
game  shot  over  him,  is  frequently  knowing  enough  to 
slacken  his  pace,  instead  of  increasing  it,  when  he  first 
touches  on  birds,  apparently  quite  sensible  that  he  ought 
to  give  the  gun  time  to  approach,  before  he  presses  to  a 
flush. 

67.  Even  good  spaniels,  however  well  bred,  if  they 
have  not  had  great  experience,  generally  road  too  fast. 
Undeniably  they  are  difficult  animals  to  educate,  and  it 
requires  much  watchfulness,  perseverance,  and  attention 
at  an  early  age,  so  to  break  in  a  team  of  young  ones 
that  they  shall  keep  within  gun  range,  without  your 
being  compelled   to  halloo  or  whistle   to   them.     But 
some  few  are  yet  more  highly  trained. 

68.  Mr.  N n,  when  in  France,  had  a  lively,  in- 
telligent, liver  and  white  cocker,  which   would   work 
busily  all  day  long  within  gun-shot ;    and  which  pos- 
sessed the  singular  accomplishment  of  steadily  pointing- 
all  game  that  lay  well,  and  of  not  rushing  in  until  the 
sportsman  had  come  close  to  him.     But  this  is  a  case  of 


40  TRUE  NOSES.— COVEE  SHOOTING.  [CH.  m. 

high  breaking  more  curious  than  useful,  for  spaniels  are 
essentially  springers,  not  pointers,  and  the  little  animal 
must  frequently  have  been  lost  siglrUof  in  cover.  The 

Messrs.  W e,  alluded  to  in  551,  had  also  a  cocker 

that  regularly  pointed.  Our  grandfathers  used  to  apply 
the  term  springers  solely  to  large  spaniels, — never  to  the 
Duke  of  Marlborough's  small  breed,  which  was  greatly 
prized. 

69.  A  dog  is  generally  most  attached  to  that  descrip- 
tion of  sport,  and  soonest  recognises  the  scent  of  that 
game,  to  which  he  has  principally  been  accustomed  in 
youth.    He  will  through  life  hunt  most  diligently  where 
he  first  had  the  delight  of  often  finding.     The  utility 
therefore  is  obvious  of  introducing  spaniels  at  an  early 
age  to  close  covers  and  hedge-rows,  and  setters   and 
pointers  to  heather  and  stubble. 

70.  In  spaniels,  feathered  sterns  and  long  ears  are 
much  admired,  but  obviously  the  latter  must  suffer  in 
thick  underwood.     The  chief  requisite  in  all  kinds  of 
spaniels,  is,  that  they  be  good  finders,  and  have  noses  so 
true  that  they  will  never  overrun  a  scent.     Should  they 
do  so  when  footing  an  old  cock  pheasant,  the  chances 
are,  that  he  will  double  back  on  the  exact  line  by  which 
he  came.     They  should  be  high-mettled, — as  regardless 
of  the  severest  weather  as  of  the  most  punishing  cover, 
and  ever  ready  to  spring  into  the  closest  thicket  the 
moment  a  pointed  finger  gives  the  command. 

71.  A   comprehension   of  the   signal  made   by  the 
finger,  (which  is  far  neater  than  the  raising  of  the  hand 
described  in  34,  but  not  so  quickly  understood)  might 
with  advantage  be  imparted  to  all  dogs  trained  for  the 
gun,  in  order  to  make  them  hunt  close  exactly  where 
directed.  It  is  usually  taught  by  pointing  with  the  fore- 
finger of  the  right  hand  to  pieces  of  biscuit,  previously 


CH.  in.]  COVER  SHOOTING.  41 

concealed,  near  easily  recognised  tufts  of  grass,  weeds, 
&c.  It  is  beautiful  to  see  how  correctly,  promptly,  yet 
quietly,  some  spaniels  will  work  in  every  direction  thus 
indicated. 

72.  Breasting  a  strong  cover  with  cockers,  is  more 
suited  to  young,  than  to  old  men.     The  gun  must  follow 
rapidly,  and  stick  close  when  a  dog  is  on  the  road  of 
feather.     A  shot  will  then  infallibly  be  obtained,  if  a 
good  dog  be  at  work  ;    for  the  more  closely  a  bird  is 
pressed,  the  hotter  gets  the  scent.     If  a  pheasant  found 
in  thick  cover  on  marshy  ground  near  water, — a  locality 
they  much  like  in  hot  weather, — is  not  closely  pushed, 
he  will  so  twist,  and  turn,  and  double  upon  old  tracks, 
that  none  but  the  most  experienced  dogs  will  be  able  to 
stick  to  him. 

73.  The  preceding  observations   respecting   spaniels 
apply   to   all   descriptions   employed    on   land-service, 
whether  of  the  strong  kind,  the  Sussex  breed  and  the 
Clumber,  or  the  smallest  cockers,  Blenheims  and  King 
Charles'.*     But  whether  they  are  to  be  trained  not  to 
hunt  flick,f  (the  most  difficult  part  of  their  tuition,  and 
in  which  there  is  generally  most  failure),  and  whether 
they  shall  be  bred  to  give  tongue,  or  run  mute,  will 
depend  much  upon  the  nature  of  the  country  to  be 
hunted,  and  yet  more  upon  the  taste  of  the  proprietor. 

*  These  fetch   immense  fancy  of  the  scent.     In  strong  high  tur- 

prices  when  well  shaped, — black  nips,  he  is  employed  with  much 

and  tan,  without  a  single  white  advantage  to  spring  the  partridge, 

hair,   and  long  eared.     But  this  He  creeps  under,  where  a  larger 

breed  is  nearly  useless  to  the  dog  would  be  constantly  jumping, 
sportsman,  whereas  the  Blenheim  T  For  the  benefit  of  those 

is  a  lively  diligent  little  fellow  in  who  have   the  good  fortune,   or 

light  cover,  and  from  his  diminu-  the  bad  fortune,  as  the  case  may 

tive  size  threads  his  way  through  be,  of  always  living  within  the 

low  thick  brushwood  more  readily  sound  of  Bow  bells,  "  Flick,"  be 

than  might  at  first  be  imagined,  it  observed,    is    a   synonym  for 

being  incited  to  great  perseverance  "  Fur,"  thereby  meaning  Hare,  or 

by  a  most  enthusiastic  enjoyment  Rabbit. 


42  BELLS  IN  COVER.  [CH.  in. 

Xo  fixed  rules  can  be  given  for  a  sport  that  varies  so 
much  as  cover- shooting. 

74.  Of  the  large  kind,  most  sportsmen  will  think  a 
couple  and  a  half  a  sufficient  number  to  hunt  at  a  time. 
Certainly  one  of  them  should  retrieve  :   and  they  ought 
to  be  well  broken  in  not  to  notice  flick.    These  dogs  are 
most  esteemed  when  they  run  mute.     If  they  do,  they 
must  be  hunted  with  bells  in  very  thick  cover  ;  but  the 
less  bells  are  employed  the  better,  for  the  tinkling  sound, 
in  a  greater  or  smaller  degree,  annoys  all  game.     Such 
dogs,  when  good,  are  very  valuable. 

75.  I  once  shot  over  a  team  of  Clumber  spaniels  belonging  to 

Mr.  D z.     The  breed  (the  Duke  of  Newcastle's,  taking  their 

name  from  one  of  his  seats),  are  mostly  white  with  a  little  lemon 
colour,  have  large  sensible  heads,  thick,  short  legs,  silky  coats,  carry 
their  sterns  low,  and  hunt  perfectly  mute.     The  team  kept  within 
twenty  or  twenty-five  yards  of  the  keeper,  were  trained  to  acknow- 
ledge Eabbits,  as  weli  as  all  kinds  of  game  ;  and  in  the  country 

Mr.  D z  wt  s  then  shooting  over  afforded  capital  sport.     One  of 

the  spaniels  was  taught  to  retrieve.     He  would  follow  to  any  dis- 
tance, and  seldom  failed  to  bring.     A  regular  retriever  was,  however, 

generally  taken  out  with  them.     Mr.  D z  told  me  that  they 

required  very  judicious  management,  and  encouragement   rather 
than  severity,  as  undue  whipping  soon  made  them  timid.     They 
are  of  a  delicate  constitution.     He  rather  surprised  me  by  saying 
that  his  spaniels  from  working  quietly  and  ranging  close,  (therefore, 
alarming  the  birds  less,)  procured  him  far  more  shots  in  turnips 
than  his  pointers  ;  and  he  had  three  that  looked  of  the  right  sort. 
He  explained  matters,  however,  by  telling  me,  that  it  was  his 
practice  to  make  a  circuit  round  the  outskirts  of  a  turnip  or  potato 
field  before  hunting  the  inner  parts.     This  of  course  greatly  tended 
to  prevent  the  birds  breaking  (401).     A  juvenile  sportsman  would 
rejoice  in  the  services  of  the  spaniels,  for  many  a  rabbit  would  they 
procure  for  him  without  the  aid  of  powder  and  shot. 

76.  When  Colonel  M ,  who  died  in  Syria,  was  stationed  with 

his  troop  of  Horse  Artillery  at  Pontefract,  he  was  asked  to  shoot 

partridges  at  Lord  P n's  seat  in  Yorkshire.     On  meeting  the 

gamekeeper,  according  to  appointment,  he  found  him  surrounded 

by  a  team  of  Clumber  spaniels.     Colonel  M ,  in  some  surprise 

at  seeing  no  setters  or  pointers,  remarked  that  he  had  expected 
some  partridge  shooting.     "  I  know  it,"  answered  the  man,  "  and 
I  hope  to  show  you  some  sport."     To  the  inquiry  why  one  of  the 
spaniels  was  muzzled,  the  keeper  said  that  his  master  had  threatened 
to  shoot  it  should  it  again  give  tongue,  and,  as  it  possessed  a  par- 


CLUMBERS. 

All  the  Clumbers  dropped  instantly."— Par.  76. 


CH.  in.]  TEAM  OF  COCKER?.  45 

ticularly  fine  nose,  he  (the  keeper)   was  anxious  not  to  lose  it. 

They  walked  on,  and  soon  the  man  told  M to  be  prepared,  as 

the  spaniels  were  feathering.  A  covey  rose.  The  Colonel,  who  was 
a  good  shot,  killed  right  and  left.  All  the  Clumbers  dropped 
instantly.  When  he  was  reloading,  the  keeper  begged  him  to  say 

which  of  the  dogs  should  retrieve  the  game.     M pointed  to 

a  broad-headed  dog  lying  in  the  middle,  when  the  keeper  directed 
by  name  the  spaniel  so  favoured  to  be  off.  It  quickly  fetched  one 

of  the  birds.     The  keeper  then  asked  M to  choose  some  other 

dog  to  bring  the  remaining  bird — a  runner.  He  did  so,  and  the 
animal  he  selected  to  act  as  retriever,  performed  the  duty  very 
cleverly  ;  the  rest  of  the  team  remaining  quite  still,  until  its 
return. 

The  Colonel  had  capital  sport,  killing  nearly  twenty  brace,  and 
the  dogs  behaved  beautifully  throughout  the  day.  When  afterwards 
relating  the  circumstances,  he  observed  that,  although  an  old  sports- 
man, he  had  seldom  been  so  gratified,  as  it  was  a  novel  scene  to 
him,  who  had  not  been  accustomed  to  shoot  over  spaniels. 

77.  Of  small  cockers,  three  couples  appear  ample  to 
form  a  team.  Some  teams  of  small  springers  greatly 
exceed  this  number,  and  many  sportsmen  shoot  over 
more  than  a  couple  and  a  half  of  the  larger  spaniels ; 
but  it  is  a  question  whether,  in  the  generality  of  cases, 
the  gun  would  not  benefit  by  the  number  being  dimi- 
nished rather  than  increased.  The  smaller  in  number 
the  team,  the  greater  is  the  necessity  that  none  of  them 
should  stick  too  close  to  "heel."  The  difficulty  is  to 
make  them  hunt  far  enough,  and  yet  not  too  far.  At 
least  one  of  the  number  should  retrieve  well.  If  they 
give  tongue,  it  ought  to  be  in  an  intelligible  mariner ; 
softly,  when  they  first  come  on  the  haunt  of  a  cock,  but 
making  the  cover  ring  again  with  their  joyous  melody, 
when  once  the  bird  is  flushed.  A  first-rate  cocker  will 
never  deceive  by  opening  upon  an  old  haunt,  nor  yet 
find  the  gun  unprepared  by  delaying  to  give  due  warning 
before  he  flushes  the  bird.  When  cocks  are  abundant, 
some  teams  are  broken,  not  only  to  avoid  flick,  but 
actually  not  to  notice  a  pheasant,  or  anything  beside 
woodcock.  Hardly  any  price  would  tempt  a  real  lover 


46  STRENGTH  OF  TEAM.  [OH.  in. 

of  cock-shooting,  in  a  cocking  country,  to  part  with  such 
a  team.  Hawker  terms  the  sport,  "  the  fox-hunting  of 
shooting."  Some  sportsmen  kill  water-hens  to  young 
spaniels  to  practise  them  in  forcing  their  way  through 
entangled  covers,  and  get  them  well  in  hand  and  steady 
against  the  all-important  cocking  season. 

78.  When  a  regular  retriever  can  be  constantly  em- 
ployed with  spaniels,  of  course  it  will  be  unnecessary  to 
make  any  of  them  fetch  game,  (certainly  never  to  lift 
any  thing  which  falls  out  of   bounds),  though  all  the 
team  should  be  taught  to  "  seek  dead."    This  is  the  plan 
pursued  by  the  Duke  of  Newcastle's  keepers,  and  ob- 
viously it  is  the  soundest  and  easiest  practice,  for  it 
must  always  be  more  or  less  difficult  to  make  a  spaniel 
keep  within  his  usual  hunting  limits,  who  is  occasionally 
encouraged  to  pursue  wounded  game,  at  his  best  pace,  to 
a  considerable  distance. 

79.  Other  teams  are  broken  no  more  than  to  keep 
within  range,  being  allowed  to  hunt  all  kinds  of  game, 
and  also  rabbits  ;    they,  however,  are  restricted  from 
pursuing  wounded  flick  further  than  fifty  or  sixty  yards. 
Where  rabbits  are  abundant,  and  outlying,  a  team  thus 
broken  affords  lively  sport, — nothing  escapes  them. 

80.  In  the  large  woods  that  traverse  parts  of  Kent  and  Sussex, 
a  kind  of  hunting-shooting  is  followed,  that  affords  more  fun,  where 
there  are  plenty  of  rabbits  and  but  few  burrows,  than  might  at  first 
be  imagined.  The  dogs  employed  are  the  smallest  beagles  that  can 
be  obtained.  The  little  creatures  stick  to  a  hare,  rabbit,  or  wounded 
pheasant  with  greater  pertinacity  than  most  spaniels,  probably 
because  they  (the  beagles)  are  slower,  and  hunt  so  low.  Three  or 
four  couples  make  most  animating  music  in  the  woodlands,  and 

procure  many  shots,  but  they  awfully  disturb  game.     Mr.  D z 

has  gorse  covers  through  which  openings  or  rides  are  cut.  He  shoots 
rabbits  in  them  to  a  team  of  beagles  trained  not  to  notice  hare. 
The  burrows  are  ferreted  the  preceding  day,  and  regularly  stopped. 
The  sport  is  excellent  and  most  animating.  Plenty  of  snap  shots. 
An  old  buck  rabbit  once  or  twice  hunted  becomes  extremely  cun- 
ning. He  is  soon  on  the  move,  and  will  work  round  beyond  the 
dogs,  so  as  to  double  back  upon  the  ground  already  hunted. 


WILD   SPANIELS.— Par.  81 


OH.  in.]  HUNTING-SHOOTING.  49 

81.  Wild  spaniels,  though  they  may  show  you  most 
cock,  will  get  you  fewest  shots,  unless  you  have  well- 
placed  markers.     There  are  sportsmen  who  like  to  take 
out  one  steady  dog  to  range  close  to  them,  and  a  couple 
of  wild  ones  to  hunt  on  the  flanks,  one  on  each  side, 
expressly  that   the   latter   may  put   up  birds  for  the 
markers  to  take  note  of. 

82.  Mr.  0 n,  who  is  devoted  to  shooting,  acts  upon  this  system, 

but  upon  a  more  enlarged  scale.     Having  previously  posted  his 
markers,  he  has  each  cover,  immediately  before  he  shoots  it,  well 
hunted  by  the  wildest  of  the  dogs  :  he  then  takes  a  steady  animal 
to  the  several  spots  pointed  out,  and  is  thus  enabled  to  kill  annually 
thrice  as  many  cock  as  any  other  man  in  the  country.     The  aptness 
of  this  bird,  when  a  second  time  flushed,  to  return  (397)  to  its  old 
haunt,  and  when  again  put  up  to  take  wing  in  the  direction  of  its 
first  flight,  much  tends  to  its  destruction. 

83.  An   old   sportsman   knows  mute  spaniels  to  be 
most  killing  ;    a  young  one   may  prefer  those  which 
give  tongue,  (if  true  from  the  beginning  owning  nothing 
but  game,)  because,  though  undeniably  greater  disturbers 
of  a  cover,  they  are  more  cheerful  and  animating.     The 
superiority  of  the  former  is,  however,  apparent  on  a 
still  calm  day,  when  the  least  noise  will  make  the  game 
steal  away  long  before  the  gun  gets  within  shot.    But  it 
is  not  so  in  all  countries. 

84.  Wild  as  is  the  woodcock  with  us  after  it  has  recovered  from 
its  fatiguing  migratory  flight,  and  been  a  few  times  disturbed,  there 
is  not,  perhaps,  naturally,  so   tame  a  game-bird,  and  one  more 
difficult  to   flush   in  close  cover  where  rarely  alarmed.      Officers 
quartered  at  Corfu  frequently  cross  in  the  morning  to  the  Albanian 
coast, — a  two  hours'  sail  or  pull, — and  return  the  same  evening, 
having  bagged  from  fifty  to  sixty  couples  to  half-a-dozen  good  guns. 
Their  boat  is  directed  to  meet  them  at  some  head-land,  towards 
which  they  shoot.     An  attendant  to  carry  the  game,  and  a  relay  of 
ammunition,  &c.,  is  told  off  to  each  sportsman,  and  he  of  the  party 

'  who  best  knows  the  country,  is  chosen  captain  for  the  day,  and 
walks  in  the  centre  of  the  line,  the  rest  conforming  to  his  move- 
ments. There  is  generally  an  agreement  to  halt  for  a  minute,  but 
not  a  second  more,  to  allow  a  man  to  look  for  any  cock  he  may  have 
knocked  over  ;  therefore  the  possessor  of  a  first-rate  retriever  is  an 

E 


50  COVERS.  [CH,  in. 

envied  character.  The  strength  and  density  of  the  bush  occa- 
sionally there  encountered,  is  more  than  we  in  England  can  imagine  : 
and  in  such  situations,  experience  has  shown  the  sportsmen  the 
superiority  of  spaniels  which  give  tongue.  On  hearing  the  warning 
cheerful  music,  the  line  halts  for  a  few  seconds,  as,  notwithstanding 
all  the  noise,  some  little  time  may  pass  before  the  cock  is  sprung, 
for  he  is  frequently  so  protected  by  a  wall  of  impervious  thicket, 
(though  sure  to  have  a  clear  opening  overhead  for  unimpeded  flight) 
that  the  keenest  dogs  cannot  immediately  get  at  him. 

85.  Although  the  country  abounds  with  deer  and  boar,  it  is  almost 
needless  to  observe,  that  the  cock-shooters  are  too  noisy  a  party  often 
to  bag  such  noble  game,  unless  some  ambitious  and  bold  man  (for 
being  alone  he  risks  having  a  long  barrel  covertly  pointed  at  him^ 
take  up  a  favourable  position  far  in   advance.     Captain  Best,  a 
fellow-student  of  mine,  about  a  dozen  years  ago,  gives  a  spirited 
account  of  this  shooting,  in  his  entertaining  book,  entitled  "  Ex- 
cursions in  Albania." 

86.  In  the  northern  part  of  the  Morea,  about  twenty-five  miles* 
from  Patras  (near  Ali  Tchelepi,  a  dilapidated  monastery  inhabited 
by  only  three  monks — n^ar  Monolada,  and  Pera   Metochi),   Mr. 

0 n  and  Captaim  B y,  between  the  14th  of  January,  1843, 

and  the  llth  oi'  the  following  month  (both  days  inclusive),  killed 
862  woodcocks,  11  hares,  11  duck,  and  11  snipe.     Not  bad  sport ! 

87.  In  very  thick  covers  it  is  obvious,  the  height  of 
setters  being  greatly  against  them,  that  spaniels  are  far 
preferable  :  but  in  light  covers,  and  when  the  leaves  are 
off  the  trees,  handy  old  setters  (if  white,  all  the  better) 
that  will  readily  confine  themselves  to  a  restricted  range, 
and  will  flush  their  game  when  ordered  fiv.  and  vn.  of 
141  and  284)  afford  quite  as  much  sport,  if  not  more. 
Setters  do  not,  to  the  same  degree,  alarm  birds ;  and 
there  is,  also,  this  advantage,  that  they  can  be  employed 
on  all  occasions,  excepting  in  low  gorse  or  the  closest 
thickets,  whereas  spaniels,  from  their  contracted  "  beat," 
are  nearly  useless  in  the  open  when  game  is  scarce. 
You  will  be  prepared,  when  first  you  hunt  a  setter  in 
cover,  to  sacrifice  much  of  your  sport.     There  must  be 
noise  ;  for  it  is  essential  to  make  him  at  once  thoroughly 
understand  the  very  different  "  beat "  required  of  him, 
and  this  can  only  be  effected  by  constantly  checking 
and  rating  him,  whenever  he  rages  beyond  the  prescribed 


OH.  in.]  WATER  SPANIELS.  51 

limits.  He  should  hunt  slowly  and  carefully  to  the 
right  and  left,  and  never  be  much  in  advance  of  the 
guns.  In  a  short  time  he  will  comprehend  matters,  if 
you  are  so  forbearing  and  judicious  as  invariably  to  call 
him  away  from  every  point  made  the  least  out  of  bounds. 
A  less  severe  test  of  your  consistency  will  not  suffice. 
The  few  first  days  will  either  make  or  mar  him  as  a 
cover-dog.  You  must  naturally  expect  that  hunting 
him  much  in  cover,  will  injure  his  range  in  the  open, 
and  make  him  too  fond  of  hedge-rows. 

88.  But  there  is  a  man  in  Yorkshire,  who  will  not  willingly  admit 

this.     C e,  Sir  George  A e's  gamekeeper, — and  a  good  one 

he  is, — for  he  has  a  particularly  difficult  country  to  protect,  one 
intersected  with  "rights  of  way"  in  every  direction, — makes  his 
pointers  as  freely  hunt  the  cover  as  the  open.     You  never  lose  them, 
for  they  are  sure  to  make  their  appearance  when  they  think  they 
have  given  you  ample  time  to  go  to  them  if  you  choose.     This  cover 
work  does  not  the  least  unsteady  them,  but  it  is  right  to  state,  that 

C is  an  unusually  good   breaker,  and  works   his  dogs  with 

singular  temper  and  patience.     They  are  very  attached  to  him,  and 
appear  to  listen  anxiously  to  what  he  says  when  he  talks  to  them, — 
which,  I  own,  he  does  more  than  I  recommend. 

89.  Pointers,  however,  are  manifestly  out  of  place  in  strong  cover, 
though  an  unusually  high-couraged  one  may  occasionally  be  found, 
who  will  dash  forward  in  defiance  of  pricks  and  scratches  ;  but  it  is 
not  fair  to  expect  it.     Jn  a  very  light  cover  I  have  often  shot  over 
one  belonging  to  a  relation  of  mine,  which  was  so  clever,  that  when 
I  came  close  to  her  as  she  was  pointing,  she  would  frequently  run 
round  to  the  other  side  of  the  thicket,  and  then  rush  in  to  drive  the 
game  towards  me.     This  killing  plan  had  in  no  way  been  taught 
her  ;  she  adopted  it  solely  of  her  own  sagacity.     Having  been  much 
hunted  in  cover  when  young,  she  was  so  fond  of  it  (69)  as  to  be, 
comparatively  speaking,  quite  unserviceable  on  the  stubbles. 

WATER  SPANIELS,  (on  WATER  RETRIEVERS.) 

90.  A  young  water  spaniel  might,  with  advantage, 
occasionally  be  indulged  with  a  duck-hunt  in  warm 
weather.  It  would  tend  to  make  him  quick  in  the 
water,  and  observant.  The  finishing  lessons  might 

E2 


52  WATER  SPANIELS.  [CH.  in. 

conclude  with  your  shooting  the  bird  and  obliging  him 
to  retrieve  it.  He  should  be  made  handy  to  your  sig- 
nals (iv.  to  vn.  and  x.  of  141),  so  as  to  hunt  the  fens 
and  marshes,  and  "  seek  dead  "  exactly  where  you  may 
wish. 

91.  This  obedience  to  the  hand  is  particularly  re- 
quired ;  for  when  the  spaniel  is  swimming  he  is  on  a 
level  with  the  bird,  and  therefore  is  not  so  likely  to  see 
it, — especially  if  there  is  a  ripple   on   the  water, — as 
you  are,  who  probably  may  be  standing  many  feet  above 
him  on  the  shore.     As  you  may  frequently,  while  he  is 
retrieving,  have  occasion  to  direct  his  movements  when 
at   a   considerable    distance   from   him,    you   probably 
would  find  it  more  advantageous  to  teach  him  the  for- 
ward signal  used   by  shepherds    (143),  than  the  one 
described  in  iv.  of  141. 

92.  A  water  spaniel  should  also  be  taught  to  fetch 
(96,  98,  106  to  109),— be  accustomed  to  follow  quietly 
close  to  your  heels, — be  broken  in,  not  to  the  "down 
charge"  (27),  but  to  the  "drop"  (23  to  26),  the  instant 
you  signal  to  him,  while  you  are  noiselessly  stalking 
the  wild-fowl  previously  reconnoitered,  with  the  aid  of 
your   Dollond,    from   some   neighbouring   height;    nor 
should  he  stir  a  limb,  however  long  he  and  you  may 
have  to  await,  ensconced  behind  a  favouring  bush,  the 
right  moment  for  the  destructive   raking  discharge  of 
your  first  barrel,  to  be  followed  by  the  less  murderous, 
but  still  effective  flying  shot.     On  hearing  the  report, 
it  is  his  duty  to  dash  instantly  into   the  water,  and 
secure  the  slain  as  rapidly  as  possible. 

93.  A  really  good  water  retriever  is   a   scarce   and 
valuable  animal.     He  should  be  neither  white  nor  black, 
because  the  colours  are  too  conspicuous,  especially  the 


IRISH  WATER  SPANIEL. 

Our  good  Irish  friend." — Par.  9f». 


CH.  in.]  WILD-RICE  LAKES.  55 

former,  (a  hint  by-the-bye  for  your  own  costume)  ;*  he 
should  be  perfectly  mute ;  of  a  patient  disposition, 
though  active  in  the  pursuit  of  birds  ;  of  so  hardy  a 
constitution  as  not  to  mind  the  severest  cold, — therefore 
no  coddling  while  he  is  young  near  a  fire, — and  possess 
what  many  are  deficient  in,  viz.,  a  good  nose :  conse- 
quently, a  cross  that  will  improve  his  nose,  yet  not 
decrease  his  steadiness,  is  the  great  desideratum  in 
breeding.  He  should  swim  rapidly,  for  wild-fowl  that 
are  only  winged,  will  frequently  escape  from  the  quick- 
est dog,  if  they  have  plenty  of  sea-room  and  deep 
water.  (See  also  113,  553,  567.) 

94.  Wild-fowl  emit  a  stronger  scent  than  is,  I  believe,  generally 

supposed.     At  Mr.  G r's,  in  Surrey,  Mr.  L g  was  shooting 

one  day  last  season,  when  his  pointer  "  Flint "  drew  for  some  time 
towards  the  river,  and  brought  the  sportsmen  to  the  stump  of  an 
old  tree.     They  could  see  nothing,  and  thought  the  dog  must  be 
standing  at  a  moorhen  ;  but  on  one  of  the  beaters  trying  with  a 

stick,  out  flew  a  mallard  like  a  shot  from  a  gun.     As  Mr.  L g 

levelled  his  tubes,  it  is  unnecessary  to  observe  that  it  fell ;  but 
probably  it  would  have  been  lost  had  not  "  Flint,"  when  encouraged, 

jumped  into  the  water  and  brought  the  bird  to  land.    A  Mr.  C e, 

living  near  Edinburgh,  whom  I  have  the  pleasure  of  knowing,  has 
a  white  setter  that  is  a  capital  hand  at  finding  ducks,  and  sets  them 
steadily. 

95.  In  the  wild-rice  lakes,  as   they  are   commonly 
called,  of  America,  a  brace  of  highly-trained  spaniels 
will  sometimes,  on  a  windy  day,  afford  you  magnificent 

*  But  when  the  moors  are  can  escape  from  their  enemies  by 
covered  with  snow,  poachers,  who  speed,  are  mostly  of  one  colour, 
emerge  in  bands  from  the  mines,  On  the  .contrary,  the  tiger  kind, 
often  put  a  shirt  over  their  clothes,  snakes,  and  all  that  lie  in  wait 
and  manage  to  approach  grouse  at  for,  and  seize  their  prey  by  stealth, 
a  time  when  a  fair  sportsman  can-  wear  a  garment  of  many  colours, 
not  get  a  shot ;  but  this  is  the  so  do  the  smaller  animals  and  most 
only  occasion  on  which  one  uni-  birds,  which  are  saved  from  cap- 
form  colour  could  be  advantageous,  ture  by  the  inability  of  their  foes 
A  mass  of  any  single  colour  always  to  distinguish  them  from  the  sur- 
catches,  and  arrests  the  eye.  Na-  rounding  foliage  or  herbage.  The 
ture  tells  us  this  ;  animals  that  uniform  of  our  rifle  corps  is  too 
browse,  elephants,  buffaloes,  and  much  of  one  hue.] 
large  deer,  as  well  as  those  which 


56  DUCK  SHOOTING.  [CH.  in. 

sport.  The  cover  is  so  good  that,  if  it  is  not  often 
beaten,  the  birds  will  frequently  get  up  singly,  or  only 
a  couple  at  a  time.  The  dogs  should  keep  swimming 
about  within  gun-shot,  while  you  are  slowly  and  silently 
paddling,  or  probably  poling  your  canoe  through  the 
most  likely  spots.  Eelays  of  spaniels  are  requisite,  for 
it  is  fatiguing  work.  If,  by  any  rare  chance,  you  are- 
situated  where  you  can  get  much  of  this  delightful 
shooting,  and  you  are  an  enthusiast  in  training,  it  may 
be  worth  your  while  to  consider  whether  there  would 
not  be  an  advantage  in  making  the  dogs  perfect  in  the 
"  down  charge,"  as  they  would  then  cease  swimming  the 
instant  you  fired.  But  this  long  digression  about 
spaniels  has  led  us  away  from  your  pup,  which  we 
assumed  (3)  to  be  a  pointer  or  setter,  very  unlike  our 
good  Irish  friend,  well  represented  in  the  last  en- 
graving. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

LESSONS  IX  "FETCHING.'-RETRIEVERS. 

96.  Lessons  in  "fetching"  recommended.— 97.  Dog  not  taught  to  retrieve  bringing 
dead  Bird  he  had  found.— 98.  Taught  to  deliver  into  your  hand  ;  never  pick  up 
a  Bird  yourself;  Dog  which  often  lost  winged  Birds  she  had  lifted.  -99.  Colonel 

T y. — 100.  Retriever  killing  one  Bird  in  order  to  carry  two. — 101.   "  Fan's" 

sagaciously  bringing  to  firm  ground  Bird  that  had  fallen  in  a  swamp.— 
102.  "Dove's"  spontaneously  fetching  one  from  RiTer,  though  not  accustomed 
to  retrieve. — 103.  Retrievers  taught  to  carry  something  soft ;  injudiciousness 
of  employing  a  stone.— 104.  How  encouraged  to  plunge  into  Water;  evil  of 
deceiving  a  Dog  instanced. —105.  Diving,  how  taught.— 106.  "Fetching"  taught 
with  a  Pincushion:  with  a  Bunch  of  Keys.— 107.  Made  to  deliver  instantly.— 
108.  Practised  to  carry  things  of  the  size  and  weight  of  a  Hare. — 109.  "  Fetching," 
how  taught  at  commencement.  -  110.  Brace  of  Setters  taught  with  an  old  bone. 
—111.  "Fetching"  often  taught  unskilfully.— 112.  Regular  Retrievers  taught  to 
fetch  Birds:  to  "foot"  Rabbits  and  Winged  Game. — 113.  Retriever  observes 
when  a  Bird  is  struck:  a  quality  particularly  useful  in  a  Water  Retriever. 
1 14.  Pigeons  and  small  Birds  shot  to  Retrievers.— 115.  Injudiciousness  of  aiding 
a  young  Dog  when  Retrieving ;  makes  him  rely  on  Gun  rather  than  his  own 
Nose. — 11(5.  Fatigue  of  carrying  Hare  tempts  young  Retriever  to  drop  it ; 
taught  to  deliver  quickly  by  rewards  of  hard  boiled  liver. -117.  If  he  taste 
blood,  put  on  Wire  Snaffle;  how  made.— US.  Retriever  how  taught  to  pursue 
faster:  should  commence  to  "road"  slowly,  but  '-follow  up"  rapidly.— 119.  Why 
Land  Retrievers  should  "down  charge." — 120.  Some  Retrievers  may  "run  on 
shot,"  but  those  for  sale  should  "  down  charge."— 121.  Fine  retrieving  instanced 
in  "Ben." — 122.  Anecdote  showing  his  great  sagacity.— 123.  Benefit  derived 
from  a  Seton;  another  instance  of  "Ben's"  superior  retrieving  qualities. — 
124.  With  "Ben's"  good  nose,  certain  advantage  of  "down  charge." — 125.  Re- 
trievers not  to  be  of  a  heavy  build,  yet  strong  and  thick-coated.— 126.  Cross 
between  a  Newfoundland  and  Setter  makes  best  Retriever ;  the  real  Newfound- 
land described.— 127.  Cross  from  heavy  Setter  best  Retriever.— 128.  Most  Dogs 
can  be  taught  more  or  less  to  Retrieve.— 129.  Young  Retriever  to  lift  Woodcock 
and  Landrail.— 130.  Retrievers  never  to  kill  Rats;  lift  vermin,  or  wounded 
Herons,  &<:. 

96.  THOUGH  you  may  not  wish  your  young  pointer 
(or  setter)  to  perform  the  duties  of  a  regular  retriever, 
(536)  still  you  would  do  well  to  teach  him,  whilst  he  is 
a  puppy,  to  fetch  and  deliver  into  your  hand  anything 
soft  you  may  occasionally  throw  for  him,  or  leave  be- 
hind you  in  some  place  where  he  will  have  observed 
you  deposit  it,  while  he  is  following  at  your  heels.  In 


58  DOG  FETCHING  BIRD.  [CH.  iv. 

a  little  time  you  can  drop  something  without  letting  him 
see  you,  and  afterwards  send  him  back  for  it.  A 
dog  thus  made,  who  is  your  intimate  companion,  be- 
comes so  conversant  with  every  article  of  your  apparel, 
and  with  whatever  you  usually  carry  about  you,  that, 
should  you  accidentally  drop  anything,  the  observant 
animal  will  be  almost  certain  to  recover  it.  On  re- 
ceiving your  order  to  be  "  off  and  find "  he  will  accu- 
rately retrace  your  footsteps  for  miles  and  miles,  dili- 
gently hunting  every  yard  of  the  ground.  Of  course, 
the  distances  to  which  you  at  first  send  your  dog  will 
be  inconsiderable,  and  you  should  carefully  avoid  perse- 
vering too  long  at  a  time,  lest  he  get  sick  of  the  lesson. 
Indeed,  in  all  his  lessons, — as  well  in-doors  as  out, — 
but  particularly  in  this,  let  it  be  your  aim  to  leave  off 
at  a  moment  when  he  has  performed  entirely  to  your 
satisfaction ;  that  you  may  part  the  best  of  friends,  and 
that  the  last  impression  made  by  the  lesson  may  be 
pleasing  as  well  as  correct,  from  a  grateful  recollection 
of  the  caresses  which  he  has  received.  In  wild-duck 
shooting  you  may  be  in  situations  where  you  would  be 
very  glad  if  the  dog  would  bring  your  bird ;  and  when 
it  is  an  active  runner  in  cover,  I  fear  you  will  be  more 
anxious  than  I  could  wish  (322)  that  the  dog  should 
"  fetch."  It  is  probable  that  he  will  thus  assist  you  if 
he  be  practised  as  I  have  just  advised ;  and  such  in- 
struction may  lead,  years  hence,  to  his  occasionally 
bringing  you  some  dead  bird  which  he  may  come  across, 
and  which  you  otherwise  might  have  imagined  you  had 
missed,  for  its  scent  might  be  too  cold,  and  consequently 
too  changed,  for  the  dog  to  have  thought  of  regularly 
pointing  it. 

97.  When  I  was  a  boy,  I  recollect  seeing  such  an  instance  in 
Kent.     As  a  great  treat,  I  was  permitted  (but  merely  as  a  spectator) 


CH.  iv.]  DELIVER  INTO  HAND.  59 

to  accompany  a  first-rate  shot,  Mr.  C h,  who  was  trying  a  gun 

he  thought  of  purchasing  for  his  keeper.  The  dogs  soon  came  upon 
a  covey.  He  killed  with  his  first  barrel,  but  apparently  missed  with 
his  second.  He  found  fault  with  the  gun  for  not  shooting  strongly  ; 
and  I  well  remember  impertinently  fancying, — but  I  dared  not  say 
so, — that  perhaps  he  was  as  much  to  blame  as  the  gun.  Soon  after- 
wards, to  our  mutual  surprise,  we  saw  one  of  the  dogs  trotting  up 
with  a  bird,  still  warm,  in  its  mouth  ;  thus  tacitly  reproving  me  for 

not  having  done  justice  to  Mr.  C h's  unerring  eye  and  steady 

hand. 

98.  Mark  my  having  said,  "  deliver  into  your  hand," 
that  your  young  dog  may  not  be  satisfied  with  only 
dropping,  within  your  sight,  any  bird  he  may  lift,  and 
so,  perhaps,  leave  it  on  the  other  side  of  a  trout  stream, 
as  I  have  seen  dogs  do  more  than  once,  in  spite  of  every 
persuasion  and  entreaty.  "With  a  young  dog,  who 
retrieves,  never  pick  up  a  bird  yourself,  however  close 
it  may  fall  to  you.  Invariably,  make  him  either  deliver 
it  into  your  hand  or  lay  it  at  your  feet.  The  former  is 
by  far  the  better  plan.  If  the  dog  has  at  one  moment 
to  drop  the  bird  at  ymir  will,  he  is  likely  to  fancy  him- 
self privileged  to  drop  it  at  another  time  for  his  own 
convenience.  In  other  respects,  too,  the  former  is  the 
safest  method.  I  have  a  bitch  now  in  my  recollection, 
who  frequently  lost  her  master  slightly  winged  birds, 
(which  she  had  admirably  recovered}  by  dropping  them 
too  soon  on  hearing  the  report  of  a  gun,  or  coming  on 
other  game, — for  off  they  ran,  and  fairly  escaped,  it 
being  impracticable,  by  any  encouragement,  to  induce 
her  to  seek  for  a  bird  she  had  once  lifted. 

99.  This  error,  I  mean  that  of  allowing  a  wounded  bird  to  regain 
its  liberty,  was  once  beautifully  avoided  by  a  pretty  black  retriever, 
belonging  to  Colonel  T y,  a  good  sportsman  and  pleasant  com- 
panion, who,  not  long  since,  told  me  the  circumstance ;  and  I  am 
glad  to  be  able,  on  such  authority,  to  relate  an  anecdote  evincing  so 
much  reflection  and  judgment,  for  I  know  not  by  what  other  terms 
to  characterise  the  dog's  sagacity. 

100.  Colonel  T y's  avocations  constantly  take  him  from  his 

neat  bachelor's  cottage  in  Kent,  to  travel  abroad.     Shooting  in 


60  COLONEL  T Y'S  VENUS.- FAN.  [CH.  iv. 

Hungary  he  once  knocked  down  two  partridges  at  a  shot, —  one  was 
killed  outright,  the  other  only  slightly  wounded.  "  Venus  "  soon 
hit  off  the  trail  of  the  latter, — quickly  overtook,  it,  and,  while 
carrying  it  to  her  master,  came  upon  the  dead  bird.  She  stopped, 
evidently  greatly  puzzled  ;  and,  after  one  or  two  trials,  finding  she 
could  not  take  it  up  without  permitting  the  escape  of  the  winged 
bird,  she  considered  a  moment, — then,  deliberately  murdered  it,  by 
giving  it  a  severe  crunch,  and  afterwards  brought  away  both  together. 
It  is  due  to  the  lady  to  observe  that  she  is  naturally  as  tender- 
mouthed  as  her  name  would  imply  her  to  be  tender-hearted,  and 
that  this  is  the  only  known  instance  of  her  ever  having  wilfully 
injured  any  game. 

101.  Sometimes  a  dog's  sagacity  will  induce  him,  however  little 
taught,  to  assist  you  in  your  hour  of  need  ;  but  you  must  not  trust 
to  this.     An  intimate  friend  of   mine,  shooting  in   Ireland  to  a 
pointer-bitch  that  was  totally  unaccustomed  to  fetch  and  carry,  but 
well  instructed  to  seek  for  a  dead  bird,  killed  a  snipe.     It  fell  in 
soft,  boggy  ground,  where  he  could  not  get  at  it  to  pick  it  up.     After 
some  vain  efforts  to  approach  it,  he  hied  on  the  bitch,  who  was  still 
steadily  "  pointing  dead,"  with  "  Fetch  it,  Fan  ;  fetch  it."   The  bitch 
seemed  for  a  moment  puzzled  at  such  an  unusual  proceeding,  and 
looked  round,  inquisitively,  once  or  twice,  as  if  to  say,  "  What  can 
you  mean  ? "     Suddenly,  my  friend's  dilemma  seemed  to  flash  upon 
her.     She  walked  on,  took  the  bird,  quite  gently,  in  her  mouth,  and 
carried  it  to  where  the  ground  was  firm  ;  but  not  one  inch  further 
would  she  bring  it,  despite  all  the  encouragement  of  her  master, 
who  now  wished  to  make  her  constantly  retrieve.     This  was  the 
first  and  last  bird  she  ever  lifted. 

102.  "  Dove,"  a  white  setter,  belonging  to  a  near  relation  of  mine, 
(the  left-hand  dog  in  the  engraving  illustrating  540,  is  considered 
extremely  like  her,)  did,  spontaneously,  that  which  "  Fan "  only 
consented  to  do  after  much  entreaty.     My  relation,  shooting  on  the 
banks  of  the  Forth,  killed  a  partridge  that  was  flying  across  the 
river.     As  he  had  no  retriever  with  him  he  almost  regretted  having 
fired  ;  but,  to  his  surprise,  "  Dove  "  volunteered  jumping  into  the 
water  ;  made  her  way  to  the  bird  with  a  sort  of  steamboat  paddle 
action, — for  I  verily  believe  it  was  the  first  time  she  had  attempted 
to  swim,  — seized  it,  and,  returning  with  it  to  the  shore,  deposited  it 
safely  on  the  bank.     She  never  had  retrieved  before,  and  is  not  par- 
ticularly good  at  "seeking  dead." 

102.  I  observed  it  was  something  soft  which  you 
should  teach  your  dog  to  fetch.  Probably  you  have 
seen  a  retriever  taught  to  seek  and  bring  a  stone,  upon 
which,  in  a  delicate  manner,  the  tutor  has  spit.  Does 
it  not  stand  to  reason  that  the  stone  must  have  tended 
to  give  his  pupil  a  hard  mouth  ?  And  what  may,  later 


CH.  iv.]  TAUGHT  TO  "FETCH."  61 

in  life,  cause  him  much  misery  in  dashing  at  a  bound- 
ing stone,  he  may  split  a  tooth.  Dogs  of  an  advanced  age 
suffer  more  in  their  mouths  than  most  of  us  suspect. 

104.  Should  your  pup  be  unwilling  to  enter  water, 
011  no  account  push  him  in,  under  the  mistaken  idea 
that  it  will  reconcile  him  to  the  element, — it  will  but 
augment  his  fears  (320).  Eather,  on  a  warm  day,  throw 
some  biscuit  for  him,  when  he  is  hungry,  close  to  the 
edge  of  the  bank,  where  it  is  so  shallow  as  merely  to 
require  his  wading.  Chuck  the  next  piece  a  little 
further  off,  and,  by  degrees,  increase  the  distance  until 
he  gets  beyond  his  depth,  and  finds  that  nature  has 
given  him  useful  swimming  powrers.  On  no  occasion 
will  the  example  of  another  dog  more  assist  you.  Your 
youngster's  diving  can  never  be  of  service ;  therefore 
throw  in  only  what  will  float.  Otherwise  he  might 
have  a  plunge  for  nothing,  and  so  be  discouraged  ;  and 
evidently  it  should  be  your  constant  aim  to  avoid  doing 
anything  likely  to  shake  his  confidence  in  the  judi- 
ciousness of  your  orders. 

A  person  I  know,  taught  a  dog  many  good  tricks, — among  others, 
to  extinguish  the  papers  thrown  upon  the  ground  that  had  served 
to  light  cigars.  A  booby  of  a  fellow,  very  wittily,  took  in  the  dog, 
once,  by  chucking  a  red-hot  coal  to  him.  "  A  burnt  child,"  says  the 
old  adage,  "  dreads  the  fire  :"  so  does  a  burnt  dog :  and,  of  course, 
no  subsequent  encouragement  would  induce  him,  ever  again,  to 
approach  a  lighted  paper. 

105.  If  you  ever  have  occasion  to  teach  a  dog  to  dive 
and  retrieve,  first  accustom  him,  on  land,  to  fetch  some- 
thing heavy,  of  a  conspicuous  colour.  When  he  brings 
it  eagerly,  commence  your  diving  lesson  by  throwing 
it  into  the  shallowest  parts  of  the  stream.  Only  by  slow 
degrees  get  to  deep  water,  and  let  your  lessons  be  very 
short.  Never  chuck  in  a  stone.  The  chances  are  twenty 
to  one  that  there  are  several  at  the  bottom  not  very 
dissimilar,  and  the  young  dog  ought  not  to  be  subjected 


62  BROUGHT  TO  LIFT  WEIGHTS.  [on.  iv. 

to  the  temptation  of  picking  up  one  of  them  in  lieu  of 
that  he  was  sent  for.  Should  he  on  any  occasion  do  so, 
neither  scold  nor  caress  him ;  quietly  take  what  he  "brings, 
lay  it  at  your  feet,  to  show  him  that  you  want  it  not,  and 
endeavour  to  make  him  renew  his  search  for  what  you 
threw  in  ;  do  this  by  signs,  and  by  encouragement  with 
your  voice,  rather  than  by  chucking  stones  in  the  right 
direction,  lest  he  should  seek  for  them  instead  of  search- 
ing for  what  you  originally  sent  him. 

106.  Some  teachers  make  a  young  dog  fetch  a  round 
pin-cushion,  or  a  cork  ball,  in  which  needles  are  ju- 
diciously buried  ;  nor  is  it  a  bad  plan,  and  there  need 
be  no  cruelty  in  it,  if  well  managed.     At  least  it  can 
only  be  cruel  once,  for  a  dog's  recollection  of  his  suffer- 
ings will  prevent  his  picking  up  the  offending  object  a 
second  time.      Others,   after   he    is   well  drilled   into 
"  fetching,"  and  takes  pleasure  in  it,  will  make  him 
bring  a  bunch  of  keys.     There  are  few  things  a  dog  is 
less  willing  to  lift.     Most  probably  they  gave  him  some 
severe  rebuffs  when  first  heedlessly  snatching  at  them  ; 
and  the  caution  thereby  induced  tends  to  give  him  a 
careful,  tender  mouth.     A  fencing  master,  I  knew  in 
France,  had  a  spaniel,  singularly  enough  for  a  French- 
man, called  "  Waterloo,"  that  would  take  up  the  smallest 
needle. 

107.  When  your  dog  has  picked  up  what  you  desired, 
endeavour  to  make  him  run  to  you  quickly.     Many  who 
teach  a  dog  to  fetch,  praise  and  encourage  him  while  he 
is  bringing  what  he  was  sent  after.     Clearly  this  is  an 
error.     It  induces  the  dog  to  loiter  and  play  with  it. 
He  thinks  he  is  lauded  for  having  it  in  his  mouth  and 
carrying  it  about.    Eeserve  your  encomiums  and  caresses 
until  he  has  delivered  it.  (see  153.) — If  you  walk  away, 
the  fear  of  your  leaving  him,  will  induce  him  to  hurry 


OIL  iv.]  TAUGHT  TO  "FETCH."  63 

after  you.     Let  a  dog  retrieve  ever  so  carelessly,  still, 
while  on  the  move,  he  will  rarely  drop  a  bird. 

108.  Dogs  that  retrieve  should  be  gradually  brought 
to  lift  heavy,  flexible  things,  and  such  as  require  a  large 
grasp,  that  they  may  not  be  quite  unprepared  for  the 
weight  and  size  of  a  hare ;  otherwise  they  may  be  in- 
clined to  drag  it  along  by  a  slight  hold  of  the  skin, 
instead  of  balancing  it  across  their  mouths.     Thus  ca- 
pacious jaws  are  obviously  an  advantage  in  retrievers. 

The  French  gamekeepers,  many  of  whom  are  capital 
hands  at  making  a  retriever  (excepting  that  they  do  not 
teach  the  "down-charge"),  stuff  a  hare  or  rabbit  skin 
with  straw,  and  when  the  dog  has  learned  to  fetch  it 
with  eagerness,  they  progressively  increase  its  weight 
by  burying  larger  and  larger  pieces  of  wood  in  the 
middle  of  the  straw:  and  to  add  to  the  difficulty  of 
carrying  it,  they  often  throw  it  to  the  other  side  of  a 
hedge  or  thick  copse.  If  the  dog  shows  any  tendency 
to  a  hard  mouth  they  mix  thorns  with  the  straw. 

109.  I  ought  to  have   mentioned   sooner,   that  you 
should   commence   teaching   a   puppy   to    "fetch,"   by 
shaking  your  glove  (or  anything  soft)  at  him,  and  en- 
couraging him  to  seize  and  drag  it  from  you.     Then 
throw   it  a  yard  or  two  off,  gradually  increasing  the 
distance,  and  the  moment  he  delivers  it  to  you,  give 
him  something  palatable.     It  is  easier  to  teach  a  dog  to 
retrieve  as  a  puppy  than  when  he  is  older.     From  teeth- 
ing his  gums  are  in  a  state  of  slight  irritation,  and  it 
gives   him   pleasure   to   employ   his   teeth  and   gums. 
Should  you,  contrary  to  every  reasonable  expectation, 
from  his  having  no  inclination  to  romp  or  play  with  the 
glove,  not  be  able  to  persuade  him  to  pick  it  up,  put  it 
between  his  teeth, — force  him  to  grasp  it  by  tightly 
.pressing  his  jaws  together,  speaking  all  the  while  im- 


64  TAUGHT  TO  "CAKRY."  [en.  iv. 

pressively  to  him, — scold  him  if  he  is  obstinate  and 
refuses  to  take  hold  of  the  glove.  After  a  little  time 
retire  a  few  paces,  keeping  one  hand  under  his  mouth 
(to  prevent  his  dropping  the  glove),  while  you  lead  or 
drag  him  with  the  other.  When  you  halt,  be  sure  not 
to  take  the  glove  immediately  from  him, — oblige  him 
to  continue  holding  it  for  at  least  a  minute,  (lest  he 
should  learn  to  relinquish  his  grip  too  soon)  before  you 
make  him  yield  at  the  command  "  give ; "  then  bestow 
a  reward.  Should  he  drop  it  before  he  is  ordered  to 
deliver  it,  replace  it  in  his  mouth,  and  again  retreat 
some  steps  before  ordering  him  to  "give."  He  will 
soon  follow  with  it  at  your  heels.  If  you  have  suf- 
ficient perseverance  you  can  thus  make  him  earn  all  his 
daily  food.  Hunger  will  soon  perfect  him  in  the  lesson. 
Observe  that  there  are  four  distinct  stages  in  this  trick 
of  carrying, — the  first,  making  the  dog  grasp  and  retain, 
— the  second,  inducing  him  to  bring,  following'  at  your 
heels, — the  third,  teaching  him  not  to  quit  his  hold 
when  you  stop, — the  fourth,  getting  him  to  deliver  into 
your  hands  on  your  order.  The  great  advantage  of  a 
sporting  dog's  acquiring  this  trick,  is,  that  it  accustoms 
him  to  deliver  into  your  hands  /  and  it  often  happens 
that  you  must  thus  teach  a  dog  to  "  carry ''  as  a  pre- 
parative to  teaching  him  to  "  fetch."  It  certainly  will 
be  judicious  in  you  to  do  so,  if  the  dog  is  a  lively, 
riotous  animal ;  for  the  act  of  carrying  the  glove  (or 
stick,  &c.)  quietly  at  your  heels  will  sober  him,  and 
make  him  less  likely  to  run  off  with  it  instead  of  de- 
livering it  when  you  are  teaching  him  to  fetch.  As 
soon  as  he  brings  the  glove  tolerably  well,  try  him  with 
a  short  stick.  You  will  wish  him  not  to  seize  the  end 
of  it,  lest  he  should  learn  to  "drag"  instead  of  to 
"  carry."  Therefore  fix  pegs  or  wires  into  holes  drilled 


rn.  iv.]  LAND  RETRIEVER,  65 

at  right  angles  to  each  other  at  the  extremities  of  the 
stick.     He  will  then  only  grasp  it  near  the  middle. 

110.  On  one  occasion  I  had  a  brace  of  setters  to  instruct,  which 
had  come  to  me  perfectly  untaught,  at  far  too  advanced  an  age  to 
make  their  education  an  easy  task  ;  they  had  also  been  harshly 
treated,  and  were  consequently  shy  and  timid.     This  obliged  me  to 
proceed  with  much  caution  and  gentleness.     I  soon  won  their  con- 
fidence, I  may  say,  their  affections  ;  but  I  could  not  persuade  them 
to  play  with  my  glove,  nor  to  lift  anything  I  threw  before  them. 
I  was  hesitating  how  to  act,  when  I  saw  one  of  them  find  an  old  dry 
bone  and  bear  it  off  in  triumph.     I  encouraged  him  in  carrying 
it, — threw  it  several  times  for  him,  and  when  he  was  tired  of  the 
fun,  I  brought  the  old  bone  home  as  a  valuable  prize.     Next  day 
I  tied  a  string  to  it, — I  frequently  chucked  it  to  a  short  distance, 
and  when  the  dog  had  seized  it  I  dragged  it  towards  me,  generally 
turning  my  back  to  the  dog.     As  soon  as  I  regained  it,  I  made  him 
attach  a  value  to  its  being  in  my  hands,  by  employing  it  as  a  plate 
on  which  to  offer  him  some  delicacy.     In  a  few  days  I  could  dispense 
with  the  string,  and  I  soon  ventured  to  substitute  for  the  bone  the 
string  rolled  up  as  a  ball ;  afterwards  I  employed  a  stick.     Ulti- 
mately the  dog  fetched  very  promptly.     His  companion  also  took 
up  the  trick  from  the  force  of  good  example.     (See  note  to  34.) 

111.  I   have  dwelt   thus  long   on  "carrying"  and   "fetching," 
because  they  are  frequently  taught  so  injudiciously,  that  the  result 
is  a  complete  failure. 

112.  This   drill    should    be   further   extended  if    a 

EEGULAR   LAND   RETRIEVER 

be  your  pupil.  Throw  dead  birds  of  any  kind  for  him 
to  bring  (of  course  one  at  a  time),  being  on  the  alert  to 
check  him  whenever  he  grips  them  too  severely.  If  he 
persists  in  disfiguring  them,  pass  a  few  blunted  knitting 
needles  through  them  at  right  angles  to  one  another. 
When  he  fetches  with  a  tender  mouth,  you  will  be  able 
to  follow  up  this  method  of  training  still  further  by 
letting  him  "road"  (or  "foot,"  as  it  is  often  termed) 
a  rabbit  in  high  stubble,  one  (or  both,  if  a  strong  buck) 
of  whose  hind  legs  you  will  have  previously  bandaged 
in  the  manner  described  in  60.  Be  careful  not  to  let 
him  see  you  turn  it  out,  lest  he  watch  your  proceedings 
and  endeavour  to  "  hunt  by  eye."  Indeed,  it  might  be 


66  LAND  RETRIEVER.  [en.  iv. 

better  to  employ  another  person  to  turn  it  out.  Keep 
clear  of  woods  for  some  time : — the  cross  scents  would 
puzzle  him.  If  by  any  chance  you  have  a  winged 
pheasant  or  partridge,  let  him  retrieve  it.  You  will 
not,  I  presume,  at  the  commencement  select  a  morning 
when  there  is  a  dry  cold  wind  from  the  north-east,  but 
probably  you  will  wish  to  conclude  his  initiatory  lessons 
on  days  which  you  judge  to  possess  least  scent.  The 
more  he  has  been  practised  as  described  in  43,  the 
better  will  he  work  ;  for  he  cannot  keep  his  nose  too 
perse veringly  close  to  the  ground.  With  reference  to 
the  instructions  in  that  paragraph  I  will  here  remark, 
that  before  you  let  the  dog  stoop  to  hunt,  you  should 
have  placed  him  by  signal  (35)  near  the  spot  from  which 
you  had  begun  dragging  the  bread.  In  paragraph  277 
an  instance  is  given  of  the  manner  in  which  a  dog  who 
retrieves  should  be  put  upon  a  scent ;  and  why  that 
mode  is  adopted  is  explained  in  271. 

113.  It  is  quite  astonishing  how  well  an  old  dog  that 
retrieves  knows  when  a  bird  is  struck.     He  instantly 
detects  any  hesitation  or  uncertainty  of  movement,  and 
for   a   length  of   time  will  watch  its  flight  with  the 
utmost  eagerness,  and,  steadily  keeping  his  eye  on  it, 
will,  as  surely  as  yourself,  mark  its  fall.     To  induce  a 
young  dog  to  become  thus  observant,  always  let  him 
perceive  that  you  watch   a  wounded  bird  with  great 
eagerness ;  his  imitative  instinct  will  soon  lead  him  to 
do  the  same.     This  faculty  of  observation  is  particularly 
serviceable   in   a  water  retriever.     It   enables  him  to 
swim  direct  to  the  crippled  bird,  and,  besides  the  saving 
of  time,  the  less  he  is  in  the  water  in  severe  weather, 
the  less  likely  is  he  to  suffer  from  rheumatism. 

114.  As  an  initiatory  lesson  in  making  him  observant 
of  the  flight  and  fall  of  birds,  place  a  few  pigeons  (or 


CH.  iv.]  WATCHES  FLIGHT  OF  BIRDS.  67 

other  birds)  during  his  absence,  each  in  a  hole  covered 
with  a  tile.  Afterwards  come  upon  these  spots  ap- 
parently unexpected!}^  and,  kicking  away  the  tiles, 
(or,  what  is  better,  dragging  them  off  by  a  previously 
adjusted  string,)  shoot  the  birds  for  him  to  bring ;  it 
being  clearly  understood  that  he  has  been  previously 
tutored  into  having  no  dread  of  the  gun.  As  he  will  have 
been  taught  to  search  where  bidden  (iv.  to  vui.  of  141), 
nothing  now  remains  but  to  take  him  out  on  a  regular 
campaign,  when  the  fascinating  scent  of  game  will 
infallibly  make  him  search  (I  do  not  say  deliver)  with 
great  eagerness.  When  once  he  then  touches  upon  a 
scent,  leave  him  entirely  to  himself, — not  a  word,  not  a 
sign.  Possibly  his  nose  may  not  be  able  to  follow  the 
bird,  but  it  is  certain  that  yours  cannot.  Occasionally 
you  may  be  able  to  help  an  old  retriever  (544),  but  rarely, 
if  ever,  a  young  one.  Your  interference,  nay,  probably 
your  mere  presence,  would  so  excite  him  as  to  make 
him  overrun  the  scent.  Remain,  therefore,  quietly 
where  you  are,  until  he  rejoins  you. 

115.  When  we  see  a  winged  pheasant  racing  off,  most 
of  us  are  too  apt  to  assist  a  young  dog,  forgetting  that 
we  thereby  teach  him,  instead  of  devoting  his  whole 
attention  to  work  out  the  scent,  to  turn  to  us  for  aid 
011   occasions  when  it  may  be  impossible  to  give   it. 
When  a  dog  is  hunting  for  birds,  he  should  frequently 
look  to  the  gun  for  signals,  but  when  he  is  on  them,  he 
should  trust  to  nothing  but  his  own  scenting  faculties. 

116.  If,  from  a  judicious  education,  a  retriever  pup 
has  had  a  delight  in  "  fetching  "  rapidly,  it  is  not  likely 
he  will  loiter  on  the  way  to  mouth  his  birds  ;  but  the 
fatigue  of  carrying  a  hare  a  considerable  distance  may, 
perhaps,  induce  a  young  dog  to  drop  it  in  order  to  take 
a  moment's  rest.     There  is  a  risk  that  when  doing  so 

F  2 


68  BIT  FOR  BLOOD-SUCKER.  [CH.  iv. 

he  may  be  tempted  to  lick  the  blood,  and,  finding  it 
palatable,  be  led  to  maul  the  carcase.  You  see,  there- 
fore, the  judiciousness  of  employing  every  means  in 
your  power  to  ensure  his  feeling  anxious  to  deliver 
quickly,  and  I  know  not  what  plan  will  answer  better, — 
though  it  sounds  sadly  unsentimental, — than  to  have 
some  pieces  of  hard  boiled  liver*  at  hand  to  bestow 
upon  him  the  moment  he  surrenders  his  game,  until 
he  is  thoroughly  confirmed  in  an  expeditious  delivery. 
Never  give  him  a  piece,  however  diligently  he  may 
have  searched,  unless  he  succeed  in  bringing.  When 
you  leave  off  these  rewards  do  so  gradually.  The 
invariable  bestowal  of  such  dainties  during,  at  least, 
the  retriever's  first  season,  will  prevent  his  ever  dropping 
a  bird  on  hearing  the  report  of  a  gun  (as  many  do), 
in  order  to  search  for  the  later  killed  game. 

117.  Should  a  young  retriever  evince  any  wish  to 
assist  the  cook  by  plucking  out  the  feathers  of  a  bird  ; 
or  from  natural  vice  or  mismanagement  before  he  came 
into  your  possession,!  show  any  predisposition  to  taste 
blood,  take  about  two  feet  (dependent  upon  the  size  of 
the  dog's  head)  of  iron  wire,  say  the  one- eighth  of  an 
inch  in  diameter,  sufficiently  flexible  for  you,  but  not 
for  him,  to  bend.  Shape  this  much  into  the  form  of  the 
letter  U,  supposing  the  extremities  to  be  joined  by  a 
straight  line.  Place  the  straight  part  in  the  dog's 
mouth,  and  passing  the  other  over  his  head  and  ears, 
retain  it  in  position  by  a  light  throat  lash  passed 
through  a  turn  in  the  wire,  as  here  roughly  repre- 

*  A  drier  and  cleaner  article  of  gnawing  hare  or  rabbit-skins 

than  you  may  suppose,  and  which  thrown  aside  by  a  slovenly  cook, 

can  be  carried  not  inconveniently  it  will  not  be  unnatural  in  him, 

in  a  Mackintosh,  or  oil-skin  bag,  when  he  is  hungry,  to  wish  to 

— a  toilet  sponge  bag.  appropriate  to  himself  the  hide, 

t  If  a  retriever  has  the  op-  if  not  the  interior  of  the  animals 

portunity,  while  prowling  about,  he  is  lifting. 


CH.  iv.]  THE  "DOWN  CHARGE."  69 

sented.  The  flexibility  of  the  wire  will  enable  you  to 
adjust  it  with  ease  to  the  shape  of  his  head.  When  in 
the  kennel  he  ought  to  be  occasionally  thus 
bitted,  that  he  may  not  fret  when  he  is  first 
hunted  with  it.  It  will  not  injure  his  teeth 
or  much  annoy  him,  if  it  lies  on  his  grinders 
a  little  behind  the  tushes. 

118.  Sometimes   a   retriever,   notwithstanding  every 
encouragement,   will   not  pursue   a  winged  bird  with 
sufficient  rapidity.     In  this  case  associate  him  for  a  few 
days  with  a  quicker  dog,  whose  example  will  to  a  cer- 
tainty animate  him  and  increase  his  pace.     It  is  true 
that  when  he  is  striving  to  hit  off  a  scent  he  cannot 
work  too  patiently  and  perseveringly  ;  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  moment  he  is  satisfied  he  is  on  it,  he  cannot 
follow  too  rapidly.    A  winged  bird  when  closely  pressed, 
seems,  through  nervousness,  to  emit  an  increasing  stream 
of  scent ;   therefore,  though  it  may  sound  paradoxical, 
the  retriever's   accelerated  pace  then  makes  him  (his 
nose  being  close  to  the  ground)  the  less  likely  to  overrun 
it ;  and  the  faster  he  pursues  the  less  ground  must  he 
disturb,  for  the  shorter  will  be  the  chase. 

119.  Retrievers  are  generally  taught  to  rush  in,  the 
instant  a  bird  falls.     This  plan,  like  most  other  things, 
has  its  advocates  and  its  opponents.     I  confess  to  being 
one  of  the  latter,  for  I  cannot  believe  that  in  the  long 
run  it  is  the  best  way  to  fill  the  bag.     I  think  it  certain 
that  more  game  is  lost  by  birds  being  flushed  while  the 
guns  are  unloaded,*  than  could  be  lost  from  the  scent 
cooling  during  the  short  period  the  dog  remains  at  the 
"  down  charge."     Unquestionably  some  retrievers  have 

*  This  reasoning  obviously  does  the  day,"— where  the  sportsmen 
»ot  apply  to  the  retrievers  em-  do  not  condescend  to  charge  their 
ployed  in  those  battues  where  own  guns,  but  are  constantly  sup- 
rapid  slaughter  is  "  the  order  of  plied  with  relays  of  loaded  arms. 


70  iHE  "DOWN  CHARGE."  [CH.  iv. 

so  good  a  nose,  that  the  delay  would  not  lead  to  their 
missing  any  wounded  game,  however  slightly  struck 
(123)  ;  and  the  delay  has  this  great  advantage,  that  it 
helps  to  keep  the  retriever  under  proper  subjection,  and 
diminishes  his  anxiety  to  rush  to  every  part  of  the  line 
where  a  gun  may  be  fired,  instead  of  remaining  quietly 
at  his  master's  heels  until  signaled  to  take  up  the  scent. 
Morever,  a  retriever,  by  neglecting  the  "  down  charge," 
sets  an  example  to  the  pointers  or  setters  who  may  be 
his  companions,  which  it  is  always  more  or  less  difficult 
to  prevent  the  dogs,  if  young,  from  following.  But  I 
once  shot  over  a  retriever  which  I  could  hardly  wish 
not  to  have  "run  on  shot."  On  a  bird  being  hit  he 
started  off  with  the  greatest  impetuosity,  kept  his  eye 
immoveably  fixed  on  its  flight,  and  possessed  such  speed, 
that  a  winged  bird  scarcely  touched  the  ground  ere  it 
was  pinned.  He  would,  too,  often  seize  a  slightly 
injured  hare  before  it  had  acquired  its  best  pace.  The 
pursuit  so  soon  terminated,  that  possibly  less  game 
escaped  being  fired  at,  than  if  the  retriever  had  not 
stirred  until  the  guns  were  reloaded.  On  a  miss  he  was 
never  allowed — indeed  appeared  little  inclined — to  quit 
"heel."  Of  course  a  trainer's  trouble  is  decreased  by 
not  breaking  to  the  "  down  charge/'  which  may  induce 
some  to  recommend  the  plan;  though  it  is  to  be  ob- 
served, that  this  class  of  dogs  is  more  easily  than  any 
other  perfected  in  it,  because  the  breaker  nearly  always 
possesses  the  power  of  treading  upon  or  seizing  the 
checkcord  the  instant  a  bird  is  sprung. 

120.  The  nature  of  your  shooting  will  much  influence 
you  in  deciding  which  of  the  two  methods  to  adopt ; 
but  should  you  select  the  one  which  the  generality  of 
good  sportsmen  consider  to  be  most  according  to  rule, 
and  to  possess  the  greatest  beauty,  viz.,  the  "  down 


CH.  iv.]  MR.  K G'S  "BEX."  71 

charge/'  rather  lose  any  bird,  however  valuable,  so  long 
as  your  retriever  remains  young,  than  put  him  on  the 
"  foot  "  a  second  before  you  have  reloaded.  Undoubtedly 
it  ought  to  be  taught  to  every  dog  broken  for  sale,  as  the 
purchaser  can  always  dispense  with  it  should  he  judge 
it  unnecessary : — it  can  soon  be  untaught.  It  is  clear 
that  not  "quitting  heel"  until  ordered,  is  tantamount 
to  the  regular  "  down  charge,"  but  I  think  the  last  is  the 
easiest  to  enforce  constantly.  It  is  the  more  decided 
step. 

121.  Mr.  K- — -g  (mentioned  in  231)  had  a  famous  retriever 
whose  build,  close  curly  hair,  and  aquatic  propensities,  showed  his 
close  affinity  to  the  water  spaniel,  though  doubtless  there  was  some 
strain  of  the  Landsman.  He  retrieved  with  singular  zeal  and  per- 
tinacity. Indeed  his  superiority  over  all  competitors  in  his  neigh- 
bourhood, was  so  generally  admitted,  that  his  master  was  hardly 
ever  asked  to  shoot  at  any  place,  without  a  special  invitation  being 
sent  to  "  Ben."  When  beating  a  cover,  there  was  a  constant  cafl 
for  "  Ben."  No  merely  winged  pheasant  fell  to  the  ground,  and  no 
hare  went  off  wounded  but  there  was  heard,  "  Ben,  Ben."  On  one 

occasion,  when  K g  was  posted  at  the  extremity  of  the  line,  the 

dog  was  called  away  so  often  that  his  master  got  annoyed,  and 
declared  that  the  animal  should  attend  to  no  one  but  himself.  Soon 
there  was  a  double  shot,  and,  of  course,  the  usual  vociferations  for 
"  Ben,"  but  he  was  ordered  to  keep  close.  Louder  and  louder  were 
the  cries  for  u  Ben,"  but  all  in  vain,— he  obediently  followed  only 
his  master's  orders.  At  length  when  the  cover  was  beaten  through, 

K g  inquired  into  the  cause  of  the  hubbub.     Young  B k 

told  him,  in  no  kind  humour,  that  his  churlishness  in  retaining  the 

dog  had  lost  them  a  fine  hare.     "  If,"  said  K g,  "  you  are  certain 

you  wounded  it,  and  can  put  me  on  the  exact  spot  where  it  was 
when  you  fired,  I  will  bet  you  £5  that  'Ben'  shall  find  her." 

B k  observed  that  he  knew  perfectly  the  precise  place,  having 

carefully  marked  it  with  a  stick,  but  added,  that  he  much  doubted 
the  possibility  of  the  dog's  picking  up  the  scent,  as  more  than  half 

an  hour  had  since  elapsed.     K g,  however,  stuck  to  his  offer. 

They  went  back  and  found  some  pile,  which  proved  that  the  hare 
had  been  struck.  The  dog  was  put  on  the  trail.  He  at  once  took 
it,  but  was  so  long  away,  (perhaps  twenty  minutes,)  that  they 
thought  it  best  to  search  for  him.  They  found  him  almost  imme- 
diately, lying  down  with  the  hare  alongside  of  him.  His  tongue 
was  hanging  out  of  his  mouth,  and  he  showed  other  symptoms  of 
great  distress.  Evidently  he  had  brought  the  hare  from  a  con- 
siderable distance. 


72  BEN'S  REFLECTIONS.  [CH.  IT. 

122.  "Ben"  had  numerous  excellent  qualities,  but  his  greatest 
admirers,  and  few  dogs  had  so  many,  were  obliged  to  admit,  that  he 
was  of  a  quarrelsome,  pugnacious  disposition.     It  unluckily  hap- 
pened that  he  had  taken  a  great  dislike  to  a  large  cubbish  young 

retriever  belonging  to  the  aforesaid  Mr.  B k,  who  often  shot 

with  K g  ;  and  I  am  sorry  to  say  none  of  "  Ben's  "  prejudices 

were  removed  by  the  kindly  fellowship  and  good  feeling  usually 
engendered  by  association  in  field-sports.     The  day's  work  generally 
commenced  by  "  Ben's "  making  a  rush  at  his  big  awkward  com- 
panion, and  overturning  him.      After  this  feat,   upon  which   he 
evidently  greatly  plumed  himself,  he  would  proceed  to  business.     It 
happened  that  one  of  the  sportsmen  once  knocked  over  a  pheasant 
which  fell  outside  the  hedge  surrounding  the  copse  they  were  beating. 
It  proved  to  be  a  runner  ;  "  Ben,"  however,  soon  got  hold  of  it,  and 
was  carrying  it  to  his  master  in  the  cover,  when  up  came  the  other 
dog  wishing  to  assist.     "  Ben's  "  anger  was  roused, — he  was  anxious 
to  punish  such  intrusive  interference — but  how  to  manage  it  was 
the  question,  for  if  he  put  down  the  winged  bird  it  would  run  into 
the  wood,  where  there  might  be  much  trouble  in  recovering  it. 
Quick  as  thought,  off  ran  "  Ben"  to  the  middle  of  the  large  ploughed 
field, — there  he  dropped  the  bird, — then  dashed  at  his  lumbering 
rival,  quickly  gave  him  a  thrashing,  and   afterwards   started  in 
pursuit  of  the  pheasant,  which  he  managed  to  overtake  before  it 
regained  the  copse.     If  that  was  not  refiection  it  was  something 
very  like  it. 

123.  One  more  anecdote  of  poor  "  Ben."     I  say  "  poor,"  because 
he  died  prematurely  from  a  swelling  under  the  throat  which  might, 
in  all  probability,  have  been  cured,  had  a  long  seton  been  run 
through  it,  or  rather  under  the  adjacent  skin, — a  mode  of  treatment 
attended  with  the  happiest  results  in  the  case  of  another  dog 
attacked  in  a  similar  manner  in  the  same  kennel.     "  Ben  "  and  an 

old  setter  were  K g's  only  canine  attendants  when  he  was  once 

pheasant  shooting  with  a  friend  on  some  steep  banks.     K g 

was  at  the  bottom,  his  friend  on  the  top.     A  cock  pheasant  was 
sprung  and  winged  by  the  latter.     The  bird  not  being  immediately 
found,  there  was  the  usual  cry  for   "  Ben."     "  Go  along,"  said 

K g.     Away  went  the  dog,  who  soon  took  up  the  scent  and 

dashed  off,  but  had  not  gone  many  yards  before  he  started  a  hare  ; 

K g  had  soon  an  opening  to  fire,  and  wounded  it.     "  Ben  " 

pursued  it,  urged  on  by  his  master,  who  felt  sure  the  dog  would  be 
able  to  retrieve  the  pheasant  afterwards.     The  hare  was  viewed 
scrambling  up  the  bank.     "  Ben  "  soon  appeared  in  sight  and  caught 

it.     K g's  friend  much  abused  poor  "  Ben  "  for  quitting  one 

scent  for  another.     "Do  not  put  yourself  out  of  humour,"  said 

K g  ;  "you  don't  know  the  dog, — wait  till  he  comes  back,  and 

if  he  does  not  then  get  the  bird,  blame  me."    Having  allowed 

"  Ben  "  a  little  breathing  time,  K g  took  him  to  the  place  where 

the  bird  fell.     The  dog  quickly  hit  off  the  scent.     K g,  now 

perfectly  satisfied  that  all  was  right,  made  his  friend  sit  down.     In 
little  more  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour  "  Ben"  came  back  with  the  bird 


CH.  iv.]  THE  TRUE  NEWFOUNDLAND.  73 

alive  in  his  mouth,  it  having  no  other  wound  that  could  be  perceived 
than  on  the  pinion  of  one  wing. 

124.  With  such  a  nose  as  "Ben's"  could  there  have  been  any 
harm  in  his  being  taught  to  "  down  charge,"  and  might  there  not 
have  been  much  good  (119)  ?     You  see  that  owing  to  his  having  put 

up  the  hare  while  K g's  friend  was  loading,  it   might   have 

escaped,  had  it,  as  is  usually  the  case,  at  once  taken  to  the  hills. 

125.  Large  retrievers  are  less  apt  to  mouth  their  game 
than  small  ones  :  but  very  heavy  dogs  are  not  desirable, 
for  they  soon  tire.     And  yet  a  certain  medium  is  neces- 
sary, for  they  ought  to  have  sufficient  strength  to  carry 
a  hare  with  ease  through  a  thicket,  when  balanced  in 
their  jaws,  and  be  able  to  jump  a  fence  with  her.     They 
should  run  mute.     And  they  should  be  thick  coated  : 
unless  they  are  so, — I  do  not  say  long  coated,— they 
cannot  be  expected  to  dash  into  close  cover,  or  plunge 
into  water  after  a  duck  or  snipe  when  the  thermometer 
is  near  zero. 


126.  From  education  there  are  good  retrievers  of  many  breeds, 
but  it  is  usually  allowed  that,  as  a  general  rule,  the  best  land 
retrievers  are  bred  from  a  cross  between  the  setter  and  the  New- 
foundland,— or  the  strong  spaniel  and  the  Newfoundland.     I  do  not 
mean  the  heavy  Labrador,  whose  weight  and  bulk  is  valued  because 
it  adds  to  his  power  of  draught,  nor  the  Newfoundland,  increased 
in  size  at  Halifax  and  St.  John's  to  suit  the  taste  of  the  English 
purchaser,— but  the  far  slighter  dog  reared  by  the  settlers  on  the 
coast,— a  dog  that  is  quite  as  fond  of  water  as  of  land,  and  which 
in  almost  the  severest  part  of  a  North  American  winter  will  remain 
on  the  edge  of  a  rock  for  hours  together,  watching  intently  for  any- 
thing the  passing  waves  may  carry  near  him.     Such  a  dog  is  highly 
prized.     Without  his  aid  the  farmer  would  secure  but  few  of  the 
many  wild  ducks  he  shoots  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year.     The 
patience  with  which  he  waits  for  a  shot  on  the  top  of  a  high  cliff' 
(until  the  numerous  flock  sail  leisurely  underneath)  would  be  fruit- 
less, did  not  his  noble  dog  fearlessly  plunge  in  from  the  greatest 
height,  and  successfully  bring  the  slain  to  shore. 

127.  Probably  a  cross  from  the  heavy,  large-headed  setter,  who, 
though  so  wanting  in  pace,  has  an  exquisite  nose ;  and  the  true 
Newfoundland,  makes  the  best  retriever.     Nose  is  the  first  deside- 
ratum.    A  breaker  may  doubt  which  of  his  pointers  or  setters 
possesses  the  greatest  olfactory  powers,  but  a  short  trial  tells  him. 
which  of  his  retrievers  has  the  finest  nose. 


74  RETRIEVE  WOODCOCK.  [en.  iv. 

]  28.  Making  a  first-rate  retriever  is  a  work  of  time, 
but  his  being  thoroughly  grounded  in  the  required 
initiatory  lessons  facilitates  matters  surprisingly.  In- 
deed after  having  been  taught  the  "drop"  (23,  25,  26) 
—to  "fetch"  (107  to  109)— and  "seek  dead"  in  the 
precise  direction  he  is  ordered  (xi.  of  141),  almost  any 
kind  of  dog  can  be  made  to  retrieve.  The  better  his 
nose  is,  the  better  of  course  he  will  retrieve.  Sagacity, 
good  temper,  quickness  of  comprehension,  a  teachable 
disposition,  and  all  cultivated  qualities,  are  almost  as 
visibly  transmitted  to  offspring  as  shape  and  action  ; 
therefore  the  stronger  a  dog's  hereditary  instincts  lead 
him  to  retrieve,  the  less  will  be  the  instructor's  trouble  ; 
and  the  more  obedient  he  is  made  to  the  signals  of  the 
hand,  the  more  readily  will  he  be  put  upon  a  scent. 
Dogs  that  are  by  nature  quick  rangers  do  not  take 
instinctively  to  retrieving.  They  have  not  naturally 
sufficient  patience  to  work  out  a  feeble  scent.  They  are 
apt  to  overrun  it.  A  really  good  retriever  will  pursue  a 
wounded  bird  or  hare  as  accurately  as  a  bloodhound  will 
a  deer  or  man  ;  and  if  he  is  put  on  a  false  scent,  I  mean 
a  scent  of  uninjured  flick  or  feather,  he  will  not  follow 
it  beyond  a  few  steps :  — experience  will  have  shown  him 
the  inutility  of  so  doing.  (545.) 

129.  Avail  yourself  of  the  first  opportunity  to  make  a 
young  retriever  lift  a  woodcock,  lest  in  after  life,  from 
its  novel  scent,  he  decline  touching  it,  as  many  dogs 
have  done  to  the   great   annoyance   of  their   masters. 
Ditto,  with  the  delicate  landrail. 

130.  The  directions  given  about  "  fetching,"  led  me 
to  talk  of  retrievers ;    and  having  touched  upon   the 
subject,  I  thought  it  right  not  to  quit  it,  until  I  had 
offered  the  best  advice  in  my  power.     I  have  but  one 
more  recommendation  to  add  before  I  return  to  your 


CH.  TV.]  NO  RAT-HUNTING.  75 

setter  (or  pointer)  pup  :  carefully  guard  a  young  re- 
triever (indeed  any  dog  bred  for  the  gun)  from  being 
ever  allowed  to  join  in  a  rat-hunt.  Eat-hunting  would 
tend  to  destroy  his  tenderness  of  mouth,  nay  possibly 
make  him  mangle  his  game.  But  this  is  not  all.  It  has 
often  gradually  led  good  dogs  to  decline  lifting  hares  or 
rabbits,  apparently  regarding  them  more  in  the  light  of 
vermin  than  of  game.  Some  dogs,  however,  that  are 
not  bad  retrievers,  are  capital  ratters,  but  they  are  ex- 
ceptions to  the  general  rule.  Indeed,  you  should  never 
permit  your  dog  to  retrieve  any  kind  of  ground  or 
winged  vermin.  If  the  creature  were  only  wounded  it 
might  turn  upon  him.  He  in  self-defence  would  give  it 
a  grip,  and  he  might  thus  be  led  to  follow  the  practice 
on  less  pardonable  occasions.  Eemember,  that  a  winged 
bittern  or  heron  might  peck  out  his  eye. 


CHAPTER  V. 


INITIATORY  LESSONS  OUT  OF  DOORS.— TRICKS. 

131.  Lessons  in  Country  Walks.— 132.  "Instruction  in  quartering;"  hunted  where 
least  likely  to  find  Game ;  taught  while  young.  In  note,  Bitch  shot  over  when 
seven  months  old. -133.  If  unreasonably  long  before  taking  to  hunting,  the 
remedy. —134.  Utility  of  Initiatory  Lessons;  taught  without  punishing.— 
135.  Self-confidence  of  timid  Dogs  increased.— 136.  The  more  Dogs  learn,  the 
more  readily  they  learn. — 137.  Two  superior  Dogs  better  than  half-a-dozen  of 
the  ordinary  sort ;  Action  of  Dogs  ;  their  Feet ;  Loins ;  dash  of  Foxhound  gives 
endurance ;  cross  with  Bull  hunts  with  nose  too  low ;  Reliefs  desirable ;  best 
Dog  reserved  for  evening.  — 138.  Immense  sums  spent  in  shooting,  yet  begrudged 
for  superior  Dogs.— 139.  Memorandum,  never  to  ride  through  gate  with  gun 
athwart-ship ;  instance  of  Dog's  behaving  admirably  the  first  day  shown  Game. 
— 140.  Proves  the  value  of  Initiatory  Lessons. — 141.  Summary  of  knowledge 
imparted  by  them.— 142.  Why  to  signal  with  right  Hand.— 143.  Obedience  of 
Shepherd's  Dogs  to  Signals.— 144.  One  Word  only  of  command ;  dogs  attend  to 
the  general  Sound,  not  to  the  several  Words. — 145.  Names  of  Dogs  not  to  end  in 
"O  ;"  to  be  easily  called ;  to  be  dissimilar. — 146.  "  Drop"  better  word  of  com- 
mand than  "Down;"  use  words  of  command  least  likely  to  be  employed  by 
others ;  when  purchasing  a  Dog,  ascertain  what  words  he  is  accustomed  to.— 
147  to  149.  Ladies  have  no  control  over  Dogs ;  the  reason. — 150.  They  possess 
patience  and  temper:  could  teach  any  Tricks;  Dogs  how  taught  to  fag  at 
Cricket. — 151.  Newfoundland  carrying  off  lady's  Parasol  for  a  Bun. — 152.  He 
was  a  Physiognomist.— 153.  Method  of  teaching  "carrying,"  greatly  differs  from 
method  of  teaching  "fetching."— 154.  Tricks  exhibited  with  effect.— 155  to  157. 
Instanced  at  Tonbridge  Wells.— 1^8,  159.  Instanced  at  Gibraltar;  Game  of 
Draughts. — 160,  161.  Elephant  shown  off. — 162.  Bewilderment  of  Keeper  of 
Menagerie. — 163.  Ladies'  Pets  too  pampered ;  Shepherd's  Collies. — 164.  Kind- 
ness without  petting. — 165,  166.  Instance  of  bad  Habit  cured  by  perseverance. 
Ladies  breaking  in  Dogs  for  the  gun.  In  note,  Whale  fishing  at  Bermuda. — 
167.  Dog's  Affections;  always  gained  by  first  attentions:  win  his  love,  that  he 
may  exert  himself  to  please.— Dog  sleeping  on  poacher's  clothes.— 169.  Esqui. 
maux  Dogs ;  Esquimaux  Women. 

131.  As  I  before  observed,  you  can  practise  most  of 
the  initiatory  lessons  in  your  country  walks.  Always 
put  something  alluring  in  your  pocket  to  reward  your 
pupil  for  prompt  obedience.  Do  not  take  him  out  un- 
necessarily in  bad  weather.  On  no  account  let  him 
amuse  himself  by  scraping  acquaintance  with  every  idle 
cur  he  meets  on  the  way ;  nor  permit  him  to  gambol 


«.  V.J 


BUSINESS  IN  HAND. 


77 


about  the  lanes.     Let  him  understand  by  your  manner 
that  there  is  business  in  hand.     Never  let  him  enter  a 


INCLINED  TO    'RAT.' 

field  before  you.  Always  keep  him  at  your  heels,  until 
you  give  him  the  order  to  be  off.  You  will  find  him  dis- 
posed to  presume  and  encroach.  According  to  the  old 
adage,  "  Give  him  an  inch,  and  he  will  take  an  ell,"  He 
will  be  endeavouring  to  lead  rather  than  to  follow,  and, 
should  he  fancy  himself  unobserved,  he  will  most  per- 
severingly  steal  inch  upon  inch  in  advance.  Be  ever  on 
the  watch,  ready  to  check  the  beginning  of  every  act  of 
disobedience.  Implicit  obedience  in  trifles  will  insure 
it  in  things  of  more  importance — but  see  par.  345. 

132.  For  some  time,  but  the  period  is  uncertain, — 
say  from  his  being  eight  months  old  until  double  that 


78  INSTRUCTION  IN  QUARTERING.  [CH.  v. 

age,* — he  will  merely  gallop  and  frisk  about,  and  pro- 
bably will  take  diligently  to  persecuting  butterflies.  Let 
him  choose  what  he  likes.  Don't  think  that  he  will  prize 
small  beer,  when  he  can  get  champagne.  He  will  leave 
off  noticing  inferior  articles  as  he  becomes  conversant 
with  the  taste  of  game.  It  is  now  your  main  object  to 
get  him  to  hunt ;  no  matter  what,  so  that  he  is  not  per- 
petually running  to  "heel."  And  the  more  timid  he  is, 
the  more  you  must  let  him  chase,  and  amuse  himself  as 
his  fancy  dictates.  When  you  see  that  he  is  really 
occupying  himself  with  more  serious  hunting,  eagerly 
searching  for  small  birds,  especially  larks,  you  must 
begin  instructing  him  how  to  quarter  his  ground  to  the 
greatest  advantage,  under  your  constant  direction.  Should 
any  one  join  you,  or  anything  occur  likely  to  prevent 
your  giving  him  your  strictest  attention,  on  no  account 
permit  him  to  range, — keep  him  to  "heel"  until  you 
are  quite  prepared  to  watch  and  control  all  his  move- 
ments. Hunt  him  where  he  is  least  likely  to  find  game, 
for  he  will  take  to  quartering  his  ground  far  more  regu- 
larly, under  your  guidance,  where  his  attention  is  least 
distracted  by  any  scent.  The  taint  of  partridge  would 
be  almost  sure  to  make  him  deviate  from  the  true  line 
on  which  you  are  anxious  he  should  work.  Labour  now 
diligently,  if  possible  daily,  though  not  for  many  hours 
a  day  ;  for  be  assured,  a  good  method  of  ranging  can 
only  be  implanted  when  he  is  young  :  but  be  discreet, 
if  he  be  naturally  timid,  you  may  make  him  afraid  to 
leave  your  heel — the  worst  of  faults. 

133.  Should  your  pup  be  so  long  before  taking  to 

*    I   once  had  a  pointer  pup  could  not  have  been  hunted  for 

whose  dam  was  broken  in  (after  more  than  an  hour  or  two  at  a  time, 

u  fashion)  and  regularly  shot  to  She  ought  not  to  have  been  taken 

when  seven  months  old.     With-  to  the  field  for  regular  use  until 

out  injury  to  her  constitution,  she  fully  a  year  old. 


CH.  v.]  GAIN  AFFECTION.  79 

hunting  that  your  patience  becomes  exhausted,  let  an 
old  dog  accompany  you  a  few  times.  When  lie  finds 
birds,  gradually  bring  the  young  one  upon  them  from 
leeward,  and  let  him  spring  them.  Encourage  him  to 
sniff  the  ground  they  have  quitted,  and  allow  him  to 
run  riot  on  the  haunt.  After  that  enjoyment,  the 
example  of  the  old  dog  will  most  likely  soon  make 
him  range,  and  employ  his  nose  in  seeking  a  repetition 
of  what  has  afforded  him  such  unexpected  delight.  If 
it  does  not,  and  the  old  dog  is  steady  and  good-humoured 
enough  to  bear  the  annoyance  cheerfully,  couple  the 
young  one  to  him.  Before  this  he  should  have  learned 
to  work  kindly  in  couples  (48) .  But  I  am  getting  on 
too  fast,  and  swerving  from  the  track  I  had  marked  for 
myself.  By-and-by  I  will  tell  you  how  I  think  you 
should  instruct  your  youngster  to  quarter  his  ground  to 
the  best  advantage.  (173,  &cv) 

134.  Common  sense  shows  that  you  ought  not  to 
correct  your  dog  for  disobedience,  unless  you  are  certain 
that  he  knows  his  fault.  Now  you  will  see  that  the 
initiatory  lessons  I  recomnieiidr  must  give  him  that 
knowledge,  for  they  explain  to  him  the  meaning  of 
almost  all  the  signs  and  words  of  command  you  will 
have  to  employ  when  shooting.  That  knowledge,  too, 
is  imparted  by  a  system  of  rewards,  not  punishments. 
Your  object  is  not  to  break  his  spirit,  but  his  self-will. 
With  his  obedience  you  gain  his  affection.  The  greatest 
hardship  admissible,  in  this  early  stage  of  his  education, 
is  a  strong  jerk  of  the  checkcord,  and  a  sound  rating, 
given,  wlien  necessary,  in  the  loudest  tone  and  sternest 
manner ;  and  it  is  singular  how  soon  he  will  discrimi- 
nate between  the  reproving  term  "bad"  (to  which  he 
will  sensitively  attach  a  feeling  of  shame),  and  the 
encouraging  word  "  good," — expressions  that  will  here- 


80  FURTHER  KNOWLEDGE  READILY  GAINED.      [CH.  v. 

after  have  a  powerful  influence  over  him,  especially  if 
he  be  of  a  gentle,  timid  disposition. 

135.  In  educating  such  a  dog, — and  there  are  many 
of  the  kind,  likely  to  turn  out  well,  if  they  are  judiciously 
managed,  often  possessing  noses  so  exquisite  (perhaps 
I  ought  to  say  cautious),  as  nearly  to  make  up  for  their 
general  want  of  constitution  and  powers  of  endurance  : — 
it  is  satisfactory  to  think  that  all  these  lessons  can  be 
inculcated  without  in  the  slightest  degree  depressing  his 
spirit.     On  the  contrary,  increasing  observation  and  in- 
telligence will  gradually  banish  his  shyness  and  distrust 
of  his  own  powers ;  for  he  will  be  sensible  that  he  is 
becoming  more  and  more  capable  of   comprehending 
your  wishes,  and  therefore  less  likely  to  err  and  be 
punished  (347). 

136.  I  fear  you  may  imagine  that  I  am  attributing 
too  much  reasoning  power  to  him.     You  would  not  think 
so  if  you  had  broken  in  two  or  three  dogs.     What  makes 
dog-teaching,  if  not  very  attractive,  at  least  not  labo- 
rious, is  the  fact  that  the  more  you  impart  to  a  dog,  the 
more  readily  will  he  gain  further  knowledge.      After 
teaching  a  poodle  or  a  terrier  a  few  tricks,  you  will  be 
surprised  to  see  with  what  increasing  facility  he  will 
acquire   each   successive   accomplishment.     It   is   this 
circumstance  which,  I  think,  should  induce  you  not  to 
regard  as  chimerical  the  perfection  of  which  I  purpose 
to  speak  by-and-by,  under  the  head  of  "  refinements  in 
breaking."     Indeed   I   only   adopt  this   distinction  in 
deference  to  what  I  cannot  but  consider  popular  preju- 
dice ;  for  I  well  know  many  will  regard  such  accom- 
plishments as  altogether  superfluous.     It  is  sad  to  think 
that  an  art  which  might  easily  be  made  much  more 
perfect,  is  allowed,  almost  by  universal  sufferance,  to  stop 
short  just  at  the  point  where  excellence  is  within  grasp. 


CH.  v.]  ESQUIMAUX  DOGS.  81 

137.  Far  more  dogs  would  be  well-broken,  if  men 
would  but  keep  half  the  number  they  usually  possess. 
The  owner  of  many  dogs  cannot  shoot  often  enough  over 
them  to  give  tliem  great  experience. 

Is  it  that  some  youngsters  are  fond  of  the  eclat  of  a  large  kennel  ? 
That  can  hardly  be,  or  ought  not  to  be  ;  for  clearly  it  would  be  more 
sportsmanlike  to  pride  themselves  upon  the  rare  qualities  of  a  few 
highly-trained  animals.  A  lover  of  the  trigger  might  be  excused  an 
occasional  boast,  if  made  with  an  approach  to  truth,  that  he  shot  over 
the  best-broken  dogs  in  the  county.  I  say  seriously,  that  if  I  had 
a  considerable  bet  upon  the  quantity  of  game  that  I  was  to  kill  in  a 
season,  I  had  much  rather  possess  two  perfectly  educated  dogs  than 
half-a-dozen  commonly  called  broken  ; — and  even  if  I  gave  fifty  or 
sixty  guineas  for  the  brace,  it  would  be  more  economical  than  to 
purchase  twice  as  many  of  the  everyday  sort ;  for,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  tax-gatherer,  consider  what  would  be  the  saving  at  the  end  of 
a  very  few  years  between  the  keep  of  two,  and  of  four  or  five  dogs. 
I  suspect  the  difference  would  soon  repay  the  large  price  paid  for 
the  highly-educated  favourites.  Oh  !  yes.  I  anticipate  what  you 
would  say ;  but,  keen  sportsman  as  I  am,  I  own  I  have  not  time  or 
inclination  to  shoot  oftener  than  three  or  four  out  of  the  six  working- 
days  of  the  week, — and  I  suspect  not  many  men  have,  except  just 
at  the  beginning  of  a  season.  Moreover,  in  reference  to  what  I 
fancy  are  your  thoughts  respecting  the  insufficiency  of  two,  I  must 
premise  that  they  are  to  be  good-hearted  dogs, — good  feeders  after 
work, — probably  of  the  sort  whose  exuberant  animal  spirits,  untiring 
energies,  and  rapture  at  inhaling  the  exciting  perfume  of  game,  have 
led  them  to  run  riot  in  many  a  lawless  chase ;  who  have  consequently 
used  up  more  than  their  fair  share  of  the  breaker's  checkcord,  and 
consumed  an  undue  portion  of  his  time.  They  must  not  be  those 
whose  constitutions  have  been  injured  in  their  growth  by  excessive 
work  ;  for  dogs  vary  as  much  as  horses  in  the  quantity  of  labour 
they  are  able  to  perform,  both  from  diversity  of  natural  capabilities, 
and  from  the  greater  or  less  care  bestowed  upon  them  while  pro- 
gressing towards  maturity.  The  Esquimaux,  who  from  anxious 
observation  must  be  a  competent  judge, — his  very  existence  de- 
pending upon  the  powers  and  endurance  of  his  dogs, — not^  only 
occasionally  crosses  them  with  the  wolf  (the  progeny  is  prolific)  to 
increase  their  strength  and  hardiness, — I  do  not  say  sagacity, — but 
he  is  so  impressed  with  the  necessity  of  not  overtasking  them  until 
they  have  attained  their  full  stamina  and  vigour,  that  although  he 
breaks  them  into  harness  before  they  are  quite  a  twelvemonth  old, 
when  their  immediate  services  would  be  convenient,  he  yet  abstains 
from  putting  them  to  severe  labour  until  they  are  nearly  three  years 
of  age.  My  supposed  dogs  must,  too,  have  as  united  a  gallop  as  a 
good  hunter,  and  have  small,  round,  hard  feet ;  for  this  I  hold  to  be 
a  more  certain  test  of  endurance  in  the  field,  than  any  other  point 


82  GOOD  DOGS  ULTIMATELY  CHEAPEST.         [en.  v. 


that  you  can  name.  Rest  assured,  that  the  worst  Joined  dogs  with 
good  feet  *  are  capable  of  more  fatigue  in  stubble  or  heather,  than 
the  most  muscular  and  best  loined,  with  fleshy  "  understandings." 
The  most  enduring  pointers  I  have  ever  seen  hunted,  had  more  or 
less  of  the  strain  of  the  fox-hound ;  but  doubtless  they  were  pro- 
portionately hard  to  break,  for  their  hereditary  bias  on  one  side  of 
the  house  must  have  given  them  an  inclination  to  chase  and  carry 
their  heads  low.  I  have  shot  over  a  cross  with  the  bull-dog.  The 
animal  showed  great  courage,  perseverance,  and  nose,  but  he  hunted 
with  his  head  so  near  the  ground,  that  he  hit  off  no  game  unless  he 
came  upon  its  run.  The  strongest  heather  could  not  have  cured 
such  a  sad  carriage.  It  would  be  quite  unreasonable  to  expect  that 
dogs  so  bred  (from  either  fox- hound  or  bull-dog),  would  have  acted 
like  Mr.  M — — t's,  (see  280)  the  first  day  they  were  shown  game. 
Remember  also  that  I  do  not  expect  to  lose  any  shots  from  the  birds 
being  scared  by  my  being  forced  to  call  or  whistle  to  the  dogs,  and 
that  I  confidently  hope  to  shoot  more  coolly  and  collectedly,  from 
not  being  worried  and  annoyed  by  their  misconduct ;  I  allow,  how- 
ever, that  in  any  open  country  more  than  two  dogs  are  desirable  ; 
and  I  especially  admit,  that  whenever  I  might  have  the  good  luck 
to  get  away  to  the  moors,  I  should  be  unwilling  to  start  with  no 
more  than  a  brace  ;  but  even  in  this'  case,  as  I  should  hope  for 
better  society  than  my  own,  have  I  not  a  right  to  calculate  upon  the 
probable  contingent  to  be  brought  by  my  friend  ?  and  if  his  turned 
out  superior  to  mine,  we  should  always  reserve  his  for  our  evening's 
beat,  which  ought  to  be  the  best  feeding  ground,  and  towards  which 
it  would  be  our  endeavour  throughout  the  day  to  drive  the  birds  ; 
for,  unlike  the  partridge,  the  later  it  is,  early  in  the  season,  the  better 
grouse  lie.  Many  dogs  are  desirable,  not  that  they  may  be  hunted 
together,  but  that  they  may  be  hunted  in  reliefs.  But  some  possess 
so  much  power  and  bottom,  that  their  owners  need  seldom  think 
about  reliefs  in  partridge-shooting. 

138.  In  enlarging  a  kennel,  it  ought  always  to  be  remembered, 
that  the  companionship  of  one  disorderly  cur  nominally  cheap,  but 
in  reality  dear,  soon  leads  astray  the  better  disposed.  Men  who 
spare  no  expense  in  preserving  their  grounds,  in  rearing  and  feeding 
birds,  &c.  will  often  be  found  to  begrudge  a  few  extra  pounds  in  the 
purchase  of  a  dog,  however  good.  This  appears  odd,  but  it  is  too 
true.  If  they  would  but  sum  up  the  rent  they  pay  for  the  right  of 
shooting,  (or  what  is  the  same  thing,  its  value,  if  they  choose  to  let 
it),  the  wages  of  men,  the  cost  of  breeding  game,  taxes,  and  all 


*   I  often  shoot  over   a   setter  soon  brings  her  round  for  another 

bitch   (belonging  to   one   of  my  half  day's  brilliant  work.     Unless 

relations)   that   has  capital   feet,  a  dog  is  particularly  light  in  body, 

but  is  very  defective   across  the  bad  feet  quickly  scald  upon  heath 

loins.     She  is  extremely  fast,  and  or  stubble,   and  they  are  longer 

a   brilliant   performer  for  half  a  getting  round,  than  is  a  bad  loined 

day;  but  she  then  shuts  up  com-  dog  in  recovering  from   a  day's 

pletely.     A  little  rest,  however,  fatigue. 


BROACHIKG  A  BARREL. 

The  extremities  of  the  gun  caught  the  side-posts."— Par.  139. 


CH.  v.]  IRELAND  GROUSE-SHOOTING.  85 

other  attendant  expenses,  they  would  find  that  they  wreck  them- 
selves at  last  for  comparatively  a  trifle. 

139.  I  am,  however,  wandering  from  our  immediate 
subject.     Let  us  return  to  the  lecture,  and  consider  how 
much  knowledge  your  pupil  will  have  acquired  by  these 
preliminary  instructions.     We  shall  find  that,  with  the 
exception  of  a  systematically  confirmed   range,  really 
little  remains  to  be  learned,  save  what  his  almost  un- 
aided instinct  will  tell  him. 

I  will  give  you  an  instance  of  what  I  mean  in  the  conduct  of  a 
young  pointer  I  saw  shot  over  the  first  day  he  was  ever  shown 
game.  You  know  that  in  Ireland  grouse-shooting  does  not  com- 
mence before  the  2()th  of  August, — a  date  far  more  judicious  than 
ours.  I  well  remember  that  day  at  Clonmel  in  the  year  1828.  Long 
before  any  glimmering  of  light,  one  of  our  party  had  fractured  the 
stock  of  a  favourite  double  barrel,  by  carelessly  letting  it  hang 
across  his  body  at  the  moment  a  skittish  cob  he  was  riding  rushed 
through  a  narrow  gateway.  The  extremities  of  the  gun  caught  the 
side-posts,  and  if  it  had  not  given  way,  he  must  have  parted  com- 
pany with  his  nag.  I  believe  we  each  made  a  memorandum,  never 
whilst  riding  through  a  gate  to  let  our  guns  get  athwart-ship.  The 
morning  turned  out  so  dreadfully  wet  that,  after  remaining  for  hours 
in  a  hovel  at  the  foot  of  the  Galtee  Mountains,  we  were  forced  to 
return  home.  The  following  day  we  made  a  fresh  start.  Being 
sadly  in  want  of  dogs,  we  took  out  a  young  pointer  who  had  never 
seen  a  bird,  but  was  tolerably  au  fait  in  the  initiatory  lessons  which 
I  have  described.  In  a  short  time  he  began  to  hunt,— made  several 
points  in  the  course  of  the  day, — and  though  every  thing  was  strange 
to  him,  (for  it  was  the  first  time  he  had  been  associated  in  the  field 
with  other  dogs, — nay,  almost  the  first  time  of  his  being  hunted  at 
all,)  yet,  from  his  comprehension  of  the  several  orders  that  he 
received,  and  perfect  obedience,  he  acquitted  himself  so  creditably, 
that  he  was  allowed,  not  only  to  be  one  of  the  best,  but  nearly  the 
very  best  broken  dog  of  the  party.  Indeed,  the  sportsmen  who  accom- 
panied the  owner  (for  three  guns  shot  together — a  mal-arrangement 
attributable  to  accidental  circumstances,  not  choice)  could  hardly  be 
persuaded  that  the  dog  had  not  been  shot  over  the  latter  end  of  the 
preceding  season. 

140.  I  name  this  instance,  and  I  can  vouch  for  its 
truth,  not  as  an  example  to  be  followed,  for  it  was  most 
injudicious  to  have  so  soon  taken  out  the  youngster 
with  companions,  but  to  prove  to  you  how  much  you 
can  effect  by  initiatory  instruction ;  indeed,  afterwards, 


86  RULES  KNOWN.  [CH.  v. 

you  will  have  little  else  to  do  than  teach  and  confirm 
your  dog  in  a  judicious  range, — his  own  sagacity  and 
increasing  experience  will  be  his  principal  guides, — for, 
consider  how  much  you  will  have  taught  him. 
141.  He  will  know — 

i.  That  he  is  to  pay  attention  to  his  whistle, — the 
whistle  that  you  design  always  to  use  to  him. 
I  mean  that,  when  he  hears  one  low  blast  on  his 
whistle  he  is  to  look  to  you  for  orders,  but  not 
necessarily  run  towards  you,  unless  he  is  out  of 
sight,  or  you  continue  whistling  (19). 
n.  That  "  Toho,"  or  the  right  arm  raised  nearly  per- 
pendicularly, means  that  he  is  to  stand  still 
(19  to  22). 

in.  That  "  Drop,"  or  the  left  arm  raised  nearly  perpen- 
dicularly, or  the  report  of  a  gun,  means  that  he 
is  to  crouch  down  with  his  head  close  to  the 
ground,  between  his  feet,  however  far  off  he  may 
be  ranging.  Greater  relaxation  in  the  position 
may  be  permitted  after  he  has  been  a  little  time 
shot  over  (23  to  27). 

IV.  That  "On,"  (the  short  word  for  " hie-on ",)  or  the 
forward  underhand  swing  of  the  right  hand, 
signifies  that  he  is  to  advance  in  a  forward 
direction  (the  direction  in  which  you  are  waving). 
This  signal  is  very  useful.  It  implies  that  you 
want  the  dog  to  hunt  ahead  of  you.  You  em- 
ploy it  also  when  you  are  alongside  of  him  at 
his  point,  and  are  desirous  of  urging  him  to 
follow  up  the  running  bird  or  birds,  and  press 
to  a  rise.  If  he  push  on  too  eagerly,  you  restrain 
him  by  slightly  raising  the  right  hand — xn.  of 
this  paragraph  (19  to  22). 
v.  That  a  wave  of  the  right*  arm  and  hand  (the  arm 


CH.  v.]  RULES  KNOWN.  87 

being  fully  extended  and  well  to  the  right)  from 
left  to  right,  means  that  he  is  to  hunt  to  the  right. 
Some  men  wave  the  left  hand  across  the  body  from 
left  to  right,  as  a  direction  to  the  dog  to  hunt  to 
the  right ;  but  that  signal  is  not  so  apparent  at 
a  distance  as  the  one  I  have  described  (36). 

VI.  That  a  wave  of  the  left  arm  from  right  to  left  (the 
arm  being  fully  extended  and  well  to  the  left), 
means  that  he  is  to  hunt  to  the  left  (36). 

vii.  That  the  "Beckon,"  the  wave  of  the  right  hand 
towards  you,  indicates  that  he  is  to  hunt  towards 
you  (37).  See  also  71. 

viii.  That  the  word  "  Heel,"  or  a  wave  of  the  right  hand 
to  the  rear  (the  reverse  of  the  underhand  cricket- 
bowler's  swing),  implies  that  he  is  to  give  up 
hunting,  and  go  directly  close  to  your  heels  (44). 

ix.  That  "Fence"  means  that  he  is  not  to  leave  the 
place  where  you  are.  After  being  so  checked  a 
few  times  when  he  is  endeavouring  to  quit  the 
field,  he  will  understand  the  word  to  be  an  order 
not  to  "break  fence"  (46,  47). 

x.  That  "Find,"  or  "Seek,"  means  that  he  is  to 
search  for  something  which  he  will  have  great 
gratification  in  discovering.  When  he  is  in  the 
field  he  will  quickly  understand  this  to  be  game 
(34,  35). 

xi.  That  "  Dead  "  (which  it  would  be  well  to  accom- 
pany with  the  signal  to  "  Heel ")  means  that 
there  is  something  not  far  off,  which  he  would 
have  great  satisfaction  in  finding.  On  hearing 
it,  he  will  come  to  you,  and  await  your  signals 
instructing  him  in  what  direction  he  is  to  hunt 
for  it.  When,  by  signals,  you  have  put  him  as 
near  as  you  can  upon  the  spot  where  you  think 


88  SHEPHERD'S  DOG.  [CH.  v. 

the  bird  has  fallen,  you  will  say,  "  Find ; "  for, 
until  you  say  that  word,  he  ought  to  be  more 
occupied  in  attending  to  your  signals  than  in 
searching  for  the  bird.  When  you  have  shot  a 
good  many  birds  to  him,  if  he  is  within  sight,  in 
order  to  work  more  silently,  omit  saying  "  Dead," 
only  signal  to  him  to  go  to  "Heel"  (19,  34,  35, 
44). 

XII.  That  "  Care  "  means  that  he  is  near  that  for  which 
he  is  hunting.  This  word,  used  with  the  right 
hand  slightly  raised  (the  signal  for  the  "  Toho," 
only  not  exhibited  nearly  so  energetically),  will 
soon  make  him  comprehend  that  game  is  near 
him,  and  that  he  is  therefore  to  hunt  cautiously. 
You  will  use  it  when  your  young  dog  is  racing 
too  fast  among  turnips  or  potatoes  (39). 
xni.  That  "Up"  means  that  he  is  to  sniff'  with  his 
nose  high  in  the  air  for  that  of  which  he  is  in 
search  (41). 

XIV.  That  "Away"  (or  "Gone,"  or  "Flown")  is  an 
indication  that  the  thing  for  which  he  was  hunt- 
ing, and  of  which  he  smells  the  taint,  is  no 
longer  there.  This  word  is  not  to  be  used  in 
the  field  until  your  young  dog  has  gained  some 
experience  (45). 

XV.  That  "Ware"  (pronounced  "War")  is  a  general 
order  to  desist  from  whatever  he  may  be  doing. 
"  No  "  is  perhaps  a  better  word :  it  can  be  pro- 
nounced more  distinctly  and  energetically.  If 
the  command  is  occasionally  accompanied  with 
the  cracking  of  your  whip,  its  meaning  will  soon 
be  understood  (47). 

xvi.  He  will  also  know  the  distinction  between  the 
chiding  term  "  Bad "  and  the  encouraging  word 


CH.  v.]  NAMES  DISSIMILAR  IN  SOUND.  89 

"  Good ; "  and,  moreover,  be  sensible,  from  your 
look  and  manner,  whether  you  are  pleased  or 
angry  with  him.  Dogs,  like  children,  are  phy- 
siognomists (40,  end  of  134). 

142.  You  will  perceive  that  you  are  advised  to  use 
the  right  hand  more  than  the  left.     This  is  only  because 
the  left  hand  is  so  generally  employed  in  carrying  the 
gun. 

143.  By  often  and  uniformly  employing  the  signals  I  have  named, 
you  will  find  it  more  easy  to  place  your  pupil,  and  make  him  hunt 
exactly  where  you  wish,  than  you  may  at  first  suppose.     In  an  open 
country  the  movements  of  sheep  are  entirely  controlled  by  dogs  ;  and 
if  you  never  have  had  the  opportunity  of  observing  it,  you  would  be 
no  less  surprised  than  interested  at  witnessing  with  what  accuracy 
a  shepherd,  standing  on  a  hill  side,  can,  by  the  motions  of  his  hand 
and  arm,  direct  his  dog  to  distant  points  in  the  valley  below.     If 
you  could  see  it,  you  would  be  satisfied  it  was  not  by  harsh  means 
that  he  obtained  such  willing,  cheerful  obedience.     His  signals  to 
the  right,  left,  and  inwards,  are  very  similar  to  those  just  described. 
He,  however,  instructs  his  dog  to  go  further  ahead,  by  using  his 
hand  and  arm  as  in  the  action  of  throwing,  but  keeping  an  open 
palm  towards  the  animal  (the  arm  raised  high) :  a  signal  undenia- 
bly more  visible  at  a  distance  than  the  one  named  in  iv.  of  141, 
though  not  generally  so  well  suited  to  the  sportsman. 

144.  You  will  also  observe,  that  when  the  voice  is 
employed  (and  this  should  be  done  only  when  the  clog 
will  not  obey  your  signals),  I  have  recommended  you  to 
make   use   of    but   one  word.     Why  should  you  say, 
"Come  to  heel,"  "Ware  breaking  fence,"  "Have  a  care?" 
If  you  speak  in  sentences,  you  may  at  times  uncon- 
sciously vary  the  words  of  the  sentence,  or  the  emphasis 
on  any  word ;  and  as  it  is  only  by  the  sound  that  you 
should  expect  a  dog  to  be  guided,  the  more  defined  and 
distinct  in  sound  the  several  commands  are,  the  better. 

145.  This  consideration  leads  to  the  remark  that,  as, 
by  nearly  universal  consent,  "Toho"  is  the  word  em- 
ployed to  tell  a  dog  to  point,  the  old  rule  is  clearly  a 
judicious  one,  never  to  call  him  "  Ponto,"  "  Sancho,"  or 


DROP"  BETTER  THAN  "DOWN." 


[CH.   V. 


by  any  name  ending  in  "  o."  Always,  too,  choose  one 
that  can  be  hallooed  in  a  sharp,  loud,  high  key.  You 
will  find  the  advantage  of  this  whenever  you  lose  your 
dog,  and  happen  not  to  have  a  whistle.  Observe,  also, 
if  you  have  several  dogs,  to  let  their  names  be  dis- 
similar in  sound. 

146.  I  have  suggested  your  employing  the  word 
"  Drop,"  instead  of  the  usual  word  "  Down,"  because  it 
is  less  likely  to  be  uttered  by  any  one  on  whom  the  dog 
might  jump  or  fawn  ;  for,  on  principle,  I  strongly  object 
to  any  order  being  given  which  is  not  strictly  enforced. 
It  begets  in  a  dog,  as  much  as  in  the  nobler  animal  who 
walks  on  two  legs,  habits  of  inattention  to  words  of 
command,  and  ultimately  makes  greater  severity  neces- 


DEAF  TO  THE  VOICE  OF  PERSUASION.— Par.  148. 

sary.     If  I  felt  certain  I  should  never  wish  to  part  with 
a  dog  I  was  instructing,  I  should  carry  this  principle  so 


CH.  v.]  A  SOLICITOR. 

far  as  to  frame  a  novel  vocabulary,  and  never  use  any 
word  I  thought  he  would  be  likely  to  hear  from  others, 
By  the  bye,  whenever  you  purchase  a  dog,  it  would  be 
advisable  to  ascertain  what  words  of  command,  and 
what  signals  he  has  been  accustomed  to. 

147.  The  fair  sex,  though  possessing  unbounded  and  most  proper 
influence  over  us,  notoriously  have  but  little   control  over  their 
canine  favourites.     This,  however,  solely  arises  from  their  seldom 
enforcing  obedience  to  the  orders  which  they  give  them. 

148.  If  a  lady  takes  a  dog  out  for  a  walk,  she  keeps  constantly 
calling  to  it,  lest  it  should  go  astray  and  be  lost.    The  result  is,  that 
ere  long,  the  dog  pays  not  the  slightest  attention  to  her,  his  own 
sagacity  telling  him  that  he  need  not  trouble  himself  to  watch  her, 
as  she  will  be  sure  to  look  after  him.     But  she  can  plead  a  charming 
authority  for  her  weakness, — Charles  Lamb — who  felt  obliged  to 
follow  wherever  "  Dash  "  chose  to  lead  ;  for  "  Dash  "  soon  found  out 
that  he  might  take  what  liberties  he  pleased  with  "  Elia." 

149.  There  is  also  a  varying  in  the  manner,  tone  of  voice,  and 
words  of  command,  which  generally  prevents  the  success  of  ladies 
in  teaching  a  four-footed  pet  any  tricks  beyond  the  art  of  begging. 


A  SOLICITOR. 

This  feat  they  accomplish  because  they  cannot  well  deviate  from  the 
beaten  path.  They  naturally  hold  the  animal  in  a  proper  position 
while  they  say,  "  Beg ;  beg,  sir,  beg ; "  and  do  not  give  him  the 
reward  until  he  has  obeyed  orders  more  or  less  satisfactorily. 

150.  Honesty  compels  us  to  give  them  credit  for  more  temper 
and  patience  than  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  sterner  sex ;  and  if  they 
would  but  pursue  one  steady,  uniform,  consistent  plan,  they  might 
(sitting  in  a  begging  attitude  not  being  naturally  an  agreeable 


92  PARASOL  EXCHANGED  FOR  BUN.  [CH.  v. 

position  for  a  dog)  quite  as  easily  teach  him  to  dance, — hold  a  pipe 
in  his  mouth, — stand  up  in  a  corner, — give  the  right  or  left  paw, — 
shut  the  door, — pull  the  bell  rope, — leap  over  a  parasol, — or  drag 
forth  his  napkin,  and  spread  it  as  a  table-cloth  at  dinner-time,*  &c. ; 
and,  by  following  the  method  elsewhere  explained  (96,  107,  109,) 
seldom  lose  anything  in  their  walks,  as  their  faithful  companion 
would  almost  invariably  be  on  the  alert  to  pick  up  and  carry  to 
them  whatever  they  might  drop.  It  is  in  this  manner  that  dogs 
are  sometimes  made  very  useful  assistants  at  cricket.  A  golf-ball 

maker  at  St.  Andrew's,  A n  R n,  employs  his  dog  yet  more 

usefully — at  least  more  profitably.  He  has  taught  the  animal  to 
search  the  links  by  himself  for  balls,  and  to  take  home  all  he  finds. 
Until  the  introduction  of  the  universally  applied  gutta  percha,  the 
price  of  golf-balls  was  two  shillings  each.  It  may,  therefore,  be 
easily  imagined  that  the  diligent  little  fellow  paid  liberally  for  his 
board  and  lodging.  But  the  trick  of  carrying  has  been  made  as 
serviceable  to  the  dog  as  to  his  master. 

151.  A  cousin  of  one  of  my  brother  officers,  Colonel  A n,  was 

taking  a  walk  in  the  year  '49,  at  Tonbridge  Wells,  when  a  strange 
Newfoundland  made  a  snatch  at  the  parasol  she  held  loosely  in  her 
hand,  and  quietly  carried  it  off.     His  jaunty  air  and  wagging  tail 
plainly  told,  as  he  marched  along,  that  he  was  much  pleased  at  his 
feat.    The  lady  civilly  requested  him  to  restore  it.    This  he  declined, 
but  in  so  gracious  a  manner,  that  she  essayed,  though  ineffectually, 
to  drag  it  from  him.     She  therefore  laughingly,  albeit  unwillingly, 
was  constrained  to  follow  her  property  rather  than  abandon  it  alto- 
gether.    The  dog  kept  ahead,  constantly  looking  round  to  see  if 
she  followed,  and  was  evidently  greatly  pleased  at  perceiving  that 
she  continued  to  favour  him  with  her  company.     At  length,  he 
stepped  into  a  confectioner's,  where  the  lady  renewed  her  attempts 
to  obtain  possession  of  her  property  ;  but  as  the  Newfoundland 
would  not  resign  it,  she  applied  to  the  shopman  for  assistance,  who 
said  that  it  was  an  old  trick  of  the  dog's  to  get  a  bun  ;  that  if  she 
would  give  him  one,  he  would  immediately  return  the  stolen  goods. 
She  cheerfully  did  so,  and  the  dog  as  willingly  made  the  exchange. 

152.  I'll  be  bound  the  intelligent  animal  was  no  mean  observer 
of  countenances,  and  that  he  had  satisfied  himself,  by  a  previous 
scrutiny,  as  to  the  probability  of  his  delinquencies  being  forgiven. 

153.  "Carrying"  is  a  pretty — occasionally,  as  we  see, 
a  useful — trick,  but  it  does  not  further  any  sporting- 
object.       "Carrying"   and   " fetching "    are   essentially 

*  A  trick  that  historical  research  worthy  son  of  the    "  Dearest-  of- 

probably  would  show  to  have  been  men,"  as  he  used  to  be  called  by 

devised  in  a  conclave  of  house-  his  fond  mistress,  who,  I  need  not 

maids,  and  which  was  constantly  say,  had  no  children  of  her  own 

performed  by  one   of  ray  oldest  on  whom  to  lavish  her  caresses, 
acquaintances,  "Little-brush,"  a 


CH.  v.]  TRICKS  ABLY  PERFORMED.  9 

different.  The  object  chiefly  sought  in  the  latter  is  to 
make  the  dog  deliver  expeditiously  (IQ1\ — in  the  former, 
to  make  him  carry  perseveringly  for  miles  and  miles. 
To  inculcate  carrying,  always  make  him  suppose  that 
you  greatly  regard  what  is  confided  to  his  charge. 
Many  a  good  carrier  is  spoiled  by  children  picking 
up  any  stick  and  giving  it  to  him.  He  has  the  sense 
to  know  that  it  is  valueless,  and  when  he  is  tired  of  the 
fun,  he  drops  it  unrebvked,  and,  after  a  time,  is  supplied 
with  another.  If  you  practise  a  pup  in  carrying  a  stick, 
show  more  discretion  than  to  let  it  be  so  long  that  it 
must  jar  against  his  teeth  by  trailing  on  the  ground,  or 
hitting  the  walls. 

154.  Being  on  the  subject  of  tricks,  as  several  ladies  have  done 
me  the  unexpected  but  highly  appreciated  honour  of  reading  what 
I  have  said  respecting  their  four-footed  attendants,  I  think  it  as 
well  to  observe,  should  they  be  tempted  to  teach  a  favourite  any 
accomplishments,  that  these  should  be  practised  occasionally,  or 
they  may  be  forgotten,  (all  the  sooner,  like  more  serious  studies,  the 
more  easily  they  were  acquired  ;)  and  that  the  exhibition  of  them 
might  be  made  much  more  effective  and  striking  by  a  little  exer- 
cise, on  the  ladies'  part,  of  the  address  and  tact  with  which  Dame 
Nature  has  so  liberally  endowed  them. 

155.  Quite  a  sensation  was  created  many  years  ago,  at  Tonbridge 

Wells,  by  the  Hon.  C.  D s,  who  possessed  a  dog  which  had  been 

taught  by  a  former  master,  for  very  unlawful  purposes,  to  fetch, 
when  ordered,  any  article  to  which  his  owner  had  slily  directed  the 
animal's  attention. 

156.  The   gentleman  was  walking  up   and   down  the  crowded 
Pantiles,  listening  to  the  public  band,  and  playing  the  agreeable  to 
a   titled  lady,  whom  he  subsequently  married  ;  when,  bowing  to 
some  passing  acquaintance,  he  casually  observed,  "  How  badly  my 
hat  has  been  brushed  !  "  at  the  same  time  giving  the  private  signal 
to  the  dog,  who  instantly  ran  off  to  one  of  the  adjacent  toy-shops, 
and  brought  away  the  hat-brush  which  his  master  had  pointed  out 
to  him  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  before. 

157.  As  Mr.  D s  kept  his  own  counsel,  the  lady  and  many  of 

their  friends,  as  well  as  the  pursuing  shopman,  fancied  the  dog  had 
sufficient  intelligence  to  understand  what  had  been  said,  and  had, 
from  his  own  sagacity,  volunteered  fetching  what  he  conceived  was 
required. 

158.  The  barrack-rooms  at  Gibraltar  used  not  to  be  furnished 
with  bells.     An  officer  of  the  Artillery,  quartered  on  the  Rock 


94  ELEPHANT'S  TRICKS. 

while  I  was  there,  and,  by  the  bye,  so  good  a  player  at  draughts, 
that  he  used  to  aver — and  his  unusual  skill  seemed  to  prove  the 
correctness  of  the  assertion — that,  if  he  had  the  first  move,  he 
could  win  to  a  certainty,  was  accustomed  to  summon  his  servant  by 
sending  his  dog  for  him.  On  getting  the  signal,  away  the  Maltese 
poodle  would  go,  not  much  impeded  by  closed  doors  in  that  hot 
climate,  and,  by  a  bark,  inform  the  man  that  he  was  wanted. 

159.  The  daily  routine  of  a  quiet  bachelor's  life  is  so  unvaried  in 
those  barracks,  that  the  servant  could  generally  guess  wrhat  was 
required  ;  and  visitors  were  often  surprised  at  hearing  the  officer 

(Major  F e)  say  to  his  dog,  "  Tell  John  to  bring  my  sword  and 

cap,"  or  "  the  breakfast,"  &c.  and  still  more  surprised  at  seeing  that 
such  orders  were  punctually  obeyed. 

160.  But  for  exhibiting  tricks  with  effect  doubtless  my  old  warm- 
hearted friend  K g,  (elsewhere  mentioned  450,)  bears  off  the 

palm.     He  brought  two  young  elephants  to  England  from  Ceylon  ; 
one  he  secured  when  it  was  a  mere  baby,  and  would  not  quit  the 
side  of  its  dam  after  he  had  shot  her.     The  other  was  about  seven 
feet  high.     He  had  taught  them  several  tricks  before  they  em- 
barked, and  during  the  long  voyage  home,  passed  on  deck,  they 
had  learned  many  others  from  the  sailors,  and,  when  needed,  would 
usefully  help  in  giving  "  a  long  pull, — a  strong  pull, — and  a  pull  all 
together." 

161.  General  B g  having  spoken  to  the  Duchess  of  Y k 

about  the  little  animals,  she  happened  to  say  she  would  like  to 

possess  the  smallest ;  of  course  K g  was  too  gallant  a  man  not 

to  send  it  at  once  to  Oatlands.     George  the  Fourth  heard  of  the 
other ;  and  on  some  of  his  staff  mentioning  that  it  would  be  acceptable 
to  His  Majesty,  it  went  to  the  Pavilion  at  Brighton.     It  was  kept 
there  until  they  were  tired  of  it,  when  it  was  transferred  to  the 

Tower.     Hearing  of  its  being  there,  K~ -g  one  morning  went  into 

the  menagerie.     An  officer  of  the  Guards,  on  duty  at  the  Tower, 
was  at  the  moment  seeing  the  animals  with  a  party  of  ladies  ; 

K g  was  in  a  hurry,  and  inquired  where  the  elephant  was, 

saying  he  had  come  expressly  to  have  a  look  at  him  and  nothing 
else.     The  officer  very  good-humouredly  observed  that  it  mattered 
not   what  beasts  they  saw  first,  so  the  party  adjourned  to  the 

elephant.      K g  urged  the  keeper  to  go  into  the  den  to  show 

him  off,  but  the  man  said  the  animal  had  so  recently  arrived  there 

that  he  was  afraid.     K g  offered  to  go  in.     The  man  refused 

leave,  stating  it  was  more  than  his  situation  was  worth  to  permit  it. 

K g  pressed  to  be   allowed.      The  officer  warmly  urged  the 

keeper  to  comply,  *•  as  the  gentleman  felt  so  confident,"  and  the 

keeper  wavering,  K g,  without  saying  another  word,  squeezed 

himself   through  the   massive   oak   bars,  went  up  boldly  to  the 
elephant,  put  his  hand  on  his  shoulder  as  he  use  I  to  do  in  old 
days  ;  the  sagacious  brute  at  once  obeyed  the  signal  and  lay  down, 
got  up  again  when  desired,  salaamed  to  the  ladies,  held  a  foot  out 

for  K g  to  stand  on,  then  raised  it  up  to  aid  K g  in  getting 

on  his  back,  and  afterwards  lay  down  to  enable  his  old  master  to 


CH.  v.]  LADIES'  DOGS  OVERFED.  95 

dismount  conveniently.      K g  then  tickled  him  to  make  him 

kick,  which  the   awkward  looking  beast  did  in  a  very  laughable 
manner,   and   the   laugh   of   the   spectators    was   not   diminished 

by  his  squeezing  K g  so  close  into  a  corner,  that  he  could  only 

escape  by  slipping  under  the  creature's  belly.      K g  finished 

the  exhibition  by  making  him  turn  round,  and  again  salaam  the 
company. 

162.  I  will  not  swear  that  K g,  who  has  much  quiet  humour, 

did  not  propose  going  into  any  other  den  and  show  off  all  the  lions 
and  tigers  in  a  similar  manner,  but  he  found,  of  course  unexpectedly, 
on  looking  at  his  watch,  that  he  was  obliged  to  hurry  off  instantly. 
The  delighted  and  bewildered  keeper  entreated  him  to  reveal  the 

secret  by  which  such  marvellous  feats  were  performed.     K g 

promised  to  do  so  on  his  return  to  London  ;  and  he  would  have 
kept  his  wofd,  had  not  the  poor  elephant  soon  afterwards  died  in 
cutting  his  tusks.     So  the  man  to  this  day,  for  all  I  know  to  the 
contrary,  thinks  my  friend  little  less  than  a  necromancer. 

163.  It  is  to  be  observed  that  ladies'  dogs  are  generally  so  pam- 
pered and  overfed  that  a  common  reward  does  not  stimulate  them 
to  exertion  in  the  same  degree  it  does  dogs  less  favoured.     I  should 


REPLETE  WITH  GOOD  THINGS. 


speak  more  correctly  if  I  said  less  fed  ;  for  I  am  ungallant  enough 
to  fancy,  that  an  unpacked  canine  jury  would  consider  the  good 


96  TEOUT  TAMED.  [CH.  v. 

health,  high  spirits,  and  keen  appetite  of  the  latter,  a  fair  set-off 
against  the  delicacies  and  caresses  bestowed  by  the  prettiest  and 
most  indulgent  of  mistresses.  Though  the  collie  is  the  shepherd's 
constant  companion,  the  shepherd  well  knows  that  always  petting 

the   dog  would  spoil  him.      Sir  J s   M e,  a  Highlander, 

observed  to  his  gamekeeper,  that  he  never  saw  the  shepherds 
coaxing  and  caressing  their  collies.  "True,"  the  man  replied, 
"  but  you  never  saw  one  strike  his  dog  ;  he  is  always  kind  to  them." 
Hear  this,  ye  ladies,  who  would  be  right  glad  that  your  pretty  pets 
were  a  hundred  times  more  obedient  than  you  find  them. 

164.  There  are  few  animals  whose  confidence,  if  not  attachment, 
may  not  be  gained  by  constant  kindness  without  petting.     One 

summer's  morning  I  walked  from  Ross  to  breakfast  with  Mr.  G s 

at  his  picturesque  old-fashioned  house,  built  near  a  small  tributary 
to  the  Wye.     I  was  specially  invited  to  see  some  tame  trout,  whose 

timidity  Mr.  C s  had  overcome  by  feeding  them  regularly  every 

day.     Until  he  made  his  appearance  near  the  waters,  not  a  fish  was 
visible  ;  and  it  was  very  interesting  to  watch  the  perfect  confidence 
they  evinced,  I  might  add  pleasure,  whenever  he  approached  the 
banks.     He  said  he  felt  sure  he  could  get  them  to  feed  out  of  his 
hands,  if  he  chose  to  devote  sufficient  time  to  them.     There  was 
one  fine  fellow  for  whom  all  the  rest  most  respectfully  made  way. 
He  weighed  close  upon  5  Ibs.     This  was  proved  ;    for  a   party, 
whose  name  I  dare  not  mention,  secretly  caught  the  animal  in  order 
to  weigh  it,  and  though  he  immediately  replaced  it  in  the  water 
perfectly  uninjured,  yet  its  old  distrust  was  so  much  re-awakened 

that  it  hid  itself  for  four  or  five  months.     Mr.  C s  naturally 

thought  that  it  had  been  captured  by  some  poacher,  and  had  met 
with  the  same  unlucky  fate  as  a  former  favourite,  of  still  larger 
dimensions,  which  a  newly-hired  cook  had   contrived  to   secure 
whilst  it  was  basking  in  the  shallows  ;  and  had  served  up  at  dinner 
time,  in  the  full  expectation  of  receiving  much  commendation  for 
her  piscatory  skill. 

165.  Judicious  perseverance, — in  other  words,  consistency, — will 
not  only  teach  accomplishments,  but  correct  bad  manners.      The 
oldest  friend  I  possess  used  to  allow  a  favourite  dog  to  sleep  in  his 
bed-room.     The  animal,  though  he  had  a  very  short,  clean  coat,  was 
always  more  or  less  annoyed  by  those  nimblest  of  tormentors  *  to 


*  It  is  astonishing  what  myriads  be  some  intimate,  however  mys- 

of  fleas  are  bred  in  the  sand  in  terions,    connexion  between    the 

many  hot  countries.    When  walk-  two.     In  India  the  natives  expel 

ing  along  some  of  the  roads  during  the  intruders  from  their  houses  by 

the  spring,  numbers  of  the  little  strewing  fresh  saffron  leaves  about 

creatures  will  pay  you  the  com-  the  rooms  ;  and  a  decoction  from 

pliment  of  attaching  themselves  these  said  leaves,  applied  liberally 

to   your   dress   and   person.      At  to  a  dog's  coat,  rids  him  of  the 

Bermuda  they  so  regularly  make  unwelcome  visitors,  however  nu- 

their  appearance  with  the  whales,  merous.      I   have  read  that   the 

that  the  Niggers  think  there  must  same  good  effect  will  be  produced 


CH.  v.l  JUDICIOUS  PERSEVERANCE.  97 

be  found  in  most  countries,  particularly  in  warm  ones  ;  and  there 
being  no  carpet  in  the  room,  his  scratching  at  night,  as  you  may 
well  imagine,  made  a  loud,  disagreeable  thumping  against  the 
boards,  which  invariably  awoke  my  friend  (&  very  light  sleeper), 
and  he  as  invariably  scolded  the  dog.  This  undeviating  consistency 
made  the  dog  at  length  entirely  relinquish  the  obnoxious  practice, 
until  his  master  was  fairly  awake,  or  at  least  had  begun  to  stretch 
and  yawn. 

166.  Now,  I  want  you  to  observe,  that  had  the  noise  but  only 
occasionally  awakened  my  friend,  however  much  he  might  then 
have  scolded,  the  dog  would  not  have  given  up  the  habit ;  he 
would  constantly  have  entertained  the  hope  that  he  might  endeavour 
to  remove  his  tiny  persecutors  unreproved,  and  the  temptation 
would  have  outweighed  the  risk.  It  would  have  been  inconsistent 
to  have  frequently  but  not  always  checked  him.  I  know  a  lady, 
possessing  great  perseverance  and  temper,  who  has  taught  even  cats 
many  tricks — nay,  since  the  last  edition  of  this  book  was  printed  I 
have  heard  of  several  ladies  having  most  successfully  educated  dogs 

for  the  field.     A  very  pleasant  girl,  Miss  G h,  almost  a  stranger 

to  me,  who  sat  next  to  me  at  a  large  dinner-party  about  a  year  ago, 
asked  me  in  the  course  of  conversation  whether  I  was  related  to  the 
author  of  "  Dog-Breaking," — and  then  greatly  gratified  me  by  say- 
ing that  her  sister  had  broken  in  several  Pointers  for  her  brother,  a 
M.F.H.  She  spoke  of  one  particular  1st  of  September,  when  her 
sister  was  rather  nervous  as  a  well-known  keen  sportsman  had  been 
invited  to  shoot,  and  a  young  well-bred  dog,  solely  tutored  by 
herself,  was  to  bear  his  first  shot — but  at  dinner-time  she  was  amply 
recompensed  for  all  the  trouble  she  had  taken  by  having  the  delight 
of  learning  that  her  pupil  had  performed  admirably,  and  had  under- 
stood and  been  attentive  to  every  signal.  I  asked  how  it  was  that 


if  his  hair  be  well  wetted  with  a  ment.  By  a  colonial  law  no  charge 
solution  of  the  gum  of  the  sloe-  can  be  made  for  the  flesh  of  the 
tree  in  water.  Fourteen  grains  fish.  Every  comer  has  a  right  to 
of  the  gum  to  one  quart  of  water.  carry  off  as  much  of  the  meat  as 
The  capture  of  the  whale,  by  he  may  require,  but  no  blubber. 
the  bye,  at  Bermuda,  affords  sport  On  a  whale  being  killed,  a  well- 
as  exciting  as  it  is  profitable.  The  known  signal,  hoisted  at  the  seve- 
fish  are  struck  within  sight  of  the  ral  look-out  posts,  quickly  informs 
Islands,  and  as  the  water  is  shoal,  the  coloured  inhabitants  of  the 
owing  to  sandbanks,  a  short  line  successful  seizure,  and  whether  it 
is  employed.  By  this  line  the  has  been  effected  at  the  north  or 
stricken  animal  tows  the  har-  south  side.  Numerous  claimants 
pooner's  boat  along  with  fearful  then  hurry  off,  on  foot  or  in  boat, 
rapidity,  an  immense  wave  curling  to  secure  a  sufficiency  for  several 
far  above  the  high  bow.  The  flesh  days'  consumption,  of  a  food  they 
of  the  young  whale  is  excellent, —  prize  far  more  than  beef  or  mutton, 
very  like  veal, — and  with  the  black  What  is  not  immediately  used  is 
population  the  whaling  season  is  cut  into  strips,  and  dried  in  the 
one  of  great  feasting  and  enjoy-  sun. 


98  WIN  AFFECTION.  [CH.  v. 

the  youngster  was  not  alarmed  at  the  report  of  the  gun.  She 
replied  that  it  was  doubtless  attributable  to  his  perfect  confidence 
that  he  should  not  be  hurt,  as  he  had  never  undergone  any  punish- 
ing during  the  whole  course  of  his  training. 

167.  Ladies'  pets  are  a  proof  that  dogs  can,  as  easily  as  children, 
be  effectually  spoiled  by  injudicious  kindness ;  but  canine  nature 
contrasts  with  infant  nature  in  this,  that  no  petting  or  spoiling  will 
withdraw  a  dog's  affection  from  the  individual  to  whom  he  first 
becomes  attached  in  a  new  home,  provided  that  person  continues 
but  decently  civil  to  him.     And  be  this  a  caution  to  you.     If  ever 
you  have  a  stranger  to  instruct,  let  no  one  but  yourself  associate 
with  or  feed  him  for  many  days  after  his  arrival.     You  may  then 
feel   assured   of    afterwards  possessing  his    unrivalled  affections, 
especially  if  to  you  alone  he  is  to  be  grateful  for  his  enjoyment  in 
the  field  ;  and  you  must  win  his  affection,  or  he  will  not  strive  to 
his  utmost  to  assist  you. 

168.  A  well-known  poaching  character, — though  ostensibly,  and 
by  profession,  a  dog-breaker,— was  remarkable   for  the  fondness 
immediately  evinced  for  him  by  all  dogs  placed  under  his  care.     He 
was  not  particular  about  his  dress  ;  and  it  at  length  transpired  that 
it  was  his  custom  to  make  up  a  bed,  for  all  new  comers,  in  his  room, 
of  the  clothes  he  had  just  taken  off.     This  so  habituated  the  dogs 
to  the  scent  of  his  person,  by  night  as  well  as  by  day,  that  they 
became  unwilling  to  quit  it,  especially  as  the  man  was  naturally 
good-tempered,  nnd  always  treated  them  with  great  kindness. 

169.  Captain  Parry  relates  of  the  Esquimaux  dogs,  that  they  are 
far  more  attached, — from  kindnesses  received  in  youth, — to  the 
women,  than  to  the  men  ;  and  that,  consequently,  the  latter,  it)  all 
cases  of  difficulty,  are  obliged  to  apply  to  their  wives  to  catch  the 
almost  woolly  animals,  and  coax  them  to  draw  unusually  heavy 
loads.     The  beloved  voice  of  the  women  will  control  and  animate 
the  dogs  to  exertion,  at  a  time  when  the  words  of  the  men  would 
be  powerless,  and  their  blows  only  produce  irritation  or  obstinacy. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FIRST  LESSON  IX  SEPTEMBER  COMMENCED.     RANGING. 

170.  Regular  Breakers  make  Dogs  "point"  paired  birds  in  Spring;  tends  to 
blinking. — 171.  Better  not  to  see  Game  until  shot  over;  taken  out  alone  on 
a  fine  day  in  September.— 172.  Perpetually  whistling  to  animate  dogs,  inju- 
dicious.—173.  Beat  largest  Fields,  and  where  least  likely  to  find  Game.— 
174.  Commence  from  leeward;  Scent  bad  in  a  calm  or  gale;  observations  on 
Scent;  it  differently  affects  Pointers  and  Setters;  see  Note.— 175  to  179.  In- 
structions in  "  ranging." — 180.  Kept  from  hedge ;  Range  greater  on  moors  than 
stubble. — 181.  Distance  between  Parallels  dependent  on  tenderness  of  nose. — 
182.  A  point  at  Partridge  a  hundred  yards  off. — 183.  At  Grouse  a  hundred  and 

fifty  yards  off;  Mr.  L g*s  opinion  of  distance  at  which  Dogs  wind  birds. — 

184.  If  the  Dog  is  to  hunt  with  another,  the  Parallels  to  be  further  apart.— 185.  No 
interruption  when  winding  birds,  yet  not  allowed  to  puzzle;  Nose  to  gain 
experience. — 186.  Birds  lie  well  to  Dog  that  "winds,"  not  "foots"  them. — 

187.  White  Dogs  most  visible  to  birds  and  to  ymi;  a  disadvantage  and  advan- 
tage; white  Feet  often  not  good;  feet  of  Setters  better  than  of  Pointers.— 

188.  Inattentive  to  Whistle,  made  to  "drop,"  <fcc. ;  when  rating  or  punishing, 
the  disregarded  order  or  signal  to  be  often  repeated;  Whip  to  crack  loudly. — 

189.  The  attainment  of  a  scientific  Range  difficult,  but  of  surpassing  value ;  the 
best  ranger  must  in  the  end  find  most  game. 

170.  A  KEEPER  nearly  always  breaks  in  his  young 
dogs  to  point,  (or  "  set "  as  some  term  it)  if  their  ages 
permit  it,  on  favourable  days  in  Spring,  when  the  par- 
tridges have  paired.*  He  gets  plenty  of  points,  and 
the  birds  lie  well.  But  I  cannot  believe  it  is  the  best 
way  to  attain  great  excellence,  though  the  plan  has 
many  followers :  it  does  not  cultivate  the  intelligence 
of  his  pupils,  nor  enlarge  their  ideas  by  making  them 
sensible  of  the  object  for  which  such  pains  are  taken  in 
hunting  them.  Moreover,  their  natural  ardour  (a  feeling 
that  it  should  be  his  aim  rather  to  increase  than  weaken) 
is  more  or  less  damped  by  having  often  to  stand  at 

*  In  ordinary  seasons  inime-  —before  the  birds  have  made  their 
diately  after  St.  Valentine's  Day,  nests. 

H2 


100  "BREAKING"  IN  PAIRING  SEASON.          [en.  vi. 

game,  before  they  can  be  rewarded  for  their  exertions 
by  having  it  killed  to  them, — it  prevents,  rather  than 
imparts,  the  zeal  and  perseverance  for  which  Irish  dogs 
are  so  remarkable  (565).  Particularly  ought  a  breaker, 
whose  pupil  is  of  a  nervous  temperament,  or  of  too 
gentle  a  disposition,  to  consider  well  that  the  want  of 
all  recompence  for  finding  paired  birds,  must  make 
a  timid  dog  far  more  likely  to  become  a  "blinker," 
when  he  is  checked  for  not  pointing  them,  than  when 
he  is  checked  for  not  pointing  birds,  which  his  own 
impetuosity  alone  deprives  him  of  every  chance  of 
rapturously  "touseling."  (See  also  end  of  280.)  The 
very  fact  that  "  the  birds  lie  well "  frequently  leads  to 
mischief;  for,  if  the  instructor  be  not  very  watchful, 
there  is  a  fear  that  his  youngsters  may  succeed  in 
getting  too  close  to  their  game  before  he  forces  them 
to  come  to  a  stanch  point.  A  keeper,  however,  has 
but  little  choice,  (and  it  is  not  a  bad  time  to  teach 
the  back,)  if  his  master  insist  upon  shooting  over  the 
animals  the  first  day  of  the  season,  and  expect  to  find 
them  what  some  call  "perfectly  broken  in."  But 
I  trust  some  few  of  my  readers  may  have  nobler 
ends  in  view,  and  that  they  will  cheerfully  sacrifice 
a  little  of  their  shooting  the  first  week  of  the  season,  to 
ensure  super-excellence  in  their  pupils  at  its  close.  Ee- 
member,  I  do  not  object  to  spring  drilling,  (vide  131) 
but  to  much  spring  pointing. 

171.  I  will  suppose  your  youngster  to  have  been  well 
grounded  in  his  initiatory  lessons,  and  that  you  take 
him  out  when  the  crops  are  nearly  off  the  ground  (by 
which  time  there  will  be  few  squeakers)  on  a  fine  cool 
day  in  September,  (alas  !  that  it  cannot  be  an  August 
day  on  the  moors,)  to  show  him  birds  for  the  first  time. 
As  he  is  assumed  to  be  highly  bred,  you  may  start  in 


en.  vi.]    CONSTANT  LOW  WHISTLE  INJUDICIOUS.  101 

the  confident  expectation  of  killing  partridges  over  him, 
especially  if  he  be  a  pointer.  Have  his  nose  moist  and 
healthy.  Take  him  out  when  the  birds  are  on  the  feed, 
and  of  an  afternoon  in  preference  to  the  morning, 
(unless  from  an  unusually  dry  season  there  be  but  little 
scent,)  that  he  may  not  be  attracted  by  the  taint  of 
hares  or  rabbits.  Take  him  out  alone,  if  he  evince  any 
disposition  to  hunt,  which,  at  the  age  we  will  presume 
him  to  have  attained  this  season,  \ve  must  assume 
that  he  will  do,  and  with  great  zeal.  Be  much  guided 
by  his  temper  and  character.  Should  he  possess  great 
courage  and  dash,  you  cannot  begin  too  soon  to  make 
him  point.  You  should  always  check  a  wild  dog  in 
racing  after  pigeons  and  small  birds  on  their  rising  ; 
whereas  you  should  encourage  a  timid  dog  (one  who 
clings  to  "heel")  in  such  a  fruitless  but  exciting  chase. 
The  measures  to  be  pursued  with  such  an  animal  are 
fully  detailed  in  132,  133. 

172.  I  may  as  well  caution  you  against  adopting  the 
foolish  practice  of  attempting  to  cheer  on  your  dog  with 
a  constant  low  whistle,  under  the  mistaken  idea  that  it 
will  animate  him  to  increased  zeal  in  hunting.     From 
perpetually  hearing  the   monotonous   sound,  it  would 
prove  as  little  of  an  incentive  to  exertion  as  a  continued 
chirrup  to  a  horse;   and  yet  if  habituated  to  it,  your 
dog  would  greatly  miss  it  whenever  hunted  by  a  stran- 
ger.    Not  unregarded,   however,  would   it   be   by  the 
birds,  to  whom  on  a  calm  day  it  would  act  as  a  very 
salutary  warning. 

173.  Though  you  have  not  moors,  fortunately  we  can 
suppose  your  fields  to  be  of  a  good  size.     Avoid  all 
which  have  been  recently  manured.     Select  those  that 
are  large,  and  in  which  you  are  the  least  likely  to  find 
birds    until  his  spirits  are  somewhat  sobered,  and  he 


102 


SCENT  INEXPLICABLE. 


[CH.  VI. 


begins  partly  to  comprehend  your  instructions  respect- 
ing his  range.  There  is  no  reason  why  he  should  not 
have  been  taken  out  a  few  days  before  this,  not  to  show 
him  birds,  but  to  have  commenced  teaching  him  how  to 
traverse  his  ground.  Indeed,  if  we  had  supposed  him 
of  a  sufficient  age  (132),  he  might  by  this  time  be  some- 
what advanced  towards  a  systematic  beat.  It  is  seeing 
many  birds  early  that  is  to  be  deprecated,  not  his  being 
taught  how  to  range. 

174.  Be  careful  to  enter  every  field  at  the  leeward* 
side  (about  the  middle),  that  he  may  have  the  wind  to 
work  against.  Choose  a  day  when  there  is  a  breeze, 
but  not  a  boisterous  one.  In  a  calm,  the  scent  is  sta- 
tionary, and  can  hardly  be  found  unless  accidentally. 
In  a  gale  it  is  scattered  to  the  four  quarters,  f  You 


*  "  Leeward" — a  nautical  phrase 
— here  meaning  the  side  towards 
which  the  wind  blows  from  the 
field.  If  you  entered  elsewhere, 
the  dog  while  ranging  would  be 
tempted,  from  the  natural  bearing 
of  his  nose  towards  the  wind,  to 
come  back  upon  you,  making  his 
first  turn  inwards  instead  of  out- 
wards. 

•h  But,  independently  of  these 
obvious  reasons,  scent  is  affected 
by  causes  into  the  nature  of  which 
none  of  us  can  penetrate.  There 
is  a  contrariety  in  it  that  ever  has 
puzzled,  and  apparently  ever  will 
puzzle,  the  most  observant  sports- 
man (whether  a  lover  of  the  chase 
or  gun),  and  therefore,  in  igno- 
rance of  the  doubtless  immutable, 
though  to  us  inexplicable,  laws 
by  which  it  is  regulated,  we  are 
contented  to  call  it  "capricious." 
Immediately  before  heavy  rain 
there  frequently  is  none.  It  is 
undeniable  that  moisture  will  at 
one  time  destroy  it, — at  another 
bring  it.  That  on  certain  days — 
in  slight  frost,  for  instance,— 


setters  will  recognise  it  better 
than  pointers,  and,  on  the  other 
hand,  that  the  nose  of  the  latter 
will  prove  far  superior  after  a  long 
continuance  of  dry  weather,  and 
this  even  when  the  setter  has  been 
furnished  with  abundance  of  water, 
— which  circumstance  pleads  in 
favour  of  hunting  pointers  and 
setters  together.  The  argument 
against  it,  is  the  usual  inequality 
of  their  pace,  and,  to  the  eye  of 
some  sportsmen,  the  wrant  of  har- 
mony in  their  appearance.  Should 
not  this  uncertainty  respecting  the 
recognition  of  scent  teach  us  not 
to  continue  hunting  a  good  dog 
who  is  frequently  making  mis- 
takes, but  rather  to  keep  him  at 
"  heel "  for  an  hour  or  two  ?  He 
will  consider  it  a  kind  of  punish- 
ment, and  be  doubly  careful  when 
next  enlarged.  Moreover,  he  may 
be  slightly  feverish  from  over- 
work, or  he  may  have  come  in 
contact  with  some  impurity, — in 
either  of  which  cases  his  nose 
would  be  temporarily  out  of 
order. 


CH.  vi.  INSTRUCTIONS  IN  KANGING.  103 

want  not  an  undirected  ramble,  but  a  judicious  tra- 
versing beat  under  your  own  guidance,  which  shall 
leave  no  ground  unexplored,  and  yet  have  none  twice 
explored. 

175.  Suppose  the  form  of  the  field,  as  is  usually  the 
case,  to  approach  a  parallelogram  or  square,  and  that 
the  wind  blows  in  any  direction  but  diagonally  across 
it.  On  entering  at  the  leeward  side  send  the  dog  from 
you  by  a  wave  of  your  hand  or  the  word  "  On."  You 
wish  him,  while  you  are  advancing  up  the  middle  of  it, 
to  cross  you  at  right-angles,  say  from  right  to  left, — then 
to  run  up-wind  for  a  little,  parallel  to  your  own  direc- 
tion, and  afterwards  to  recross  in  front  of  you  from 
left  to  right,  and  so  on  until  the  whole  field  is  regularly 
hunted.  To  effect  this,  notwithstanding  your  previous 
preparatory  lessons,  you  will  have  to  show  him  the  way, 
as  it  were  (setting  him  an  example  in  your  own  person), 
by  running  a  few  steps  in  the  direction  you  wish  him  to 
go  (say  to  the  right),  cheering  him  on  to  take  the  lead. 
As  he  gets  near  the  extremity  of  his  beat,  when  he  does 
not  observe  you,  you  can  steal  a  small  advance  in  the 
true  direction  of  your  own  beat,  which  is  directly  up 
the  middle  of  the  field,  meeting  the  wind.  If  per- 
ceiving your  advance  he  turns  towards  you,  face  him, — 
wave  your  right  hand  to  him,  and  while  he  sees  you, 
run  on  a  few  paces  in  his  direction  (that  is  parallel  to 
his  true  direction).  As  he  approaches  the  hedge  (the 
one  on  your  right  hand,  but  be  careful  that  he  does  not 
get  close  to  it,  lest,  from  often  finding  game  there,  he 
ultimately  become  a  potterer  and  regular  hedge-hunter) 
face  towards  him,  and  on  catching  his  eye,  wave  your 
left  arm.  If  you  cannot  succeed  in  catching  his 
eye,  you  must  give  one  low  whistle, — the  less  you 
habituate  yourself  to  use  the  whistle,  the  less  you 


104  INSTRUCTIONS  IN  RANGING.  [on.  vr. 

will  alarm  the  birds, — study  to  do  all,  as  far  as  is 
practicable,  by  signals.  You  wish  your  wave  of  the 
left  arm  to  make  the  dog  turn  to  the  left  (his  head 
to  the  wind),  and  that  he  should  run  parallel  to  the  side 
of  the  hedge  for  some  yards  (say  from  thirty  to  forty) 
before  he  makes  his  second  turn  to  the  left  to  cross  the 
field ;  but  you  must  expect  him  to  turn  too  directly 
towards  you  on  your  first  signal  to  turn.  Should  he 
by  any  rare  chance  have  made  the  turn  (the  first  one) 
correctly,  and  thus  be  hunting  up-wind,  on  no  account 
interrupt  him  by  making  any  signals  until  he  has  run 
up  the  distance  you  wish,  (the  aforesaid  thirty  or  forty 
yards,) — then  again  catch  his  eye,  and,  as  before  (not 
now,  however,  faced  towards  him  and  the  hedge,  but 
faced  towards  your  true  direction),  by  a  wave  of  the 
left  arm  endeavour  to  make  him  tarn  to  the  left  (across 
the  wind).  If,  contrary  to  what  you  have  a  right  to 
suppose,  he  will  not  turn  towards  you  on  your  giving  a 
whistle  and  wave  of  your  hand,  stand  still,  and  continue 
whistling — eventually  he  will  obey.  But  you  must  not 
indulge  in  the  faintest  hope  that  all  I  have  described 
will  be  done  correctly  ;  be  satisfied  at  first  with  an 
approach  towards  accuracy ;  you  will  daily  find  an 
improvement,  if  you  persevere  steadily.  When  you 
see  that  there  is  but  little  chance  of  his  turning  the 
way  you  want,  at  once  use  the  signal  more  consonant 
to  his  views,  for  it  should  be  your  constant  endeavour 
to  make  him  fancy  that  he  is  always  ranging  according 
to  the  directions  of  your  hands.  Be  particular  in  at- 
tending to  this  hint. 

176.  His  past  tuition  (38)  most  probably  will  have 
accustomed  him  to  watch  your  eye  for  directions,  there- 
fore it  is  not  likely,  even  should  he  have  made  a  wrong 
turn  near  the  hedge  (a  turn  down-wind  instead  of  up- 


en.  vi.]  TO  WATCH  FOR  SIGNALS.  105 

wind,  Avhich  would  wholly  have  prevented  the  required 
advance  parallel  to  the  hedge),  that  he  will  cross  in  rear 
of  you.  Should  he,  however,  do  so,  retreat  a  few  steps, 
(or  face  about  if  he  is  far  in  the  rear,)  in  order  to  im- 
press him  with  the  feeling  that  all  his  work  must  be 
performed  under  your  eye.  Animate  him  with  an 
encouraging  word  as  he  passes.  When  he  gets  near 
the  hedge  to  the  left,  endeavour,  by  signals  (agreeably 
to  the  method  just  explained  (175),  to  make  him  turn 
to  the  (his)  right,  his  head  to  the  wind,  and  run  up 
alongside  of  it  for  the  thirty  to  forty  yards,  if  you  can 
manage  it,  before  he  begins  to  recross  the  field,  by 
making  a  second  turn  to  the  right.  If  you  could  get 
him  to  do  this,  he  would  cross  well  in  advance  of  you. 

177.  Though  most  likely  his  turn  (the  first — the  turn 
iip-wind)  will  be  too   abrupt   (too   much  of  an  acute 
angle  instead  of  the  required   right  angle),  and  that 
consequently,  in  order  to  get  ahead  of  you,  he  will  have 
to  traverse  the  field  diagonally,  yet  after  a  few  trials 
it  is  probable  he  will  do  so,  rather  than  not  get  in  front 
of  you.     This  would  be  better  than  the  former  attempt 
(not  obliging  you  to  face  about), — express  your  approval, 
and  the  next  turn  near  the  hedge  may  be  made  with  a 
bolder  sweep.     Remember  your  aim  is,  that  no  part  be 
unhunted,  and  that  none  once  commanded  by  his  nose 
be  again  hunted.     He  ought  to  cross,  say  thirty  yards 
in  front  of  you,  but  much  will  depend  upon  his  nose. 

178.  Nearly  on  every  occasion  of  catching  his  eye, 
except  when  he  is  running  up-wind  parallel  to  the  hedge, 
give  him  some  kind  of  signal.    This  will  more  and  more 
confirm  him  in  the  habit  of  looking  to  you,  from  time  to 
time,  for  orders,  and  thus  aid  in  insuring  his  constant 
obedience.     After  a  while,  judging  by  the  way  in  which 
your  face  is  turned,  he  will  know  in  what  direction  you 


106  RANGE  GREATER  ON  MOORS.  [CH.  vi. 

purpose  advancing,  and  will  guide  his  own  movements 
accordingly.  Should  he,  as  most  probably  he  will  for 
some  time,  turn  too  sharply  towards  you  when  getting 
near  the  hedge,  I  mean  at  too  acute  an  angle,  incline  or 
rather  face  towards  him.  This,  coupled  with  the  natural 
wish  to  range  unrestrained,  will  make  him  hunt  longer 
parallel  to  the  hedge,  before  he  makes  his  second  turn 
towards  you. 

179.  You  may  at  first  strive  to  correct  your  dog's 
turning  too  abruptly  inwards  (the  first  turn) ,  by  pushing 
on  in  your  own  person  further  ahead  on  your  own  beat ; 
but  when  he  has  acquired  if  merely  the  slightest  idea  of 
a  correct  range,  be  most  careful  not  to  get  in  advance  of 
the  ground  he  is  to  hunt.    Your  doing  so  might  habituate 
him  to  cross  the  field  diagonally  (thereby  leaving  much 
of  the  sides  of  the  fields  unhunted),  in  order  to  get 
ahead  of  you  ;  and,  moreover,  you  might  spring  birds 
which  you  are  anxious  Iw  should  find.     Should  he,  on 
the  other  hand,  be  inclined  to  work  too  far  upward 
before  making  his  turn  to  cross  the  field,  hang  back 
in  your  own  person. 

180.  Though  you  may  be  in  an  unenclosed  country, 
let  him  range  at  first  from  no  more  than  from  seventy  to 
eighty  yards  on  each  side  of  you.     You  can  gradually 
extend  these  lateral  beats  as   he  becomes   conversant 
with  his  business — indeed,  at  the  commencement,  rather 
diminish  than  increase  the  distances  just  named,  both 
for  the  length  of  the  parallels  and  the  space  between 
them.     Do  not  allow  the  alluring  title  "  a  fine  wide 
ranger  "  to  tempt  you  to  let  him  out  of  leading-strings. 
If  he  be  once  permitted  to  imagine  that  he  has  a  dis- 
cretionary power  respecting  the  best  places  to  hunt,  and 
the  direction  and  length  of  his  beats,  you  will  find  it 
extremely  difficult  to  get  him  again  well  in  hand.     On 


CH.  vi.]  POWERS  OF  SCENT  VABY.  107 

the  moors  his  range  must  be  far  greater  than  on  the 
stubbles,  but  still  the  rudiments  must  be  taught  on  this 
contracted  scale,  or  you  will  never  get  him  to  look  to 
you  for  orders.  Do  you  keep  entire  control  over  his 
beats  ;  let  him  have  almost  the  sole  management  of  his 
drawing  upon  birds,  provided  he  does  not  puzzle,  or  run 
riot  too  long  over  an  old  haunt.  Give  him  time,  and 
after  a  little  experience  his  nose  will  tell  him  more 
surely  than  your  judgment  can,  whether  he  is  working 
on  the  "toe"  or  "heel"  of  birds,  and,  whether  he 
diverges  from  or  approaches  the  strongest  and  most 
recent  haunt, — do  not  flurry  or  hurry  him,  and  he  will 
soon  acquire  that  knowledge. 

181.  As  the  powers  of  scent  vary  greatly  in  different 
dogs,  the  depth  of  their  turns  (or  parallels)  ought  to 
vary  also,  and  it  will  be  hereafter  for  you  to  judge  what 
distance  between  the  parallels  it  i&  most  advantageous 
for  your  youngster  ultimately  to  adopt  in  his  general 
hunting.     The  deeper  his  turns. are,  of  course,  the  more 
ground  you  will  beat  within  a  specified  time.     What 
you  have  to  guard  against  is  the  possibility  of  their 
being  so  wide  that  birds  may  be  passed  by  unnoticed.    I 
should  not  like  to  name  the  distance  within  which  good 
cautious  dogs  that  carry  their  heads  high,  will  wind 
game  on  a  favourable  day. 

182.  I  was  partridge  shooting  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  to  a  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,  not  being  able  to  acknowledge  the  scent, 
went  off,  clearly  imagining  the  bitch  was  in  error.     She,  however, 
held  on,  and  in  beautiful  style  brought  us  direct  to  a  covey.     My 
friend  and  I  agreed  that  she  must  have  been  but  little,  if  at  all,  less 
than  one  hundred  yards  off  when  she  first  winded  the  birds  ;  and  it 
was  clear  to  us  that  they  could  not  have  been  running,  for  the 


108  SCENT  ONE  HUNDRED  YARDS.  [CH.  vi. 

breeze  came  directly  across  the  furrows,  and  she  had  led  us  in  the 
wind's  eye.  We  thought  the  point  the  more  remarkable,  as  it  is 
generally  supposed  that  the  strong  smell  of  turnips  diminishes  a 
dog's  power  of  scenting  birds. 

183.  R 1  T n,  a  gamekeeper,  once  assured  me  he  had  seen 

a  point  at  grouse  which  were  at  the  least  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  off.  The  dogs  were  on  the  edge  of  a  valley — the  pack  on  a 
little  hillock  from  which  direction  the  wind  blew — an  intervening 
wall  near  the  top  of  the  hillock  separated  them  from  the  dogs  ;  and 
as  intermediately  there  was  no  heather,  the  man  was  satisfied  that 
the  birds  had  not  run  over  the  ground.  When  I  was  talking  one 

day  to  Mr.  L g,  the  well-known  gunmaker  in  the  Haymarket, 

about  the  qualities  of  dogs'  noses, — and  from  his  long  experience  he 
ought  to  be  a  judge  of  such  matters, — he  told  me,  before  I  had  said 
a  word  respecting  distances,  that  he  thought  he  had  seen  more  than 
once  a  dog  point  at  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  his  game. 

184.  If  you  design  your  pupil,  when  broken  in,  to 
hunt  with  a  companion,  and  wish  both  the  dogs,  as  is 
usual,  to  cross  you,  you  will,  of  course,  habituate  him  to 
make  his  sweeps  (the  space  between  the  parallels)  wider 
than  if  you  had  intended  him  to  hunt  without  any  one 
to  share  his  labours. 

185.  I  need  hardly  warn  you  to  be  careful  not  to 
interrupt  him  whenever  he  appears  to  be  winding  birds. 
However  good  his  nose  may  be  by  nature,  it  will  not 
gain  experience  and  discrimination,  unless  you  give  him 
a  certain  time  to  determine  for  himself  whether  he  has 
really  touched  upon  a  faint  scent  of  birds,  and  whether 
they  are  in  his  front  or  rear,  or  gone  away  altogether.  Like 
every  other  faculty,  his  sense  of  smell  will  improve  the 
more   it   is   exercised.     But   on  the  other  hand,  as  I 
observed  before,  do  not  let  him  continue  puzzling  with 
his  nose  close  to  the  ground, — urge  him  on, — make  him 
increase  his  pace, — force  him  to  search  elsewhere,  and 
he  will  gradually  elevate  his  head,  and  catching  the 
scent  of  other  particles,  will  follow  up  these  with  a  nose 
borne  aloft,  unless  he  is  a  brute  not  worth  a  twentieth 
part  of  the  pains  which  you  think  of  bestowing  upon 
him;  for, 


CH.  vi.]  FIND  BY  WIND. -WHITE  DOGS.  109 

186.  Besides  the  greatly  decreased  chance  of  finding 
them,  birds  that  to  a  certainty  would  become  uneasy, 
and  make  off  if  pursued  by  a  dog  tracking  them,  will 
often  lie  well  to  one  who  finds  them  by  the  wind.   They 
are  then  not  aware  that  they  are  discovered,  and  the 
dog,  from   the   information   his   nose    gives   him,   can 
approach  them  either  boldly  or  with  great  wariness, 
according  as  he  perceives  them  to  be  more  or  less  shy. 

187.  It  is  rather  foreign  to  our  immediate  subject,  but  I  will  here 
observe,  that  it  is  generally  thought  white  dogs  cannot  approach 
shy  birds  *  as  closely  as  dogs  of  a  dark  colour  can  (93)  ;  but  there 
is  a  set-off  to  this  supposed  disadvantage  in  your  being  able  to 
distinguish  the  light  ones  more  readily  at  a  distance, — a  matter  of 
some  moment  on  heather.     If  you  have  not  your  eye  on  a  steady 
brown  setter  at  the  moment  he  drops  on  grouse,  you  may  spend  half 
an  hour  most  vexatiously  in  searching  for  him.     When  you  expect 
to  find  the  birds  wild,  should  your  kennel  allow  you  the  choice,  you 
ought  to  take  out  out  those  of  a  sombre  hue.     Light  coloured  dogs 
have  not  generally  such  well-shaped  feet  as  their  darker  brethren. 
It  is  curious  that  white  feet  in  dogs  as  well  as  in  horses  should  often 
be  objectionable.     As  a  rule,  setters  have  harder,  tougher  feet  than 
pointers.     This  is  very  apparent  in  a  flinty  country  or  in  frosty 
weather,  and  is  partly  attributable  to  their  being  better  defended 
with  hair  round  the  ball,  and  between  the  toes. 

188.  If,  being  unable  to  catch  the  dog's  eye,  you  are 
forced  to  use  the  whistle  frequently,  and  he  continues 
inattentive  to  it,  notwithstanding  his  previous  tuition, 
stand  still, — make  him  lie  down  (by  the  word  "  drop,"  if 
he  will  not  obey  your  raised  left  arm) — go  up  to  him, — 
take  hold  of  his  collar,  and  rate  him,  saying,  "  Bad,  bad," 
cracking  your  whip  over  him  (let  the  whip  be  one  that 
will  crack  loudly,  not  for  present  purposes,  but  that, 
when  occasion  requires,  he  may  hear  it  at  a  distance) 
and  whistling  softly.  This  will  show  him  (should  you 
beat  him,  you  would  confuse  his  ideas)  that  he  is 
chidden  for  not  paying  attention  to  the  whistle.  Indeed, 

*  There  are  sportsmen  who  aver  standing  is  advantageous,  as  it 
that  a  setter's  "  Jailing"  instead  of  does  not  so  much  alarm  the  birds. 


110  SYSTEMATIC  RANGE.  [CH.  vi. 

whenever  you  have  occasion  to  scold  or  punish  him, 
make  it  a  constant  rule,  while  you  rate  him,  to  repeat 
many  times  the  word  of  command,  or  the  signal  which 
he  has  neglected  to  obey.  There  is  no  other  way  by 
which  you  will  make  him  understand  you  quickly. 

189.  You  must  expect  that  your  young  dog  will  for 
some  time  make  sad  mistakes  in  his  range  ; — but  be  not 
discouraged.  Doubtless  there  is  no  one  thing, — I  was 
going  to  say,  that  there  are  no  dozen  things, — in  the 
whole  art  of  dog-breaking,  which  are  so  difficult  to 
attain,  or  which  exact  so  much  labour,  as  a  high,  well- 
confirmed,  systematic  range.  Nature  will  not  assist 
you  : — you  must  do  it  all  yourself ;  but  in  recompense 
there  is  nothing  so  advantageous  when  it  is  at  length 
acquired.  It  will  abundantly  repay  months  of  perse- 
vering exertion.  It  constitutes  the  grand  criterion  of 
true  excellence.  Its  attainment  makes  a  dog  of  inferior 
nose  and  action  far  superior  to  one  of  much  greater 
natural  qualifications  who  may  be  tomfooling  about, 
galloping  backwards  and  forwards  sometimes  over  iden- 
tically the  same  ground,  quite  uselessly  exerting  his 
travelling  powers ;  now  and  then,  indeed,  arrested  by 
the  suspicion  of  a  haunt,  which  he  is  not  experienced 
enough,  or  sufficiently  taught,  to  turn  to  good  account, — 
and  occasionally  brought  to  a  stiff  point  on  birds  acci- 
dentally found  right  under  his  nose.  It  is  undeniable, 
cceteris  paribus,  that  the  dog  who  hunts  his  ground  most 
according  to  rule  must  in  the  end  find  most  game. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FIRST  LESSONS  IN  SEPTEMBER  CONTINUED.     CAUTION.— NATURE'S 
MYSTERIOUS  INFLUENCES. 

190.  Dog  to  be  hunted  alone. — 191.  Many  Breakers  exactly  reverse  this ;  it  expedites 
an  inferior  education,  but  retards  a  superior. — 192.  Turnips,  Potatoes,  &c., 
avoided.  Range  of  Dogs  broken  on  moors  most  true. — 193.  In  Turnips,  &c., 
young  Dogs  get  too  close  to  birds. — 194.  Cautious  Dogs  may  with  advantage  be 
as  fast  as  wild  ones ;  the  two  contrasted ;  in  Note,  injudiciousness  of  teaching 
a  Puppy  to  "point"  Chickens. — 195.  Instance  of  a  Dog's  running  to  "heel," 
but  not  "blinking,"  on  finding  himself  close  to  birds. — 196.  A  Dog's  Nose  can- 
not be  improved,  but  his  caution  can,  which  is  nearly  tantamount ;  how  effected. 
— 197.  How  to  make  fast  Dogs  cautious. — 198.  The  cause  why  wild  Dogs  ulti- 
mately turn  out  best. — 199.  Dog  tumbling  over  and  pointing  on  his  Back. — 
200.  Dog  pointing  on  top  of  high-log  Fence  at  quail  in  tree ;  in  Note,  Militia 
Regiment  that  sought  safety  by  taking  to  Trees.— 201.  The  day's  Beat  com- 
menced from  leeward. — 202.  Wondrous  Dogs,  which  find  Game  without  hunting. 

—203.  Colonel  T y*s  opinion.— 204  to  209.  His  dog  "  Grouse,"  that  walked  up 

direct  to  her  Game.— 210.  "Grouse's"  portrait.— 211  to  213.  Probable  solution 
of  "  Grouse's"  feat ;  in  Note,  why  high  nose  finds  most  game.— 214.  Reason  why 
Dogs  should  be  instructed  separately,  and  allowed  Time  to  work  out  a  Scent ; 
young  dogs  generally  too  much  hurried. — 215.  Mysterious  Influences. — 216.  Re- 
triever that  runs  direct  to  hidden  object. — 217.  Not  done  by  nose. — 218.  New. 
foundland  that  always  swam  back  to  his  own  Ship.— 219.  Another  that  did  the 

same.— 220.  Now  belongs  to  the  Duke  of  N k.— 221.  Cats  and  Dogs  carried 

off  in  baskets,  finding  their  way  back ;  Nature's  Mysteries  inexplicable.  In 
Note,  instance  of  extraordinary  memory  in  a  Horse. 

190.  IF   it   is   your  fixed  determination  to  confirm 
your  dog  in  the  truly-killing  range  described  in  the  last 
Chapter,  do  not  associate  him  for  months  in  the  field 
with  another  dog,  however  highly  broken.     It  would  be 
far  better  to  devote  but  two  hours  per  diem  to  your 
pupil  exclusively,  than  to  hunt  him  the  whole  day  with 
a  companion. 

191.  Many  breakers  do  exactly  the  reverse  of  this. 
They  take  out  an  old  steady  ranger,  with  the  intention 
that  he  shall  lead  the  young  dog,  and  that  the  latter, 
from  imitation  and  habit,  shall  learn  how  to  quarter  his 


112  OLD  DOG  LEADER.  [rn.  vn. 

ground.  But  what  he  gains  by  imitation  will  so  little 
improve  his  intellects,  that,  when  thrown  upon  his  own 
resources,  he  will  prove  a  miserable  finder.  On  a  hot, 
dry  day  he  will  not  be  able  to  make  out  a  feather,  nor 
on  any  day  to  "  foot "  a  delicate  scent.  I  grant  that  the 
plan  expedites  matters,  and  attains  the  end  which  most 
professional  trainers  seek;  but  it  will  not  give  a  dog 
self-confidence  and  independence,  it  will  not  impart  to 
him  an  inquiring  nose,  and  make  him  rely  on  its  sensi- 
tiveness to  discover  game,  rather  than  to  his  quickness 
of  eye  to  detect  wThen  his  friend  touches  upon  a  haunt ; 
nor  will  it  instruct  him  to  look  from  time  to  time  to- 
wards the  gun  for  directions.  It  may  teach  him  a  range, 
but  not  to  hunt  where  he  is  ordered ;  nor  will  it  ha- 
bituate him  to  vary  the  breadth  of  the  parallels  on 
which  he  works,  according  as  his  master  may  judge  it  to 
be  a  good  or  bad  scenting  day. 

192.  To  establish  the  rare,  noble  beat  I  am  recom- 
mending,— one  not  hereafter  to  be  deranged  by  the 
temptation  of  a  furrow  in  turnips  or  potatoes, — you 
must  have  the  philosophy  not  to  hunt  your  dog  in  them 
until  he  is  accustomed  in  his  range  to  be  guided  entirely 
by  the  wind  and  your  signals,  and  is  in  no  way  in- 
fluenced by  the  nature  of  the  ground.  Even  then  it 
would  be  better  not  to  beat  narrow  strips  across  which 
it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to  make  his  regular 
casts.  Avoid,  too,  for  some  time,  if  you  can,  all  small 
fields  (which  will  only  contract  his  range),  and  all  fields 
with  trenches  or  furrows,  for  he  will  but  too  naturally 
follow  them  instead  of  paying  attention  to  his  true  beat. 
Have  you  never,  in  low  lands,  seen  a  young  dog  run- 
ning down  a  potato  or  turnip  trench,  out  of  which  his 
master,  after  much  labour,  had  no  sooner  extracted  him 
than  he  dropped  into  the  adjacent  one  ?  It  is  the 


CH.  vii.]       RANGE  EASIEST  TAUGHT  ON  MOORS.  113 

absence  of  artificial  tracks  which  makes  the  range  of 
nearly  all  dogs  well  broken  on  the  moors  so  much  truer 
than  that  of  dogs  hunted  on  cultivated  lands. 

193.  Moreover,  in  turnips,  potatoes,  clover,  and  the 
like  thick  shelter,  birds  will  generally  permit  a  dog  to 
approach  so  closely,  that  if  he  is  much  accustomed  to 
hunt  such  places,  he  will  be  sure  to  acquire  the  evil 
habit  of  pressing  too  near  his  game  when  finding  on  the 
stubbles   (instead  of  being  startled  as  it  were  into  an 
instantaneous  stop  the  moment  he  first  winds  game), 
and   thus   raise   many  a   bird  out  of  gun-shot  that  a 
cautious  dog, — one  who  slackens  his  pace  the  instant  he 
judges  that  he  is  beating  a  likely  spot, — would  not  have 
alarmed. 

194.  "  A  cautious  dog  "  !     Can  there  well  be  a  more 
flattering  epithet  ?  *     Such  a  dog  can  hardly  travel  too 
fast  f  in  a  tolerably  open  country,  where  there  is  not  a 
superabundance  of  game,  if  he  really  hunt  with   an 
inquiring  nose  ; — but  to  his  master  what  an  all-important 
"  if"  is  this  !     It  marks  the  difference  between  the  saga- 
cious, wary,  patient,  yet  diligent  animal,  whose  every 
sense  and  every  faculty  is  absorbed  in  his  endeavour  to 
make  out  birds,  not  for  himself  but  for  the  gun,  and  the 
wild  harum-scarum  who  blunders  up  three-fourths  of 
the  birds  he  finds.    No  !  not  finds,  but  frightens, — for  he 
is  not  aware  of  their  presence  until  they  are  on  the 
wing,  and  seldom  points  unless  he  gets  some  heedless 
bird  right  under  his  nose,  when  an  ignoramus,  in  admi- 


*  Provided  always  he  be   not  "  standing  by  eye  ; "  which,  how- 

perpetually    pointing,    as     occa-  ever,  may  have  made  him  a  first- 

sionally  will  happen — and  is  the  rate  hand  at  pointing  crows, 

more  likely  to  happen  if  he  has  +  With  the  understanding  that 

been    injudiciously  taught  as   a  the  pace  does  not  make  him  "  shut 

puppy  to  set  chickens,   and  has  up"  before  the  day  is  over, 
thereby  acquired  the  evil  habit  of 


114  SEARCHING  NOSE.  [CH.  vn. 

ration  of  the  beauty  of  the  dog's  sudden  attitude,  will 
often  forget  the  mischief  which  he  has  done. 

195.  Nature  gives  this  caution  to  some  dogs  at  an  early  age.     A 

clergyman  of  my  acquaintance,  Mr.  G.  M 1,  a  keen  sportsman 

in  his  younger  days,  told  me  that  when  he  was  partridge-shooting 
once  in  Essex,  a  favourite  pointer  of  his,  that  was  ranging  at  a 
rapid  pace  alongside  a  thick  hedge,  coming  suddenly  upon  an 
opening  where  there  should  have  been  a  gate,  instantly  wheeled 
round  and  ran  to  heel,  and  then  commenced  carefully  advancing 
with  a  stiffened  stern  towards  the  gap  ;  and  so  led  his  master  up  to 
five  birds  which  were  lying  close  to  it,  but  on  the  further  side. 
Evidently  the  cautious  dog, — for  he  was  no  blinker, — on  so  unex- 
pectedly finding  himself  in  such  close  vicinity  to  the  covey,  must 
have  fancied  that  his  presence  would  alarm  them,  however  motion- 
less he  might  remain. 

196.  Though  you  cannot  improve  a  dog's  nose,  you 
can  do  what  is  really  tantamount  to  it — you  can  increase 
his  caution.     By  watching  for  the  slightest  token  of  his 
feathering,  and  then  calling  out  "  Toho,"  or  making  the 
signal,  you  will  gradually  teach  him  to  look  out  for  the 
faintest  indication  of  a  scent,  and  point  the  instant  he 
winds  it,  instead  of  heedlessly  hunting  on  until  he  meets 
a  more  exciting  effluvia.     (See  259  to  261,  also  329.) 
If  from  a  want  of  animation  in  his  manner  you  are  not 
able  to  judge  of  the  moment  when  he  first  winds  game, 
and  therefore  are  unable  to  call  out  "  Toho  "  until  he 
gets  close  to  birds,  quietly  pull  him  back  from  his  point 
"  dead  to  leeward  "  for  some  paces,  and  there  make  him 
resume  his  point.     Perseverance  in  this  plan  will  ulti- 
mately effect  your  wishes,  unless  his  nose  be  radically 
wrong.     A  dog's  pointing  too  near  his  game  more  fre- 
quently arises  from  want  of  caution, — in  other  words, 
from  want  of  good  instruction, — than  from  a  defective 
nose. 

197.  Slow  dogs  readily  acquire  this  caution ;  but  fast 
dogs  cannot  be  taught  it  without  great  labour.     You 
have  to  show  them  the  necessity  of  diminishing  their 


en.  vii.]  CAUTION  TAUGHT.  115 

pace,  that  their  noses  may  have  fair  play.  If  you  have 
such  a  pupil  to  instruct,  when  you  get  near  birds  you 
have  marked  down,  signal  to  him  to  come  to  "heel." 
Whisper  to  him  "  Care,"  and  let  him  see  by  your  light, 
slow  tread  your  anxiety  not  to  alarm  the  game.  If  he 
has  never  shown  any  symptoms  of  blinking,  you  may,  a 
few  times,  thus  spring  the  birds  yourself  while  you  keep 
him  close  to  you.  On  the  next  occasion  of  marking 
down  birds,  or  coming  to  a  very  likely  spot,  bring  him 
into  "  heel,"  and  after  an  impressive  injunction  to  take 
"  care,"  give  him  two  or  three  very  limited  casts  to  the 
right  or  left,  and  let  him  find  the  game  while  you 
instruct  him  as  described  in  329.  As  there  will  be  no 
fear  of  such  a  dog  making  false  points,  take  him  often 
to  the  fields  where  he  has  most  frequently  met  birds. 
The  expectation  of  again  coming  on  them,  and  the 
recollection  of  the  lectures  he  there  received,  will  be 
likely  to  make  him  cautious  on  entering  it.  I  remember 
a  particular  spot  in  a  certain  field  that  early  in  the 
season  constantly  held  birds.  A  young  dog  I  then 
possessed  never  approached  it  afterwards  without  draw- 
ing upon  it  most  carefully,  though  he  had  not  found 
there  for  months.  At  first  I  had  some  difficulty  in 
preventing  the  "  draw  "  from  becoming  a  "  point." 

198.  I  have  elsewhere  observed  that  fast  dogs,  which 
give  most  trouble  in  breaking,  usually  turn  out  best. 
Now  if  you  think  for  a  moment  you  will  see  the  reason 
plainly.  A  young  dog  does  not  ultimately  become  first- 
rate  because  he  is  wild  and  headstrong,  and  regardless 
of  orders,  but  because  his  speed  and  disobedience  arise 
from  his  great  energies, — from  his  fondness  for  the 
sport ;  from  his  longing  to  inhale  the  exhilarating  scent 
and  pursue  the  flying  game.  It  is  the  possession  of 
these  qualities  that  makes  him,  in  his  anxious  state  of 

12 


116  CAUTIOUS  DOGS.  [CH.  vn. 

excitement,  blind  to  your  signals  and  deaf  to  your  calls. 
These  obviously  are  qualities  that,  under  good  manage- 
ment* lead  to  great  excellence  and  superiority, — that 
make  one  dog  do  the  work  of  two.  But  they  are  not 
qualities  sought  for  by  an  idle  or  incompetent  breaker. 
He  would  prefer  the  kind  of  dog  mentioned  in  280, 
and  boast  much  of  the  ability  he  had  displayed  in 
training  him.  These  valuable  qualities  in  the  fast  dog, 
must,  however,  be  accompanied  by  a  searching  nose. 
It  is  not  enough  that  a  dog  be  always  apparently 
hunting,  that  is  to  say,  always  on  the  gallop — his  nose 
should  always  be  hunting.  When  this  is  the  case  (and 
you  may  be  pretty  certain  it  is  if,  as  he  crosses  the 
breeze,  his  nose  has  intuitively  a  bearing  to  windward), 
you  need  not  fear  that  he  will  travel  too  fast,  or  not 
repay  you  ultimately  for  the  great  extra  trouble  caused 
by  his  high  spirits  and  ardour  for  the  sport. 

199.  The  Eev.  Mr.  M— t  (spoken  of  in  195)  had  one  of  these 
valuable,  fast,  but  cautious  dogs.     The  dog,  in  leaping  over  a  stile 
that  led  from  an  orchard  and  crowned  a  steep  bank,  accidentally 
tumbled  head  over  heels.     He  rolled  to  the  bottom  of  the  bank, 

and  there  remained  motionless  on  his  back.    Mr.  M 1  went  up 

in  great  distress,  fancying  his  favourite  must  have  been  seriously 
injured.     However,  on  his  approaching  the  dog,  up  sprung  some 
partridges,  which,  it  appears,  the  careful  animal  must  have  winded, 
and  fearing  to  disturb,  would  not  move  a  muscle  of  his  body,  for 
happily  he  was  in  no  way  hurt  by  the  fall. 

200.  I  was  shooting  in  the  upper  provinces  of  Canada  over  a 
young  dog,  who  suddenly  checked  himself  and  came  to  a  stiff  "  set " 
on  the  top  of  a  high  zigzag  log  fence.     I  could  not  believe  that  he 
was  cunning  enough  to  do  this  for  the  purpose  of  deceiving  me, 
because  I  was  rating  him  for  quitting  the  field  before  me  ;  and  yet 
why  should  he  be  pointing  in  mid-air  as  rigidly  as  if  carved  in 
stone  ?     On  my  going  up  the  enigma  was  solved,  by  a  bevy  of  quail 
flying  out  of  a  neighbouring  tree.f  It  is  said  they  often  take  to  them 

*  The  more  resolute  a  dog  is,  *f*  The  mention  of  quails  taking 

the  more  pains  should  be  taken,  to  trees  recalls  to  my  recollection 

before  he  is  shown  game,  to  perfect  a  novel  light  infantry  manoeuvre 

him  in  the  instant  "  drop  "  (26),  (for  the  exact  particulars  of  which 

however  far  off  he  may  be  rang-  I   will  not,   however,    positively 

ing.  pledge    myself,)    that    was    con- 


;He  rolled  to  the  bottom  of  the  bank,  and  there  lay  motionless  on  his  back.' 
Par.  199 


CH.  VII.] 


QUAILS  TREEING. 


119 


in  America  :  but  this  was  the  only  instance  I  ever  saw.  But  we 
will  now  hark  back  to  your  pup,  which,  for  your  sake,  I  wish  may 
turn  out  as  cautious  a  dog. 

201.  You  have  been  recommended  invariably  to  enter 
every  field  by  the  leeward  side.    This  you  can  generally 
accomplish  with  ease,  if  you  commence  your  day's  beat 
to  leeward.     Should  circumstances  oblige  you  to  enter 
a  field  on  the  windward  side,  make  it  a  rule,  as  long  as 
your  dog  continues  a  youngster,  to  call  him  to  "  heel," 
and  walk  down  the  field  with  him  until  you  get  to  the 
opposite  side  (the  leeward), — then  hunt  him  regularly 
up  to  windward. 

202.  I  have  read  wondrous  accounts  of  dogs,  who, 
without  giving  themselves   the  trouble  of  quartering 


ceived  with  such  admirable  ra- 
pidity by  the  commanding  officer 
on  an  occasion  of  great  emergency, 
and  executed  with  such  wonderful 
celerity  by  the  troops  under  him, 
that  I  hope  my  professional  par- 
tialities will  be  allowed  to  excuse 
my  describing  it. 

Bermuda,  "  the  blest  little 
island,"  as  the  fascinating  Tommy 
Moore  styles  her,  although  now 
well  supplied  with  all  the  neces- 
saries of  life,  especially  since  the 
improvements  in  husbandry,  in- 
troduced by  its  late  excellent  go- 
vernor, Colonel  R d  (now  Sir 

William),  was  formerly  but  little 
better  provided  with  fresh  meat 
than  a  man-of-war  victualled  for 
a  six  months'  cruise.  At  the  time 
I  allude  to  there  were  but  few 
cows,  and  only  one  bull  on  the 
islands ;  and  what  made  matters 
more  disagreeable,  it  had  been 
slanderously  reported  of  the  strange 
beast  that  "  he  was  an  awfully 
vicious  animal."  It  is  certain 
that  he  bellowed  fearfully.  The 
inhabitants  (who  have  always 
been  highly  esteemed  by  those 
who  know  them)  though  they 
were  not  at  that  period  as  well 


fed  with  the  roast  beef  of  old 
England  as  when  I  was  recently 
quartered  among  them,  were,  not- 
withstanding, a  right  loyal  set, 
and  prided  themselvesgreatly  upon 
their  efficient  militia.  On  a  hot 
day, — as  are  most  of  their  days, — 
when  these  good  soldiers  were  at 
drill  under  their  esteemed  com- 
mander— let  us  say,  Col.  0 e, 

— a  breathless  messenger  ran  up 
to  him  as  he  was  mounted  on  his 
grey  charger  in  front  of  the  steady 
Tine,  and  uttered  some  mysterious 
words.  The  gallant  colonel's  coun- 
tenance assumed  a  look  of  deep 
anxiety, — for  an  instant  his  cheek 
blanched, — his  lip  quivered  :  — 
but  quickly  rallying,  he  abandoned 
his  horse,  and  with  infinite  pre- 
sence of  mind,  gave  in  unfaltering 
accents  the  order,  "  Gentlemen, 
tree  yourselves, — Moll  Burgess's 
Bull  is  loose."  Precept  and  ex- 
ample were  here  happily  com- 
bined, and  the  able  commander 
was  among  the  first  to  find  safety 
in  the  topmost  branches  of  a 
neighbouring  cedar.  Military 
annals  record  no  instance  of  more 
prompt,  zealous  obedience. 


120  "GROUSE."— COL.  T Y'S  BITCH.  [CH.  vn. 

their  ground,  would  walk  straight  up  to  the  birds  if 
there  were  any  in  the  field.  It  has  never  been  my 
luck,  I  do  not  say  to  have  possessed  such  marvellous 
animals,  but  even  to  have  been  favoured  with  a 
sight  of  them.  I  therefore  am  inclined  to  think  that, 
let  your  means  be  what  they  may,  you  would  find  it 
better  not  to  advertise  for  creatures  undoubtedly  most 
rare,  but  to  act  upon  the  common  belief  that,  as  the 
scent  of  birds,  more  or  less,  impregnates  the  air,  no  dog, 
let  his  nose  be  ever  so  fine,  can,  except  accidentally, 
wind  game  unless  he  seek  for  the  taint  in  the  air, — and 
that  the  dog  who  regularly  crosses  the  wind  must  have 
a  better  chance  of  finding  it,  than  he  who  only  works 
up  wind, — and  that  down  wind  he  can  have  little  other 
chance  than  by  "  reading." 

203.  Thus  had  I  written,  for  such  was  ray  opinion,  but  Colonel 

T y,  mentioned  in  99,  having  seen  the  preceding  paragraph, 

in  the  first  edition,  spoke  to  me  on  the  subject,  and,  as  he  thinks 
such  a  dog  occasionally  may  be  found,  and  gave  good  reasons  for  so 
believing,  I  begged  him  to  commit  the  singular  facts  to  paper  ;  for 
I  felt  it  a  kind  of  duty  to  give  my  readers  the  most  accurate  infor- 
mation in  my  power  on  a  matter  of  such  interest.     He  writes  : — 

204.  "  I  should  like  to  show  you  the  portrait  of  a  favourite  old 
pointer  of  mine,  who  certainly  had  the  gift  of  walking  up  straight 
to  her  birds  without,  apparently,  taking  the  trouble  of  looking  for 
them,  and  about  which  I  see  you  are  naturally  somewhat  sceptical 
It  was  in  this  wise  : — 

205.  "  I  had  gone  down  into  Wales,  with  my  Norfolk  pointers,  in 
order  to  commit  great  slaughter  upon  some  packs  of  grouse  fre- 
quenting the  moors  belonging  to  my  brother-in-law  ;  my  dogs,  I 
think,  were  fair  average  ones,  but  the  three  did  not  find  so  many 
birds,  I  was  going  to  say,  in  a  week  as  old  l  Grouse '  (the  pointer 
alluded  to)  did  in  a  day.     She  had  been,  previous  to  my  arrival,  a 
sort  of  hanger-on  about  the  stables, — gaining  a  scanty  subsistence 
by  foraging  near  the  house, — until  she  was  four  years  old,  without 
ever  having  been  taken  to  the  adjoining  moor,  at  least,  in  a  regular 
way. 

206.  "  One  morning  as  I  was  riding  up  to  the  moor  she  followed 
me ;  happening  to  cast  my  eyes  to  the  right  I  saw  her  pointing 
very  steadily  in  a  batch  of  heather  not  far  from  a  young  plantation. 
I  rode  up,  and  a  pack  of  grouse  rose  within  twenty  yards.     This 
induced  me  to  pay  more  attention  to  my  four-footed  companion  ; 


SAFELY  MOORED  'STEM'  AND  'STERN.' 

Page  119,  Note. 


CH.  vii.]  "GROUSE'S"  FEAT  EXPLAINED.  123 

and  the  result  was,  that  in  a  week's  time  the  Norfolk  pointers  were 
shut  up  in  the  kennel,  and  the  neglected  '  Grouse '  became  my 
constant  associate.  A  more  eccentric  animal,  however,  cannot  well 
be  conceived.  She  hunted  just  what  ground  she  liked — paid  no 
attention  whatever  to  call  or  whistle — would  have  broken  the  hearts 
of  a  dozen  Norfolk  keepers,  by  the  desperate  manner  in  which  she 
set  all  rules  for  quartering  at  defiance, — but  she  found  game  with 
wonderful  quickness,  and  in  an  extraordinary  manner.  She  seemed, 
in  fact,  to  have  the  power  of  going  direct  to  where  birds  lay,  with- 
out taking  the  preliminary  trouble  of  searching  for  them  ;  and,  when 
the  packs  of  grouse  were  wild,  I  have  seen  her  constantly  leave  her 
point,  make  a  wide  circuit,  and  come  up  in  such  direction  as  to  get 
them  between  herself  and  me. 

"  She  was,  in  every  way,  a  most  singular  creature.  No  one  did 
she  regard  as  her  master : — no  one  would  she  obey.  She  showed  as 
little  pleasure  when  birds  fell,  as  disappointment  when  they  flew 
away ;  but  continued  her  odd,  eccentric  movements  until  she  be- 
came tired  or  birds  scarce,  and  then  quietly  trotted  home,  totally 
regardless  of  my  softest  blandishments  or  my  fiercest  execrations. 

208.  "  She  was  beautifully-shaped,  with  round  well-formed  feet, 
her  forehead  prominent,  and  her  nostrils  expanded  more,  I  think, 
than  I  ever  saw  in  any  dog. 

209.  "  I  bred  from  her,  but  her  offspring  were  not  worth  their 
salt,  although  their  father  was  a  good  dog,  and  had  seen  some 
service  in  Norfolk  turnips." 

210.  As  a  horse-dealer  once  said  to  me,  "  I'd  ride  many  a  mile, 
and  pay  my  own  pikes,"  to  see  such  an  animal ;  but,  "  Grouse," 
being,  unhappily,  no  longer  in  the  land  of  the  living,  I  was  forced 
to  content  myself  with  merely  looking  at  her  portrait.     This,  how- 
ever, afforded  me  much  pleasure  ;  I  therefore  obtained  the  owner's 
permission  to  have  it  engraved.     He  says  that  she  always  much 
arched  her  loins  when  at  a  point  close  to  game,  and  that  the  artist 
has  most  happily  hit  off  her  attitude.     She  is  the  darker  dog  of  the 
two,  and  stands,  as  soldiers  say,  on  the  " proper  left."    Her  com- 
panion, "  Juno,"  was  far  from  a  bad  bitch. 

211.  Might  not  this  singular  feat  of  "Grouse's"  be  thus  ex- 
plained?— 

212.  The  longer  the  time  that  has  elapsed  since  the  emission 
of  particles  of  scent,  the  more  feeble  is  that  scent,  on  account  of 
the  greater  dispersion  of  the  said  particles  ;  but,  from  the  greater 
space  *  they  then  occupy,  a  dog  would  necessarily  have  a  greater 
chance  of  meeting  some  of  them,  though,  possibly,  his  nose  might 
not  be  fine  enough  to  detect  them. 

213.  Now,  my  idea  is,  that  "Grouse's"  exquisite  sense  of  smell 
made  her  often  imagine  the  possible  vicinity  of  game  from  the  very 


*  This  dispersion  of  scent  in  the      more  game  than  a  dog  who  hunts 
atmosphere   explains  why  a  dug      with  his  nose  near  the  ground, 
who  carries  his  head  high  finds 


124 


GROUSE'S  "  FEAT  EXPLAINED. 


[CH.   VII. 


faintest  indications, — that  her  sagacity  led  her  not  to  abandon 
hastily  such  tokens,  however  feeble,  but  rather  to  seek  patiently  for 
a  confirmation  or  disproval  of  her  surmises, — that  these  fancies  of 
hers  often  ending  in  disappointment,  her  manner  did  not  exhibit 
any  excitement  that  could  have  induced  a  spectator  to  guess  what 
was  passing  in  her  mind, — that  he,  therefore,  noticed  nothing  un- 
usual until  after  the  removal  of  her  hesitation  and  doubts,  when  he 
observed  her  walking  calmly  direct  up  to  her  birds,— and  that  he 
thus  was  led  to  regard  as  an  unexplained  faculty  what  really  ought 
to  have  been  considered  as  simply  an  evidence  of  extreme  sensitive- 
ness of  nose  combined  with  marvellous  caution, — a  caution  it  is 
the  great  aim  of  good  breaking  to  inculcate.  If  I  am  right  in  my 
theory,  extraordinary  "  finder  "  as  "  Grouse  "  was,  she  would  have 
been  yet  more  successful  had  she  been  taught  to  range  properly. 


Stiff  by  the  tainted  gale  with  open  nose, 

Outstretched  and  finely  sensible."— THOMSON'S  SEASONS. 


Par.  210. 


214.  It  is  heedlessness, — the  exact  opposite  of  this 
extreme  caution, — that  makes  young  dogs  so  often  dis- 
regard and  overrun  a  slight  scent ;  and  since  they  are 


A  DOG-FISH.— Par.  218 


CH.  VIL]  HOK  F.  C- H'S  RETRIEVED.  127 

more  inclined  to  commit  this  error  from  the  rivalry  of 
companionship,  an  additional  argument  is  presented  in 
favour  of  breaking  them  separately,  and  giving  them 
their  own  time,  quietly  and  methodically,  to  work  out 
a  scent,  provided  the  nose  be  carried  high.  I  am  satisfied 
most  of  us  hurry  young  dogs  too  much.  Observe  the 
result  of  patience  and  care,  as  exhibited  in  the  person 
of  the  old  Dropper,  noticed  in  228. 

215.  But,  doubtless,  there  are  mysterious  influences  and  instincts 
of  which  the  wisest  of  us  know  but  little. 

216.  An  old  brother-officer  of  mine,  the  Hon.  F.  C h,  has  a 

very  handsome  black  retriever  that  possesses  the  extraordinary  gift 
of  being  able  to  run  direct  to  any  game,  or  even  glove,  you  may 
leave  behind  you,  however  tortuous  may  be  your  subsequent  path. 

C h  told  me  that  he  has,  in  the  presence  of  keepers,  frequently 

dropped  a  rabbit  within  sight  of  the  dog,  and  then  walked  in  a 
circle,  or  rather  semicircle,  to  the  other  side  of  a  low  hill — a  distance, 
possibly,  of  nearly  a  mile — before  he  desired  the  dog  to  fetch  it ; 
yet,  on  receiving  the  order,  the  animal  invariably  set  off  in  an  un- 
deviating  line  straight  to  the  rabbit,  unless  his  attention  had  been 
drawn  away  by  playing  with  other  dogs — a  license  C h  some- 
times designedly  allowed.     The  retriever  would  then  shuffle  about  a 
little  before  he  went  off,  but  when  he  started  it  would  be  in  as  direct 
a  line  to  the  object  as  usual. 

217.  No  one  could  explain  by  what  sense  or  faculty  he  performed 
this  feat.     It  appears  not  to  have  been  by  the  aid  of  his  olfactory 

powers,  for  C h  (who  is  a  keen  sportsman,  and  capital  shot,  by 

the  bye)  would  often  purposely  manage  that  the  dog,  when  he  was 
desired  to  "  fetch  "  the  object,  should  be  immediately  to  windward 
of  it :  and  in  the  most  unfavourable  position,  therefore,  for  deriving 
any  advantage  from  the  exercise  of  his  nasal  organs. 

218.  Capt.  G g,  K.N.  mentioned  to  me,  that  a  ship,  in  which 

he  had  served  many  years  ago  in  the  Mediterranean,  seldom  entered 
a  port  that  the  large  Newfoundland  belonging  to  her  did  not  jump 
overboard  the  instant  the  anchor  was  dropped,  swim  ashore,  and 
return,  after  an  hour  or  two's  lark,  direct  to  his  own  ship,  though 
she  might  be  riding  in  a  crowd  of  vessels.     He  would  then  bark, 
anxiously,  until  the  bight  of  a  rope  was  hove  to  him.     Into  this  he 
would  contrive  to  get  his  fore  legs,  and,  on  his  seizing  it  firmly  with 
his  teeth,  the  sailors,  who  were  much  attached  to  him,  would  hoist 
him  on  board. 

219.  Mr.  W b,  of  S a,  had  a  young  Newfoundland  that 

from  very  puppyhood  took  fearlessly  to  water,  but  acquired  as  he 
grew  up  such  wandering  propensities  on  land,  that  his  master  deter- 
mijied  to  part  with  him,  and  accordingly  made  him  a  present  to  his 


128  INSTINCT.  [CH.  vir. 

friend  Lieut.  P d,  K.N.  then  in  command  of  H.M.  Cutter 

"  Cameleon."  "  Triton,"  however,  was  so  attached  to  his  old  roving 
habits,  that  whenever  the  cutter  went  into  port  he  would  invariably 
swim  ashore  of  his  own  accord,  and  remain  away  for  several  days, 
always  managing,  however,  to  return  on  board  before  the  anchor 
was  weighed.  Such,  too,  was  his  intelligence  that  he  never  seemed 
puzzled  how  to  pick  out  his  own  vessel  from  amidst  forty  or  fifty 
others.  Indeed,  Lieut.  P d,  (he  lately  commanded  the  "  Vul- 
can,") to  whom  the  question,  at  my  request,  was  expressly  put, 
believes,  (and  he  has  courteously  permitted  me  to  quote  his  name 
and  words,)  that,  on  one  occasion,  "  Triton "  contrived  to  find  his 
own  vessel  from  among  nearly  a  hundred  that  were  riding  at  anchor 
in  Poole  harbour.  The  dog's  being  ever  so  well  acquainted  with  the 
interior  of  the  craft  does  not  explain  why  he  should  be  familiar 
with  her  external  appearance.  Did  he  judge  most  by  the  hull  or 
the  rigging  ? 

220.  The  Duke  of  N k  so  much  admired  the  magnificent 

style  in  which  "  Triton  "  would  spring  into  the  strongest  sea',  that 

Lieut.  P d  gave  the  fine  animal  to  his  Grace,  who,  for  all  I  know 

to  the  contrary,  still  possesses  him. 

221.  Who  can  account  for  the  mode  in  which  a  dog  or  cat,  carried 
a  long  journey  from  home,  in  a  covered  basket,  instinctively,  finds 
its  way  back  ? — yet,  numerous  are  the  well  authenticated  instances 
of  such  occurrences.*    But,  enough  of  this, — fortunately  I  have  not 
undertaken  to  attempt  an  elucidation  of  any  of  Nature's  many 
mysteries,  but  simply  to  show  how  some  of  the  faculties  she  has 
bestowed  upon  the  canine  race  may  easily  be  made  conducive  to  our 
amusements. 


*  When  quartered,  years  ago,  house  where  his  services  had  ever 

in  County  Wexford,   I  used  fre-  before  been  required.     As  it  is 

quently  to  see  a  fine  strong-kuit,  certain  that  he  was  perfectly  blind, 

well-built  horse,  who  could  never  no  faculty  we  can  believe  him  to  be 

see  me — for  he  was  stone-blind  ;  possessed  of,  unless  it  be  memory, 

yet,  odd  to  say,  all  his  progeny  had  will  explain  how,  at  such  long 

capital  eyes.1  He  had  rather  a  queer  intervals,  he  could  recognise  the 

temper,  as  his  name,  "  Kestless,"  many  different    places    so  accu- 

partly  implied.  During  the  spring  rately  ;  and  if  it  be  attributable 

he  was  led  about  the  country,  and  to  memory,  that  of  the   Senior 

what  is  very  surprising,  there  was  "Wrangler  of  Cambridge's  best  year 

always  a  fight  to  get  him  past  the  can  in  no  way  be  compared  with 

lane  or  gate  leading  to  any  farm-  it. 


1  This  is  the  more  singular,  as,  attributed  it  to  the  dampness  of 

from  unexplained  causes,  diseases  the  climate.     His  young  English 

of  that  organ  are  but  too  common  horses  suffered  while  at  Cork  as 

in  Ireland.  One  veterinary  surgeon  much  as  his  Irish  ones. 


CHAPTEE  VIII. 


FIRST  LESSON  IN  SEPTEMBER  CONTINUED.     CUNNING  OF  AGE.— 
RANGE  OF  FROM  TWO  TO  SIX  DOGS. 

222.  Your  dog  not  to  "break  fence ;"  how  taught ;  birds  often  sprung  while  you  are 
scrambling  over  hedge. — 223.  Turning  one's  back  upon  a  dog  to  bring  him  away  ; 
stooping  down,  &c.  to  make  him  hunt  close. — 224.  Dog,  when  fatigued,  not  to 
be  hunted;  leads  to  false  points. — 225.  Sent  home,  brushed,  and  allowed  a  warm 
berth;  not  to  follow  all  day  at  "  heel."— 226.  Instance  of  longevity  and  vigour 
flapper  shooting. — 227.  Value  of  good  old  dogs. — 228.  Exemplified  in  an  old 
dropper  on  the  moors. — 229.  Young  dogs  get  thrown  out;  cunning  of  old  birds 
exemplified  in  a  Grouse. — 230.  Annual  "fall"  of  underwood  in  Kent. — 231 

Mr.  K g,  good  fisherman ;  in  Note,  anecdote  of  voracity  of  pike.     Wheatley's 

"Rod  and  Line."— 232.  Extraordinary  chase  after  a  wounded  pheasant— 233 
Singular  appearance  of  the  pheasant  on  its  capture. — 234.  Description  of  the 
Spaniel  "Dash."— 235.  Evil  of  "fetching,"  not  having  been  taught  in  youth 
exemplified. — 236.  Another  instance  of  the  cunning  of  an  old  Pheasant.  In 
Note,  how  to  choose  and  tell  age  of  Pheasants.— 237.  The  last  Duke  of  Gordon 
his  black  setters;  his  shooting  over  old  dogs.— 238  to  240.— Beat  of  two  dogs 
how  regulated. — 241.  Whatever  number  be  hunted,  all  should  look  to  the  gun 
for  orders;  Mr.  Herbert's  opinion  in  his  "Field  Sports  in  United  States."— 
242,  243.  Beat  of  three  dogs.— 244.  Of  four  dogs.— 245  to  247.  Of  five  or  six 
dogs. — 248.  Great  precision  impracticable,  but  the  necessity  of  a  system  main- 
tained ;  System  particularly  essential  where  game  is  scarce ;  dogs  to  be  brigaded 
not  employed  as  a  pack. — 249.  When  each  keeper  hunts  a  brace. — 250.  Major 

B d's  highly  broken  pointers. — 251,  252.  His  making  six  alternately  "road;' 

their  running  riot  when  ordered. — 253.  Not  a  good  shot,  which  shows  excellence 
in  shooting  not  to  be  essential  in  a  breaker.— 254.  A  brigade  of  fine  rangers 
worth  from  fifty  to  sixty  guineas  a  brace. — 255.  Bad  rangers  afford  some  sport 

where  game  is  plentiful;  Captain  R s'  dogs  on  Quail. — 256.  Fastest  walkers 

do  not  necessarily  beat  most  country. — 257.  Nor  do  always  the  fastest  dogs. — 
258.  How  slow  dogs  may  hunt  more  ground  than  faster. 

222.  Of  course,  you  will  not  let  your  pupil  "  break 
fence,"  or  get  out  of  your  sight.  If  he  be  a  small,  active 
pointer  or  setter  he  may  be  out  of  sight  before  you  are 
aware  of  it.  Be  on  the  watch  to  whistle  or  call  out 
"  Fence/'  the  instant  you  perceive  that  he  is  thinking  of 
quitting  the  field.  Do  not  wait  until  he  is  over  ;  check 
him  by  anticipating  his  intentions.  Should  he,  unper- 
ceived,  or  in  defiance  of  your  orders,  get  into  a  field 

K 


130  "BREAKING  FENCE."  [OH.  vm. 

before  you,  call  him  back  (by  the  same  opening  if 
practicable,  through  which  he  passed,  the  more  clearly 
to  show  him  his  folly)  ;  and  do  not  proceed  further 
until  he  has  obeyed  you.  A  steady  adherence  to  this 
rule  will  soon  convince  him  of  the  inutility  of  not 
exercising  more  patience,  or  at  least  forbearance ;  then 
signal  to  him  "  away  "  in  the  direction  you  choose,  not 
in  the  direction  he  chooses.  It  is  essential  that  you 
should  be  the  first  over  every  fence.  In  the  scramble, 
birds,  at  which  you  ought  to  have  a  shot,  are  frequently 
sprung.  If  he  is  not  obedient  to  your  orders  make  him 
"  drop,"  and  rate  him  as  described  in  188. 

223.  A  dog  from  his  own  observation  so  much  feels, 
— and  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  according  to  his  educa- 
tion,— the  necessity  of  watching  in  what  direction  you 
are  walking,  that  if  he  is  habituated  to  work  under  your 
eye, — I  mean,  is  never  allowed  to  hunt  behind  you, — by 
turning  your  back  upon  him  when  he  is  paying  no 
attention  to   your  signals,  you  will  often   be   able   to 
bring  him  away  from  a  spot  where  he  is  ranging  (perhaps 
down  wind)  against  your  wishes,  at  a  time  when  you 
are  afraid  to  whistle,  lest  you  should  alarm  the  birds. 
Waving  your  hand  backwards  and  forwards  near  the 
ground,  and  stooping  low  while  walking  slowly  about, 
as   if  in  search  of  something,  will  often   attract  the 
attention   of  an  ill -taught   self-willed   dog ;   and  his 
anxiety  to  participate  in  the  find,  and  share  the  sport 
which  he  imagines  you  expect,  will  frequently  induce 
him  to  run  up,  and  hunt  alongside  of  you  for  any  close 
lying  bird. 

224.  Never  be  induced  to  hunt  your  young  dog,  (nor 
indeed,  any  dog),  when  he  is  tired.     If  you  do,  you  will 
give  him  a  slovenly  carriage  and  habits,  and  lessen  his 
zeal  for  the  sport.     In  order  to  come  in  for  a  sniff,  at 


Small,  active  Pointer."— Par.  222. 


K   2 


CH.  viii.]  TIRED  DOGS.  133 

a  time  when  he  is  too  fatigued  to  search  for  it  himself, 
he  will  crawl  after  his  companion,  watching  for  any 
indication  of  his  finding.  As  they  become  wearied  you 
will  have  a  difficulty  in  keeping  your  old  well-broken 
dogs  separate — much  more  young  ones,  however  in- 
dependently they  may  have  ranged  when  fresh.  You 
may  also,  to  a  certainty,  expect  false  points ;  but  what 
is  of  far  more  consequence,  by  frequently  overtasking 
your  young  dog,  you  will  as  effectually  waste  his  consti- 
tution as  you  would  your  horse's  by  premature  work. 

225.  If  he  is  very  young  when  first  entered,  two  or 
three  hours'  work  at  a  time  will  be  sufficient.     When  he 
is  tired,  or  rather  before  he  is  tired,  send  him  home  with 
the  man  who  brings  you  a  relief.     Do  not  fancy  your 
dog  will  be  getting  a  rest  if  he  be  allowed  to  follow  at 
your  heels  for  the  remainder  of  the  day,  coupled  to  a 
companion.     His  fretting  at  not  being  allowed  to  share 
in  the  sport  he  sees,  will  take  nearly  as  much  out  of 
him  as  if  you  permitted  him  to  hunt.     If  you  can  per- 
suade John  always  to  rub  him  down,  and  brush  and  dry 
him — nay  even  to  let  him  enjoy  an  hour's  basking  in 
front  of  the  fire — before  he  shuts  him  up  in  the  kennel, 
you  will  add  years  to  his  existence ;  and  remember  that 
one  old  experienced  dog,  whose  constitution  is  uninjured, 
is  worth  two  young  ones. 

226.  A  gentleman  in  Eyrecourt,  County  Galway,  gave  me,  as  a 
valuable  present,  a  black  setter  thirteen  years  of  age.     And  most 
valuable  was  the  setter  to  my  friend,  who  had  carefully  reared  him 
from  a  puppy,  and  had  him  well  under  command  ;  but  with  me 
he  was  so  wild, — I  make  use  of  the  term  most  advisedly, — that 
he  did  me  more  harm  than  good  the  only  season  I  shot  over  him. 
He  was  stolen  from  me,  and  his  teeth  were  so  sound,  and  he  bore 
so  little  the  appearance  of  age,  that  I  have  no  doubt  he  was  sold  as 
a  tolerably  young  dog.     He  was  the  best  specimen  I  ever  saw  of 
the  vigour  that  may  be  retained  for  old  age  by  judicious  treatment 
in  youth.     The  excellence  of  his  constitution  was  the  more  remark- 
able, from  the  fact  of  his  having  always  been  extremely  fond  of  the 
water.     Few  dogs  could  equal  him  for  flapper  shooting,  that  vilest 


134  VIGOUR  IN  OLD  AGE.  [OH.  vin. 

of  sports,  if  followed  before  the  unfortunate  birds  get  strong  on  the 
wing— as  unprofitable,  too,  for  the  table,  as  unsatisfactory  to  the 

real  sportsman.     Sir  J s  M e,  of  Perthshire,  told  me  that  he 

had  shot  grouse  over  an  Oxfordshire  pointer  bitch  (the  best  he  ever 
possessed  and  the  founder  of  his  kennel-stock)  until  she  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  when  she  could  do  no  more  than  crawl  up  the  side  of 
a  hill,  occasionally,  to  gain  time,  making  false  points.  Once,  how- 
ever, on  the  top,  she  would  work  merrily  downwards, — no  false 
points  then. 

227.  But  canine  veterans,  of  however  invalided  a  constitution,  if 
they  have  been  really  first-rate  in  their  youth,  are  not  always  to  be 
despised.     Occasionally  you  may  come  across  one  who  will,  from  his 
past  experience  and  superior  nose,  prove  a  more  valuable  auxiliary 
in  the  field,  than  many  a  campaigner  of  greater  activity  and  vigour. 

228.  Many  years  ago  I  went  from  the  south  of  England  for  some 
grouse  shooting  in  Scotland.     When  arranging  with  my  companion 

(Captain  S s,  a  connexion  of  the  kind-hearted  old  warrior,  whose 

crowning  victory  was  Goojerat,)  what  dogs  should  accompany  us,  he 
remarked,  that  it  would  be  useless  to  take  his  old  Dropper  (one  far 
more  resembling  a  pointer  than  a  setter),  as  he  was  too  aged  to 
undergo  any  work.     I  observed,  that  he  could  do  us  no  harm  if  he 
did  us  no  good  ;  and,  as  he  had  been  an  admirable  animal,  I  advised 
his  being  taken.     Off  he  went  to  the  North  ;  and  frequently  did  we 
afterwards  congratulate  ourselves  upon  this  decision,  for  the  old 
fellow,  apparently  grateful  for  the  compliment  seemed  to  feel  that 
he  ought  to  make  us  some  return,  and  that  the  less  ground  he  could 
traverse  with  his  legs  the  more  he  was  bound  to  traverse  with  his 
nose.     The  result  was,  that  while  he  was  slowly  pottering  about, 
(the  season  being  unusually  hot  and  dry,  there  was  but  little  scent) 
he  was  constantly  finding  us  birds  which  his  more  flashy  companions 
had  passed  over  ;  and  before  we  left  Scotland  we  agreed  that  none 
of  our  dogs  had  procured  us  so  many  shots  as  the  slow,  careful  old 
gentleman. 

229.  Old  birds  become  very  cunning ;  they  are  quite  sensible  of 
the  danger  they  incur  by  rising,  and  to  escape  from  the  dog,  and 
puzzle  him,  have  as  many  wiles  and  twists  as  a  hunted  hare.     It 
may  be  that  as  old  age  advances,  their  decreasing  bodily  powers 
warn  them  to  add  to  their  security  by  the  exercise  of  their  wits. 
It  is  often  remarked,  that  if  ever  we  kill  any  of  their  natural 
enemies,  whether  winged  or  four-footed,  we  are  sure  to  find  them 
in  niir  condition.     This  condition  makes  it  obvious,  that  they  must 
have  gained  with  years  the  experience  which  enables  them  to  obtain 
a  good  livelihood  by  craft,  at  a  time  of  life  when  their  failing  strength 
would  prevent  their  procuring  a  single  meal  by  a  direct  pursuit.  * 
If  then  we  argue  from  analogy,  we  shall  think  it  almost  impossible 

*  Indeed,  through  a  merciful  dis-  ing,  painful  death  from  starvation, 
pensation,  it  seems  to  be  ordained,  but  shall  serve  for  the  nourish- 
that  no  animal  (in  the  general  ment  of  others  before  his  body 
course  of  nature)  shall  die  a  linger-  becomes  attenuated  from  want. 


CH.  VIIL]  "FALLS"  OF  UNDERWOOD.  135 

for  any  unpractised  dog,  however  highly  bred,  to  procure  us  so  many 
shots  as  one  who  has  been  hunted  for  several  seasons.  And  such  is 
really  the  case.  A  young  dog  will  not  keep  to  the  trail  of  an  old 
bird  for  more  than  about  forty  yards  ;  after  that  he  will  give  it  up 
altogether,  or  rush  in.  It  is  when  he  is  "  roading "  one  of  these 
knowing  aged  patriarchs,  that  you  become  aware  of  the  great  value 
of  experience  in  a  dog.  You  may  have  seen  a  young  one  bewildered 
in  the  devious  intricacies  of  the  broken  hags,  sought  as  a  refuge  by  an 
old  cock-grouse,  and  have  probably  imagined  that  the  youngster  had 
only  been  following  a  recent  haunt,  and  that  the  game  was  gone. 
Not  so,  the  dog  was  right  at  first.  He  "  footed  "  it  out  admirably 
until  he  came  to  the  dark  bush,  which  you  must  have  wondered  to 
see  growing  in  such  a  situation ;  there  the  sly  bird  doubled,  then 
turned  short  to  the  right  for  nearly  a  hundred  yards  before  it  re- 
sumed its  course  down  wind.  A  dog  more  up  to  his  work  would 
have  again  hit  off  the  scent,  and  an  old  stager,  probably,  never  have 
lust  it. 

230.  In  order  to  be  generally  understood,  I  will  preface  the  fol- 
lowing anecdote  by  mentioning  that  in  the  large  Kentish  woods, 
where  the  annual  falls  of  underwood  take  place  to  the  extent  of 
forty  or  fifty  acres,  it  is  usual  to  drain  the  land  by  digging  water- 
courses, or  as  they  are  commonly  called,  Grips.     The  first  year's 
growth  of  the  underwood  is  called  yearling  Fall  (or  Spring) ;  the 
second,  two-year  old  Fall  (or  Spring) ;  and  so  on. 

231.  Mr.  K g,  a  good  sportsman,  and  so  successful  an  angler,* 

that  he  is  familiarly  called  by  his  friends  "  the  King-fisher,"  to  dis- 
tinguish him  from  others  who  bear  his  name,  was  pheasant  shooting 
in  the  winter  of  1848-9,  in  two-year  old  springs,  where,  with  all 


*  Numerous  accounts  have  been  lost  line,  swivel,  and  lead  hanging 

given  of  the  voracity  of  the  pike.  out  of  its  mouth,  while, — appa- 

K g  told  me  of  a  very  remark-  rently  not  much  to  the  animal's 

able  instance,  and  one  which  clearly  discomfort, — the  bait  and  hooks 

shows  that  fish  do  not  always  suffer  quietly  reposed  in  its  interior.  On 

so  much  torture  when  hooked  as  turning    the    gullet    inside    out, 

many  suppose.     He  was  spinning      K g  found  the  bait  so  unin- 

a  gudgeon  for  pike  in  the  river  jured  that  he  again  fastened  it  to 

Stour,  near  Chilham,  having  bent  his  line  along  with  the  recovered 

on  four  large  hooks,  back  to  back,  tackle,  and  actually  caught  another 

and  a  large  lip-hook.     He  was  run  pike  weighing  41bs.,  and  a  perch 

at  by  a  pike,  which  he  struck,  of  241bs.,  with  the  very  gudgeon 

but  the  line  unfortunately  break-  that  had  been  in  the  stomach  of 

ing,  the  fish  earned  off  fully  four  the  large  pike  for  nearly  a  quarter 

yards  of  it,  together  with  half  a  of  an  hour, 

yard  of  gimp,  two  large  swivels,  Those  who  are  fond  of  trolling 

and  a  lead.     K g  put  on  fresh  for  trout  would  not  find  their  time 

tackle  and  bait.  At  the  very  first  thrown  away  in  reading  Wheat- 
cast  he  was  run  at  again,  and  sue-  ley's  novel  hiLti  on  all  kinds  of 
ceeded  in  landing  the  fish,  which  spinning  baits.  His  "  Rod  and 

weighed    12  Ibs.       To    K g's  Line"  is  an  excellent  little  book. 

great  surprise,   he  observed  the 


136  EXTRAORDINARY  CHASE.  [CH.  vm. 

acknowledged  partiality  for  Kent,  it  must  be  admitted  that  birds 
are  not  so  plentiful  as  in  certain  preserves  in  Norfolk,  though  pro- 
bably foxes  are  fully  as  numerous.  It  has  been  remarked,  by  the 
bye,  that  where  foxes  abound,  old  pheasants  are  very  cunning  ; 
doubtless  from  having  been  often  put  to  their  shifts  to  escape  from 
their  wily  adversaries. 

232.  K g  sprung  a  splendid  cock-pheasant,  which,  although 

a  long  way  off,  he  shot  at  and  dropped.  Judging  from  the  manner 
in  which  it  fell  that  it  was  a  runner,  and  well  knowing  the  racing 
propensities  of  the  old  cocks,  he  hastened  to  the  spot  where  it 
tumbled,  and,  giving  his  gun  to  the  marker,  prepared  for  a  sharp 
burst,  though  he  little  expected  the  extraordinary  chase  that  was  to 
follow.  He  found,  as  he  had  anticipated,  some  breast  feathers,  but 
no  bird.  After  fruitlessly  trying  in  every  direction,  for  nearly  a 

quarter  of  an  hour,  to  put  "Dash"  on  the  scent,  K g's  eyes 

rested  on  one  of  the  grips  just  spoken  of :  it  ran  close  to  where  the 
bird  had  fallen,  and  the  thought  struck  him  that  possibly  the  cun- 
ning creature  might  have  taken  refuge  in  it,  and  thus  have  thrown 

out  the  spaniel.  K g  got  into  it,  and  though  finding  fully  six 

inches  of  water,  he  persevered  in  following  it.  It  brought  him  to 
a  high  wood  about  one  hundred  yards  off,  and  towards  which  the 
pheasant  had  been  flying  when  shot  at,  but  "  Dash"  could  not  obtain 

the  least  scent  of  the  bird.  As  a  last  resource,  K g  then  returned 

to  the  spot  where  he  had  left  the  marker  with  his  gun,  being  deter- 
mined to  try  the  grip  in  the  opposite  direction,  notwithstanding  its 
leading  exactly  contrary  to  the  point  for  which  the  bird  had  been 
making.  He  did  so,  and  by  calling  energetically  to  "Dash,"  he 
endeavoured  to  make  the  dog  believe  that  at  length  the  bird  was  in 
view.  The  plan  succeeded.  "  Dash,"  who  had  become  slack  from 
disappointment,  hunted  with  renewed  animation,  and,  after  pur- 
suing the  grip  for  some  time,  took  the  scent  full  cry  across  the 
springs  until  he  came  to  an  old  waggon-road,  along  which  he  went 

at  speed.  Feeling  assured  that  all  was  now  right,  K g  gladly 

moderated  his  pace,  for  he  was  much  out  of  breath.  When  at 
length  he  overtook  "  Dash,"  instead  of  seeing  him  in  possession  of 
the  bird,  he  only  found  him  completely  at  fault,  trying  up  and 
down  the  well-indented  wheel-ruts.  On  the  other  side  of  the  road 

there  was  another  grip.  Into  it  K g  jumped,  followed  the  plan 

he  had  before  adopted,  and  with  like  success ;  for  on  running  up  the 
grip  for  about  sixty  yards,  the  spaniel  again  hit  off  the  scent,  and 

after  taking  it  away  at  a  right  angle  (so  far  that  K g  could  only 

now  and  then  catch  a  faint  tingle  of  the  bell),  brought  it  back  to 
the  same  grip,  but  some  200  yards  higher,  where  he  suddenly 

threw  up."  For  the  fourth  time  in  went  K g.  "  Dash  "  now 

seemed  thoroughly  to  understand  matters,  and  kept  trying  both 
sides  of  the  grip  for  the  scent.  At  length  he  found  it,  and  went 
full  cry  across  a  yearling  fall,  which  was  everywhere  very  bare, 
except  here  and  there  an  occasional  patch  of  high  strong  grass.  At 

one  of  these  K g  found  him  again  at  fault.  The  dog  seemed 

quite  done  ;  but  still  it  was  evident,  from  his  excited  manner,  that 


Short-legged,  strong-loined,  Sussex  Spaniel."— Par.  236. 


CH.  vin.]  SAGACITY  OF  A  PHEASANT.  139 

he  thought  the  pheasant  was  not  far  distant.     After  a  time  he  began 

scratching  at  the  long  grass.     K g  went  up,  and,  on  putting  the 

stalks  aside,  fancied  he  perceived  the  end  of  some  tail  feathers. 
He  thrust  in  his  arm,  and  ultimately  succeeded  in  dragging  forth 
the  well-hunted  bird,  quite  alive,  out  of  the  deep  wheel-track  in 
which  it  had  buried  itself.  The  coarse  grass  had  grown  so  closely 
over  the  rut,  that  the  bird  had  been  able  to  creep  in  for  three  or  four 
yards. 

233.  A  more  miserable  appearance  than  the  poor  creature  pre- 
sented, cannot  easily  be  conceived.     Its  feathers  were  so  completely 
sopped,  and  stuck  so   close  to  its  body,  that  it  looked  a  mere 
skeleton  ;  and  yet  it  was  a  noble  bird,  measuring  three  feet  and  an 
inch  from  the  tip  of  its  bill  to  the  extremity  of  its  tail,  and  weighed 
3  Ibs.  6  oz. 

234.  As  "Dash"  plays  so  conspicuous  a  part  in  the  foregoing 
history,  it  appears  right  that  a  few  words  should  be  given  to  describe 
him.     He  is  a  low,  strong-limbed,  broad-backed  nearly  thorough- 
bred Sussex  spaniel,  with  an  extremely  intelligent-looking  head,  but 

a  sadly  mean  stern.     His  colour  is  black.     K g  generally  hunts 

him  with  a  bell,  especially  where  the  underwood  is  thick.     If  he  is 
sharply  called  to  when  he  is  on  game  he  will  slacken  his  pace,  look 
round  for  his  master,  and  not  "road"  keenly  until  the  gun  ap- 
proaches him  ;  he  will  then  rush  in  with  a  bark  to  flush,  though  at 
other  times  hunting  mute.     The  intelligent  animal  seems,  however, 

perfectly  to  know  when  the  cover  is  too  high  or  strong  for  K g 

to  follow,  for  he  then  invariably  runs  full  cry  from  first  touching  on 
a  scent.     He  never  deceives  the  sportsman,  for  he  never  gives  one 
of  his  eloquent  looks  unless  he  is  certain  of  being  on  game  ;  and 
his  nose  is  so  good,  and  he  hunts  so  true,  that  he  invariably 
"pushes "  his  pheasant,  however  much  it  may  turn  or  double. 

235.  He  is  also  undeniable  at   "seeking  dead,"  but  unluckily 
was  not  taught  as  a  youngster  to  fetch.     Much  time  is,  therefore, 
often  lost  in  finding  him  after  he  has  been  sent  for  a  winged  bird  ; 
but  when  he  is  at  length  discovered  it  is  sure  to  be  with  him. 

236.  I  was  told  of  a  farmer  in  Kent— one  of  her  fine  yeomen,  of 
whom  England  has  such  cause  to  feel  proud,  (pity  that  in  some  other 
counties  the  class  is  not  as  distinctly  preserved  !) — who  was  shooting 
with  an  old  short-legged,  strong-loined,  Sussex  spaniel.     The  dog, 
after  "  reading "  a  pheasant  along  many  a  tortuous  path,  led  the 
farmer  to  the  edge  of  a  shallow  brook,  up  the  middle  of  which,  far 
away  to  his  right,  he  was  lucky  enough  to  see  the  animal  running, 
obviously  with  the  design  of  throwing  out  the  dog.     A  light  pair  of 
heels  soon  brought  the  sportsman  within  shot,  and  enabled  him  to 
bag  the  heaviest  and  richest  feathered  bird  he  had  ever  seen.     The 
sharp  long  spurs*  showed  it  to  be  at  least  five  years  of  age,  and  its 

*    There    are    poulterers    who  and  the  smoother  the  leg,    the 

would  pare  such  a   spur  to  di-  younger  is  the  bird.  Dr.  Kitchener, 

minish    the   appearance   of   age.  who  appears  not  to  have  had  much 

The  shorter  and  blunter  the  spur,  luck  in  stumbling  upon  well-fed 


140  AGE  IN  DOGS  ADVANTAGEOUS.  [CH.  vm. 

sagacity  would  probably  have  borne  it  triumphantly  through  another 
campaign  or  two,  had  not  the  farmer's  quick  eye  detected  its  adroit 
manoeuvre,— one  that  forcibly  calls  to  mind  Cooper's  descriptions  of 
the  stratagems  employed  by  the  North  American  Indians  to  baffle 
pursuit  by  leaving  no  indication  of  their  trail. 

237.  Must  there  not  be  experience  on  the  part  of  dogs  to  contend 
successfully  with  such  wiliness  as  this  ?  So  much  was  the  last  Duke 
of  Gordon  convinced  of  its  necessity,— and  he  is  well  known  to 
have  been  a  capital  sportsman,  and  to  have  paid  great  attention  to 
his  fine  breed  of  black  setters, — that  he  would  never  allow  one  of 
them  to  accompany  him  to  the  moors  that  had  not  been  shot  over 
five  or  six  seasons — and  "small  blame"  to  his  Grace  "for  that 
same,"  as  he  had  a  choice  from  all  ages.  But  it  must  be  acknow- 
ledged, that  however  excellent  *  in  many  respects, — and  when  in  the 
hands  of  the  breaker  their  indomitable  energies  would  cause  the 
bunch  of  heather,  fastened  to  the  end  of  their  checkcords,  to  dance 
merrily  over  the  mountains  from  morning  until  night-fall,— most  of 
them  were  a  wild  set  in  their  youth,  and  required  constant  work  to 
keep  them  in  order.  Every  experienced  sportsman  in  the  High- 
lands is  aware  that  young  dogs  will  romp  (for  it  cannot  be  termed 
hunting),  with  their  noses  here,  there,  and  everywhere,  obtaining  but 
few  points  over  ground  on  which  knowing  old  dogs  will  immediately 
afterwards  keep  the  gun-barrels  at  an  exhilarating  temperature. 

238.  When  you  hunt  a  brace  of  dog?,  to  speak  theoreti- 
cally, they  should  traverse  a  field  in  opposite  directions, 
but  along  parallel  lines,  and  the  distance  between  the  lines 
should  be  regulated  by  you  according  as  it  is  a  good  or 
a  bad  scenting  day,  and  according  to  the  excellence  of 
the  dogs'  noses.  Mathematical  accuracy  is,  of  course, 
never  to  be  attained,  but  the  closer  you  approach  to  it 
the  better. 

pheasants,  avers  that  they  have  vein."     The  more  fat  and  yellow 

not  the  flavour  of  barn-door  fowls  that  appears,   the  higher  is  the 

if  they  are  cooked   before  they  condition  of  the  animal.      Blow 

drop  from  the  single  tail  feather  aside  the  feathers  of  a  snipe  ;  and 

by  which,  he  says,  they  should  be  if  the  flesh  is  nearly  black  the 

hung  up  in  the  larder  ;  or,  rather,  bird  wants  condition, — it  should 

he  advises  that    two    pheasants  be  white. 

should  be  suspended  by  one  feather  *  On  the  7th  of  July,  1836,  his 
until  both  fall.  Birds  of  full,  kennel  was  put  up  to  auction, 
beautiful  plumage  gratify  the  eye  when  three  of  his  setters  fetched, 
more  than  the  palate.  It  is  an  severally,  seventy-two,  sixty,  and 
indication  of  age  in  all  sorts  of  fifty-six  guineas.  Two  puppies 
birds.  The  hens  are  the  tenderest.  brought  fifteen  guineas 'each, — 
On  the  body  of  birds,  immediately  and  two  of  his  retrievers,  "  Bess  " 
under  the  wing,  there  is  what  and  "  Diver,"  forty-six  and  forty- 
keepers  often  call,  "  the  condition  two  guineas. 


Duke  of  Gordon's  fine  breed  of  Black  Setters."— Par.  237. 


CH.  viii. J  BEAT  OF  TWO  DOGS.  143 

239.  You  should  attempt  it  (on  entering  the  field  to 
leeward,  as  before  directed)  by  making  one  dog  go  straight 
a-head  of  you  to  the  distance  which  you  wish  the  parallel 
lines  to  be  apart  from  each  other,  before  you  cast  him 
off  (say)  to  the  right ;  then  cast  off  his  companion  to 
the  left.     If  the  dogs  are  nearly  equal  in  pace,  the  one 
a-head,  so  long  as  he  does  not  fancy  he  winds  game, 
should  continue  to  work  on  a  parallel  more  advanced 
than  the  other. 

240.  Should  you  not  like  to  relinquish,  for  the  sake 
of  this  formal  precision,  the  chance  of  a  find  in  the 
neglected  right-hand  corner  of  the  field,  cast  off  one 
dog  to  the  right,  the  other  to  the  left  on  entering  it, 
and  make  the  one  that  soonest  approaches  his  hedge 
take  the  widest  sweep  (turn),  and  so  be  placed  in  the 
advanced  parallel. 

241.  With  regard  to  hunting  more  than  a  brace — 
when  your  difficulties  wonderfully  multiply — your  own 
judgment  must   determine  in  what   manner  to  direct 
their  travelling  powers  to  the  greatest  advantage.  Much 
will  depend  upon  the  different  speed  of  the  dogs;  the 
number  you  choose,  from  whim  or  otherwise,  to  hunt ; 
the  kind  of  country  you  beat ;  and  the  quantity  and 
sort  of  game  you  expect  to  find.     It  is,  however,  certain 
you  must  wish  that  each  dog  be  observant  of  the  direc- 
tion in  which  your  face  is  turned,  in  order  that  he  may 
guide  his  own  movements  by  yours  ; — that  he  from  time 
to  time  look  towards  you  to  see  if  you  have  any  com- 
mands ; — and  that  he  be  ever  anxious  to  obey  them. 

Herbert  writes  as  follows,  in  his  work  on  shooting  in  the  United 
States :  *  his  words  ought  to  have  influence,  for  manifestly  he  is 
a  good  sportsman  ;  but  I  own  I  cannot  quite  agree  with  him  as  to 


Entitled,    "  Field    Sports  in    the    United    States    and    British 
Provinces,  by  Frank  Forester." 


144  BEAT  OF  THREE  DOGS.        [en.  vm. 

the  facility  with  which  a  range  can  be  taught  :  "  It  is  wonderful 
how  easily  dogs  which  are  always  shot  over  by  the  same  man — he 
being  one  who  knows  his  business — will  learn  to  cross  and  re-quarter 
their  ground,  turning  to  the  slightest  whistle,  and  following  the  least 
gesture  of  the  hand.  I  have  seen  old  dogs  turn  their  heads  to  catch 
their  master's  eye,  if  they  thought  the  whistle  too  long  deferred  ; 
and  I  lately  lost  an  old  Irish  setter,  which  had  been  stone  deaf  for 
his  last  two  seasons,  but  which  I  found  no  more  difficulty  in  turning 
than  any  other  dog,  so  accurately  did  he  know  when  to  look  for  the 
signal." 

242.  To  beat  your  ground  systematically  with  three 
dogs  you  should  strive  to  make  them  cross  and  re-cross 
you,  each  on  a  different  parallel,  as  just  described  for 
two  dogs ;  but  each  dog  must  make  a  proportionately 
bolder  sweep  (turn) ;  or, 

243.  If  you  have  plenty  of  space,  you  can  make  one 
dog  take  a  distinct  beat  to  the  right,  another  a  separate 
beat  to  the  left,  and  direct  the  third  (which  ought  to  be 
the  dog  least  confirmed  in  his  range)  to  traverse  the 
central  part, — and  so  be  the  only  one  that  shall  cross 
and  recross  you.     If  one  of  your  dogs  is  a  slow  pot- 
terer,  and  you  prefer  this  method  to  the  one  named  in 
242,  give  him  the  middle  beat,  and  let  his  faster  com- 
panions take  the  flanks.     In  our  small  English  fields 
you  have  not  space  enough,  but  on  our  moors,  and  in 
many  parts  of  the  Continent,  it  cannot  be  want  of  room 
that  will  prevent  your  accomplishing  it.     To  do  this 
well,   however,   and    not    interfere   with   each    other's 
ground,  how  magnificently  must  your  dogs  be  broken ! 
In  directing  their  movements,  the  assistance  that  would 
be  given  you  by  each  dog's   acknowledging  his  own 
particular  whistle,  and  no  other  (505),  is  very  apparent. 

244.  It  is  difficult  enough  to  make  three  dogs  traverse 
across  you  on  tolerably  distinct  parallels,  and  at  a  jn- 
dicious  distance  between  the  parallels  ;  you  will  find  it 
hopeless  to  attempt  it  with  more  than  three ;  and  one 
can  hardly  imagine  a  caste  in  which  it  would  be  advan- 


CH.  VIIL]  BEAT  OF  FOUR  OR  FIVE  DOGS.  145 

tageous  to  uncouple  a  greater  number  of  good  rangers. 
If,  however,  the  scarcity  of  game,  and  the  extensiveness 
of  your  beat,  or  any  peculiar  fancy,  induce  you  habitually 
to  use  four  dogs,  hunt  one  brace  to  the  right,  the  other 
to  the  left ;  and,  so  far  as  you  can,  let  those  which  form 
a  brace  ~be  of  equal  speed*  Your  task  will  be  facili- 
tated by  your  always  keeping  the  same  brace  to  one 
flank, — I  mean,  by  making  one  brace  constantly  hunt 
to  your  right  hand ;  the  other  brace  to  your  left.  The 
same  reasoning  holds  with  regard  to  assigning  to  each 
dog  a  particular  side  when  hunting  three,  according  to 
the  mode  described  in  last  paragraph.  It  should,  how- 
ever, be  borne  in  mind,  that  constantly  hunting  a  dog 
in  this  manner  on  one  and  the  same  flank,  tends  to 
make  him  range  very  disagreeably  whenever  employed 
single-handed. 

245.  If  you  hunt  five  dogs,  four  of  them  ought  to 
work  by  braces  to  the  right  and  left,  and  the  fifth  (the 
dog  whose  rate  of  speed  most  varies  from  the  others) 
should  have  a  narrow  beat  assigned  him  directly  in 
advance  of  you. 

246.  If  three  brace  are  to  be  used,  let  the  third  brace 
hunt  the  central  ground,  as  recommended  for  the  fifth 
dog, — or  they  could  b$*worked  in  leashes,  one  on  the 
right  of  the  gun,  the  other  on  the  left. 

247.  These  are  the  correct  theoretical  rules,  and  the 
more   closely  you  observe  them,  the  more  truly  and 
killingly  will  your  ground  be  hunted. 

248.  Probably  you  will  think  that  such  niceties  are 
utterly  impracticable.     They  must  be  impracticable,  if 
you  look  for  mathematical  precision ;  but  if  you  are  deter- 
mined to  hunt  many  dogs  and  hope  to  shoot  over  more 
than  a  mere  rabble,  you  should  work  upon  system.  If  you 

*  A  rule  to  be  followed  whenever  you  employ  relays  of  braces. 

L 


146  BRIGADES,— NOT  PACKS.  [CH.  vm. 

do  not,  what  can  you  expect  but  an  unorganized  mob  ? — 
an  undrilled  set,  perpetually  running  over  each  other's 
ground, — now  scampering  in  this  part,  now  crowded 
in  that, — a  few  likely  spots  being  hunted  by  all  (espe- 
cially if  they  are  old  dogs),  the  rest  of  the  field  by  none 
of  them  ;  and  to  control  whose  unprofitable  wanderings, 
why  not  employ  a  regular  huntsman  and  a  well-mounted 
whip  ?  Doubtless  it  would  be  absurd  to  hope  for  perfect 
accuracy  in  so  difficult  a  matter  as  a  systematic  range 
in  a  brigade  of  dogs ;  but  that  you  may  approach  cor- 
rectness, take  a  true  standard  of  excellence.  If  you  do 
not  keep  perfection  in  view,  you  will  never  attain  to 
more  than  mediocrity.  I  earnestly  hope,  however,  that 
it  cannot  be  your  wish  to  take  out  a  host  of  dogs, — but 
should  you  have  such  a  singular  hobby,  pray  let  them 
be  regularly  brigaded,  and  not  employed  as  a  pack.  In 
my  opinion,  under  no  circumstances  can  more  than 
relays  of  leashes  be  desirable ;  but  I  should  be  sorry  in 
such  matters  to  dispute  any  man's  right  to  please  him- 
self;  I  only  wish  him,  whatever  he  does,  to  strive  to  do 
*t  correctly. 

249.  Some  men  who  shoot  on  a  grand  scale  make 
their  keepers  hunt  each  a  distinct  brace  of  dogs, — the 
gun  going  up  to  whatever  dog  points.  It  is  the  most 
killing  plan  to  adopt ;  but  that  is  not  the  matter  we 
were  considering.  The  question  was,  what  method  a 
man  ought  to  pursue  who  had  a  fancy  to  himself  hunt 
many  dogs  at  a  time. 

250.  The  late  Major  B d,  of  B d,  in  Lancashire,  had  this 

fancy.     The   moors  over  which  he   shot  were  by  no  means  well 
stocked  with  game ;   but  the  wonderful  control  he  obtained   over 
his  pointers  showed,  in  the  strongest  manner,  the  high  grade  of 
education  that  can  be  imparted  to  dogs  by  gentle  and  judicious 
treatment. 

251.  He  was  accustomed  to  hunt  three  brace  at  a  time.     Each 
dog  when  he  was  ranging  would  take  up  his  separate  ground,  with- 


CH.  vin.]  MAJOR  B D'S  BRIGADE.  147 

out  interfering  with  that  of  his  companions.     The  Major's  raising 
his  arm  was  the  signal  for  all  to  drop. 

252.  If  one  of  the  dogs  was  pointing,  the  Major  would  go  up 
perhaps  to  the  dog  furthest  off,  and  make  him  approach  the  dog 
that  was  standing  ;  and  in  October  (when  grouse  run  much)  he 
has  thus  brought  all  six  dogs  in  a  line,  one  following  the  other, 
and  made  each  in  succession  take  the  lead,  and  "  foot "  the  birds  for 
a  short  distance.     The  same  dogs,  on  the  same  day,  at  a  given 
signal,  would  run  riot ;  scamper  over  the  moor  ;  chase  hares,  sheep, 
or  anything  they  came  across  ;  and  at  the  well-known  signal  again 
would  drop,  and,  as  if  by  magic,  resume  their  perfect  obedience. 

253.  Major  B d  was  quite  one  of  the  old  school ;  used  flint 

and  steel ;  and  looked  with  ineffable  contempt  at  the  detonators  of 
the  youngsters.     He  was  not  remarkable  for  being  a  good  shot, 
capital  sportsman  as  he  undoubtedly  was  in  the  highest  sense  of  the 
word,  showing  the  truth  of  what  was  said  in  the  fifth  paragraph, 
that  excellence  in  shooting,  though  of  course  advantageous,  is  not  a 
necessary  qualification  in  a  breaker. 

254.  If  a  professional  breaker   could    snow  you  a 
brigade  of    dogs  well  trained  to  quarter  their  ground 
systematically,    and    should    ask    from    fifty  to   sixty 
guineas*  a  brace  for  them,  you  ought  not  to  be  sur- 
prised.    What  an  extent  of  country  they  could  sweep 
over  in  an  hour  and  not  leave  a  bird  behind !     And 
consider  what  time  and  labour  must  have  been  spent 
in  inculcating  so  noble  a  range.     He  would  have  been 
far  better  paid,  if  he  had  received  less  than  half  the 
money  as  soon  as  they  "  pointed  steadily,"  both  at  the 
living  and  the  dead  ;  "  down  charged  ; "  "  backed ; "  and 
were  broken  from  "  chasing  hare,"  or  noticing  rabbits. 

255.  The  great  advantage  of  fine  rangers  is  not  much  considered 
where  game  is  abundant.     A  friend  of  mine,  a  capital  shot  (though 

far  inferior  to  his  namesake,  Captain  R s  of  sporting  celebrity), 

with  whom  I  have  enjoyed  some  pleasant  quail  shooting  in  America, 
used  constantly  to  hunt  a  leash  of  pointers,  "Jem,"  "Beau,"  and 
"  Fag," — the  last  a  regular  misnomer,  for  the  dog  was  incorrigibly 
idle.     It  was  curious  to  watch  how  pertinaciously,  like  sheep,  they 
herded  together, — seldom  did  one  wind  a  bird  that  would  not  have 

been  found  a  few  seconds  afterwards  by  the  others.     R s,  long 

before  I  knew  him,  had  relinquished  all  attempts  at  making  them 
beat  separately — indeed,  I  am  not  positive  that  he  was  fully  sensible 

*  That  price  was  named  in  the  Table  of  Contents  of  the  first  edition. 

L  2 


148  FAST  WALKING  NOT  MOST  HUNTING.     [CH.  vin. 

of  its  utility.  As  they  all  "  backed  "  promptly — instantly  "  down- 
charged,"  and  had  not  a  shade  of  jealousy,  they  did  little  harm  ; 
and  sometimes  on  a  broiling  day  "  Beau,"  who  generally  took  the 
lead,  was  not  the  first  to  come  on  a  dead  bird.  Where  game  is 
plentiful,  as  bad  rangers  as  the  trio  belonging  to  my  old  friend,  will 
afford  you  sport ;  but  it  is  certain  that  they  will  pass  by  many  birds, 
unless  you  undergo  the  fatigue  of  walking  over  most  of  the  ground 
yourself,  and  it  is  clear  if  you  do,  that  you  will  not  be  able  to  hunt 
half  as  many  acres  in  a  day,  as  you  could  if  you  kept  to  your  general 
central  direction  while  the  dogs  hunted  according  to  rule.  Few 
Frenchmen  agree  with  us  respecting  a  fine  range.  They  make  their 
pointers  and  setters  hunt  almost  as  close  as  spaniels.  They  prefer 
bitches  to  dogs,  saying  that  they  are  more  affectionate  ("plus 
fideles"),  and  therefore  range  nearer.  In  England,  in  old  days, 
when  our  dogs  were  far  heavier  and  slower  than  they  are  now,  and, 
in  consequence,  could  not  run  over  so  much  ground,  they  were 
taught  to  traverse  little  more  than  from  thirty  to  sixty  yards  on 
each  side  of  the  gun. 

256.  Some  men  fancy  that  the  faster  they  walk,  the 
more  country  they  hunt.     This  is  far  from  being  always 
the  case.     Dogs  travel  at  one  rate,  whether  you  walk 
fast  or  slow,  and  the  distance  between  the  parallels  on 
which  they  work,  (being  determined  by  the  fineness  of 
their  noses,  and  the  goodness  of  the  scent,)  ought  not  to 
be  affected  by  your  pace.     Suppose,  therefore,  that  you 
shoot  in   an  unenclosed   country,   whether  you   walk 
quickly,  or  merely  crawl  along,  the  only  difference  in 
the  beat  of   your  dogs  ought  to  be  that,  in  the  latter 
case,  they  range  further  to  the  right  and  left.     You  thus 
make  up  in  your  lyreadth  what  you  lose  in  your  length 
of  beat. 

257.  Nor  do  the  fastest  dogs,  however  well  they  may 
be  broken,  always  truly  hunt  the  most  ground.     The 
slower  dogs  have  frequently  finer  olfactory  nerves  than 
their  fleeter  rivals, — therefore  the  parallels  on  which  the 
former  work,  may  correctly  be  much  wider  apart  than 
the  parallels  of   the  latter,      The   finer  nose  in  this 
manner  commands  so  much  more  ground,  that  it  beats 
the  quicker  heels  out  and  out. 


CH.  viii.]     FINER  NOSE  BEATS  QUICKER  HEELS.  149 

258.  You  will  see,  then,  how  judicious  it  is  to  show 
forbearance  and  give  encouragement  to  the  timid,  but 
high-bred  class*  of  dogs  described  in  116 ;  for  it  is 
obvious  that,  though  they  may  travel  slower,  yet  they 
may  really  hunt  properly,  within  a  specified  time,  many 
more  acres  of  ground  than  their  hardier  and  faster 
competitors  :  and  it  is  certain  that  they  will  not  so 
much  alarm  the  birds.  Dogs  that  are  most  active  with 
their  heels  are  generally  least  busy  with  their  noses. 

*  It  is  admitted,  however,  that  the  part  of  the  instructor  may 
they  are  often  difficult  animals  to  create  a  distrust  that  he  will  find 
manage  ;  for  the  hast  hastiness  on  it  very  hard  to  remove. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

FIRST  LESSON  IX  SEPTEMBER  CONTINUED.     "POINT"   NOT 
RELINQUISHED  FOR  "DOWN  CHARGE." 

259.  Affection  makes  Dog  anxious  to  please— when  he  rushes  in  to  be  dragged  back. 
—260.  Rule  pressed.  — 261.  Reason  for  Rule— Experience  anticipated.— 262.  To 
"stand"  far  off— Pointer  procuring  shots  at  black  game,  but  raising  Grouse. — 
263.  Patience  enjoined— Not  to  part  as  enemies.— 264.  The  first  good  point- 
Remain  yourself  stationary. — 265.  "Heading"  Dog — Your  circle  to  be  wide. 
The  first  bird  killed.  — 266.  Finding  dead  bird,  it  being  to  Leeward.— 267.  Point- 
ing it— Blinking  it — The  cause. — 268.  Woodcock  lost  from  Dog  not  "pointing 
dead."— 269.  Bird  killed,  the  Dog  to  go  to  "heel."— 270.  Supposed  objection.— 
271.  Answered. — 272.  Temptation  to  run  after  fallen  bird  greater  than  to  run  to 
"heel" — 273.  Dog  pointing  one  bird,  and  after  "down  charge"  springing  the 
others.  The  cause. — 274.  The  preventive.  Dog  never  to  discontinue  his  point 
in  order  to  "down  charge."  How  taught.— 275.  Its  advantages  exemplified.— 
276.  Decide  whether  Dog  goes  direct  to  bird,  or  first  to  you. — 277.  Dog  which 
performed  well.  Snipe  shooting  on  banks  of  Richlieu.— 278.  Coolness  recom- 
mended. Inconsistency  deprecated. 

259.  To  proceed,  however,  with  our  imaginary  Sep- 
tember day's  work.  I  will  suppose  that  your  young 
dog  has  got  upon  birds,  and  that  from  his  boldness  and 
keenness  in  hunting  you  need  not  let  him  run  riot  on  a 
haunt,  as  you  were  recommended  (in  132),  when  you 
wished  to  give  courage  and  animation  to  a  timid  dog. 
You  must  expect  that  his  eagerness  and  delight  will 
make  him  run  in  and  flush  them,  even  though  you 
should  have  called  out  "  Toho  "  when  first  you  perceived 
his  stern  begin  feathering,  and  thence  judged  that  his 
olfactory  nerves  were  rejoicing  in  the  luxurious  taint  of 
game.  Hollo  out  "Drop"  most  energetically.  If  he 
does  not  immediately  lie  down,  crack  your  whip  loudly 
to  command  greater  attention.  When  you  have  suc- 
ceeded in  making  him  lie  down,  approach  him  quietly : 


CH.  ix.]  FIRST  FIND.  151 

be  not  angry  with  him,  but  yet  be  stern  in  manner. 
Grasping  the  skin  of  his  neck,  or  what  is  better,  putting 
your  hand  within  his  collar  (for  he  ought  to  wear  a 
light  one),  quietly  drag  him  to  the  precise  spot  where 
you  think  he  was  first  aware  of  the  scent  of  the  birds. 
There  make  him  stand,  (if  stand  he  will,  instead  of 
timidly  crouching),  with  his  head  directed  towards  the 
place  from  which  the  birds  took  wing,  and  by  frequently 
repeating  the  word  "Toho,"  endeavour  to  make  him 
understand  that  he  ought  to  have  pointed  at  that 
identical  spot.  Do  not  confuse  him  by  even  threatening 
to  beat  him.  The  chances  are  twenty  to  one  that  he 
is  anxious  to  please  you,  but  does  not  yet  know  what 
you  wish.  I  assume  also  that  he  is  attached  to  you, 
and  his  affection,  from  constantly  inducing  him  to  exert 
himself  to  give  satisfaction,  will  greatly  develop  his 
observation  and  intelligence. 

260.  Consider  it  a  golden  rule  never  to  be  departed 
from  (for  I  must  again  impress  upon  you  a  matter  of 
such  importance),  invariably  to  drag  a  dog  who  has  put 
up  birds  incautiously,  or  wilfully  drawn  too  near  them, 
and  so  sprung  them  (or,  what  is  quite  as  bad, — though 
young  sportsmen  will   not   sufficiently  think  of  it, — 
endangered  their  rising  out  of  shot),  to  the  exact  spot  at 
which  you  judge  he  ought  to  have  pointed  at  first,  and 
awaited  your  instructions. 

261.  Think  for  one  moment  what  could  be  the  use  of 
chiding  (or  beating,  as  I  have  seen  some  *  *  *     *  do) 
the  poor  animal  at  the  spot  where  he  flushed  the  birds. 
You  are  not  displeased  with  him  (or  ought  not  to  be) 
because  the  birds  took  wing, — for  if  they  had  remained 
stationary  until  he  was  within  a  yard  of  them,  his  fault 
would  have  been  the  same  :  nor  are  you  angry  with  him 
because  he  did  not  catch  them  (which  interpretation  he 


152  POINT  TOO  NEAR  GAME.  [CH.  ix. 

might,  as  naturally  as  any  other,  put  upon  your  rating 
him  at  the  spot  where  he  flushed  them), — you  are 
displeased  with  him  for  not  having  pointed  at  them 
steadily  the  moment  he  became  sensible  of  their 
presence.  This  is  what  you  wish  him  to  under- 
stand, and  this  you  can  only  teach  him  by  dragging 
him,  as  has  been  so  often  said,  to  the  spot  at  which  he 
ought  to  have  "  toho-ed  "  them.  Your  object  is  to  give 
the  young  dog  by  instruction,  the  caution  that  most  old 
dogs  have  acquired  by  experience.  Doubtless  experi- 
ence would  in  time  convince  him  of  the  necessity  of 
this  caution  ;  but  you  wish  to  save  time, — to  anticipate 
that  experience ;  and  by  a  judicious  education  impart 
to  him  knowledge  which  it  would  take  him  years  to 
acquire  otherwise.  What  a  dog  gains  by  experience  is 
not  what  you  teach  him,  but  what  he  teaches  himself. 

262.  Many  carelessly-taught  dogs  will  on  first  recog- 
nising a  scent  make  a  momentary  point,  and  then  slowly 
crawl  on  until  they  get  within  a  few  yards  of  the  game, 
— if  it  be  sufficiently  complaisant  to  allow  of  such  a 
near  approach, — and  there  "  set "  as  steady  as  a  rock  by 
the  hour  together.  Supposing,  however,  that  the  birds 
are  in  an  unfriendly  distant  mood,  and  not  willing  to 
remain  on  these  neighbourly  terms,  "  your  game  is  up," 
both  literally  and  metaphorically, — you  have  no  chance 
of  getting  a  shot.  This  is  a  common  fault  among  dogs 
hastily  broken  in  the  spring. 

I  speak  feelingly  on  the  subject  from  a  still  unpleasant  recollec- 
tion of  my  extreme  vexation  on  a  certain  20th  of  August,*  when 
shooting  over  a  young  pointer-bitch  of  excellent  natural  capabilities, 
but  who  had  been  injudiciously  allowed,  during  her  tuition  in  the 
spring,  to  stand  too  close  to  her  birds.  She  was  a  quick  ranger, — 
carried  a  high  diligent  nose, —  had  much  endurance,  and  procured 
me  several  shots  at  young  black  game,  but  not  one,  if  I  remember 


*  The  first  day  for  killing  black-cock. 


CH.  ix.]  MUST  NOT  BE  IN  A  HURRY.  153 

right,  at  grouse.  I  was  always  aware  when  she  first  found,  for  her 
attitudes  were  fine  and  marked,  but,  in  defiance  of  all  my  signals, 
and  occasional  calls,  she  would  persist  in  creeping  nearer,  a  proxi- 
mity the  grouse  would  not  endure.  As  a  violent  jerk  would  not 
have  been  necessary,  often  did  I  wish  that  day,  whenever  she  ap- 
proached a  likely  spot,  that  it  was  in  my  power  to  attach  to  her 
collar  a  stiff  thin  checkcord  about  100  yards  long,* — such  a  one  as 
would  have  been  handed  to  me  at  a  fishing-tackle  shop  on  my 
asking  for  a  strong  hemp  salmon  line, — the  kind  used  in  former 
days  after  being  soaked  for  weeks  in  oil, — now,  however,  considered 
heavy  and  unmanageable.  A  mild  spiked  collar  applied  as  described 
in  302  to  304,  would,  I  think,  have  noiselessly  reclaimed  her,  with- 
out injuring  my  shooting. 

263.  But  to  resume  our  supposed  lesson.     You  must 
not  be  in  a  hurry — keep  your  dog  for  some  time — for  a 
long  time,  where  he  should  have  pointed.     You  may 
even  sit  down  alongside  him.     Be  patient;   you  have 
not  come  out  so  much  to  shoot,  as  to  break  in  your  dog. 
When  at  length  you  give  him  the  wave  of  the  hand  to 
hie  him  on  to  hunt,  you  must  not  part  as  enemies, 
though  I  do  not  say  he  is  to  be  caressed.     He  has  com- 
mitted a  fault,  and  he  is  to  be  made  sensible  of  it  by 
your  altered  manner. 

264.  Suppose  that,  after  two  or  three  such  errors,  all 
treated  in  the  way  described,  he  makes  a  satisfactory 
point.     Hold  up  your  right  hand,  and  the  moment  you 
catch  his  eye,  remain  quite  stationary,  still  keeping  your 
arm  up.     Dogs,  as  has  been  already  observed,  are  very 
imitative ;  and  your  standing  stock  still  will,  more  than 
anything  else,  induce  him  to  be  patient  and  immovable 
at  his  point.    After  a  time  (say  five  minutes  if,  from  the 
hour  of  the  day  and  the  dog's  manner,  you  are  convinced 
that  the  birds  are  not  stirring),  endeavour  to  get  up  to 
him  so  quietly  as  not  to  excite  him  to  move.     When- 
ever you  observe  him  inclined  to  advance, — of  which  his 

*  If  painted  white  it  will  be  the  seizing  it,  or  an  ungloved  hand 
more  readily  seen  and  trodden  on,  may  suffer  should  the  dog  be  rang- 
— a  step  advisable  preparatory  to  ing  rapidly. 


154  THE  FIRST  BIRD  KILLED.  [CH.  ix. 

lifting  a  foot  or  even  raising  a  shoulder,  or  the  agitation 
of  his  stern  will  be  an  indication, — stop  for  some  seconds, 
and  when  by  your  raised  hand  you  have  awed  him  into 
steadiness,  again  creep  on.  Make  your  approaches  within 
his  sight,  so  that  he  may  be  intimidated  by  your  eye 
and  hand.  If  you  succeed  in  getting  near  him  without 
unsettling  him,  actually  stay  by  him,  as  firm  as  a  statue, 
for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  by  one  of  Barwise's  best  chrono- 
meters. Let  your  manner,  which  he  will  observe,  show 
great  earnestness.  Never  mind  the  loss  of  time.  You 
are  giving  the  dog  a  famous  lesson,  and  the  birds  are 
kindly  aiding  you  by  lying  beautifully  and  not  shifting 
their  ground.* 

265.  Now  attempt  a  grand  coup,  in  which  if  you  are 
successful,  you  may  almost  consider  your  dog  made 
staunch  for  ever.  Keeping  your  eye  on  him,  and  your 
hand  up  (of  course  the  right  one),  make  a  circuit,  so 
that  the  birds  shall  be  between  him  and  you.  Be 
certain  that  your  circle  is  sufficiently  wide, — if  it  is  not, 
the  birds  may  get  up  behind  you,  and  so  perplex  him, 
that  at  his  next  find  he  will  feel  doubtful  how  to  act. 
Fire  at  no  skirter,  or  chance  shot.  Eeserve  yourself  for 
the  bird  or  birds  at  which  he  points ;  a  caution  more 
necessary  on  the  moors  than  on  the  stubbles,  as  grouse 
spread  while  feeding.  When  you  have  well  headed  him, 
walk  towards  him  and  spring  the  birds.  Use  straight 
shooting-powder.  Take  a  cool  aim  well  forward,  and 
knock  down  one.  Do  not  flurry  the  dog  by  firing  more 
than  a  single  barrel,  or  confuse  him  by  killing  more 
than  one  bird.  If  you  have  been  able  to  accomplish  all 
this  without  his  stirring  (though,  to  effect  it,  you  may 
have  been  obliged  to  use  your  voice),  you  have  every 

*  Should  they  (unluckily  for  deavour  to  minage  as  detailed  in 
the  lesson)  run',  you  must  en-  285. 


CH.  ix.]  POINTING  DEAD.  155 

right  to  hope,  from  his  previous  education,  that  he  will 
readily  "  down-charge "  on  hearing  the  report  of  your 
gun.  Do  not  hurry  your  loading  : — indeed,  be  unneces- 
sarily long,  with  the  view  of  making  him  at  all  such 
times  patient  and  steady.  If,  in  spite  of  all  your  calls 
and  signals,  he  gives  chase  to  the  sprung  birds,  make 
him  "  drop," — instantly  if  possible, — and  proceed  much 
as  described  in  259,  dragging  him  back  to  the  place 
where  he  should  have  "  down-charged." 

266.  When  you  have  loaded,  say,  "Dead,"*  in  a  low 
voice,  and  signalling  to  "  heel "  make  him  come  up  to 
you,  yourself  keeping  still.  By  signs  (xi.  of  141)  place 
him  as  near  as  you  can,  but  to  leeward  of  the  dead  bird. 
Then,  and  not  till  then,  say,  "  Find ; "  give  him  no  other 
assistance.  Let  him  have  plenty  of  time  to  make  out 
the  bird.  It  is  not  to  be  find  and  grip,  but  find  and 
point,~\  therefore  the  moment  you  perceive  he  is  aware 
that  it  is  before  him,  make  him  (by  word  of  command) 
"  toho  :  " — go  up  to  him,  stay  for  a  while  alongside  him, 
then  make  a  small  circuit  to  head  him,  and  have  the 
bird  between  you  and  him ;  approach  him.  If  he 
attempt  to  dash  in,  thunder  out  "No,"  and  greet  him 
with  at  least  the  sound  of  the  whip :  slowly  pick  up 
the  dead  bird ;  call  the  dog  to  you  ;  show  him  the  bird  ; 
but  on  no  account  throw  it  to  him,  lest  he  snatch  at  it ; 
lay  it  on  the  ground,  encourage  him  to  sniff  it ;  let  him 
(for  reason  why  see  313)  turn  it  over  with  his  nose, — 
teeth  closed, — say  to  him,  "Dead,  dead;"  caress  him; 

*  As  he  acquires  experience  he  your  friend  may  not  load  as  ex- 
will  wish  to  rise  the  moment  he  peditiously  as  yourself, 
observes  that  your  loading  is  com-  t  Never  being  allowed  to  grip 
pleted.   Do  not  allow  him  to  move,  conduces  so  much  to  making  him 
however   correctly  he   may  have  tender-mouthed,  that,  should  he 
judged  the  time.     Let  his  rising  hereafter  be  permitted  to  lift  his 
be  always  in  obedience  to  signal  game,  it  is  probable  he  will  deliver 
or  word.     You  may  occasionally  it  up  perfectly  uninjured, 
make  a  mistake  in  charging,   or 


156  BLINKING  DEAD. 

sit  down ;  smooth  the  feathers  of  the  bird ;  let  him. 
perceive  that  you  attach  much  value  to  it ;  and  after  a 
while  loop  it  on  the  game  bag,  allowing  him  all  the 
time  to  see  what  you  are  doing.  After  that,  make  much 
of  him  for  full  five  minutes  :  indeed  with  some  dogs  it 
would  be  advisable  to  give  a  palatable  reward,  but  be 
not  invariably  very  prodigal  of  these  allurements  ;  you 
may  have  a  pupil  whose  attention  they  might  engross 
more  than  they  ought.  Then  walk  about  a  little  time 
with  him  at  your  heels.  All  this  delay  and  caressing 
will  serve  to  show  him  that  the  first  tragedy  is  con- 
cluded, and  has  been  satisfactorily  performed.  You  may 
now  hie  him  on  to  hunt  for  more  birds. 

267.  Pray  mind  what  is  said  about  making  your 
youngster  point  the  dead  bird  staunchly,  the  moment 
you  perceive  that  he  first  scents  it.  Should  he  be 
allowed  to  approach  so  near  as  to  be  able  to  touch  it 
(instead  of  being  made  to  point  the  instant  he  finds), 
the  chances  are,  that,  if  hard-mouthed  he  will  give  it  a 
crunch,  if  tender-mouthed  a  fumbling  of  the  feathers  ; 
and  either  proceeding  satisfying  him,  that  he  will  quit 
it,  and  not  further  aid  you  in  a  search.  As  "  pointing  " 
is  only  a  natural  pause  (prolonged  by  art)  to  determine 
exactly  where  the  game  is  lying,  preparatory  to  rushing 
forward  to  seize,  it  would  be  unreasonable  to  expect  him 
willingly  to  make  a  second  point  at  game  he  has  not 
only  found  but  mouthed  : — the  evil,  however,  does  not 
rest  here.  There  is  such  a  disagreeable  thing  as  blinking 
a  dead  bird,  no  less  than  blinking  a  sound  one.  Tor 
mouthing  the  bird  you  may  possibly  beat  the  dog,  or  for 
nosing  it  and  not  pointing  you  may  rate  him  harshly, 
either  of  which,  if  he  be  not  of  a  bold  disposition,  may 
lead,  on  the  next  occasion,  to  his  slinking  off  after 
merely  obtaining  a  sniff.  You  ought,  in  fact,  to  watch 


LARGE  HEAVY  POINTER. 


CH.  ix.]  WOODCOCK  LOST.  159 

as  carefully  for  your  pupil's  first  "  feathering  "  upon  the 
dead  bird,  as  you  did  (259)  upon  his  first  coming  upon 
the  covey.  You  see,  then,  that  your  teaching  him  to 
"  point  dead  "  is  absolutely  indispensable  ;  unless,  indeed, 
you  constantly  shoot  with  a  retriever.  Pointing  at  a 
live  bird  or  at  a  dead  one,  should  only  differ  in  this,  that 
in  the  latter  case  the  dog  makes  a  nearer  point.  Begin 
correctly,  and  you  will  not  have  any  difficulty ;  but  you 
may  expect  the  greatest,  if  you  let  your  dog  go  up  to 
one  or  two  birds  and  mouth  them,  before  you  commence 
making  him  point  them.  The  following  season,  should 
you  then  permit  him  to  lift  his  game  (538),  it  will  be 
time  enough  to  dispense  with  his  "  pointing  dead."  I 
dwell  upon  this  subject  because  many  excellent  dogs, 
from  not  having  been  properly  taught  to  "  point  dead," 
often  fail  in  securing  the  produce  of  a  successful  shot, 
while,  on  the  contrary,  with  judiciously  educated  dogs  it 
rarely  happens  that  any  of  the  slain  or  wounded  are 
left  on  the  field.  Moreover,  the  protracted  search  and 
failure  (as  an  instance  see  314)  occasions  a  lamentable 
loss  of  time.  Were  a  sportsman  who  shoots  over  dogs 
not  well  broken  to  "  point  dead  "  (or  retrieve)  to  calcu- 
late accurately,  watch  in  hand,  he  would,  I  think,  be 
surprised  to  find  how  many  of  his  best  shooting  hours 
are  wasted  in  unprofitable  searching  for  birds,  of  the 
certainty  of  whose  untimely  fate  his  dogs  had  probably 
long  before  fully  convinced  themselves. 

268.  I  was  shooting  some  seasons  back  where  woodcocks,  being 
scarce,  are  considered  great  prizes.  If  one  is  sprung,  the  pheasants 
are  immediately  neglected,  and  every  exertion  is  made  to  secure  the 
rara  avis.  We  flushed  one  ;  at  length  it  was  killed  ;  it  fell  in  thick 
cover, — was  found  by  a  setter  (a  feather  or  two  in  his  mouth 
betraying  him) ;  but  as  the  dog  had  not  been  properly  taught  to 
"point  dead,"  we  were  obliged  to  leave  the  bird  behind,  after 
spending  nearly  half  an  hour  in  a  fruitless  search. 

269.  As  to  the  word  "  Dead,"  whether  you  choose  to 


160  BIRD  KILLED,— DOG  TO  "HEEL."  [CH.  ix. 

continue  using  it  immediately  after  loading,  or,  as  I 
have  recommended  (xi.  of  141),  after  a  time  omit  it,  and 
merely  let  the  signal  to  "  heel "  intimate  that  you  have 
killed,  always  make  your  dog  go  to  you  before  you 
allow  him  to  seek  for  the  fallen  bird. 

270.  Some  may  say,  "As  a  dog  generally  sees  a  bird 
fall,  what  is  the  use  of  calling  him  to  you  before  you  let 
him  seek  ? — and  even  if  he  does  not  see  the  bird,  why 
should  any  time  be  lost  ?     "Why  should  not  you  and  he 
go  as  direct  to  it  as  you  can  ? " 

271.  Provided  you  have  no  wish  that  the  "finder" 
(see  541),  rather  than  any  of  his  companions,  should  be 
allowed  the  privilege  of  "seeking  dead/'  I  must  admit 
that  in  the  cultivated  lands  of  England,  when  a  dog 
"  sees  a  bird  fall,"  he  might  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  go 
direct  to  it  without  inconvenience.     Even  here,  how- 
ever, there  are   occasions  when   intervening  obstacles 
may  prevent  your  observing  what  the  dog  is  about ;  and 
in  cover,  so  far  from  being  able  to  give  him  any  assis- 
tance by  signaling,  you  may  be  ignorant  whether  or  not 
he  has  seen  the  bird  knocked  over,  or  is  even  aware  of 
the  general  direction  in  which  he  ought  to  seek.     But 
in  the  oft-occurring  cases  in  which  "  he  does  not  see  the 
bird  fall/'  it  is  obvious  (particularly  when  he  happens 
to  be  at  the  extremity  of  his  beat),  that  you  will  far 
more  quickly  place  him  where  you  wish,  if  you  make 
him,  at  first,  run  up  to  you,  and  then  advance  from  you, 
straight  to  the  bird,  by  your  forward  signal  (277).   These 
good  results  at  least  will  follow,  if  you  remain  stationary, 
and  make  him  join  you.     You  do  not  lose  sight  of  the 
spot  where  you  marked  that  the  bird  or  birds  fell.     The 
foil  is  not  interfered  with  by  your  walking  over  the 
ground  (a  matter  of  much   importance,  especially  on 
bad-scenting  days).     The  dog,  if  habituated  to  "  seek  " 


\ 

\ 

CH.  ix.J  DEAD  BIRDS  LEFT  ON  GROUND.  161 

without  your  companionship,  will  readily  hunt  morasses 
and  ravines,  where  you  might  find  it  difficult  to  accom- 
pany him.  He  will  feel  the  less  free  to  follow  his  own 
vagaries;  and  this  consciousness  of.'  subjection  will 
dispose  him  to  pay  more  watchful  attention  to  your 
signals.  He  will  the  more  patiently  w^it  at  the  "  down 
charge ; "  and  when  you  are  reloaded1  ^will  not  be  so 
tempted  to  dash  recklessly  after  the  tyird.  regardless 
whether  or  not  he  raises  others  on  the  way.  If  he  is 
dragging  a  cord,  you  can  the  more  easily  take  hold  of 
its  end,  in  order  to  check  him,  and  make  him  point 
when  he  first  winds  the  dead  bird, — and  should  you  be 
shooting  over  several  dogs,  by  none  of  them  being  per- 
mitted to  run  direct  to  the  fallen  bird,  they  will  the 
less  unwillingly  allow  you  to  select  the  one  who  is  to 
approach  close  to  you  before  "  seeking  dead." 

272.  The  opponents  of  this  method  argue,  that  the 
practice  may  give  the  dog  the  bad  habit  of  running 
immediately  after  the  "  down  charge  "  to  the  gun,  instead 
of  recommencing  to  hunt ;  particularly  if  he  is  shot  over 
by  a  first-rate  performer.  Granted ;  but  is  not  the 
temptation  to  bolt  off  in  search  of  a  dead  bird  still 
stronger  ?  To  check  the  former  evil,  endeavour  to  make 
the  coming  to  "  heel "  an  act  of  obedience  rather  than  a 
voluntary  act,  by  never  failing,  as  soon  as  you  are  re- 
loaded, to  give  the  customary  signal  (vra.  of  141)  when 
you  have  killed,  or  the  signal  to  "hie  on'"'  should  you 
have  missed. 

2*73.  Moreover,  you  will  sometimes  meet  with  a  dog 
who,  when  a  bird  has  been  fired  at,  though  it  be  the 
first  and  only  one  sprung  of  a  large  covey,  commences 
"seeking  dead"  immediately  after  the  "down  charge/' 
apparently  considering  that  his  first  duty.  This  sad, 
sad  fault — for  it  frequently  leads  to  his  raising  the 

M 


162  DEAFv  BIRDS  LEFT  ON  GROUND.  [CH.  ix. 

other  birds  out  of  shot — is  generally  attributable  to  the 
dog's  having  be$n  allowed  to  rush  at  the  fallen  bird, 
instead  of  being^  accustomed  to  the  restraint  of  having 
first  to  run  up  to -the  gun. 

274.  To  prevent  your  pupil  from  ever  behaving  so 
badly,  often  adojt  the  plan  of  not  " seeking  dead"  im- 
mediately after  loading,  especially  if  the  birds  are  lying 
well.     Mark  accurately  the  spot  where  your  victim  lies, 
and  closely  hunt  for  others,  endeavouring  to  instil  great 
caution  into  the  dog,  much  in  the  manner  (being  guided 
by  his  disposition  and  character)  described  in  196,  197, 
and  329.     As  long  as  any  of  the  covey  remain  unsprung, 
you  ought  not  to  pick  up  one  dead  bird,  though  you 
should  have  a  dozen  on  the  ground.     Your  dog  ought 
•not  even  to  "  down  charge  "  after  you  have  fired,  if  he  is 
fully  aware  that  more  birds  are  before  him.     To  impart 
to   him  the  knowledge  that,  however  important  is  the 
" dmvn  charge"  his  continuing  at  his  point  is  still  more 
so,  you  may,  when  the  birds  are  lying  well  and  he  is  at 
a  fixed  point,  make  your  attendant  discharge  a  gun  at 
a  little    distance  while  you  remain  near  the   dog,  en- 
couraging him  to  maintain  his  "  toho."     If  you  have  no 
attendant,  and  the  birds  lie  like  stones,  fire  off  a  barrel 
yourself  while  the  dog  is  steadily  pointing.*     He  will 
fancy  you  see  birds  which  he  has  not  noticed,  and,  un- 
less properly  tutored  and  praised  by  you,  will  be  desirous 
to  quit  those  he  has  found,  to  search  for  the  bird  he 
conceives  you  have  shot. 

275.  It  is  a  fine  display  of  intelligence  in  the  dog, 
and  of  judicious  training  in  the  breaker  (may  it  be  your 
desert  and  reward  ere  long  to  witness  it  in  your  pupil), 
when  a  pointer  (or  setter)  in  goodly  turnips  or  strong 
potatoes   draws   upon   birds  which  obligingly  rise  one 

*  Ofteiier  practicable  on  heather  than  on  stubble. 


CH.  ix.]  POINT  CONTINUED.  163 

after  the  other,  while  by  continuing  his  eloquent  atti- 
tude he  assures  you  that  some  still  remain  unsprung,  to 
which  he  is  prepared  to  lead  you,  if  you  will  but  attend 
to  them  and  him,  and,  instead  of  pot-hunting  after  those 
you  have  killed,  wait  until  his  discriminating  nose  in- 
forms him  that  having  no  more  strangers  to  introduce, 
he  is  at  liberty  to  assist  you  in  your  search. 

276.  To   revert,   however,  to  the   point   particularly 
under   discussion,  viz.,  whether  you   prefer   that  your 
dog  go  direct  to  the  fallen  bird,  or  (as  I  strongly  re- 
commend) that  he  first  join  you,  pray  be  consistent  ; 
exact  which  you  will,  but  always  exact  the  same,  if  you 
are  anxious  to  obtain  cheerful  unhesitating  obedience. 

277.  I  have  seen  the  advantage  of  the  latter  method  very 
strikingly  exemplified  in  America,  in  parts  of  which  there  is  capital 
snipe-shooting.     In  the  high  grass  and  rushes  on  the  banks  of  the 
Eichelieu,  many  a  bird  have  I  seen  flushed  and  shot  at,  of  which 
the  liver  and  white  pointer,  ranging  at  a  little  distance,  has  known 
nothing.     As  he  was  well  broken  in,  he,  of  course,  dropped  in- 
stantly, on  hearing  the  report  of  the  gun.     If  the  bird  had  fallen, 
his  master,  after  reloading,  used  invariably  to  say  "  Dead,"  *  in 
a  low  tone  of  voice,  on  which  the  dog  would  go  up  to  him ;  and 
then  his  master,  without  stirring  from  the  spot  where  he  had  fired, 
directed  him  by  signals  to  the  place  where  the  bird  fell,  to  reach 
which  the  dog  often  had  to  swim  the  stream.     His  master  then 
said  "Find."    At  that  word,  and  not  before  it,  his  intelligent 
four-footed  companion  commenced  searching  for  the  bird,  nor  did 
he  ever  fail  to  find  and  bring  ;  and  so  delicate  was  his  mouth 
that  I  have  often  seen  him  deliver  up  a  bird  perfectly  alive,  with- 
out having  deranged   a  feather,  though,   very   probably,   he   had 
swam  with  it  across  one  of  the  many  creeks  which  intersect  that 
part  of  the  country.     If  the  shot  was  a  miss,  his  master's  silence 
after  reloading,  and  a  wave  of  his  arm  to  continue  hunting  (or  the 
command  to  "  Hie  on,"  if  the  dog  was  hidden  by  the  rushes — per- 
haps a  low  whistle  would  have  been  better),  fully  informed  his 
companion  of  the  disappointment.     He  was  quite  as  good  on  the 
large  quail,  and  small  wood-cock  found  in  Canada,  which  latter 
makes  a  ringing  noise  on  rising,  not  unlike  the  sound  of  a  distant 

*  In  order  to  work  in  silence,  sede  the  word  "dead."     It  might 

I  advised  (xi.   of  141)  that  the  be  necessary  to  sing  out  with  a 

signal  to    "heel,"  whenever  the  boatswain's  voice  should  the  dog 

dog  could  observe  it,  should  super-  be  far  off. 

M2 


164  GOOD  TRAINING  EXEMPLIFIED.  [CK.  ix. 

soft  bell ;  but  reminiscences  of  that  capital  old  dog  are  leading  me 
away  from  your  young  one. 

278.  For  some  days  you  cannot  shoot  to  your  pupil 
too  steadily  and  quietly — I  had  well-nigh  said  too 
slowly.  By  being  cool,  calm,  and  collected  yourself, 
you  will  make  him  so.  I  am  most  unwilling  to  think 
that  you  will  be  too  severe,  but  I  confess  I  have  my 
misgivings  lest  you  should  occasionally  overlook  some 
slight  faults  in  the  elation  of  a  successful  right  and 
left.  Filling  the  game-bag  must  be  quite  secondary  to 
education.  Never  hesitate  to  give  up  any  bird  if  its 
acquisition  interfere  with  a  lesson.  Let  all  that  you 
secure  be  done  according  to  rule,  and  in  a  sportsman- 
like manner. 


CHAPTEE  X. 

FIRST  LESSON  IN  SEPTEMBER  CONTINUED.     ASSISTANT.— VERMIN. 

279.  Some  Dogs  will  not  point  readily — Breeding  in  and  in,  error  of. — 280.  Instance 
of  two  young,  untaught,  highly-bred  Pointers,  behaving  well  first  day  shown 
Game — Dogs  more  inclined  to  point  at  first  than  afterwards. — 281.  Checkcord 
employed— spike  attached  to  it— 282.  With  wild  dog  assistant  useful— Signals 
to. — 283.  How  particularly  useful  with  a  badly  broken  Dog — Range  of  Stoat — 
Traps  better  than  Guns.  In  Note,  Hen-harrier  feeding  her  yonng — Decoy  Owl 
for  Winged- Verm  in — Keeper  to  possess  Dog  that  hunts  Vermin — Account  of  a 
capital  Bull-Terrier— Destructiveness  of  Stoats.  (See  Appendix).— 2S4.  Shy 
birds,  how  intercepted  between  Guns  and  dog.  Cheeta  driven  near  Antelopes 
by  cart  circling  and  never  stopping.  In  Note,  Cheeta  always  selects  the  Buck. 
Cheeta  how  trained.— 285.  "Heading"  Dog  at  his  point— not  practised  too 
often — Dog  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  his  distance  from  Game. — 286.  Beautiful 
instance  of  Pointer  correcting  his  Distance. — 2S7.  Constantly  "Heading"  Dog 
may  make  him  too  immoveable. — 288.  A  fault  often  caused  by  over-punishment. 

—289.  Mr.  C t's  Bitch,  which  persisted  'three  times  in  taking  up  the  same 

point.— 290  to  292.  Instance  of  fine  "  roading"  in  a  young  Dog.— 293.  False  points 
caused  by  over-punishment — Self-confidence  and  experience  only  cures  for  over- 
caution. — 294.  Dog's  manner  shows  position  of  birds. — 295.  Curiously  instanced 

in  a  Dog  of  Lord  M d's.— 296.  Also  shows  species  of  Game— Pointer  on 

Rabbits.— 297.  Young  Dog  drawing  upon  his  first  Blackcock.— 298.  Terrier 
pointing  four  kinds  of  game,  and  each  in  a  different  attitude. 

279.  IT  is  proper  you  should  be  warned  that  you  must 
not  always  expect  a  dog  will  "toho"  the  first  day  as 
readily  as  I  have  described,  though  most  will,  and  some 
(especially  pointers)  even   more  quickly,  if  they  have 
been  previously  well-drilled,  and   have    been  bred  for 
several  generations  from  parents  of  pure  blood. 

I  do  not  say  bred  in  and  in.  Breeding  in  and  in,  to  a  certainty, 
would  enfeeble  their  intellects  as  surely  as  their  constitutions.  In 
this  way  has  many  a  kennel  been  deprived  of  the  energy  and  en- 
durance so  essential  in  a  sportsman's  dog. 

280.  The  late  Lord  Harris  gave  Mr.  M 1  (mentioned  in  195), 

then  residing  in  Essex,  two  young,  very  highly  bred  pointer  pups, 

a  brother  and  sister.     Mr.  M 1,  after  some  months,  carried  them 

into  Kent,  and,  without  their  having  had  the  least  preliminary 
instruction,  or  ever  having  seen  a  bird,  took  them  out  partridge- 


166  EDUCATION  BEFORE  GAME-BAG.  [CH.  x. 

shooting.  He  had  no  older  dog  to  set  them  a  good  example,  and  as 
they  were  wholly  unbroken,  he  feared  they  would  bolt  for  home  the 
moment  he  squibbed  off  his  gun  ;  but,  though  they  seemed  much 
astonished  and  extremely  nervous  at  the  report,  great  caressing  and 
encouragement  induced  them  to  remain.  After  awhile  the  dog 
went  forward,  and  sniffed  about, — then  he  began  to  hunt, — at  length 
he  did  so  very  assiduously  ;  but  his  sister  not  so  keenly,  for  she  did 
little  more  than  follow  in  his  wake.  Generally  it  is  otherwise, 
bitches  being  usually  the  earliest  in  the  field.  At  length  the  dog 
came  to  a  stiff  point  at  the  edge  of  some  turnips.  The  bitch  per- 
ceived him  and  timidly  backed.  Mr.  M 1  hastened  up — birds 

arose— one  fell,  fortunately  killed  outright — the  dog  dashed  at  it, 
and,  tremulous  with  a  world  of  new  and  pleasurable  emotions, 
nosed  and  fumbled  it  about  in  a  very  excited  manner,  but  did  not 

attempt  to  gripe  it.  Mr.  M 1,  lest  he  should  damp  the  youngster's 

ardour,  refrained  from  rating,  or  even  speaking  to  him,  but  left 
him  entirely  to  himself.  After  a  time,  singular  to  say, — for  he  had 
not  been  taught  as  a  puppy  to  "  fetch," — he  lifted  the  partridge, 
and  carried  it  to  his  master,  —a  practice  he  was  afterwards  allowed  to 
pursue.  Is  it  not  clear  that,  if  he  had  been  well  instructed  in  the 

initiatory  lessons,  Mr.  M 1  would  have  found  him  perfectly  made 

with  the  exception  of  having  no  systematic  range  ?  He  turned  out 
extremely  well,  and  constantly  showed  himself  superior  to  his  sister, 
who  always  wanted  mettle. 

As  in  the  present  instance,  it  often  occurs  that  a  dog 
is  less  inclined  to  dash  in  at  first  than  when  he  is  more 
acquainted  with  birds.  He  is  suddenly  arrested  by  the 
novelty  of  the  scent,  and  it  is  not  until  he  is  fully 
assured  from  what  it  proceeds  that  he  longs  to  rush  for- 
ward and  give  chase.  In  autumnal  breaking  the  dog 
gets  his  bird— it  is  killed  for  him — he  is  satisfied— arid 
therefore  he  has  not  the  same  temptation  to  rush  in  as 
when  he  is  shown  birds  in  the  spring. 

281.  If  you  find  your  dog,  from  excess  of  delight  and 
exuberance  of  spirits,  less  under  general  command  than 
from  his  initiatory  education  you  had  expected,  and  that 
he  will  not  "  toho  "  steadily  at  the  exact  spot  at  which 
you  order  him,  at  once  attach  a  checkcord  to  his  collar. 
It  will  diminish  his  pace,  and  make  him  more  cautious 
and  obedient.  The  moment  you  next  see  him  begin  to 
feather,  get  up  quickly,  but  without  running,  to  the  end 


CH.  x.]  SIGNALS  TO  ATTENDANT.  167 

of  the  cord,  and  check  him  with  a  sudden  jerk  if  you 
are  satisfied  that  game  is  before  him  and  that  he  ought 
to  be  pointing.  If  from  his  attitude  and  manner  you 
are  positive  that  there  is  game,  drive  a  spike  (or  peg) 
into  the  ground,  and  tie  the  cord  to  it.  I  only  hope  the 
birds  will  remain  stationary.  If  they  do,  you  can  give 
him  a  capital  lesson  by  remaining  patiently  alongside  of 
him,  and  then  heading  him  and  the  birds  in  the  manner 
before  described  (264,  265). 

282.  As  a  general  rule,  an  attendant  or  any  companion 
cannot  be  recommended,  because  he  would  be  likely  to 
distract  a  young  dog's  attention  (10)  ;  but  an  intelligent 
fellow  who  would  readily  obey  your  signals,  and  not 
presume  to  speak,  would,  doubtless,  with  a  very  wild 
dog,  be  an  advantageous  substitute  for  the  spike.     You 
could  then  employ  a  longer  and  slighter  cord  than  usual, 
and,  on  the  man's  getting  hold  of  the  end  of  it,  be  at 
once  free  to  head  and  awe  the  dog.     Whenever  you  had 
occasion  to  stand  still,  the  man  would,  of  course,  be  as 
immoveable  as  yourself. 

Your  signals  to  him  might  be  : — 

The  gun  held  up, — "  Get  near  the  clog." 
Your  fist  clenched, — "  Seize  the  rope." 
Your  fist  shaken, —  "  Jerk  the  cord." 
Your  hand  spread  open, — "  Let  go  the  cord." 

Or  any  signs  you  pleased,  so  that  you  understood  each 

other  without  the  necessity  of  speaking. 

283.  Should  it  ever  be  your  misfortune  to  have  to 
correct  in  a  dog  evil  habits  caused  by  past  mismanage- 
ment, such  an  attendant,  if  an  active,  observant  fellow, 
could  give   you  valuable  assistance,  for  he  sometimes 
would  be  able  to  seize  the  cord  immediately  the  dog 
began  "  feathering,"  and  generally  would  have  hold  of 
it  before  yoy  could  have  occasion  to  fire.     But  the  fault 


168  RANGE  OF  STOAT.  [CH.  x. 

most  difficult  to  cure  in  an  old  dog  is  a  bad  habit  of 
ranging.  If,  as  a  youngster,  he  has  been  permitted  to 
beat  as  his  fancy  dictated,  and  has  not  been  instructed  in 
looking  to  the  gun  for  orders,  you  will  have  great,  very 
great  difficulty  in  reclaiming  him.  Probably  he  will 
have  adopted  a  habit  of  running  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance up  wind,  his  experience  having  shown  him  that 
it  is  one  way  of  finding  birds,  but  not  having  taught 
him  that  to  seek  for  them  by  crossing  the  wind  would 
be  a  better  method. 

Curiously  enough,  nature  has  given  this  systematic  range  to  the 
stoat,*  though,  happily  for  the  poor  rabbits,  it  cannot  carry  a  high 
nose,  and  therefore  the  parallels  on  which  it  hunts  are  necessarily 
not  far  apart.  This  interesting  proceeding  is  occasionally  witnessed 
by  those  keepers  who  injudiciously  prefer  their  game-disturbing 
guns  to  their  vermin-destroying  traps.f 

284.  The  great  advantage  of  teaching  a  dog  to  point  the  instant 
he  is  sensible  of  the  presence  of  birds  (260),  and  of  not  creeping  a 
foot  further  until  he  is  directed  by  you,  is  particularly  apparent 
when  birds  are  wild.  While  he  remains  steady,  the  direction  of 
his  nose  will  lead  you  to  give  a  tolerable  guess  as  to  their  "  where- 
abouts," and  you  and  your  companion  can  keep  quite  wide  of  the 
dog  (one  on  each  side),  and  so  approach  the  birds  from  both  flanks. 
They,  meanwhile,  finding  themselves  thus  intercepted  in  three  direc- 
tions, will  probably  lie  so  close  as  to  afford  a  fair  shot  to,  at  least,  one 
gun,  for  they  will  not  fail  to  see  the  dog  and  be  awed  by  his  presence. 
Kaise  your  feet  well  off  the  ground,  to  avoid  making  a  noise.  Walk 
quickly,  but  with  no  unnecessary  flourish  of  arms  or  gun.  They  may 
fancy  that  you  intend  to  pass  by  them  : — a  slow  cautious  step  often 
raises  their  suspicions.  (Most  sportsmen  in  the  Highlands  prefer  a 
low  cap,  or  a  wide-awake,  to  a  hat;  one  of  the  motives  for  this 
choice  being  that  the  wearer  is  less  conspicuous, — not  appearing  so 
tall.  It  is  because  he  will  not  appear  so  tall  that  he  thinks  he  can 
get  nearer  to  a  pack  by  approaching  the  birds  up  hill,  rather  than 
by  coming  down  upon  them  from  a  height.  Many  an  old  sports- 
man crouches  when  approaching  wild  birds.)  As  soon  as  you  and 
your  friend  are  in  good  positions,  you  can  motion  to  the  dog  to 
advance  and  flush  the  birds.  You  should  on  no  account  halt  on  the 


*  "Which  becomes  white  in  a  trapping,  and  keeper's  vermin- 
severe  winter, — a  regular  ermine ;  dogs,  &c.,  is  so  long  that  the 
the  only  one  of  the  weazel-tribe  printer  has  placed  it  in  an  Appen- 
that  does  so  in  England.  dix. 

t  This  note  on  the  subject  of 


C'H.  X.] 


CHEETA  AND  ANTELOPES. 


169 


way,  for  the  moment  you  stop  they  will  fancy  they  are  perceived, 
and  take  wing.  It  is  by  driving  round  and  round,  constantly  con- 
tracting the  circle,  and  never  stopping,  that  the  bullock-cart,  carrying 
the  trained  cheeta,  is  often  brought  within  100  yards  of  the  herd  of 
antelopes,  amidst  which  is  unsuspiciously  browsing  the  doomed  dark 
buck.*  Driven  directly  towards  the  herd,  the  cart  could  not  ap- 


*  The  cheeta  invariably  selects 
the  buck,  passing  by  the  nearer 
does  and  fawns.  I  never  saw 
but  one  instance  to  the  contrary. 
On  that  occasion  the  cheeta  en- 
deavoured to  secure  what  appeared 
to  be  his  easiest  victim — a  young 
fawn;  but  the  little  creature  twisted 
and  doubled  so  rapidly,  that  it 
escaped  perfectly  uninjured.  The 
turbaned  keeper,  greatly  surprised, 
begged  the  spectators  to  remain 
at  a  respectful  distance  while  he 
proceeded  to  secure  the  panting, 
baffled  animal.  The  caution  was 
not  unnecessary  ;  for  the  disap- 
pointed beast,  though  usually  very 
tractable,  struck  at  the  man's  arm 
and  tore  it.  On  examination  a 
large  thorn  was  found  in  one  of 
the  animal's  fore  paws,  which  fully 
explained  the  cause  of  his  not 
bounding  after  the  lord  of  the 
herd,  when  he  had,  in  cat-like 
manner,  stealthily  crawled  as  near 
as  any  intervening  bushes  would 
afford  concealment.  This  pre- 
liminary part  of  the  affair  is  at 
times  very  tedious ;  the  rest  is 
quickly  settled  :  for  the  wondrous 
springs  of  the  cheeta  (whose  form 
then  so  apparently  dilates,1  that 
the  observer,  if  a  novice,  starts 
in  the  belief  that  he  suddenly  sees 
a  royal  tiger)  soon  exhaust  him, 
which  accounts  for  his  always 
creeping  as  near  as  possible  before 
openly  commencing  his  attack. 

The  education  of  the  cheeta  is 
no  less  progressive  than  that  of 
the  dog  ;  and  whatever  patience 


the  latter  may  require  from  his 
instructor,  the  former  demands 
far  greater ;  not  so  much  from 
want  of  docility,  as  from  the  nearly 
total  absence  of  all  the  feelings  of 
attachment  so  conspicuous  in  the 
canine  race.  The  cubs  when  they 
are  very  young  are  stolen  from  the 
rocky  fastnesses  where  they  are 
usually  bred.  They  are  imme- 
diately hooded,  and  allowed  no 
other  exercise  than  what  they  can 
take  when  they  are  led  about  by 
their  keeper.  While  he  is  feeding 
them,  he  invariably  shouts  in  a 
peculiar  key.  In  a  month  or  so 
their  eager  looks,  animated  ges- 
tures, and  possibly  cheerful  purr- 
ing, testify  that  they  comprehend 
its  import  as  fully  as  a  hungry 
young  ensign  does  "  the  roast  beef 
of  old  England."  They  are  then 
slightly  chained,  each  to  a  separate 
bandy  (bullock-cart),  and  ha- 
bituated to  its  motion.  They  are 
always  fed  during  the  drive.  They 
thus  learn  to  expect  a  good  meal 
in  the  course  of  their  airing.  After 
a  time  the  keeper,  instead  of  feed- 
ing a  promising  pupil  while  he  is 
a  prisoner,  goes  to  a  little  distance 
from  the  bandy  and  utters  the 
singular  cries  now  so  joyfully 
heard,  upon  which — an  attendant 
slipping  off  the  chain  and  hood — 
the  liberated  cheeta  runs  to  his 
trainer  to  be  fed.  By  degrees  this 
is  done  at  increased  distances.  He 
is  always  conducted  back  to  the 
carriage  by  the  keeper's  dragging 
at  the  lump  of  meat  of  which  the 


1  A  dealer  often  says  in  praise 
of  a  small  horse, — and  great  praise 
it  is — "  You  may  fancy  him  a  little 


one  now,  but  wait  till  you  see  him 
move,  and  then  you'll  think  him 
a  big  one." 


170  EDUCATION  OF  CHEETA.  [CH.  x. 

proach  within  thrice  that  distance.  In  Yorkshire,  very  late  in  the 
season,  when  the  grouse  are  so  scared  that  they  will  not  allow  a  dog 
or  man  to  get  near  them,  it  often  happens  that  a  good  bag  is  made 
by  the  gun  keeping  just  a-head  of  a  cart  and  horse.  Here,  how- 
ever, no  circuit  is  made.  The  birds  are  found  by  chance.  The  only 
clog  employed  is  the  retriever,  kept  in  the  cart  until  he  is  required 
to  fetch. 

285.  You  must  not,  however,  too  often  try  to  work 
round  and  head  your  pupil  when  he  is  pointing.  Judg- 
ment is  required  to  know  when  to  do  it  with  advantage. 
If  the  birds  were  running,  you  would  completely  throw 
him  out,  and  greatly  puzzle  and  discourage  him,  for  they 
probably  would  then  rise  out  of  shot,  behind  you,  if 
they  were  feeding  up  wind, — behind  him,  if  they  were 
feeding  down  wind.*  Far  more  frequently  make  him 
work  out  the  scent  by  his  own  sagacity  and  nose,  and 
lead  you  up  to  the  birds,  every  moment  bristling  more 
and  more,  at  a  pace  t  entirely  controlled  and  regulated 
by  your  signals.  These  being  given  with  your  right 

animal  retains  a  firm  hold.  The  he  quit  hold  of  the  wind-pipe  as 
next  step  is  for  the  man  again  to  long  as  the  prostrate  animal  can 
commence  feeding  near  the  cart,  make  the  slightest  struggle  for 
but  without  making  any  noise, —  breath.  This  affords  the  keeper 
the  removal  of  the  hood  being  the  ample  time  to  cut  off  a  limb, 
only  thing  that  tells  the  spotted  which  he  thrusts  against  the 
beast  to  look  about  him  for  his  cheeta's  nose,  and  as  soon  as  the 
dinner.  The  last  step  is  the  sub-  still  quivering  dainty  tempts  him 
stitution  of  a  kid  or  wounded  an-  to  grasp  it,  he  is  again  led  off  to 
telope,  for  the  keeper  with  his  his  cart.  He  is  then  further  re- 
provision  basket,  when  it  rarely  warded  with  a  drink  of  warm  blood 
happens  that  nature's  strong  in-  taken  from  the  inside  of  the  an- 
stinct  does  not  make  the  cheeta  telope,  and  the  scene  concludes 
seize  with  eagerness  the  proffered  by  the  carcass  being  strapped 
prey.  His  education  is  now  com-  under  the  bandy, 
pleted ;  but  for  many  months  he  *  Many  think  that  grouse  feed 
is  never  unhooded  at  a  herd  unless  more  down  wind  than  partridges, 
the  driver  has  managed  to  get  the  f  A  pace  that  keeps  the  sports- 
cart  within  a  very  favouring  dis-  man  at  a  brisk  walk  is  obviously 
tance.  the  best.  It  is  very  annoying  to 
The  cheeta  knocks  over  the  buck  be  unable,  by  any  quiet  encourage- 
with  a  blow  of  his  paw  on  the  ment,  to  get  a  dog  to  "  road "  as 
hind-quarters,  given  so  rapidly  rapidly  as  you  wish — an  annoy- 
that  the  eye  cannot  follow  the  ance  often  experienced  with  natu- 
motion,  and  then  grasps  him  rally  timid  dogs,  or  with  those 
firmly  by  the  throat ;  nor  will  which  have  been  overpunished. 


CH.  x.]  VEXATIOUS  STANCHNESS.  171 

hand  will  be  more  apparent  to  him  if  you  place  your- 
self on  his  left  side.  It  is  in  this  manner  that  you  give 
him  a  lesson  which  will  hereafter  greatly  aid  him  in 
recovering  slightly  winged  birds, — in  pressing  to  a  rise 
the  slow- winged  but  nimble-heeled  rail, — or  in  minutely 
following  the  devious  mazes  through  which  an  old  cock 
pheasant,  or  yet  more,  an  old  cock  grouse,  may  endeavour 
to  mislead  him.  And  yet  this  lesson  should  not  be  given 
before  he  is  tolerably  confirmed  at  his  point,  lest  he 
should  push  too  fast  on  the  scent ;  and  make  a  rush 
more  like  the  dash  of  a  cocker  than  the  sober,  con- 
venient "  road "  of  a  setter.  As  his  experience  in- 
creases he  will  thus  acquire  the  valuable  knowledge  of 
the  position  of  his  game  : — he  will  lead  you  to  the 
centre  of  a  covey,  or  what  is  of  greater  consequence — 
as  grouse  spread — to  the  centre  of  a  pack,  (instead  of 
allowing  himself  to  be  attracted  to  a  flank  by  some 
truant  from  the  main  body),  and  thus  get  you  a  good 
double  shot,  and  enable  you  effectually  to  separate  the 
birds: — he  will,  moreover,  become  watchful,  and  sensible 
of  his  distance  from  game — a  knowledge  all  important, 
and  which,  be  it  remarked,  he  never  could  gain  in  tur- 
nips or  potatoes,  or  any  thick  cover. 

286.  Mr.  C s  R n,  well  known  in  Edinburgh,  told  me 

that  a  black  and  tan  pointer  of  his  (Admiral  M y's  breed)  gave, 

on  one  occasion,  a  very  clever  proof  of  his  knowledge  of  the  distance 
at  which  he  ought  to  stand  from  his  game.     He  was  ranging  in  thick 
stubble.     Some  partridge,  being  slightly  alarmed,  rose  a  little  above 
the  ground,  and  then  dropped  very  near  the  dog, — upon  which  the 
sagacious  creature  instantly  crouched  close  to  the  ground,  his  head 
between  his  fore-legs,  and  in  that  constrained  position  ventre-a-terre, 
pushed  himself  backwards  until  he  had  retreated  to  what  he  con- 
ceived to  be  a  judicious  distance  from  the  covey,  when  he  stood  up 
and  pointed  boldly. 

287.  There  is  another  and  yet  stronger  reason  why 
you  should  not  consider  it  a  rule  always  to  head  your 
young  dog  at  his  point.     You  may — although  at  first  it 


172  INSTANCES  OF  FINE  EOADING.  [CH.  x. 

seems  an  odd  caution  to  give — make  him  too  stanch. 
This,  to  be  sure,  signifies  less  with  partridges  than  with 
most  birds ;  but  if  you  have  ever  seen  your  dog  come 
to  a  fixed  point,  and  there,  in  spite  of  all  your  efforts, 
remain  provokingly  immoveable — plainly  telling  you  of 
the  vicinity  of  birds,  but  that  you  must  find  them  out 
for  yourself — your  admiration  of  his  steadiness  has,  I 
think,  by  no  means  reconciled  you  to  the  embarrassing 
position  in  which  it  has  placed  you.  I  have  often  wit- 
nessed this  vexatious  display  of  stanchness,  although 
the  owner  cheered  on  the  dog  in  a  tone  loud  enough  to 
alarm  birds  two  fields  off. 

288.  A  keeper  will  sometimes  praise  his  dog  for  such 
stanchness  ;  but  it  is  a  great  fault,  induced  probably  by 
over-severity  for  former  rashness, — and  the  more  difficult 
to  be  cured,  if  the  animal  is  a  setter,  from  the  crouching 
position  which  he  often  naturally  assumes  when  pointing. 

289.  A  friend  of  mine  was  told  by  Mr.  C 1  (to  whom  those 

interested  in  the  prosperity  of  the  Edinburgh  Zoological  Gardens 
ought  to  feel  much  indebted),  that  a  little  pointer  bitch  of  his  came, 
on  a  hot,  dry,  bad  scenting  day,  to  a  fixed  point.     He  could  not 
persuade  her  to  move,  nor  could  he  or  his  friend  spring  any  game  ; 
and  two  not  bad-nosed  dogs  that  were  hunting  with  her  would  not 
acknowledge  the  scent,  even  when  they  were  brought  close  to  the 
bitch.     As  she  would  neither  advance  nor  retire,  he  actually  had 
her  carried  off  ia  a  boy's  arms.     When  she  was  put  down,  away  she 
ran  and  resumed  her  point.     After  another  ineffectual  attempt  to 
raise  birds,  again  she  was  borne  off,  but  only  to  take  up  for  a  third 
time  her  point.     At  length,  after  a  yet  closer  search — in  which, 
however,  she  still  refused  to  join, — a  young  blackcock  was  perceived 
closely  buried  under  a  thick  piece  of  heather.     The  very  excellence 
of  the  bitch's  nose,  and  her  admirable  perseverance,  made  it  the 
more  vexatious  that  she  had  not  been  taught  the  meaning  of  the 
signals  to  advance.     One  grieves  that  anything  should  have  been 
neglected  in  the  education  of  so  superior  a  creature. 

290.  I  advised  (285)  your  practising  your  young  dog  in  "footing" 
out  a  scent.     Though  it  occurred  many  years  ago,  I  remember  as  if 
it  were  but  yesterday  (from  my  annoyance  at  shooting  so  execrably, 
when  it  was  peculiarly  incumbent  on  me  not  to  miss),  my  nearly 
making  a  sad  mistake  with  a  very  young  dog,  who  was  following  up 
a  retreating  bird  most  magnificently. 


CH.  x.]  INSTANCES  OF  FINE  ROADING.  173 

291.     I  was  looking  for  grouse  where  I  thought  that  there  might 
be  some,  but  was  sure  there  could  not  be  many.     After  beating  for 


CARRYING  A  POINT,  AND  CARRYING  A  POINTER.— Par.  289. 


a  considerable  time  unsuccessfully,  the  youngest  of  the  dogs  that 
were  hunting  made  a  stanch  point.  I  got  up  to  him ; — nothing  rose. 
I  encouraged  him  to  press  on.  He  did  so,  and  at  a  convenient  pace 
which  allowed  me  to  keep  parallel  with  him.  He  so  seldom  stopped, 
and  bristled  so  little,  that  I  thought  he  was  making  a  fool  of  me. 
Still,  as  he  now  and  then  looked  round  sagaciously,  as  if  to  say 
"  There  really  is  game  a-head,"  I  did  not  like  to  tell  him  of  my 
suspicions.  Though  my  patience  was  sorely  tried,  for  he  led  me  a 
distance  which  I  dare  not  name,  I  resolved  to  let  him  have  his 
own  way,  and  to  see  what  would  be  the  result,  satisfied  that  undue 
precipitance  on  my  part  might  effect  more  evil  than  could  arise  from 
an  erroneous  participation  in  his  proceedings.  At  length,  when  my 
good  resolutions  were  all  but  exhausted,  and  I  was  thinking  of 
chiding  the  dog  for  his  folly,  we  approached  a  bare  spot,  free  from 
heather  : — up  sprung  a  noble  cock-grouse,  challenging  splendidly. 

292.  I  had  been  so  perplexed,  and  was,  I  am  ashamed  to  say,  so 
unnerved,  that,  though  the  bird  went  off  in  a  line  directly  from  me, 
I  missed  him  with  both  barrels  ;  I  don't  know  when  I  was  more 
vexed  : — nothing  but  my  bungling  lost  the  young  dog  the  reward  he 
so  richly  deserved. 


174  OVER-CAUTIOK  [CH.  x. 

293.  I  recount  this  story,  though  it  is  little  in  my 
favour,  to  warn  you  against  the  too  common  error  of 
fancying   that   a   young  dog  is  making  false  points  if 
birds  do  not  get  up  directly.     They  may  have  taken 
leg-bail,  and  thus  have  puzzled  him  in  his  inexperience. 
Dogs  not  cowed  by  punishment  will,  after  a  little  hunt- 
ing, seldom  make  false  points,  while  they  are  unfatigued. 
To  a  certainty  they  will  not  draw  upon  a  false  point  for 
any  distance :   therefore,  never  punish  what  is  solely 
occasioned  by  over-caution.     Your  doing  so  would  but 
increase  the  evil.     Self-confidence   and  experience  are 
the  only  cares  for  a  fault  that  would  be  a  virtue  if  not 
carried  to  excess.     Even  a  good  dog  will  occasionally 
make  a  point  at  larks  from  over-caution  when  birds  are 
wild  ;  but  see  the  first  note  to  194. 

294.  After  you  have  shot  over  a  dog  a  short  time,  his 
manner  and  attitude  will  enable  you  to  guess  pretty  ac- 
curately whether  birds  are  really  before  him ;  whether 
they  are  far  off  or  near ;  and  whether  or  not  they  are 
on  the  move.     Generally  speaking,  the  higher  he  carries 
his  head,  and  the  less  he  stiffens  his  stern,  the  further 
off  are  the  birds.     If  he  begin  to  look  nervous,  and  be- 
come fidgety,  you  will  seldom  be  wrong  in  fancying  they 
are  on  the  run.     But  various,  and  at  times  most  curious, 
are  the  methods  that  dogs  will  adopt,  apparently  with 
the  wish  to  show  you  where  the  birds  are,  and  certainly 
with  the  desire  to  get  you  a  shot. 

295.  A  pointer,  belonging  at  the  present  moment  to  a  nobleman 

in  Perthshire,  Lord  M d,  (from  whose  lips  my  informant  heard 

the  strange  story),  has  quite  a  novel  mode  of  telling  that  birds  are 
on  the  move.  While  they  continue  quiet,  he  points  them  in  the  usual 
manner,  with  his  head  towards  them,  but  so  soon  as  they  begin  to 
walk  off,  he  directly  faces  about,  very  disrespectfully  presenting  his 
stern  to  them, — whether  to  express  contempt  for  their  want  of  cour- 
tesy, or  to  warn  his  lordship  to  look  out  for  a  long  shot,  I  will  leave 
you  to  decide.*  I  particularly  inquired  if  he  did  this  indifferently, 

*  "  Suwarrow's  "  manoeuvre  (530)  clearly  shows  the  true  reason. 


CH.  x.]  FIKST  BLACK-COCK.  175 

whether  the  birds  were  running  up  or  down  wind.  This  my  infor- 
mant could  not  positively  tell.  All  he  knew  was  that  his  lordship 
had  said,  in  a  general  way,  that  the  singularly  mannered  animal 
invariably  repeated  this  eccentric  proceeding  whenever  the  birds 
moved. 

296.  Not  only  will  a  dog's  manner  often  show  you  whether  or  not 
birds  are  on  the  move,  but  his  carriage,  when  you  are  accustomed 
to  him,  will  frequently  tell  you  what  species  of  game  is  before  him. 
I  know  an  old  pointer  that  is  capital  in  light  cover.     His  owner 
shoots  rabbits  over  him,  and  whenever  the  dog  finds  one,  though  he 
points  steadily,  his  tail  vibrates  as  regularly  as  a  pendulum. 

297.  Years  ago,  when  I  was  shooting  in  the  North,  I  was  crossing 
some  land  which  the  encroachments  of  husbandry  had  converted 
from  wild  heather  to  profitable  sheep-walks  ;  suddenly  a  young  dog 
that  was  with  me  came  to  a  more  rigid  point  than  I  had  ever 
seen  him  make — every  muscle  appeared  distended — I  was  puzzled — • 
I  felt  satisfied  that  he  had  winded  something  very  inusual,  but 
what  to  expect  I  could  not  imagine,  for  there  seemed  not  cover  for 
a  tomtit.     When  I  got  up  to  him  he  was  so  nervously  anxious  that 
I  had  some  difficulty  in  making  him  advance,  but  at  length  he 
slowly  brought  me  towards  a  small  bush,  to  which  he  nailed  his 
nose.     Further  he  would  not  proceed.     I  kicked  the  bush  ;  when, 
to  my  great  gratification,  up  gradually  rose   a  young  blackcock, 
which  went  off  to  killing  distance  with  a  flight  not  more  rapid  than 
that  of  the  florikin.     It  was  the  first  black  game  that  the  dog  had 
ever  seen.     It  was  also  the  first  that  I  had  ever  seen  on  the  wing, 
and  this  may  account  for  all  the  attendant  circumstances  being  so 
strongly  impressed  upon  my  memory. 

298.  Colonel 'C n,  on  the  staff  of  the  Duke  of  C e,  told 

me  that  about  ten  years  ago  he  heard  a  gentleman,  then  living  on 
the  Mall  at  Birr,  make  a  bet  of  a  pony  (he  offered  to  wager  a  much 
larger  sum)  that  his  terrier  bitch  would  point  all  the  kinds  of  game 
found  in  the  neighbouring  bog — and  further,  that  before  it  was  sprung 
he  would  name  what  description  of  game  the  dog  was  pointing. 
The  gentleman  won  his  bet  handsomely,  though  they  found  snipe, 
woodcock,  grouse,  hare,  and  something  else,— as  well  as  Colonel 
C n  now  remembers, — a  duck.     It  was  soon  evident  to  the  spec- 
tators, that  the  attitude  of  the  clever  animal —short-eared,  with  a 
considerable  cross  of  the  bull-dog—varied  according  to  the  nature 
of  the  game  she  came  across.     To  an  English  ear  shooting  on  a  bog 
does  not  sound  very  attractive, — but  though  the  walking  is  generally 
difficult,  the  sport  is  often  interesting,  from  the  variety  of  game  the 
sportsman  frequently  meets  with. 


CHAPTER  XL 

FIRST  LESSON  IN  SEPTEMBER  CONCLUDED.     BAR.— LEG  STRAP.— 
SPIKE  COLLAR. 

299.  Bar  cure  for  too  high  spirits.  A  leg  strapped  up.  Why  these  remedies  are 
better  than  starvation  and  excessive  work.— 300.  The  regular  Spike  Collar 
described.  French  Spike  Collar.— 301.  One  less  objectionable.— 302  to  305. 
How,  in  extreme  cases,  the  Spike  collar  might  be  employed.  —  306.  Dog  spring- 
ing Birds  without  noticing  them ;  how  to  be  treated.— 307.  The  first  Birds  fired 
at  to  be  killed  outright;  the  Search  for  winged  Birds,  Dog  being  to  leeward. — 
308.  Had  the  Dog  seized.  Firing  at  running  Bird.— 309.  The  Search  for  winged 
Bird,  Dog  being  to  windward.— 310.  "Lifting"  a  Dog,  when  recommended. 
"Footing"  a  scent.  In  Note,  speed  of  Red-legged  Partridge. — 311.  Evil  of  a 
Young  Sportsman  always  thinking  his  birds  killed  outright ;  often  calls  away 
Dog  improperly.— 312.  Loss  of  dead  bird  discouraging  to  Dog.— 313.  Perse- 
verance in  Seeking,  how  fostered. — 314.  "Nosing"  Bird  allowed. — 315.  Its 

advantage  instanced  in  Sir  W m  F n's  dogs. — 316.  Error  of  picking  up 

winged  bird  before  Loading.  In  Notes,  ingenious  Argument  in  its  favour ;  Bird 
picked  up  in  the  Evening;  rejoins  Covey.— 317.  If  winged  bird  be  a  fast  ranner, 
and  out  of  shot. — 318.  Dog  that  was  devoted  to  "seeking  dead,"  would  retrieve 
Snipe  she  would  not  point;  probable  cause  of  her  fondness  for  retrieving. — 
319.  Dog  which  kept  his  paw  on  winged  bird ;  how  taught.  "  Beppo"  in  Africa. 
—320.  Blenheim,  which  hated  Water,  yet  would  always  retrieve  Wild  Fowl.— 
321.  If  dog  rashes  forward  yet  yields  to  menaces  and  stops. — 322.  If  he  seizes  the 
dead  bird;  if  he  has  torn  it.— 323.  How  to  administer  Punishment.— 324.  Part 
good  friends.  Your  own  temper  not  to  be  ruffled. — 325.  He  is  no  Breaker  who 
cannot  always  get  hold  of  Dog.— 32t>.  Be  certain^of  Dog's  guilt  before  punishing. 
—327.  Dog's  Ears  not  to  be  pulled  violently.— 328.  To  "drop"  whenever  Bird 
or  Hare  rises.  —  329.  Lesson  in  Turnips. — 330.  Real  Lesson  in  "Gone"  or 
"Flown"  given  after  dog  has  had  some  experience  ;  reason  why. 

299.  AFTER  a  few  trials  you  will,  I  hope,  be  able  to 
dispense  with  the  peg  recommended  in  281,  and  soon 
after  with  the  checkcord  also.  But  if  your  dog  possesses 
unusually  high  spirits,  or  if  he  travels  over  the  ground 
at  a  pace  which  obviously  precludes  his  making  a  proper 
use  of  his  nose,  it  may  be  advisable  to  fasten  to  his 
collar  a  bar,  something  like  a  diminutive  splinter-bar, 
that  it  may,  by  occasional  knocking  against  his  shins, 
feelingly  admonish  him  to  lessen  his  stride.  If  he  gets 


CH.  XL]  BAR.     FRENCH  SPIKE-COLLAR,  177 

it  between  his  legs  and  thus  finds  it  no  annoyance, 
attach  it  to  both  sides  of  his  collar  from  points  near 
the  extremities.  One  of  his  forelegs  might  occasionally 
be  passed  through  the  collar ;  but  this  plan  is  not  so 
good  as  the  other ;  nor  as  the  strap  on  the  hind  leg  (60). 
These  means  (to  be  discarded,  however,  as  soon  as  obe- 
dience is  established)  are  far  better  than  the  temporary 
ascendancy  which  some  breakers  establish  by  low  diet 
and  excessive  work,  which  would  only  weaken  his 
spirits  and  his  bodily  powers,  without  eradicating  his 
self-will,  or  improving  his  intellects.  You  want  to  force 
him,  when  he  is  in  the  highest  health  and  vigour,  to 
learn  by  experience  the  advantage  of  letting  his  nose 
dwell  longer  on  a  feeble  scent. 

300.  I  have  made  no  mention  of  the  spiked  collar, 
because  it  is  a  brutal  instrument,  which  none  but  the 
most  ignorant   or   unthinking  would  employ.     It  is  a 
leather  collar  into  which  nails,  much  longer  than  the 
thickness   of  the  collar  have  been  driven,  with  their 
points  projecting  inwards.     The  French  spike-collar  is 
nearly  as  severe.     It  is  formed  of  a  series  of  wooden 
balls, — larger  than  marbles, — linked  (about  two  and  a 
half  inches  apart)  into  a  chain  by  stiff  wires  bent  into 
the  form  of  hooks.     The   sharp  pointed  hooks  punish 
cruelly  when  the  checkcord  is  jerked. 

301.  We  have,  however,  a  more  modern  description 
of  collar,  which  is  far  less  inhuman  than  either  of  those  I 
have  mentioned,  but  still  I  cannot  recommend  its  adop- 
tion, unless  in  extreme  cases ;  for  though  not  so  severely, 
it,  likewise,  punishes  the  unfortunate  dog,  more  or  less, 
by  the  strain  of  the  checkcord  he  drags  along  the  ground : 
and  it  ought  to  be  the  great  object  of  a  good  breaker  as 
little  as  is  possible  to  fret  or  worry  his  pupil,  that  all  his 
ideas  may  be  engaged  in  an  anxious  wish  to  wind  birds 

N 


178  ENGLISH  SPIKED  COLLAR  [CH.  xr. 

On  a  leather  strap,  which  has  a  ring  at  one  end,  four 
wooden  balls  (of  about  two  inches  diameter)  are  threaded 
like  beads,  at  intervals  from  each  other  and  the  ring, 
say,  of  two  inches  (the  exact  distance  being  depen- 
dent on  the  size  of  the  dog's  throat).  Into  each  of  the 
balls  sundry  short  thickish  pieces  of  wire  are  driven, 
leaving  about  one-sixth  of  an  inch  beyond  the  surface. 
The  other  end  of  the  strap  (to  which  the  checkcord  is 
attached)  is  passed  through  the  ring.  This  ring  being 
of  somewhat  less  diameter  than  the  balls,  it  is  clear, 
however  severely  the  breaker  may  pull,  he  cannot  com- 
press the  dog's  throat  beyond  a  certain  point.  The 
effect  of  the  short  spikes  is  rather  to  crumple  than 
penetrate  the  skin. 

302.  I  have  long  been  sensible  of  the  aid  a  spiked 
collar  would  afford  in  reclaiming  headstrong,  badly  edu- 
cated dogs,  if  it  could  be  used  at  the  moment— and  only 
at  the  precise  moment — when  punishment  was  required  ; 
but  not  until  lately  did  it  strike  me  how  the  collar  could 
be   carried  so  that  the  attached  cord  should  not  con- 
stantly bear  upon  it,  and  thereby  worry,  if  not  pain  the 
dog.     And  had  I  again  to  deal  with  an  old  offender, 
who  incorrigibly  crept  in  after  pointing,  or  obstinately 
"  rushed  into   dead,"  I  should  feel  much  disposed  to 
employ  a  slightly  spiked  collar  in  the  following  manner. 

303.  That   the   mere   carrying  the  collar  might  not 
annoy  the  dog,  I  would  extract  or  flatten  the  nails  fixed 
on  the  top  of  the  collar,  on  the  part,  I  mean,  that  would 
lie  on  the  animal's  neck.     This  collar  I  would  place  011 
his  neck,  in  front  of  his  common  light  collar.     I  would 
then  firmly  fasten  the  checkcord,  in  the  usual  way,  to 
the  spiked  collar ;  but,  to  prevent  any  annoyance  from 
dragging  the  checkcord,  at  about  five  or  six  inches  from 
the  fastening  just  made  I  would  attach  it  to  the  com- 


CH.  XL]  DOG  NOT  NOTICING  BIRDS.  179 

mon  collar,  with  very  slight  twine — twine  so  slight  that, 
although  it  would  not  give  way  to  the  usual  drag  of  the 
checkcord,  however  long,  yet  it  would  readily  break  on 
my  having  to  pull  strongly  against  the  wilful  rush  of  an 
obstinate  dog,  when,  of  course,  the  spikes  would  punish 
him,  as  the  strain  would  then  be  borne  by  the  spiked 
collar  alone. 

304.  Guided  by  circumstances,  I  would  afterwards 
either  remove  the  spiked  collar,  or,  if  I  conceived  another 
bout  necessary,  refasten  the  checkcord  to  the  common 
collar  with  some  of  the  thin  twine,  leaving,  as  before, 
five  or  six  inches  of  the  checkcord  loose  between  the 
two  collars. 

305.  If  you  should  ever  consider  yourself  forced  to 
employ  a  spiked  collar,  do  not  thoughtlessly  imagine 
that  the  same  collar  will  suit  all  dogs.     The  spikes  for 
a  thin-coated  pointer  ought  to  be  shorter  than  for  a 
coarse-haired  setter !    You  can  easily  construct  one  to 
punish  with  any  degree  of  severity  you  please.     Take  a 
common  leather  collar ;  lay  its  inner  surface  flat  on  a 
soft  deal  board  :  through  the  leather  drive  with  a  ham- 
mer any  number  of  tacks  or  flat-headed  nails  :  then  get 
a  cobbler  to  sew  on  another  strap  of  leather  at  the  back 
of  the  nails,  so  as  to  retain  them  firmly  in  position. 

306.  I  have  supposed  that  your  dog  has  scented  the 
birds  before  they  rose,  but  if  he  spring  them  without 
having  previously  noticed  them  (as  in  some  rare  cases 
happens  even  to  well-bred  dogs)  you  must  bring  him 
back  to  the  spot  at  which  you  feel  assured  that  he  ought 
to  have  been  sensible  of  their  presence,  and  there  make 
him  "Toho."    Afterwards  endeavour  to  make  him  aware 
of  the  haunt  by  encouraging  him  to  sniff  at  the  ground 
that  the  birds  have  just  left.     The  next  time  watch  very 
carefully  for  the  slightest  indication  of  his  feathering 

N2 


180  BIRD  RUN  TO  WINDWARD.  [CH.  XL 

and  then  instantly  call  out  "Toho."     After  a  few  times 
lie  will,  to  a  certainty,  understand  you. 

307.  You  should  kill  outright  the  few  first  birds  at 
which  you  fire.     I  would  infinitely  prefer  that  you 
should  miss  altogether,  than  that  one  of  the  two  or  three 
first  birds   should  be  a  runner.     Afterwards  you  have 
full  leave  to  merely  wing  a  bird;  but  still  I  should  wish 
it  not  to  be  too  nimble.     This  is  a  good  trial  of  your 
judgment  as  well  as  the  dog's.     I  hope  he  is  to  leeward 
of  the  bird,  and  that  it  will  not  catch  his  eye.     See  he 
touches  on  the  haunt.     Do  not  let  him  work  with  his 
nose  to  the  ground.  "Up, up,"  must  be  your  encouraging 
words  (or  "  On,  on,"  according  to  circumstances),  whilst 
with  your  right  hand  (iv.  of  141)  you  are  alternately 
urging  and  restraining  him,  so  as  to  make  him  advance 
at  a  suitable  pace.    From  his  previous  education,  not 
being  flurried  by  any  undue  dread  of  the  whip,  he  will 
be  enabled  to  give  his  undisturbed  attention,  and  devote 
all  his  faculties  to  follow  unerringly  the  retreating  bird. 
But  from  inexperience  he  may  wander  from  the  haunt. 
On  perceiving  this,  bring  him,  by  signals,  back  to  the 
spot  where  he  was  apparently  last  aware  of  the  scent. 
He  will  again  hit  it  off'.     If  you  view  the  bird  ever  so 
far  ahead,  on  no  account  run.     I  hope  you  will  at  length 
observe  it  lie  down.     Head  it,  if  possible,  and  strike  it 
with  your  whip,  if  you  think  you  will  be  unable  to 
seize  it  with   your  hand.      Endeavour  to  prevent  its 
fluttering  away ; — it  is  too  soon  to  subject  the  youngster 
to  such  a  severe  trial  of  his  nerves  and  steadiness.  Then, 
(having  put  the  poor  creature  out  of  its   misery,   by 
piercing  its  skull,  or  rapping  its  head  against  your  gun,) 
as  before  (266),  show  your  dog  the  gratifying  prize  which 
your  combined  exertions  have  gained. 

308.  Should  he  unluckily  have  caught  sight  of  the 


CH.  XL]  BIRD  RUN  TO  LEEWARD,  181 

running  bird,  and,  in  spite  of  all  your  calls,  have  rushed 
forward  and  seized  it,  you  ought  to  have  proceeded  as 
described  in  322.  Clearly,  however,  you  would  not  have 
dragged  the  dog  back  to  the  place  where  he  "down 
charged,"  but  merely  to  the  spot  from  which  he  had  made 
his  unlawful  rush.  If  the  bird  had  been  very  active,  it 
would  have  been  far  better  to  have  fired  at  it  a  second 
time  (while  it  was  running),  than  to  have  incurred  the 
risk  of  making  your  dog  unsteady  by  a  wild  pursuit. 
Suppose  that  it  was  not  winged,  but  rose  again  on  your 
approaching  it,  and  fluttered  off, — a  hard  trial  for  the 
young  dog, — you  must,  however,  have  made  him  bear 
it,  and  obey  your  loud  command  to  "  drop/' — you  would 
(or  should)  have  taken  another  shot,  and  have  proceeded 
in  exactly  the  same  manner  as  if  this  had  been  your 
first  find  (265,  266). 

309.  As  the  wounded  bird  was  to  windward  of  the 
dog,  the  course  to  follow  was   obvious, — it  was  plain 
sailing ;  but  the  case  would  have  varied  greatly  if  the 
dog  had  been  to  windward.    Had  you  pursued  the  usual 
plan,  he  must  have  roaded  the  bird  by  the  "  foot ; "  and 
the  danger  is,  that  in  allowing  him  to  do  so,  you  may 
create  in  him  the  evil  habit  of  hunting  with  his  nose 
close  to  the  ground,  which  is  above  all  things  to  be 
deprecated.     You  have  another  mode — you  can  "  lift " 
the  dog  (I  suppose  you  know  the  meaning  of  that  hunt- 
ing term),  and  make  him  take  a  large  circuit,  and  so 
head  the  bird,  and  then  proceed  as  if  it  had  fallen  to 
windward. 

310.  The  latter  plan  would  avoid  all  risk  of  your 
making  him  a  potterer,  and  it  is,  I  think,  to  be  recom- 
mended if  you  find  him  naturally  inclined  to  hunt  low. 
But  the  former  method,  as  a  lesson  in  "  footing,"  must 
be  often  resorted  to,  that  he  may  learn  unhesitatingly  to 


182  PERSEVERE  IN  SEEKING.  [CH.  XL 

distinguish  the  "  heel "  from  the  "  toe/'  and  how  to  push 
an  old  cock-grouse,  or  to  flush  a  pheasant  running 
through  cover,  or  the  red-legged,  I  was  nearly  saying, 
the  everlasting-legged  partridge;*  and,  indeed,  generally, 
how  to  draw  upon  his  birds,  and  with  confidence  lead 
you  to  a  shot  when  they  are  upon  the  move  and  running 
down  wind.  (See  end  of  115  ;  and  for  further  direc- 
tions, and  for  "  seeking  dead  "  with  two  dogs,  look  at 
544).  The  heavy  Spanish  pointer,  from  his  plodding- 
perseverance  and  great  olfactory  powers,  was  an  excel- 
lent hand  at  retrieving  a  slightly  injured  bird  on  a 
broiling,  bad  scenting  day. 

311.  When  I  advised  you  (266)  to  let  the  dog  "have 
plenty  of  time  to  make  out  the  bird,"  I  spoke  from  per- 
sonal experience,  and  from  a  vivid  recollection  of  errors 
committed  in  my  novitiate.     A  young  hand  is  too  apt 
to  imagine   that  every  bird  which  falls  to  his  gun  is 
killed  outright,  and  lying  dead  on  the  spot  where  it  fell. 
He  will,  therefore,   often  impatiently,  and  most  inju- 
diciously, call  away  the  dog  who,  at  a  little  distance, 
may  have  hit-off  the  trail  of  the  winged  bird,  and  be 
"  footing  "  it  beautifully. 

312.  If  in  these  lessons  you  should  fail  in  obtaining  one 
or  two  wounded  birds,  though  it  might  not  be  a  matter  of 
any  moment  to  yourself  personally,  it  would  be  extremely 
vexatious  on  the  dog's  account,  because,  in  this  early 
stage  of  his  education,  it  would  tend  to  discourage  him. 
The  feeling  which  you  must  anxiously  foster  in  him  is 
this,  that  after  the  word  "Find"t  the  search  must  never 


*  The  speed  with  which  one  of  t  The  force  of  the  word  "Dead" 

these  extremely  beautiful,  but  in  (preceding  the  command  "Find") 

every  other  respect  far,   far  in-  — that  joyous,    exciting  note   of 

ferior  partridges  will  run,   when  triumph — ought  never  to  be  les- 

only  slightly  wounded,   is  quite  sened  by  being  employed,  as  I 

marvellous.  have  heard  it,  to  stimulate  a  dog 


CH.  XT.]  ALLOW  HIM  TO  "NOSE."  183 

be  relinquished,  even  though  he  be  constrained  to  hunt 
from  morning  till  night.  And  it  is  clear  that  to  make 
an  abiding,  valuable  impression,  this  lesson  must  be 
inculcated  on  the  several  first  occasions  with  unre- 
mitting, untiring  diligence. 

313.  Persevere,  therefore,   for  an  hour,  rather  than 
give  up  a  wounded  bird.     Join  in  the  search  yourself. 
Even  if  you  see  where  it  lies,  do  not  pick  it  up  hastily. 
On  the  contrary,  leave  it,  but  mark  well  the  spot.  Keep 
on  the  move.     Hold  your  gun  as  if  in  expectation  of  a 
rise.     Pretend  to  seek  for  the  bird  in  every  direction, 
even  for  a  good  half  hour,  if  you  can  encourage  your 
dog  to  hunt  so  long.     If,  indeed,  you  see  him  flag,  and 
get  wearied  and  dispirited,  gradually  bring  him  close, 
but  to  leeward  of  the  spot  where  the  bird  lies,  in  order 
to  make  him  "  point  dead,"  and  be  rewarded  for  all  his 
diligence  by  finding  it  himself.     Let  him,  also,  have  a 
good  sniff  at  it  and  nose  it  (but  let  there  be  no  biting 
or  mouthing),  before  you  put  it  into  the  bag.     Other- 
wise, what  return  has  he  for  the  pains  he  has  taken  ? 

314.  It  is  no  conclusive  argument  against  the  practice 
of  allowing  him  to  "nose,"  that  many  first-rate  dogs 
have  never  been  so  indulged.     It  is  certain  that  they 
would  not  have  been  worse  if  they  had ;  and  many  a 
dog,  that  would  otherwise  have  been  extremely  slack, 
has  been  incited  to  hunt  with  eagerness  from  having 
been  so  rewarded.     There   are  dogs  who,  from  having 
been  constantly  denied  all  "touseling,"  will  not  even 
give  themselves  the  trouble  of  searching  for  any  bird 
which  they  have  seen  knocked  over,  much  less  think 
of  pointing  it.     They  seem   satisfied  with  this  ocular 

to  hunt  when  no  bird  is  down  ;  influence  at  the  moment  when  it 
or,  like  the  shepherd-boy's  cry  of  should  most  animate  to  unremit- 
"  Wolf !  wolf ! "  it  will  have  little  ting  exertions. 


184  SEARCH  FOR  HOURS.  [CH.  XL 

evidence  of  its  death ;  for,  odd  to  say,  these  very  dogs 
will  often  zealously  obey  the  order  to  hunt  for  any  bird 
whose  fall  they  have  not  noticed ;  but  in  winding  it 
they  will  indulge  in  no  more  than  a  passing  sniff, — 
which  sniff,  unless  you  are  watchful,  you  may  not  ob- 
serve, and  so  lose  your  bird.  Never  fail,  therefore,  to 
let  your  pupil  ruffle  the  feathers*  a  little,  while  you 
bestow  on  him  a  caress  or  a  kind  word  of  approbation. 
You  then  incite  to  perseverance,  by,  even  with  dogs,  a 
very  abiding  motive, — "  self-interest ;  "  but  mind  the 
important  rule,  that  this  "  nosing  "  be  only  when  the 
bird  is  in  your  possession,  not  before  it  is  in  your  posses- 
sion. If  you  wish  to  establish  for  ever  a  confirmed 
perseverance  in  "  seeking  dead,"  you  must  sacrifice  hours 
(I  say  it  seriously)  rather  than  give  up  any  of  the  first 
wounded  birds.  Be  persuaded  that  every  half  hour 
spent  in  an  unremitting  search  for  one  bird,  if  ultimately 
successful,  will  more  benefit  the  young  dog  than  your 
killing  a  dozen  to  him,  should  you  bag  them  the  moment 
you  are  reloaded.  Of  course  you  would  not,  when  you 
are  giving  such  a  lesson  in  perseverance,  fire  at  another 
bird,  even  if  it  sprang  at  your  feet, — for  your  doing  so, 
whether  you  missed  or  killed,  would  unsettle  the  young 
dog,  and  make  him  relinquish  his  search.  Be  stimulated 
to  present  exertion  by  the  conviction  that  if  he  be  not 
now  well  instructed,  you  must  expect  him  to  lose,  season 
after  season,  nearly  every  bird  only  slightly  disabled  by 
a  merely  tipped  wing. 

*  After  a  tonseling  you  may  time  interfered  with  the  delicacy 

have   observed  the  dog  rubbing  and  discrimination  of  his  olfactory 

his  nose  in  the  grass.     He  did  organs.      He   got    too   near  his 

right.     I  have  lately  had  reason  birds  before  acknowledging  them, 

to  think  that  when  from  the  ab-  Would  you  be  shocked  if  I  asked 

sence  of  grass  a  dog  could  not  you  to  assist  him  occasionally  in 

effectually  wipe  his  nose,  the  fine  freeing  his  nostrils  from  the  of- 

down  adhering  to  it  has  for  some  fending  feathers  ? 


CH.  XL]  LOAD  BEFORE  YOU  BAG.  185 

315.  I  casually  asked  Mr.  H h  what  kind  of  sport  he  had 

had  in  Aberdeenshire  with  Sir  W m  F n.    He  replied,  "  The 

pleasantest  imaginable.     One  day  we  killed  forty-six  brace,  and 

bagged  every  feather.     Indeed,  F n  never  loses  a  bird.     I  have 

actually  known  him,  when  his  dogs  were  young,  spend  a  full  half 
hour  in  hunting  for  a  dead  bird  ;  nothing  would  induce  him  to  give 
up.     The  consequence  is,  that  now  he  never  loses  one  by  any  chance. 
He  broke  in  the  dogs  entirely  himself : — he  would  seldom  allow  his 
keeper  to  say  a  word  to  them.     He  was  always  very  patient  ;  and 
he  is  well  rewarded  for  his  trouble."  Why  not  take  the  same  trouble 
and  obtain  a  like  reward  ?    This  was  true  sport  !     What  battue- 
shooting  could  compare  with  it  ? 

316.  I  hope  you  will  not  say,  as  would  most  of  our 
neighbours  *  on  the  other  side  of  the  Channel :  "  But  if, 
instead  of  waiting  to  load,  I  had  gone  after  the  winged 
bird  just  as  it  fell,  when  first  I  saw  it  start  off  running, 
the  evil  you  have  now  spoken  of  (312)  could  not  have 
occurred,  for  there  would  have  but  been  little  risk  of  losing 
it."     Probably  not,  but  you  would  have  almost  ruined 
your  dog ;  and  to  secure  this  one  bird,  in  all  likelihood 
you  would  subsequently  lose  a  hundred.-f-     How  could 
you  with  justice  blame  him  if,  when  next  you  killed,  he 
rushed  headlong  after  the  bird  (instead   of   dropping 
patiently  to  the  "  down  charge  "),  and  so  sprung  a  dozen 
birds  while  you  were  unloaded  ? 

317.  Perhaps  you  will  say,  "You  tell  me  to  fire  at  a 
running  bird,  but  when  a  winged  cock-pheasant  or  red- 
legged  partridge  is  racing  off  out  of  shot,  how  am  I  to 
get  it,  if  I  proceed  in  the  slow,  methodical  manner  you 
advise  ?     May  it  not  lead  me  an  unsuccessful  dance  for 

*  In  favour  of  such  unsports-  pening  that  a  partridge  gets  up 

man-like  haste  they  ingeniously  the  moment  the  guns  have  left 

argue  that  a  continued  noise  after  the    spot,    thought  no    previous 

firing  makes  birds  lie,   from  at-  noise  had  induced  it  to  stir, 
tracting  their  attention.      They  t  Had  you  lost  the  bird  from 

say  that  a  sudden  change  to  quiet  there  being  but  little  scent,  it  is 

(and  a  great  change  it  must  be,  probable  you  might  have  found  it 

for  a  chasseur  is  always  talking)  by  renewing  your  search  on  your 

alarms  the  birds.     As  an  evidence  return  homewards  in  the  evening, 

of   this,    they  adduce  the  well-  If  a  runner,  it  would  most  likely 

known  fact  of  its  frequently  hap-  have  rejoined  the  covey. 


186  PERSEVERANCE  INSTANCED.  [CH.  xi. 

an  hour,  if  I  do  not  allow  the  dog  to  start  ahead  and 
seize?"  It  may,  (but  I  hope  months  will  pass  before  you 
witness  such  agility) ;  and  this  shows  that  those  who  do 
not  employ  a  retriever,  and  yet  are  sticklers  for  a  setter's 
(or  pointer's)  never  being  permitted  to  touch  a  feather, 
must  on  such  occasions  get  into  a  dilemma ;  and,  unless 
they  are  willing  to  lose  the  bird,  must  plead  guilty  to  the 
inconsistency  of  being  pleased — however  loudly  they  may 
roar  out  "  Toho,"  "  ware  dead," — when  they  see  their  dog, 
in  defiance  of  all  such  calls,  disable  it  by  a  sudden  grip. 
This  plan,  though  frequently  followed,  cannot  be  correct. 
They  blame  the  dog  for  doing  what  they  really  wish, 
and  if  he  be  too  tender-mouthed  to  injure  the  bird,  he 
keeps  them  at  top  speed,  while  he  is  alternately  picking 
up  the  unfortunate  creature,  acting  on  his  natural  im- 
pulses,— and  letting  it  fall  on  being  rated.  I  therefore 
repeat,  that  even  if  you  do  not  wish  your  dog  constantly 
to  retrieve  (536),  you  would  still  act  judiciously  in 
teaching  him  as  a  puppy  to  fetch  (96),  for  then  he  will 
give  chase  to  the  winged  bird,  and  bring  it  to  you  on 
getting  the  order,  instead  of  permitting  it  to  escape  for  a 
fresh  burst,  or  carrying  it  off,  as  I  have  seen  done.  You 
thus  maintain  discipline.  The  dog  will  do  what  you 
wish,  in  obedience  to  orders, — not  in  opposition  to  orders. 
The  sticklers  for  dogs  never  being  allowed  to  nose  a 
feather,  ought,  unless  they  are  willing  to  give  up  slightly 
winged  birds,  not  to  shrink  from  the  difficult  task 
of  teaching  their  pupils  to  stop  and  retain  with  their 
paws  (319). 

318.  The  pertinacity  with  which  some  dogs  will  "  seek  dead  "  is 
really  surprising.  A  relative  of  mine  had  an  English  pointer  which 
was  so  devoted  to  hunting  for  "  knocked-down  "  birds,  that  she  was 
almost  unequalled  in  "finding,"  though  in  other  respects  possessed  of 
very  ordinary  qualifications.  If  she  failed  in  soon  winding  the  lost 
bird,  she  would  of  her  own  accord  make  a  large  circuit ;  and  if  still 


CH.  XL]  BIED  HELD  BY  PAW.  187 

unsuccessful,  she  would  indefatigably  traverse  the  field  from  leeward 
until  some  slight  taint  in  the  atmosphere  intimated  to  her  in  what 
direction  to  continue  the  search.  When  he  afterwards  hunted  her 
in  Ireland,  though  he  could  not  get  her  to  point  snipe,  yet  if  he 
killed  one,  she  would  exert  herself  to  the  utmost  to  retrieve  it.  Her 
keenness  probably  in  part  arose  from  her  having,  as  a  young  one, 
always  been  indulged  with  a  good  "  touseling  "  of  the  game  before 
it  was  picked  up.  She  never  wished  to  grip. 

319.  A  gentleman  who  was  my  neighbour  a  few  seasons  ago,  has 
a  very  old  setter,  which  was  also  capital  at  "finding."     "  Don"  used 
to  lay  his  paw  upon  the  wounded  bird,  which,  I  fancy,  afforded  him 
such  gratification  that  he  would  zealously  devote  every  faculty  he 
possessed  to  secure  the  prize.     You  could  not  teach  every  dog  this 
method  of  detaining  a  bird.     If  yours  is  one  of  a  very  docile  dis- 

Cition  you  may  effect  it  by  always  placing  the  dead  or  wounded 
i  for  a  minute  or  two  under  his  paw  before  you  deposit  it  in 
the  bag. 

320.  An  officer  of  the  Navy,  Mr.  W b,  of  Southsea,  once  pos- 
sessed a  true  Blenheim — naturally  a  tender  breed — that,  from  having 
been  injudiciously  thrown  into  the  water  when  young  (see  104),  had 
taken  such  a  dislike  to  the  element,  that  although  she  was  extremely 
attached  to  her  master,  and  always  anxious  to  be  with  him,  especi- 
ally when  he  shouldered  his  gun,  yet  the  moment  she  saw  him  appear 
with  a  towel  in  hand  (feeling  assured  he  purposed  bathing),  she  would 
bolt  off,  and  allow  nothing  to  persuade  her  to  accompany  him. 
Now,  great  as  was  her  abhorrence  of  a  cold  bath,  yet  her  gratifica- 
tion in  retrieving  so  far  outweighed  every  other  feeling,  that  for  the 
moment  it  overcame  her  aversion  to  a  plunge,  and  whenever  Mr. 

W b  shot  a  duck  she  would  dash  in  to  bring  it  on  shore.     She 

would  carefully  deposit  it  at  the  edge  of  the  bank,  but  not  carry  it 
a  step  further.    "  Kose  "  had  secured  it,  and  that  was  the  extent  of 
her  wishes. 

321.  We  have  only  spoken  of  instances  266, 307,  309, 
in  which  all  has  gone  on  smoothly,  the  dog  most  obe- 
diently dropping  to  shot  and  permitting  you  to  take  up 
the   bird  notwithstanding  the  poor  creature's   death- 
struggles.     Suppose,   however,  and  this  may  probably 
happen,  that  he  does  not  restrain  himself  at  the  "  down 
charge/'  but,  in  spite  of  all  your  calls  and  signals,  rushes 
forward,  yet  yields  to  your  menaces  and  halts  in  mid- 
career.     It  is  well — your  course  is  clear ;  you  have  to 
lug  him  back,  and  threaten,  and  lecture  him.   But  should 
he  not  check  himself  until  he  sniffs  the  game,  his  stop 


188  BIED  SEIZED.  [CH.  XT, 

then  becomes  a  "  point ; "  and  if  he  is  of  a  timid  dispo- 
sition, or  has  ever  evinced  any  disposition  to  blink,  you 
dare  not  force  him  to  retrace  his  steps,  lest  he  should 
mistake  your  motives,  and  fancy  himself  encouraged  to 
abandon  his  point.  If  you  merely  make  him  "down 
charge,"  you  violate  the  axiom  named  in  359.  In  short, 
you  are  in  a  difficulty.  It  is  a  nice  case,  in  which  your 
own  judgment  of  the  dog's  character  can  alone  decide 
you. 

322.  But,  if  from  inadequate  initiatory  instruction — 
for  I  will  maintain  that  such  marked  rebellion  can  arise 
from  no  other  cause — in  the  excitement  of  the  moment 
he  actually  rushes  in  and  seizes  the  bird,  he  must  be 
punished,  I  am  sorry  to  say  it ;  but  however  much  we 
may  deplore  it,  Tie  must ;  for  he  has  been  guilty  of  great 
disobedience,  and  he  well  knows  that  he  has  been  dis- 
obedient. But  the  temptation  was  strong,  perhaps  too 
strong  for  canine  nature, — that  is  to  say,  for  canine  nature 
not  early  taught  obedience.  The  wounded  bird  was 
fluttering  within  sight  and  hearing  : — it  was,  too,  the  first 
he  had  ever  seen, — and  this  is  almost  his  first  glaring 
act  of  disobedience:  be  merciful,  though  firm.  Make 
him  "  drop."  Get  up  to  him  at  once.  Probably  he  will 
relinquish  his  grip  of  the  bird ;  if  not,  make  him  give 
it  up  to  you,  but  do  not  pull  it  from  him  :  that  would 
only  increase  the  temptation  to  tear  it.  Lay  it  on  the 
ground.  Then  drag  him  back  to  the  spot  from  which 
he  rushed  ;  there  make  him  lie  down.  Eate  him.  Call 
out  "  Toho."  *  Crack  the  whip  over  him — and,  I  am 
pained  to  add,  make  use  of  it — but  moderately,  not 
severely.  Three  or  four  cuts  will  be  enough,  provided 

*  "Toho,  "rather  than  "Drop,"  fied  that  he  would  have,  "down 

— your  object  now  being  to  make  charged  "     had    the    bird    been 

him   stand   at,    and  prevent   his  missed, 
mouthing  game  ;  for  you  are  satis- 


CH.  xi.]        PUNISHMENT  HOW  ADMINISTERED.  189 

fie  has  not  torn  the  bird ;  if  he  has,  his  chastisement 
must  be  greater.  Let  him  now  have  one  nibble  without 
punishment,  and  soon  a  whole  carcass  will  not  suffice 
for  his  morning's  meal.  Do  not  strike  him  across  the 
body,  but  lengthwise. 

323.  An  ill-tempered  dog  might  attempt  to  bite  you. 
Prevent  the  possibility  of  his  succeeding,  by  grasping 
and  twisting  his  collar  with  your  left  hand,  still  keeping 
him  at  the  "down."     Consider  coolly  whether  you  are 
flagellating  a  thick-coated  dog,  or  one  with  a  skin  not 
much  coarser  than  your  own.     Pause  between  each  cut ; 
and  that  he  may  comprehend  why  he  is  punished,  call 
out  several  times,  but  not  loudly,  "  Toho — bad — toho," 
and  crack  your  whip.    Let  your  last  strokes  be  milder 
and  milder,  until  they  fall  in  the  gentlest  manner — a 
manner  more  calculated  to  awaken  reflection  than  give 
pain.    When  the  chastisement  is  over,  stand  close  in 
front  of  him,  the  better  to  awe  him,  and  prevent  his 
thinking  of  bolting.     Put  the  whip  quietly  into  your 
pocket,  but   still  remain  where  you   are,  occasionally 
rating  him  and  scolding  him  while  you  are  loading ; 
gradually,  however,  becoming  milder  in  manner,  that  he 
may  be  sensible  that,  though  your  dissatisfaction  at  his 
conduct  continues,  his  punishment  is  over  (342  to  347). 
Indeed,  if  you  have  any  fear  of  his  becoming  too  timid, 
you  may  at  length  fondle  him  a  little,  provided  that 
while   you  so  re-encourage  him,  you  continue  to  say 
"  Toho — toho,"  most  impressively — then,  giving  him  the 
wind,  go  up  together  to  the  bird,  and  make  him  "  point 
dead  "  close  to  it.     Take  it  up,  and  let  him  fumble  the 
feathers  before  you  loop  it  on  the  bag. 

324.  Never  let  a  dog  whom  you  have  been  forced  to 
chastise  bolt  or  creep  away  until  you  order  him.     If  he 
is  ever  allowed  to  move  off  at  his  wish,  he  will  improve 


190  PART  GOOD  FRIENDS*  [CH.  XL 

upon  the  idea,  and  on  the  next  occasion  will  far  too  soon 
anticipate  yours.  And  do  not  send  him  off,  until  he  has 
given  some  evidence  of  having  forgiven  you,  and  of  his 
desire  to  be  reconciled,  by  crawling  towards  you,  for 
instance,  or  wagging  his  tail.  On  no  occasion — under 
circumstances  of  ever  such  great  provocation— be  so 
weak  or  irritable  (but  I  hope  you  do  not  need  the 
warning)  as  to  give  him  a  kick  or  a  blow  when  he  is 
going  off.  He  ought  to  have  stood  with  reassured  con- 
fidence alongside  of  you,  for  perhaps  a  minute  or  so, 
before  you  sanctioned  his  departure ;  and  the  severer 
his  punishment  the  longer  should  have  been  the  deten- 
tion. You  are  always  to  part  tolerable  friends,  while  he 
feels  perfectly  convinced  that  his  chastisement  is  over. 
If  you  do  not,  you  may  find  it  rather  difficult  to  catch 
him  when  he  commits  another  fault.  It  will  be  owing 
to  your  own  injudiciousness  if  he  ever  become  afraid  of 
approaching  you  after  making  a  blunder.  Should  he  be 
so,  sit  down.  He  will  gradually  draw  near  you ;  then 
quietly  put  your  hand  on  his  collar. 

325.  If  a  man  cannot  readily  get  hold  of  any  dog 
under  his  tuition  whom  he  desires  to  rate  or  punish, 
you  may  be  certain  that  he  fails  either  in  temper  or 
judgment ;  perhaps  in  both.     He  may  be  an  excellent 
man,  but  he  cannot  be  a  good  dog-breaker.     There  are 
men  who  get  quite  enraged  at  a  dog's  not  coming  in- 
stantly to  "  heel "  on  being  called.     When  at  length  the 
poor  brute  does  come  within  reach,  he  gets  a  blow,  per- 
haps a  licking — a  blow  or  licking,  he  has  the  sense  to 
see  he  should  have  longer  avoided  had  he  stayed  longer 
away.     Thus  the  punishment  increases  instead  of  reme- 
dying the  evil. 

326.  Never  correct  or  even  rate  a  dog,  in  the  mere 
"belief  that  he  is  in  error ;  be  first  convinced  of  his  guilt. 


CH.  xi.]  PEOOF  BEFOEE  PUNISHMENT.  191 

If  you  have  good  reason  to  suspect  that,  unseen  by  you, 
he  has  wilfully  sprung  birds,  still  rather  give  him  an 
earnest  caution  than  any  severer  rebuke.  It  is  not  easy 
to  repair  the  mischief  occasioned  by  unjust  punishment. 
When  from  his  sheepish  look,  or  any  other  cause,  you 
imagine  that  hekhas  raised  game,  either  through  heedless- 
ness,  or  from  their  being  unusually  wild,  be  sure  to  give 
him  a  short  lecture,  and  accompany  him  to  the  haunt. 
A  lingering  bird  may  occasionally  reward  you.  If  his 
manner  has  led  you  to  form  an  incorrect  opinion,  your 
warning  can  have  no  other  effect  than  to  increase  his 
caution  (rarely  an  undesirable  result)  ;  and  if  you  are 
right,  the  admonition  is  obviously  most  judicious. 

327.  Let  me   caution  you  against  the  too  common 
error  of  punishing  a  dog  by  pulling  his  ears.     It  has 
often  occasioned  bad  canker.     Some  men  are  of  opinion 
that  it  is  frequently  the  cause  of  premature  deafness. 
When  you  rate  him  you  may  lay  hold  of  an  ear  and 
shake  it,  but  not  with  violence. 

328.  I  would  strongly  recommend  you  always   to 
make  your  young  dog  "  drop  "  for  half  a  minute  or  so, 
when  he  sees  a  hare  ;  or  when  he  hears  a  bird  rise.* 
To  effect  this,  stand  still  yourself.     After  a  few  seconds 
you  can  either  hie  him  on,  or,  which  is  yet  better,  get 
close  to  him  if  you  expect  other  birds  to  spring.     You 
will  thus,  especially  in  potatoes  or  turnips,  often  obtain 
shots  at  birds  which  would  have  made  off,  had  he  con- 
tinued to  hunt,  and  early  in  the  season  be  frequently 
enabled  to  bag  the  tail-bird  of  a  covey.     This  plan  will 
also  tend  to  make  him  cautious,  and  prevent  his  getting 
a  habit  of  blundering-up  birds,  and  cunningly  pretending 
not  to  have  noticed  their  escape.     It  will  also  make  him 

*  Of  course,  with  the  proviso  that  he  is  not  pointing  at  another 
bird  <274). 


192  LESSON  IN  TURNIPS.  [CH.  xi. 

less  inclined  to  chase  hares  and  rabbits,  or  rush  at  a 
falling  bird. 

329.  On  approaching  a  piece  of  turnips,  you  may 
have  heard,  "Let  us  couple  up  all  the.  dogs  excepting 
Old  Don  ; "  the  veteran's  experience  having  shown  him, 
that  the  only  effect  of  his  thundering  through  them" 
would  be  to  scare  every  bird  and  make  it  rise  out  of 
shot.  You,  on  the  contrary,  when  your  pupil  is  well 
confirmed  in  his  range,  and  has  some  knowledge  of  his 
distance  from  game,  ought  to  wish  the  other  dogs  kept 
to  "Heel"  (especially  when  the  seed  has  been  broad- 
cast), that  by  the  word  "  Care "  and  the  hand  slightly 
raised,  you  may  instil  into  him  the  necessary  caution, 
and  so,  by  judicious  tuition,  give  him  the  benefit  of  your 
own  experience.  Most  probably  you  would  be  obliged  to 
employ  the  checkcord  *  which  I  presume  to  be  always 
at  hand  ready  for  occasional  use.  Or  you  might  strap 
your  shot-belt  round  his  throat,  for  it  is  essential  that 
he  traverse  such  ground  slowly,  and  greatly  contract  his 
range,  (see  197).  The  several  cross  scents  he  will 
encounter  should  afford  him  a  valuable  lesson  in  de- 
tecting the  most  recent,  and  in  discriminating  between 
the  "heel  and  toe"  of  a  run.  Be  patient, — give  him 
time  to  work  and  consider  what  he  is  about.  It  is 
probable  that  he  will  frequently  overrun  the  birds 
on  their  doubling  back,  and  imagine  that  they  are 
gone.  Should  he  do  so,  bring  him  again  on  the  spot 
where  he  appeared  to  lose  the  scent.  He  now  rushes 
up  the  adjacent  drill.  "Slower,  slower,"  signals  your 
right  arm  ;  "  go  no  faster  than  I  can  walk  comfortably." 
On  the  other  hand,  the  birds  may  lie  like  stones.  Not 
until  you  have  remained  nearly  a  minute  alongside  of 

*  Lest  the  cord  should  cut  the      employ  the  elastic  band  spoken  of 
turnip-tops,  it  might  be  better  to       in  60. 


CH.  xi.]  LESSON  IN  "GONE."  193 

him  let  him  urge  them  to  rise  ;  and  make  him  effect 
this,  not  by  a  sudden  dash,  but  by  steadily  pressing  on 
the  scent.  Bear  in  mind,  as  before  warned  (193),  that 
the  confidence  with  which  he  can  here  creep  on  to  a 
near  find  may  lead,  if  he  is  now  mismanaged,  to  his 
springing  on  future  occasions,  from  want  of  care,  many 
a  bird  at  which  he  ought  to  get  you  a  shot. 

330.  If  you  can  contrive  it,  let  your  pupil  have  some 
little  experience  in  the  field  before  you  give  him  a  real 
lesson  in  "Gone"  (or  "Flown").  Instead  of  being 
perplexed,  he  will  then  comprehend  you.  Should  you, 
therefore,  during  the  first  few  days  of  hunting  him,  see 
birds  make  off,  in  lieu  of  taking  him  to  the  haunt  (as 
many  breakers  erroneously  do),  carefully  keep  him 
from  the  spot.  You  cannot  let  him  run  riot  over  the 
reeking  scent  without  expecting  him  to  do  the  same 
when  next  he  finds ;  and  if,  in  compliance  with  your 
orders,  he  points,  you  are  making  a  fool  of  him — there 
is  nothing  before  him ;  and  if  he  does  not  fancy  you  as 
bewildered  as  himself,  he  will  imagine  that  the  exhilara- 
ting effluvia  he  rejoices  in  is  the  sum  total  you  both 
seek.  This  advice,  at  first  sight,  may  appear  to  contra- 
dict that  given  in  132  and  306  ;  but  look  again,  and 
you  will  find  that  those  paragraphs  referred  to  peculiar 
cases.  Should  your  young  dog  be  loitering  and  sniffing 
at  a  haunt  which  he  has  seen  birds  quit,  he  cannot  well 
mistake  the  meaning  of  your  calling  out,  "  Gone,  gone." 


CHAPTEE   XII. 

SHOOTING  HARES.     COURAGE  IMPARTED.— "BACKING"  TAUGHT. 

331.  Shooting  Hares  not  recommended  ;  shooting  Rabbits  strongly  condemned.  In 
Note,  why  superior  Grouse-Dog  better  than  superior  Partridge-Dog.  Dog  brought 
from  strange  country  always  hunts  to  disadvantage. — 332.  Put  off  killing  Hares 
long  as  possible.— 333.  Dogs  not  to  quit  faint  Scent  of  Birds  for  strong  Scent  of 
Hare. — 334.  Dog  off  after  Hare  ;  no  racing  after  Dog ;  Puss  gone  down  wind. — 
335.  Checkcord  employed.  Drive  in  spike  on  "So-ho-ing"  Hare. — 336.  Impro- 
propriety  of  Firing  at  Dog.— 337.  Hares  scarce,  visit  Rabbit-warren.— 338. 
Morning,  hunt  where  no  Hares ;  evening,  where  plentiful.  Mountain-hares.  In 
Note,  how  to  choose,  and  tell  age  of,  Hares  and  Rabbits.— 339.  Killing  Hare  in 
its  form. — 340.  Shooting  Bird  on  ground. — 341.  Dog  taught  to  pursue  wounded 
Hare.— 342.  Whip  carried,  saves  punishment.  Detention  of  Dog  at  crouching 
posture,  saves  whip.  —  343.  Pointer's  revenge  for  detention  from  hunting. — 
344.  Few  cuts,  but  severe  ones. — 345.  Instance  of  timidity  cured.  Range  im- 
parted by  giving  Dog  feet  of  Partridge.  In  Note,  sinews  of  thigh  dragged  out. — 
346.  Punishment,  not  defective  Nose,  causes  Blinking. — 347.  Courage  imparted 
to' timid  Dogs. — 348.  Dogs  expect  punishment  for  faults ;  vexed  when  Birds  are 
not  fired  at. — 349.  Instance  of  Pointer's  not  hunting  keenly  until  punished. — 
350.  What  Dog  to  select  to  teach  yours  to  "Back." — 351.  Example  has  great 
influence.— 352.  Instanced  in  conduct  of  young  bitch  when  hunted  with  steady 
dog.  In  Note,  Mare  teaching  Colts  to  swim. —353.  "Backing"  old  Dog.— 

354.  "Finder"  to  "road"  to  a  "rise;"  his  intrusive  companion  described. — 

355.  To  "Back"  by  Eye,  not  Nose. — 356.  Encourage  old  Dog  before  rating  the 
other.— 357.  "Finder"  not  to  advance,  even  if  passed  by  other  Dog.— 358.  The 
"Backer"  should  "down  charge." — 359.  Dog  when  pointing  never  to  "down 
charge  ;"  how  taught. — 360.  Much  required  in  "  Dove." 

331.  PROBABLY  you  may  be  in  a  part  of  the  country 
where  you  may  wish  to  kill  hares  to  your  dog's  point. 
I  will,  therefore,  speak  about  them,  though  I  confess  I 
cannot  do  it  with  much  enthusiasm.  Ah  !  my  English 
friend,  what  far  happier  autumns  we  should  spend 
could  we  but  pass  them  in  the  Highlands !  Then  we 
should  think  little  about  those  villanous  hares  (338). 
We  should  direct  the  whole  undivided  faculties  of  our 
dogs,  to  work  out  the  haunt  of  the  noble  grouse.*  As 

*  A  superior  dog  on  grouse  more       than  a  superior  partridge-dog  be- 
easily  becomes  good  on  partridge       comes  good  on  grouse.     Grouse 


CH.  xii.]  KILLING  BABBITS  REPROBATED. 


195 


for  rabbits,  I  beg  we  may  have  no  further  acquaintance, 
if  you  ever,  even  in  imagination,  shoot  them  to  your 
young  dog.  Should  you  be  betrayed  into  so  vile  a 
practice,  you  must  resign  all  hope  of  establishing  in 
him  a  confirmed  systematic  range.  He  will  degene- 
rate into  a  low  potterer, — a  regular  hedge-hunter.  In 
turnips  he  will  always  be  thinking  more  of  rabbits  than 
birds.  It  will  be  soon  enough  to  shoot  the  little 
wretches  to  him  when  he  is  a  venerable  grandfather. 
The  youngster's  noticing  them  (which  he  would  be 
sure  to  do  if  you  had  ever  killed  one  to  him)  might 

must  have  found  difficult  (though 
none  are  ever  shot  to  him)  from 
the  few  that,  comparatively  speak- 
ing, his  pupil  could  have  seen. 
Independently,  however,  of  want 
of  pace  and  practice  in  reading,  it 
never  would  he  fair  to  take  a  dog 
direct  from  the  Lowlands  to  con- 
tend on  the  Highlands  with  one 
habituated  to  the  latter, — and  vice 
versd,  for  the  stranger  would  always 
be  placed  to  great  disadvantage. 
A  faint,  scent  of  game  which  the 
other  would  instantly  recognise, 
he  would  not  acknowledge  from 
being  wholly  unaccustomed  to  it. 
Sometimes,  however,  a  grouse  dog 
of  a  ticklish  temper  will  not  bear 
being  constantly  called  to  on 
"breaking  fence."  A  fine,  free 
ranging  pointer,  belonging  to  one 

of  the   brothers  H y,    when 

brought  to  an  enclosed  county, 
became  quite  subdued  and  dis- 
pirited. He  could  not  stand  the 
rating  he  received  for  bounding 
over  the  hedges,  and  he  evidently 
derived  no  enjoyment  from  the 
sport,  though  there  were  plenty 
of  birds.  On  returning  to  the 
Highlands,  he  quite  recovered  his 
animation  and  perseverance.  He 
added  another  to  the  many  evi- 
dences that  dogs  are  most  attached 
to,  and  at  home  on,  the  kind  of 
country  they  first  hunted. 

02 


run  so  much,  both  when  they  are 
pairing,  and  after  the  first  night 
of  the  young  pack,  that  a  dog 
broken  on  them  has  necessarily 
great  practice  in  "roading,"  ("road- 
ing,"  too,  with  the  nose  carried 
high  to  avoid  strong  heather — a 
valuable  instructor),  whereas  the 
dog  broken  on  partridge  often  be- 
comes impatient,  and  breaks  away 
when  he  first  finds  grouse.  The 
former  dog,  moreover,  will  learn 
not  to  "break  fence,"  and  the 
necessity  of  moderating  his  pace 
when  hunting  stubbles  and  turnips, 
sooner  than  the  latter  will  acquire 
the  extensive  fast  beat  so  desirable 
on  heather,  where  he  can  work  for 
hours  uninterrupted  by  hedge, 
ditch,  or  furrow  ;  making  casts  to 
the  right  and  left  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  in  length.  First  impressions 
are  as  strong  in  puppyhood  as  in 
childhood  ;  therefore  the  advan- 
tage of  having  such  ground  to 
commence  on  must  be  obvious. 
There  are,  however,  favoured  spots 
in  Perthshire,  &c.,  where  game  so 
abounds  that  close  rangers  are  as 
necessary  as  when  hunting  in 
England.  Alas  !  even  the  grouse - 
dog  will  take  far  too  quickly  to 
hedge-hunting  and  pottering  when 
on  the  stubbles.  It  is,  of  course, 
presumed  that  he  is  broken  from 
"  chasing  hare" — a  task  his  trainer 


196  SHOOTING  HARES.  [CF.  xn. 

frequently  lead  to  your  mis-instructing  him,  by  earnestly 
enforcing  "  Care  "  at  a  moment  when  you  ought  to  rate 
him  loudly  with  the  command  "Ware"  (or  "No"). 
But  to  our  immediate  subject. 

332.  Defer  as  long  as  possible  the  evil  day  of  shooting 
a  hare  over  him,  that  he  may  not  get  too  fond  (69)  of 
such  vermin — I  beg  pardon,  I  mean  game — and  when 
you  do  kill  one,  so  manage  that  he  may  not  see  it  put 
into  the  bag.     On  no  account  let  him  mouth  it.     You 
want  him  to  love  the  pursuit  of  feather  more  than  of 
fur,  that  he  may  never  be  taken  off  the  faintest  scent  of 
birds  by  coming  across  the  taint  of  a  hare.     I  therefore 
entreat  you,  during  his  first  season,  if  you  will  shoot 
hares,  to  fire  only  at  those  which  you  are  likely  to  kill 
outright ;  for  the  taint  of  a  wounded  hare  is  so  strong 
that  it  would  probably  diminish  his  zeal,  and  the  sensi- 
tiveness of  his  nose,  in  searching  for  a  winged  bird. 

333.  The   temptation   is  always  great  to  quit  for  a 
strong  scent  of  hare  (which  any  coarse-nosed  dog  can 
follow),  a  feeble  one  of  birds ;   therefore  it  is  a  very 
satisfactory  test  of  good  breaking  to  see  a  dog,  when  he 
is  drawing  upon  birds,  in  no  way  interrupted  by  a  hare 
having  just  crossed  before  him.     If  you  aim  at  such 
excellence,  and  it  is  frequently  attained  in  the  High- 
lands, it  is  certain  you  must  not  shoot  hares  over  your 
youngster. 

334.  I  hope  that  he  will  not  see  a  hare  before  you 
have  shot  a  few  birds  over  him.     The  first  that  springs 
up  near  him  will  test  the  perfection  to  which  he  has 
attained  in  his  initiatory  lessons.     Lose  not  a  moment. 
It   is   most   essential  to   restrain   instantaneously  the 
naturally  strong  impulse  of  the  dog  to  run  after  four- 
footed  game.     Halloo  out  "  Drop  "  to  the  extent  of  your 
voice, — raise  your  hand, — crack  your  whip, — do  all  you 


CH.  xii.]  OFF  AFTER  HARE.  197 

can  to  prevent  his  pursuing.  Of  course  you  will  not 
move  an  inch.  Should  he  commence  running,  thunder 
out  "No,"  "no."  If,  in  spite  of  everything,  he  bolts 
after  the  hare,  you  have  nothing  for  it  but  patience. 


THE  FIRST  COURSE. 

It  is  of  no  use  to  give  yourself  a  tit  of  asthma  by 
following  him.  You  have  only  half  as  many  legs  as  he 
has, — a  deficiency  you  would  do  well  to  keep  secret 
from  him  as  long  as  possible.  Wait  quietly  where  you 
are — for  an  hour  if  necessary.  You  have  one  conso- 
lation,— puss,  according  to  her  usual  custom,  has  run 
down  wind; — your  dog  has  lost  sight  of  her,  and  is,  I 
see,  with  his  nose  to  the  ground,  giving  himself  an 
admirable  lesson  in  reading  out  a  haunt.  After  a  time 
he  will  come  back  looking  rather  ashamed  of  himself, 
conscious  that  he  did  wrong  in  disobeying,  and  vexed 
with  himself  from  having  more  than  a  suspicion  forced 


198  CHECKCORD.  [CH.  xn. 

upon  him,  that  he  cannot  run  so  fast  as  the  hare. 
When  he  has  nearly  reached  you,  make  him  "  drop." 
Scold  him  severely,  saying,  "  Ware  chase  "  (a  command 
that  applies  to  the  chase  of  birds  as  well  as  of  hares). 
Pull  him  to  the  place  where  he  was  when  first  he  got  a 
view  of  the  hare, — make  him  lie  down, — rate  him  well, 
— call  out  "  No,"  or  "  Hare,"  or  "  Ware  chase,"  or  any 
word  you  choose,  provided  you  uniformly  employ  the 
same.  Smack  the  whip  and  punish  him  with  it,  but 
not  so  severely  as  you  did  when  we  assumed  that  he 
tore  the  bird  (end  of  322).  You  then  flogged  him  for 
two  offences  :  first,  because  he  rushed  in  and  seized  the 
bird ;  secondly,  because  he  tore  it  and  tasted  blood. 
If  you  had  not  then  punished  him  severely,  you  could 
never  have  expected  him  to  be  tender-mouthed.  On 
the  next  occasion  he  might  have  swallowed  the  bird, 
feathers  and  all. 

335.  Should  he  persist  in  running  after  hares,  you 
must  employ  the  checkcord.     If  you  see  the  hare,  at 
which  he  is  pointing,  in  its  form,  drive  a  peg  firmly 
into  the  ground,  and  attach  the  cord  to  it,  giving  him  a 
few  slack  yards,  so  that  after  starting  off  he  may  be 
arrested  with  a  tremendous  jerk.     Fasten  the  line  to 
the  part  of  the  spike  close  to  the  ground,  or  he  may 
pull  it  out. 

336.  I  have  known  a  dog  to  be  arrested  in  a  headlong- 
chase  by  a  shot  fired  at  him  : — an  act  which  you  will 
think  yet  more  reprehensible  than   the  previous  mis- 
management for  which  his  owner  apparently  knew  no 
other  remedy  than  this  hazardous  severity. 

337.  When  you  are  teaching  your  dog  to  refrain  from 
chasing  hares,  take  him,  if  you  can,  where  they  are 
plentiful     If  they  are  scarce,  and  you  are  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  a  rabbit-warren,  visit  it  occasionally  of  an 


CH.  xii.]  MOUNTAIN- HARES.  199 

evening.  He  will  there  get  so  accustomed  to  see  the 
little  animals  running  about  unpursued  by  either  of 
you,  that  his  natural  anxiety  to  chase  fur,  whether  it 
grow  on  the  back  of  hare  or  rabbit,  will  be  gradually 
diminished. 

338.  In  Scotland  there  are  tracts  of  heather  where 
one  may  hunt  for  weeks  together  and  not  find  a  hare  ; 
indeed,  it  is  commonly  observed,  that  hares  are  always 
scarce  on  those  hills  where  grouse  most  abound.  In 
other  parts  they  are  extremely  numerous.  Some  sports- 
men in  the  Highlands  avail  themselves  of  this  con- 
trasted ground,  in  order  to  break  a  young  dog  from 
"chasing."  They  hunt  him,  as  long  as  he  continues 
fresh,  where  there  are  no  hares ;  and  when  he  becomes 
tired,  they  take  him  to  the  Lowlands,  where  they  are 
plentiful.  By  then  killing  a  good  many  over  him,  and 
severely  punishing  him  whenever  he  attempts  to  follow, 
a  cure  is  often  effected  in  two  or  three  days.  In  the 
yet  higher  ranges,  the  mountain-hares,*  from  possessing 
a  peculiarly  strong  scent,  and  not  running  to  a  distance, 
are  a  severe  trial  to  the  steadiest  dog. 

In  the  autumn  they  are  nearly  blue  ;  in  the  winter  white  ;  and  in 
some  counties  are  now  found  in  marvellous  quantities.  The  greater 
pains  taken  of  late  years  to  destroy  all  kinds  of  vermin,  has  much 
tended  to  their  increase.  A  few  seasons  ago  a  party  at  Lord 

M d's,  in  Perthshire,  killed  seven  hundred  in  one  day.     The 

plan  adopted  was  for  a  large  body  of  men  and  boys  to  surround  a 
hill  at  its  base,  and  beating  slantingly  upwards,  to  drive  all  the 
hares  before  them.  The  sportsmen,  who  formed  part  of  the  ascending 


*  The  ears  of  young  hares  tear  to  the  strongest  pressure  of  your 

readily ;    and  there  is  a  gristly  fingers. 

substance,  larger  than  half  a  pea,  When    you  observe    that    the 

at  the  end  of  the  shank -bone  of  carving  knife  performs  the  part 

the  fore-leg,  just  above  the  joint,  of    curling-tongs,    prefer  a  help 

which  departs  with  youth.    Their  from  the  birds  at  the  top  of  the 

smooth,    close,    sharp  claws  dis-  table. 

appear  afterwards ;  and  when  quite  Ditto,  ditto,  in  all  particulars, 

old    their    jaw-bones  become   so  with  regard  to  rabbits, 
strong  as  not  to  yield  and  crack 


200  RETRIEVING  WOUNDED  HARE.  [CH.  xn. 

cordon,  obtained  many  shots  ;  but  the  principal  slaughter  was 
reserved  for  the  guns  previously  posted  on  the  top.  There  is,  how- 
ever, little  sport  or  fun  in  such  stationary,  wholesale  butchery, 
beyond  the  excitement  of  competition,  and  not  being  able  to  load 
fast  enough.  The  doomed  animals,  being  solely  attentive  to  the 
movements  of  their  assailants  below,  come  trooping  upwards,  and 
,  are  mostly  knocked  over  whilst  sitting  on  their  haunches,  listening 
5  to  the  unusual  sounds  made  by  the  approaching  beaters. 

339.  Killing  a  sitting  hare  to  your  dog's  point  will 
wonderfully  steady  him  from  chasing ;  but  do  not  fire 
until  he  has  remained  stanch  for  a  considerable  time. 
This  will  show  him  that  puss  is  far  more  likely  to  be 
bagged  by  your  firing,  than  by  his  pursuing. 

340.  For  the  same  object, — I  mean,  to  make  your 
young  dog  stanch, — I  would  recommend  your  killing  a 
few  birds  on  the  ground  to  his  point,  were  it  not  that 
you  rarely  have  the  opportunity. 

341.  When  you  have  made  your  dog  perfectly  steady 
from  chasing,  you  may  (supposing  you  have  no  retriever 
at   hand),  naturally  enough,  inquire  how   you  are  to 
teach  him  to  follow  any  hare  you  may  be  so  unlucky 
as  merely  to  wound.     I  acknowledge  that  the  task  is 
difficult.     I  would  say,  at  once  resolve  to  give  up  every 
wounded  hare  during  his  first  season.*     The  following 
year,  provided  you  find  that  he  remains  quite  steady,  on 
your  wounding  an  unfortunate  wretch,  encourage  your 
dog  to  pursue  it  by  running  yourself  after  it.     When  he 
gets  hold  of  it,  check  him  if  he  mauls  it,  and  take  it 
from  him  as  quickly  as  possible.     As  I  cannot  suppose 
that  you  are  anxious  to  slaughter  every  hare  you  see, 
let  the  next  two  or  three  go  off  without  a  shot.     This 
forbearance  will  re-steady  him,  and  after  a  while  his 
own  sagacity  and  nose   (545)  will  show  him  that  the 

*  This  appears  extremely  cruel;  would  not  make  this  sacrifice,  at 

remember,   however,    that   1   en-  least  "  only  to  lire  at  those  which 

treated    you  to  abstain  entirely  you  were  likely  to  kill  outright  " 

from  shooting  hares ;  but  if  you  (332). 


CH.  XIL]  CUTS  FEW  BUT  SEVERE.  201 

established  usage  was   departed  from   solely,  because 
puss  was  severely  struck. 

342.  As  you  wish  to  flog  your  dog  as  little  as  possible, 
never  go  out  without  your  whip,  paradoxical  as  this  may 
appear.      The   dog's  salutary  awe    of   the   implement 
which  he  sees  in  your  possession,  like  a  horse's  con- 
sciousness of  your  heel  being  armed  with  a  spur,  will 
tend  to  keep  him  in  order.     If  the  dog  is  a  keen  ranger, 
you  may  much  spare  the  whip  by  making  him  crouch 
at  your  feet  for  several  minutes  after  he  has  committed 
a  fault.     The  detention  will  be  felt  by  him,  when  he  is 
all  anxiety  to  be  off  hunting,  as  a  severe  punishment. 
If  he  is  a  mettlesome,  high-couraged  animal,  he  will 
regard,  as  a  yet  severer  punishment,  his  being  compelled 
to  follow  at  your  heels  for  half-an-hour,  while  the  other 
dogs  are  allowed  the  enjoyment  of  hunting. 

343.  Captain  W 1,  (son  of  the  celebrated  shot),  was  in  the 

stubbles  in  '50  with  some  friends,  who  were  anxious  to  see  how 
their  own  dogs  hunted.     He,  therefore,  had  his  favourite  pointer 
taken  up  and  led  by  an  attendant.     This  first-rate  animal,  who  is 
passionately  devoted  to  the  sport,  struggled  so  violently  to  get  free, 
that  he  actually  foamed  at  the  mouth.     After  a  time  he  was  un- 
coupled ;  when,  instead  of  hunting  as  usual,  he  raced  over  the  field, 
quartering  his  ground  most  systematically,  and  designedly  springing 
all  the  birds.     Quite  useless  was  every  halloo  and  threat,  whether 
of  voice  or  whip  ; — stop  he  would  not,  as  long  as  there  was  a  feather 
in  the  field.     Satisfied  then  with  the  mischief  he  had  done,  he  sat 
down  by  the  hedge,  quietly  awaiting  any  punishment  that  might  be 
awarded  him.    His  master,  however,  feeling  persuaded  that  the  dog 
had  only  acted  from  the  impulse  of  momentary  passion,  and  with 
the  intention  of  avenging  the  unusual  indignity  to  which  he  had 
been  subjected,  merely  reproached  him  for  his  misconduct,  and 
allowed  him  to  hunt  the  next  field,  which  he  did  as  steadily  as 
ever.     This  was  somewhat  similar  to  "  Captain's"  behaviour  (492). 

344.  Excess  of  punishment  has  made  many  a  dog 
of  good  promise  a  confirmed  blinker;  and  of  far  more 
has  it  quenched  that  keen  ardour  for  the  sport,  without 
which  no  dog  can  be  first-rate.  For  this  reason,  if 
not  from  more  humane  motives,  make  it  a  rule  to 


202  BIRDS'  FEET  GIVEN.  [CH.  xir. 

give  but  few  cuts  ;  let  them,  however,  be  tolerably 
severe.  Your  pupil's  recollection  of  them,  when  he 
hears  the  crack  of  the  whip,  will  prevent  the  necessity 
of  their  frequent  repetition. 

345.  I  knew  of  a  young  fellow's  purchasing  a  pointer  of  an  ex- 
cellent breed  from  a  gamekeeper  for  a  few  shillings  merely,  as  the 
animal  had  become  so  timid  from  over-chastisement,  that  she  not 
only  blinked  her  game,  but  seldom  quitted  the  man's  heels. 

The  lad  had  the  good  sense  to  treat  the  bitch,  at  all 
times,  with  the  greatest  kindness  ;  and  in  order  to  in- 
duce her  to  hunt,  he  used  to  break  off  the  feet*  of  every 
bird  he  killed,  and  give  them  to  her  to  eat  along  with 
the  sinews.  The  plan  succeeded  so  well  that  she  even- 
tually became  an  unusually  keen  and  fast  ranger.  This 
would  be  a  hazardous  step  to  take  with  a  dog  wanted 
to  retrieve.  There  are  few,  if  any  dogs  who  may  not 
be  tempted  by  hunger  to  eat  game.  A  gentleman  told 
me,  that,  to  his  great  astonishment,  he  one  day  saw  an 
old  tender-mouthed  retriever,  that  he  had  possessed  for 
years,  deliberately  swallow  a  partridge.  Before  he  could 
get  up  to  the  dog  even  the  tail-feathers  had  disappeared. 
On  inquiry  it  turned  out  that,  through  some  neglect, 
the  animal  had  not  been  fed. 

346.  Some  argue  that  blinking  arises  from  a  defective 
nose,  not  from  punishment ;  but  surely  it  is  the  in- 
judicious chastisement  following  the  blunders  caused  by 

*  Thus  greatly  improving  it  for  front  of  and  about  the  middle  of 
table.  The  cook  who  first  thought  its  legs,  crack  the  bone  across 
of  breaking  the  legs  of  birds,  and  that  part  with  a  blow  of  the  knife  ; 
dragging  out  the  sinews,  ought  to  then  stick  the  sinews  of  the  foot 
be  immortalized.  The  first  person  on  a  hook  fixed  high  against  the 
I  saw  practising  the  feat  was  an  wall,  seize  firm  hold  of  the  thigh 
admirable  black  man-cook,  in  the  of  the  turkey,  give  a  sudden  power- 
West  Indies  :  he  was  preparing  ful  pull,  and  leave  the  lower  part 
turkeys  for  a  large  supper  ;  and,  of  the  leg,  with  a  large  body  of 
to  my  great  surprise,  I  saw  him  sinews,  perfectly  stripped  of  all 
take  up  each  bird,  cut  the  skin  in  flesh,  suspended  on  the  hook. 


CH.  xii.]  CHASTISEMENT  OF  DOGS.  203 

a  bad  nose  that  makes  a  dog,  through  fear,  go  to  "heel" 
when  he  winds  birds.  A  bad  nose  may  lead  to  a  dog's 
running  up  birds  from  not  noticing  them,  but  it  cannot 
naturally  induce  him  to  run  away  from  them.  Possibly 
he  may  be  worthless  from  a  deficiency  in  his  olfactory 
powers ;  but  it  is  hard  to  conceive  how  these  powers 
can  be  improved  by  a  dread  of  doing  mischief  when  he 
finds  himself  near  game.  Some  dogs  that  have  been 
unduly  chastised  do  not  even  betray  themselves  by 
running  to  "  heel,"  but  cunningly  slink  away  from  their 
birds  without  giving  you  the  slightest  intimation  of  their 
vicinity.  I  have  seen  such  instances.  When  a  young 
dog,  who  has  betrayed  symptoms  of  blinking,  draws 
upon  birds,  head  him,  if  you  can,  before  you  give  him 
the  order  to  "  toho : "  he  will  then  have  such  a  large 
circuit  to  make,  that  he  will  feel  the  less  tempted  to  run 
to  your  heels. 

347.  Obedience  and  intelligence  are,  as  I  have  already 
remarked,  best  secured  by  judicious  ratings  and  en- 
couragements, —  scoldings  for  bad  conduct,  —  praise, 
caresses,  and  rewards  for  good.  Never  forget,  there- 
fore, to  have  some  delicacy  in  your  pocket  to  give  the 
youngster  whenever  he  may  deserve  it.  All  dogs,  how- 
ever, even  the  most  fearful,  ought  to  be  made  able  to 
bear  a  little  punishment.  If,  unfortunately,  your  dog 
is  constitutionally  timid  (I  cannot  help  saying  un- 
fortunately, though  so  many  of  the  sort  have  fine  noses), 
the  whip  must  be  employed  with  the  greatest  gentle- 
ness, the  lash  being  rather  laid  on  the  back  than  used, 
until  such  forbearance,  and  many  caresses  before  his 
dismissal,  have  gradually  banished  the  animal's  alarm, 
and  ultimately  enabled  you  to  give  him  a  very  slight 
beating,  on  his  misconducting  himself,  without  any 
danger  of  making  him  blink.  By  such  means,  odd  as 


204  DOG  JUDICIOUSLY  PUNISHED.  [CH.  xn. 

it  may  sound,  you  create  courage,  and  with  it  give  him 
self-confidence  and  range. 

348.  A  judiciously-educated  dog  will  know  as  well  as 
you  do  whether  or  not  he  has  earned  a  chastisement, 
and  many  a  one  is  of  so  noble  a  nature  that  he  will  not 
wish  to  avoid  it  if  he  is  conscious  that  he  deserves  it. 
He  will  become  as  anxious  for  good  sport  as  you  are, 
and  feel  that  he  ought  to  be  punished,  if  from  his  own 
misconduct  he  mars  it.     Indeed,  he  will  not  have  much 
opinion  of  your  sagacity  if  you  do  not  then  give  him 
a  sound  rating,  or  let  him  have  a  taste  of  the   lash, 
though  it  matters  not  how  slight.     Clearly  this  feeling, 
which  it  will  be  right  to  foster,  must  have  arisen  from 
his  belief  that  you  are  always  conscious  of  his  actions 
(383) ;  therefore  never  check  him  for  coming  towards 
you  on  his  committing  any  unseen  error.     Moreover, 
when  he  has  been  but  a  little  shot  to,  you  will  find  that 
if  you  abstain  from  firing  at  a  bird  which  through  his 
fault  he  has  improperly  flushed,  although  in  its  flight 
it  affords  you  an  excellent  shot,  you  will  greatly  vex 
him ;  and  this  will  tend  to  make  him  more  careful  for 
the  future. 

349.  Mr.  C s  K n  (286)  had  a  pointer  who  would  at  once 

give  up  hunting  if  he  was  not  properly  chastised  on  committing 
a  fault ;— but  what  is  far  more  extraordinary,  and  strongly  shows 
the  varied,  and  occasionally  odd  dispositions  of  dogs,  he  would 
never  hunt  keenly  until  from  birds  rising  wildly  (or  from  some  other 
cause)  an  excuse  arose  for  giving  him  a  flogging.   After  receiving  the 
punishment  he  would  start  off  in  the  greatest  spirits,  and  range 
with  uncommon  ardour  and  perseverance.    An  excuse  was,  however, 
quite  indispensable  ;  for,  if  from  a  good-humoured  desire  to  gratify 
his  apparent  longings  he  was  favoured  beforehand  with  a  thrashing, 
he  would  consider  himself  imposed  on,  and  forthwith  run  home. 

350.  When,  after  a  few  weeks,  you  perceive  that  the 
youngster  has  confidence  in  himself,  and  is  likely  to 
hunt  independently,  not  deferentially  following  the  foot- 
steps of  an  older  companion,  take  out  a  well-broken 


CH.  xii.]  BACKING  TAUGHT.  205 

dog  with  him,  that  you  may  have  the  opportunity  of 
teaching  him  to  "  back."  Be  careful  to  choose  one  not 
given  to  make  false  points  ;  for  if  he  commit  such  mis- 
takes, your  pupil  will  soon  utterly  disregard  his  pointing. 
Select  also  one  who  draws  upon  his  birds  in  a  fine, 
determined  attitude ;  not  one  to  whose  manner  even 
you  must  be  habituated  to  feel  certain  he  is  on  game. 
Be  watchful  to  prevent  your  dog  ever  hunting  in  the 
wake  of  the  other,  which,  in  the  humility  of  canine 
youth,  he  probably  will,  unless  you  are  on  the  alert 
to  wave  him  in  a  different  direction,  the  moment  you 
observe  him  inclined  to  seek  the  company  of  his  more 
experienced  associate.  By  selecting  a  slow  old  dog, 
you  will  probably  diminish  the  wish  of  the  young  one 
to  follow  him ;  for  it  is  likely  that  the  youngster's 
eagerness  will  make  him  push  on  faster,  and  so  take 
the  lead. 

351.  The  example  for  a  few  days  (but  only  for  a  few 
days)  of  a  good  stanch  dog  who  is  not  a  hedge-hunter, 
— has  no  bad  habits,  and  does  not  require  being  called 
to, — will  be  advantageous  to  your  inexperienced  animal ; 
— as  an  instance  : 

352.  On  one  occasion,  when  I  was  abroad,  I  lent  a  favourite  dog 
to  a  young  friend  who  had  requested  the  services  of  the  animal  for 
his  kennel,  not  the  field.    I  much  objected  to  any  person's  shooting 
over  the  dog  except  myself,  particularly  as  it  was  only  his  second 
season.     Therefore,  very  knowingly  as  I  thought,  I  sent  him  on  a 
Saturday  evening,  having  obtained  a  promise  that  he  should  be 
returned  to  me  early  on  Monday  morning — and  so  he  was ;  the  lad, 
however,  had  done  me  ;  for  he  confessed,  many  months  afterwards, 
that  he  could  not  resist  the  temptation  of  taking  out  my  pointer 
snipe-shooting  on  the  intermediate  Sunday  along  with  his  little 
liver-coloured  bitch  ; — and  with  a  glowing  countenance  he  observed 
that  he  never  had  been  so  enchanted,  for  his  young  lady  seeing  her 
fond  companion  drop  instantly  the  gun  was  fired,  and  remain  im- 
moveable  until  "  hied  on,"  sedulously  imitated  him  throughout  the 
day.     It  was  the  making  of  her, — but  as  it  was  the  first  time  in 
her  young  life  she  had  ever  behaved  steadily,  there  was  a  great 
risk  of  my  pointer's  being  much  injured ;    for,  alas  !    like  poor 


206  GOOD  EXAMPLE  ADVANTAGEOUS.          [CH.  xn. 

mortals,  dogs  are  more  prone  to  follow  a  bad  example  *  than  a  good 
one.     We  are,  however,  wandering. 

353.  On  the  old  dog's  pointing,  catch  the  eye  of  the 
young  one.  If  you  cannot  readily  do  so,  and  are  not 
afraid  of  too  much  alarming  the  birds,  call  to  the  old 
fellow  by  name,  and  desire  him  to  "  toho."  The  order 
will  make  the  young  one  look  round,  and  awaken  him 
to  a  suspicion  of  what  is  going  forward.  Hold  up  your 
right  arm, — stand  still  for  a  minute, — and  then,  carrying 
your  gun  as  if  you  were  prepared  momentarily  to  fire, 
retreat,  or  move  sideways  in  crab-like  fashion  towards 
the  old  dog,  continuing  your  signal  to  the  other  to 
remain  steady,  and  turning  your  face  to  him,  so  that  he 
may  be  restrained  by  the  feeling  that  your  eye  is  con- 
stantly fixed  upon  him.  He  will  soon  remark  the 
attitude  of  the  old  dog,  and  almost  intuitively  guess  its 
meaning.  Should  the  old  one  draw  upon  his  game,  still 
the  other  dog  must  remain  stationary.  If  he  advance  but 
an  inch,  rate  him.  Should  he  rush  up  (which  is  hardly 
to  be  expected),  at  him  at  once  ; — having  made  him 
drop,  catch  hold  of  him,  and  drag  him  to  the  place  at 
which  he  should  have  backed, — there  (if  you  judge  such 
strong  measures  necessary)  peg  him  down  until  after 
you  have  had  your  shot  and  are  reloaded.  If  by  head- 
ing the  birds  you  can  drive  them  towards  the  young 

*  A  singular  evidence  of  the  in-  the  example  set  them  by  the  mare, 
flue  nee  of  example  was  furnished  voluntarily  took  to  the  water,  and 
by  a  favourite  charger  belonging  gradually  became  expert  swim- 
to  the  father  of  the  present  Lord  mers.  Until  within  a  short  time 

G d.     As  a  reward  for  gallant  of  her  death,  and  she  attained  the 

service,  she  had  been  turned  out  unusual   age   of   forty-three,    she 

for  life,  when  only  seven  years  continued  to  bathe  ;  and  I  have 

old,  on  the  banks  of  the  Shannon.  heard  that  she  was  evidently  much 

She  had  a  shed  to  run  into,  and  puzzled  and  vexed  whenever  from 

plenty  of  hay  in  winter.   It  pleased  the  stream  being  frozen  she  could 

her,  in  all  seasons,  daily  to  have  not  get  her  plunge.     She  would 

a  swim  in  the  river.     Year  after  walk  a  little  way  on  the  ice,  but 

year  colts  were  turned  out  on  the  finding  it  too  slippery,  unwillingly 

same  grass.     All  these,  following  return. 


CH.  XIL]  BACKING.  207 

dog,  do  so  ;  and  aim  at  the  one  most  likely  to  fall  near 
him.  Endeavour  to  make  him  comprehend  that  any 
sign  or  word  to  urge  on  or  retard  the  leading  dog,  in  no 
way  applies  to  him.  This  he  will  soon  understand  if  he 
has  been  properly  instructed  with  an  associate  in  the 
initiatory  lesson  described  in  (49).  After  you  have 
picked  up  the  bird  let  him  sniff  at  it. 

354.  It  is  most  important  that  the  dog  which  first 
winds  birds  should  be  allowed  to  "  road"  them  to  a 
spring  without  being  flurried,  or  in  any  way  interfered 
with  by  another  dog.     Few  things  are  more  trying  to 
your  temper  as  a  sportsman,  than  to  see  a  self-sufficient 
cub,  especially  when  birds  are  wild,  creep  up  to  the 
old  dog  whom  he  observes  pointing  at  a  distance,  or 
cautiously  drawing  upon  a  covey.     The  young  whipper- 
snapper  pays  no  attention  to  your  most  energetic  signals : 
you  are  afraid  to  speak  lest  you  should  alarm  the  birds, 
and  before  you  can  catch  hold  of  the   presumptuous 
jackanapes,  he  not  only  steals  close  to  the  good  old  dog, 
but  actually  ventures  to  head  him  ;  nay,  possibly  dares 
to  crawl  on  yet  nearer  to  the  birds  in  the  hope  of  enjoy- 
ing a  more  intoxicating  sniff. 

355.  All  dogs  but  the  "  finder"  should  stand  wholly 
by  sight, — just  the  reverse  of  pointing.    Your  dog's  nose 
ought  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  backing.     If  you  per- 
mit it,  he  will  get  the  abominable  habit  of  creeping  up 
to  his  companions  in  the  manner  just  described  (354), 
when  he  observes  them  to  be  winding  birds ;  and  though 
he  may  not  presume  to  take  the  lead,  nay,  even  keep  at 
so   respectful  a  distance  as  in  no  way  to   annoy  the 
"  finder,"  yet  a  longing  to  inhale  the  "  grateful  steam  " 
(as  that  good  poet  and  capital  sportsman,  Somerville, 
terms   it)  will  make   him  constantly  watch  the  other 
dogs,  instead  of  bestowing  his  undivided  attention  and 


208  POINT  BY  NOSE,  NOT  EYE.  [CH.  xn. 

faculties  upon  finding  game  for  himself.  It  is  quite 
enough  if  he  backs  whenever  you  order  him,  or  he 
accidentally  catches  sight  of  another  dog  either  "  point- 
ing" or  "reading ;"  and  the  less  he  is  looking  after  his 
companions,  the  more  zealously  will  he  attend  to  his 
own  duties. 

356.  If  you  have  any  fears  that  the  old  dog  when  he 
is  on  birds  will  not  act  steadily,  should  you  have  occa- 
sion to  chide  the  young  one,  be  careful  to  give  the  old 
dog  a  word  expressive  of  your  approval,  before  you  com- 
mence to  rate  the  other. 

357.  When  your  youngster  is  hereafter  hunted  in 
company,  should  he  make  a  point,  and  any  intrusive 
companion,  instead   of  properly  backing   him,  "be  im- 
pertinently pressing  on,  the  youngster  should   not   be 
induced  (however  great   may  be   the    trial   upon   his 
patience  and  forbearance)  to  draw  one  foot  nearer  to  the 
game  than  his  own  knowledge  of  distance  tells  him  is 
correct ;  not  even  if  his  friend,  or  rather,  jealous  rival, 
boldly  assumes  the  front  rank.     Your  pupil  will  have 
a  right  to  look  to  you  for  protection,  and  to  expect  that 
the  rash  intruder,  however  young,  be  at  the  least  well 
rated. 

358.  It   is   a  matter   of  little  moment  whether  the 
"  backer  "  attends  to  the  "  down  charge,"  or  continues  to 
back  as  long  as  the  other  dog  remains  at  his  point.     It 
appears,  however,  best,  that  he  should  "  drop,"  unless  he 
is  so  near  that  he  winds  the  game,  when  he  would  be 
rather  pointing  than  backing  (and  should,  consequently, 
behave  as  explained  in  274) ;  for  the  fewer  exceptions 
there  are  to  general  rules   the   more  readily   are   the 
rules  observed. 

359.  Should  both  dogs  make  separate  points  at  the 
same  moment,  it  is  clear  that  neither  can  back  the  other. 


CH.  xn.]  IMPORTANT  AXIOM.  209 

They  must  act  independently — each  for  himself.  More- 
over, your  firing  over  one  should  not  induce  the  other 
to  "  down  charge,"  or  in  any  way  divert  his  attention 
from  his  own  birds.  He  ought  to  remain  immoveable 
as  a  statue.  Some  dogs,  whose  high  courage  has  not 
been  damped  by  over-correction,  will  do  this  from  their 
own  sagacity ;  but  to  enable  you  to  teach  them  to  behave 
thus  steadily,  game  should  be  plentiful.  When  you  are 
lucky  enough  to  observe  both  dogs  pointing  at  the  same 
time,  let  your  fellow-sportsman  (or  your  attendant)  flush 
and  fire  at  the  birds  found  by  the  older  dog,  while 
you  remain  stationary  near  the  young  one,  quietly  but 
earnestly  cautioning  him  to  continue  firm.  When  your 
companion  has  reloaded  and  picked  up  his  game  (and 
made  the  other  dog  "back"),  let  him  join  you  and  knock 
over  the  bird  at  which  your  pupil  is  pointing.  It  will 
not  be  long  before  he  (your  young  dog)  understands 
what  is  required  of  him,  if  he  has  been  practised  (as 
recommended  in  274)  not  to  "down  charge"  when 
pointing  unsprung  birds.  In  short,  it  may  be  received 
as  an  axiom,  that  nothing  ought  to  make  a  dog  voluntarily 
relinquish  a  point  so  long  as  he  winds  birds;  and  nothing 
but  the  wish  to  continue  his  point  should  make  him  neglect 
the  "down  charge"  the  instant  he  hears  the  near  report 
of  a  gun. 

360.  "  Dove,"  (the  setter  spoken  of  in  102,  who  invariably  stands 
at  her  point,)  on  one  occasion  in  the  season  of  '50  dropped  as  usual 
on  her  master's  firing  at  some  distance  from  her ;  but,  instead  of 
"seeking  dead"  as  ordered  when  he  had  reloaded,  she  remained 
immoveable  at  the  "  down  charge,"  although  repeatedly  coaxed  and 
called  to.  The  sportsman  thought  that  birds  must  be  near,  and 
after  much  perseverance,  he  succeeded  in  walking  up  a  brace  that 
were  lying  close  to  her.  We  must  allow  that  this  was  a  prettily 
conceived  piece  of  caution  on  the  part  of  Mrs.  "  Dove ; "  but  how 
far  more  usefully  would  she  have  acted  had  she  been  taught  the 
inferiority  of  the  "  down  charge  "  to  the  continued  point,  followed 
by  the  "  road  "  to  successive  birds. 


CHAPTEE  XIII. 

HINTS  TO  PURCHASERS.    PRICE  OF  DOGS.— SHEEP  KILLING. 

331.  The  "back"  being  taught— young  Dog  again  hunted  alone.— 362.  Break ershun 
too  many  together.  Why  injudicious.— 363.  One  hour's  Instruction  alone,  better 
than  a  day's  in  company. — 364.  Horse's  value  little  dependent  on  Education 
Dog's  greatly.  Many  good  points  in  Dog,  similar  to  those  in  Horse  ;  in  Note, 
Frame  of  Pony  studied.  Arab  proverbs.  Admirable  receipt  for  putting  hard 
flesh  on  Horse.  Hoof  Ointment.— 365.  Hints  to  Dog-purchasers.  Tenderness 
of  Nose,  how  judged  of.— 366  to  368.  Instance  of  great  superiority  of  Nose  in 
Pointer  on  bad  scenting  Day.— 369.  Ditto  in  Setter.— 370.  In  Breeding,  Nose 
sought  for  in  both  parents. — 371.  Good  Dog,  like  good  Horse,  not  suited  to  all 
countries.— 372.  Purchasing  a  Brace  of  Dogs,  before  buying  shoot  over.— 373. 
Case  in  Point.— 374.  Rushing  in  to  "dead,"  how  cured.— 375.  Dogs  shot  over 
"single-handed."  Jealousy  decreases  with  intimacy.  Independence  and  self- 
reliance,  how  imparted. — 376.  Good  Breeding  and  Breaking  command  good 
Prices. — 377  to  379.  Great  Sums  realized  at  Tattersall's  for  thirteen  highly-bred 

Pointers.— 380.  Small  sums  unknown  Dogs  fetch.— 381.  Mr.  C t's  Dogs  half 

a  sovereign  each.— 382.  Immense  price  given  for  stanch  Setter. —383.  Best  Dogs  ; 
summary  of  rules  for  making,  concisely  given.  The  best  will  make  mistakes. — 
384.  Companionship  with  man  makes  Dog  useful  servant.— 385.  Tweed-side 
Spaniel  and  blind  man.— 386.  Dog  that  always  ran  riot  when  out  of  sight.— 
387.  Killing  Sheep;  cure  attempted.— 388.  Another  plan.— 389.  Third  attempt 

at  Remedy.— 390.  Sir  H n  S d's  recipe.— 391.  Muzzle  Dog  likely  to  worry 

Sheep.— 392.  Killing  Fowls ;  the  cure. 

361.  WHEN  your  dog  has  been  properly  taught  the 
"back,"  fail  not  to  recommence  hunting  him  alone,  if 
it  is  your  object  to  establish  a  perfect  range. 

362.  Professional    dog-breakers,    I    have    remarked, 
almost  invariably  hunt  too  many  dogs  together.     This 
arises,  I  suppose,  from  the  number  which  they  have  to 
train;  but  the  consequence  is,  that  the  younger  dogs  are 
spectators   rather  than  actors,  and,  instead  of  ranging 
independently   in   search   of   game,  are  watching   the 
manoeuvres  of  their  older  associates. 


CH.  XIIL]  TOO  MANY  DOGS.  211 

363.  A  glimmering  of  knowledge  may  be  picked  up 
in  this  way ;  but  no  one  will  argue  that  it  is  likely  to 
create  great  excellence.  Doubtless  the  young  ones  will 
be  good  backers ;  and  to  the  inexperienced  a  troop  of 
perhaps  a  dozen  dogs,  all  in  chiselled  form,  stanchly 
backing  an  old  leader,  is  a  most  imposing  sight,  but  if 
the  observer  were  to  accompany  the  whole  party  for  a 
few  hours,  he  would  remark,  I  will  bet  any  money,  that 
the  same  veterans  would  over  and  over  again  find  the 
birds,  and  that  the  "perfectly"  broken  young  ones  in 
the  rear  would  do  nothing  but  "  back "  and  "  down 
charge."  What  can  they  know  of  judicious  quartering  ? 
Of  obeying  the  signals  of  the  hand  ?  Of  gradually 
drawing  upon  the  faintest  token  of  a  scent  (only  per- 
ceptible to  a  nose  carried  high  in  the  air)  until  they 
arrive  at  a  confident  point  ?  Of  perseveringly  working 
out  the  foil  of  a  slightly  winged  bird,  on  a  hot  still  day, 
to  a  sure  "  find  ? "  Nothing,  or  next  to  nothing, — nearly 
all  is  to  be  taught ;  and  yet  the  breaker  will  show  orf 
those  raw  recruits  as  perfectly  drilled  soldiers.  Would 
they  not  have  had  a  much  better  chance  of  really  being 
so,  if  he  had  given  a  small  portion  of  his  time  each  day 
to  each  ?  He  well  knows  they  would ;  but  the  theatrical 
display  would  not  be  half  so  magnificent.  If  he  had 
truly  wished  to  give  his  pupils  a  good  systematic  range, 
without  a  doubt  he  would  have  devoted  one  hour  in  the 
field  exclusively  to  each  dog,  rather  than  many  hours  to 
several  at  once — and  not  have  associated  any  together 
in  the  field  until  he  had  gained  full  command  over  each 
separately.  And  this  he  would  have  done  (because  it 
would  have  tended  to  his  interest),  had  he  supposed  that 
his  dog's  qualifications  would  be  investigated  by  judges, 
— by  those  who  would  insist  on  seeing  a. dog  hunted 
singly  (in  order  to  observe  his  method  of  ranging),  or 

P2 


212 


GOOD  QUALITIES. 


[CH.  XIII. 


with,  but  one  companion,  before  they  thought  of  defini- 
tively purchasing. 

364.  The  good  qualities  of  a  horse  being  principally  derived  from 
nature,  a  judge  can  pretty  accurately  discover  his  general  capabilities 
simply  by  a  glance  at  his  make  and  action  ; — but  the  good  qualities 
of  a  sportsman's  dog  are  chiefly  derived  from  art ;  consequently, 
though  his  movements  may  be  light  and  springy,— his  countenance 
intelligent, — his  nostrils  wide, — his  cerebral  development  large, — 
his  forehand  deep, — his  ribs  round  and  full, — his  elbows  well  de- 
tached from  them,  not  tied  in, — his  shoulders  high,  and  slanting 
backwards, — his  loins  muscular  and  arched, — his  quarters  lengthy, 
and  sinewy, — his  legs  bony,  and  straight, — his  feet  small  and  round, 
pointing  direct  to  the  front, — his  tail  taper  to  the  finest  point  from 
a  strong  root,*  yet  if  he  has  been  improperly  shot  over  as  a  young- 


*  The  continuation  of  the  ver- 
tebrse  of  the  back,  and  clearly, 
therefore,  an  indication  of  their 
substance.  Query — Was  it  because 
our  grandfathers  knew  that  a  tail 
naturally  short  was  a  pledge  of 
stamina,  that  they  endeavoured 
to  imitate  it  by  docking  their 
horses  and  pointers?  Curiously 
enough,  the  points  named  in  364 
as  desirable  in  a  dog  are  considered 
good  in  a  horse.  In  portraits  of 
the  useful  old  English  hunter,  you 
never  see  a  feeble,  flexible  neck, — 
it  is  desirable  that  it  should  be 
arched, — a  dog's  neck  also  should 
be  sufficiently  strong,  and  put  on 
high.  Neither  horse  nor  dog  should 
should  have  large  fleshy  heads, — 
and  a  full  bright  eye  is  in  both  a 
sign  of  spirit  and  endurance.  The 
canon  bone  in  a  horse  should  be 
short,  so  ought  the  corresponding 
bone  of  a  dog's  leg ;  and  every 
joint  ought  to  be  large,  yet  clean  ; 
and  (without  a  bull)  the  short  ribs 
in  both  animals  should  be  long. 
There  are  hardy  horses  whose  flesh 
you  cannot  bring  down  without 
an  amount  of  work  that  is  inju- 
rious to  their  legs, — there  are  also 
thrifty  dogs  which  are  constantly 
too  fat,  unless  they  are  almost 
starved,  and  common  sense  tells  us 
they  cannot  be  so  starved  without 


their  strength  being  much  reduced. 
The  analogy  does  not  hold  with 
respect  to  ears,  for  it  is  generally 
considered  that  the  dog's  should 
be  soft  and  drooping,  lying  close 
to  his  head — not  short  and  ever  in 
motion.  Moreover,  most  men 
would  wish  his  muzzle  to  be  broad 
as  well  as  long. 

Our  eye  is  so  accustomed  to  the 
sight  of  weeds, — animals  bred  for 
short-lived  speed,  not  for  en- 
durance,— that  we  no  longer  look 
for,  and  possibly  do  not  properly 
appreciate,  the  short  back  (though 
long  body),  with  scarcely  room  for 
a  saddle  ;  and  the  width  between 
the  upper  part  of  the  shoulder- 
blades  (as  well  as  the  lower) — the 
indication  of  space  within — upon 
which  points  our  forefathers  justly 
set  great  value.  We  forget  it's 
being  mentioned  of  Eclipse,  whose 
endurance  is  as  undeniable  as  his 
speed,  that  he  had  a  "shoulder 
broad  enough  to  carry  a  firkin  of 
butter," — and  that  Stubb's  por- 
traits of  winners  (of  races  four 
and  occasionally  six  miles  long !) 
show  that  they  possessed  power- 
fully muscular,  as  well  as  slanting 
shoulders.  The  frame  of  a  clever 
Welsh,  or  New  Forest  pony,  if  his 
head  is  set  on  at  a  considerable 
angle  with  his  neck,  is  perfection. 


CH.  XIII.] 


NOSE-HOW  JUDGED  OF. 


213 


ster  he  may  never  be  worth  his  keep.  Therefore,  though  a  man 
may  in  five  minutes  decide  upon  purchasing  the  horse,  he  would  act 
very  imprudently  if  he  ventured  upon  buying  the  dog  before  he  had 
seen  him  hunted  ;  *  unless  indeed  he  feels  well-justified  confidence 
in  the  ability  of  the  party  who  broke  him  in,  and  is  also  satisfied 
with  the  character,  as  a  sportsman,  of  the  person  who  has  since  shot 
over  him. 

365.  No  dog  can  be  worth  a  large  sum,  or  should  be  considered 
perfectly  made,  that  cannot  be  hunted  in  perfect  silence, — that  is 
not  good  at  finding  dead  or  wounded  birds,  and  that  is  not  sure  to 
point  them  when  found.  If  in  his  transverse  range  he  keep  his 
head  to  windward  it  is  a  good  sign,  for  it  evinces  his  consciousness 
that  it  is  in  the  breeze  he  should  seek  for  an  intimation  of  the 
vicinity  of  game.  As  to  the  excellence  of  his  nose,  this  can  only 
be  fully  ascertained  by  experience,  and  by  comparing  him  in  the 
field  with  other  dogs  ;  but  some  opinion  may  be  formed  by  observing 
whether  on  first  winding  game  he  confidently  walks  up  to  his  point 


It  might  with  profit  be  studied  by 
any  youngster  wishing  to  form  his 
eye,  and  know  what,  on  an  en- 
larged scale,  should  be  the  build 
of  a  real  hunter,— an  animal  fitted 
for  every  kind  of  work.  The  Arabs 
so  much  prize  a  short  back  and 
lengthy  quarters,  that  they  have 
a  proverb  to  the  effect  that  a  horse 
which  measures  the  same  from  the 
hip-bone  to  the  end  of  his  croupe, 
that  he  does  from  the  hip-bone  to 
the  withers,  is  a  blessing  to  his 
master.  Another  assertion  of  theirs 
is,  that  all  their  fastest  horses 
measure  less  from  the  middle  of 
the  withers  to  the  setting  on  of 
the  tail,  than  they  do  from  the 
middle  of  the  withers  to  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  nose,  or  rather 
extremity  of  the  upper  lip.  This 
measurement  is  supposed  to  be 
taken  along  the  crest  of  the  neck, 
over  the  forelock,  and  between 
the  eyes. 

It  is  sometimes  so  difficult  to 
get  a  horse  into  condition,  and  the 
following  recipe,  given  me  by  an 
old  cavalry  officer  who  is  an  ex- 
cellent stable-master,  is  so  admi- 


rable, that  I  need  not  apologize 
for  inserting  it : — 

"  Give  three 1  ounces  of  cold 
drawn  linseed-oil  in  a  cold  inash 
every  alternate  night  for  a  fort- 
night. If  you  judge  it  advisable, 
repeat  the  same  after  an  interval 
of  a  fortnight.  The  good  effects 
of  the  oil  are  not  immediately 
visible,  but  in  about  a  month  the 
horse's  coat  will  become  glossy, 
and  he  will  commence  putting  up 
good  hard  flesh." 

The  daily  rubbing  in  a  portion 
of  the  following  ointment  into  a 
horse's  hoof  (especially  after  exer- 
cise in  moist  ground,  and  on  re- 
moval of  wet  bandages,  before  any 
evaporation  can  take  place,}  will 
prevent,  indeed  cure,  brittleness — 
that  constant  precursor  of  con- 
tracted feverish  feet : — 

Tar  (not  Coal  Tar;. 

Soft  Soap. 

Soap  Cerate. 

Hog's  Lard. 

4  Ib.  of  each  well  mixed  together 
over  a  very  slow  fire. 

*  Amidst  sheep  too. 


1  20  oz.  s=  1  imperial  pint. 


214  SETTEE'S  GOOD  NOSE.  [CH.  xm. 

with  a  high  head,  or  is  shuffling  in  an  undecided  manner  to  the  right 
and  left  (perhaps  even  pottering  with  his  nose  near  the  ground), 
before  he  can  satisfy  himself  respecting  the  exact  locality  of  the 
birds.  There  are  favourable  days  when  any  dog  can  wind  game, 
when  finding  many  birds  will  far  more  depend  upon  "  range  "  than 
nose.  The  surest  way  to  test  the  olfactory  powers  of  different  dogs 
is  to  take  them  out  directly  after  mid-day  in  sultry  weather,  or 
when  a  north-easterly  wind  has  been  blowing  for  some  days.  If 
their  condition,  &c.  is  then  alike,  you  may  be  certain  that  the  dog 
who  winds  most  birds  has  the  finest  (or  most  cautious  ?)  nose.  On 
such  a  day  chance  will  but  little  assist  him. 

366.  On  an  extremely  bad  scenting  day  in  October,  1838,  a  cold 

dry  wind  blowing  from  the  east,  the  Hon.  F C ,  Baron  A. 

and  Sir  F.  H ,  then  partridge-shooting  at  C n,  in  Stafford- 
shire, saw  a  liver-coloured  pointer  take  every  point  from  three  setters 
of  some  celebrity  belonging  to  a  very  sporting  baronet.     The  setters 
did  not  make  a  single  "  set  "  throughout  the  day,  but  ran  into  the 
birds  as  if  they  had  been  larks.     The  pointer's  nose  was,  however, 
so  good  that  the  party,  notwithstanding  the  badness  of  the  scent, 
bagged  thirty-five  brace. 

367.  The  keeper  who  brought  out  the  setters  Avas  obliged  to  own, 
that  he  could  not  otherwise  account  for  the  apparent  singularity  of 
their  behaviour,  than  by  admitting  the  superiority  of  the  pointer's 
nose  ;  yet,  judging  from  the  engraving,  he  did  not  carry  his  head 
well. 

368.  A  stiffish  price  had  been  given  for  the  dog,  but  I  need  hardly 
say  that  it  was  not  considered  unreasonable,  after  the  exhibition  of 
scenting-powers  so  unusual,  fairly  tested  in  the  field  with  com- 
petitors of  established  character. 

369.  In  this  instance  it  was  a  pointer  that  evinced  singular  ten- 
derness of  nose  ;  but  in  the  following,  a  setter  bore  off  the  palm  in 

a  contest  with  good  pointers.     Mr.  Q r,  of  F w  (county  of 

Suffolk),  who  is  ari  enthusiast  about  shooting,  three  years  ago  took 
out  his  favourite  dog,  a  heavy,  large-limbed,  liver-coloured  setter,  on 
a  cold,  raw,  bad-scenting  day,  together  with  a  brace  of  pointers  of 

high  character  belonging  to  another  Suffolk  sportsman,  Mr.  W s. 

The  latter  had  expressed  rather  a  contemptuous  opinion  of  the 
setter,  whose  appearance  was  undeniably  not  very  prepossessing  ; 
but  to  the  gentleman's  astonishment,  and  perhaps  somewhat  to  his 
mortification,  the  lumbering  dog  found  plenty  of  birds,  though  there 
was  so  little  scent  that  the  vaunted  pointers  were  nearly  useless.     I 

was  told,  that  at  that  moment  Mr.  Q r  would  not  have  taken 

two  hundred  guineas  for  the  animal. 

370.  What  a  pity  it  is  that  more  pains  are  not  taken  to  link  in 
matrimonial  chains  dogs  of  the  rare  excellence  of  nose  described  in 
the  preceding  paragraph,  and  in  182,  204,  and  289,  instead  of  being 
satisfied  with  marked  superiority  in  one  parent  only  !     In  a  setter 
or  pointer  sensitiveness  of  nose  is  the  most  valuable  natural  quality 
sought  for  ; — correctness   of  range   the   most   valuable  artificial 
quality. 


FASHIONABLE  (ENGLISH)  SETTER.  AND  OLD-FASHIONED  POINTER. 
"  He  did  not  carry  his  head  well."— Par.  367. 


CH.  xiii.]  DOG  SPOILT.  217 

371.  Few  horses,  however  good,  are  fitted  to  hunt  in  all  countries, 
nor  are  many  dogs  ;  and  as  in  selecting  a  hunter  a  man  ought  to 
consider  the  kind  of  work  for  which  he  is  wanted,  so  ought  he 
when  he  is  purchasing  a  dog  to  be  influenced  by  the  kind  of  country 
in  which  the  animal  is  to  perform.     A  slow  dog,  however  good, 
would  weary  your  heart  out  on  the  moors  with  his  perpetual  see- 
saw, ladylike  canter ;  and  a  fast  one,  unless  wonderfully  careful,  on 
enclosed  lands  alive  with  game,  would  severely  test  your  aelf-control 
over  tongue  and,  temper. 

372.  If  a  purchaser  be  in  search  of  a  brace  of  dogs,  assuredly  he 
ought  not  to  give  a  large  figure  fot  them,  if  they  do  not  traverse 
their  ground  separately.     What  is  the  use  of  two  dogs  if  they  hunt 
together  ?    Both  are  engaged  in  doing  what  would  be  better  done 
by  one,  for  there  would  be  no  undue  excitement,  or  jealousy,  or 
withdrawal  of  attention.     Not  only  ought  a  purchaser  to  see  how 
dogs  quarter  their  ground,  but,  if  the  time  of  the  year  will  permit, 
he  should  even  kill  a  bird  to  them, — for  though  they  may  once  have 
been  good,  if  an  ignorant  or  careless  sportsman  has  shot  over  them 
but  for  a  few  days,  they  may  be  spoiled  (end  of  364). 

373.  At  the  beginning  of  a  partridge  season,  I  unexpectedly 
wanted  to  purchase  a  dog.     An  old  gamekeeper, — one  on  whose 
judgment  I  could  rely,  and  who,  I  knew,  would  not  willingly  de- 
ceive me, — saw  a  setter  in  the  field  that  he  thought  would  please, 
and  accordingly  sent  it  to  my  kennel.     I  greatly  liked  the  looks  of 
the  animal.     He  quartered  his  ground  well — was  obedient  to  the 
hand — carried  a  high  and  apparently  tender  nose — pointed,  backed, 
and  down-charged  steadily.      Unquestionably  he  had  been  well 
broken.     I  thought  myself  in  great  luck,  and  should  not  have 
hesitated  to  complete  the  purchase,  but  that  fortunately  I  had  an 
opportunity  of  shooting  a  bird  over  him,  when  to  my  horror,  he 
rushed  at  it  with  the  speed  of  a  greyhound.     As  in  spite  of  all  my 
remonstrances,  shouted  in  the  most  determined  manner,  he  repeated 
this  manoauvre  whenever  a  bird  fell,  I  returned  him.     I  after- 
wards heard  he  had  just  been  shot  over  by  a  party  on  the  moors, 
who,  no  doubt,  had  spoiled  him  by  their  ignoble,  pot-hunting  pro- 
pensities. 

374.  Had  I  chosen  to  sacrifice  my  shooting  in  order 
to  reclaim  him  (which  I  must  have  done,  had  I  too 
hastily  concluded  the  purchase),  I  ought  to  have  sent 
home  the  other  dogs,  and  proceeded,  but  with  greater 
severity,  much  in  the  manner  described  in  321  and  323. 
I  ought  not,  however,  to  have  gone  after  him  when 
first  he  bolted;  I  ought  merely  to  have  endeavoured  to 
check  him  with  my  voice,  for  it  would  have  been  most 
important  to  set  him  a  good  example  by  remaining 


218  HOW  REFORMED.  [CH.  xm. 

immoveable  myself;  lie  might  have  misconstrued  any 
hasty  advance  on  my  part  into  rivalship  for  possession 
of  the  bird ;  in  short,  into  a  repetition  of  one  of  the 
many  scrambles  to  which  he  had  recently  been  accus- 
tomed, and  in  which  I  feel  sure  he  must  invariably 
have  come  off  victorious.  I  ought,  when  loaded,  to 
have  walked  calmly  up  to  him,  and,  without  taking  the 
slightest  notice  of  the  disfigured  bird,  have  dragged  him 
back,  while  loudly  rating  him,  to  the  spot  where. he 
should  have  "  down  charged."  After  a  good  flagellation, 
a  protracted  lecture,  and  a  long  delay,  (the  longer  the 
better,)  I  ought  to  have  made  him  cautiously  approach 
the  bird  ;  and  by  a  little  scolding,  and  by  showing  him 
the  wounds  he  had  inflicted,  have  striven  to  make  him 
sensible  and  ashamed  of  his  enormities.  Probably,  too, 
had  the  birds  lain  well,  the  moment  he  pointed  I  should 
have  employed  the  checkcord  *  with  a  spike,  giving  him 
a  liberal  allowance  of  slack  line  (335).  Had  I  thus 
treated  him  throughout  the  day,  I  have  little  doubt  but 
that  he  would  have  become  a  reformed  character;  though 
an  occasional  outbreak  might  not  unreasonably  have 
been  expected.  (See  302  to  305.) 

375.  If  you  purchase  a  dog  who  has  been  much  shot  over  single- 
handed  by  a  tolerably  good  sportsman,  you  have  the  satisfaction  of 
knowing  that  the  animal  must  necessarily  have  great  self-reliance 
and  experience.  On  the  other  hand,  you  will  see  reason  to  distrust 
his  forbearance  and  temper  when  he  is  hunted  with  a  companion. 
Of  the  usual  run  of  dogs,  it  probably  would  be  better  to  purchase 
two  which  have  been  shot  over  singly,  and  then  associate  them  in 


*  I  am  glad  to  say  I  never  had  bird  which  the  dog  had  been  re- 
occasion  to  adopt  so  severe  a  strained  by  a  checkcord  from  bolt- 
remedy  as  the  following  ;  but  I  ing.  The  pins  were  cut  to  a  length 
have  heard  of  an  otherwise  incor-  somewhat  less  than  the  diameter 
rigible  taste  for  blood  being  cured  of  its  body,  and  were  fixed  at  right 
by  a  partridge  pierced  transversely  angles  to  one  another.  Several 
with  two  knitting  -  pins  being  slight  wires  would,  I  think,  have 
adroitly  substituted  for  the  fallen  answered  better. 


CH.  xni.]  LARGE  SUMS  FOR  POINTERS.  219 

the  field,  than  to  buy  a  brace  which  had  been  broken  in  together. 
You  would,  I  think,  find  it  more  difficult  to  give  independence  to 
the  latter,  than  to  cure  the  jealousy  of  the  former.  Jealousy  in  the 
field  would,  however,  decrease  with  their  increasing  intimacy  in  the 
kennel. 

To  create  a  feeling  of  self-dependence,  obviously  there 
is  no  better  plan  than  for  a  considerable  time  to  take 
out  the  dog  by  himself,  and  thus  force  him  to  trust  for 
sport  to  his  own  unaided  powers ;  and  when  he  is  at 
length  hunted  in  company,  never  to  omit  paying  him 
the  compliment  of  attending  to  every  indication  he 
evinces  of  being  upon  birds,  even  occasionally  to  the 
unfair  neglect  of  confirmed  points  made  by  the  other 
dogs. 

376.  Confidence,  however,  in  good  breeding  and  breaking  often 
induces  sportsmen  to  give  large  sums  for  young  dogs  without  seeing 
them  in  the  field. 

377.  In  July,  1848,  thirteen  pointers  were  sold  at  Tattersall's, 
which  brought  the  large  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty-six  guineas, 
though  only  two  of  them  had  ever  been  shot  over. 

378.  The  following  description  of  each  was  advertised  before  the 
sale.     I  have  prefixed  to  it  the  prices  they  severally  realized.    Such 
sums  mark  how  highly  the  public  appreciate  the  qualifications  of 
the  breaker  who  lives  with  Mr.  Moore,  of  Derbyshire,  and  ought  to 
stimulate  others  to  increased  exertions. 


379.  &Q  h  ^olb  frg  guuiiott, 

AT    MESSRS.     TATTERSALI/S, 

ON  MONDAY,  JULY  3D,  1848, 

FOURTEEN"  SUPEEIOR  BRED  POINTERS. 


Prices 
realized 
at,  the 
Sale. 

Lot. 

Name. 

When  Pupped. 

Sin. 

Dam. 

Gns. 

(Bloss,  by  the  late 

15 
16 

1 

2 

NELSON  \ 
NELL      J 

Nov.  1st,  1846. 

(  Bounce,  own  bro- 
l    ther  to  Bloom  . 

1    Mr.  Edge's  Rake, 
4    out  of  his  Bess, 
by  Capt.  White's 

V.  Don  out  of  Deuce. 

(Rev.   J.    Cooper's 

Dido,  out  of  Mr. 

13 

3 

DRAB.  . 

June  18th,  1847. 

Bounce  

<    Marriott's  Bitch 

by  Capt.  White's 

V  Don. 

5 

4 

Buzz  .  . 

April  13th,  1847. 

Bounce 

(Mob,  by  a  Dog  of 
J    Major     Bilbie's, 

1    by  the  late  Mr. 

^  Edge's  Nelson. 

16 

5 

RAKE.  . 

June  llth,  1847. 

(  Mr.  Hurt's  Rake, 
\  outofhisNa/ice. 

(Die,  by  Rock  out 
<      of  Belle,    own 
V    sister  to  Bloom. 

Dead. 

6 

DOT    .  . 

May  2d,  1847. 

Bang  (Lot  14)  .  . 

(Rue,  dam  Bess  out 
•I      of  the  late  Mr. 

^    Edge's  Mink. 

f  Dam  by  the  late 

21 
16 

s 

BEN       i 
BELLE    j 

April  20th,  1847. 

(Sir  Arthur  Clif- 
{    ton's  Don  .  .  . 

Mr.  Edge's  Rake 
<    out  of  Mob,  by  a 
son  of  Mr.  Edge's 

^  Nelson. 

17 
17 

9 
10 

CZAK      1 
CRACK   j 

May  8th,  1847. 

(  Don,  by  Rap  out 
of  Bess,   sister 
(    to  Bloom    .  .  . 

\Bitch  of  Sir  Ro- 
j   bert  Wilmot's. 

(Bloom  (sold  at  the 

25 

11 

SWAP      j 

Feb.  2d,  1847. 

(J.  Newton's,  Esq. 
{    Duke,  by  Capt. 

late    Mr.   Edge's 
•<    sale  for  80  Gui- 

25 

12 

SNAKE    j 

I    White's  Don    . 

neas),    by   Rake 

V  out  of  Mink. 

{Rap  (sold  at  the 

late  Mr.  Edge's 

sale  for  53  Gui- 

Bitch   of   H.    K. 

24 

13 

EOCK.  . 

Two  years  old. 

neas),  by  a  Dog 
of  Dale  Trot- 

Fenton's,     Esq. 
(    by    Lord     Mex- 

ter's,   Esq.   of 
Bishop  Middle- 

borough's  Romp. 

ham   

J 

(The      late      Mr. 

46 

14 

BANG.  . 

Three  years  old. 

[Bounce   (Sire   of 
Lots  1,2,  3,  and 

(      4\ 

Edge's  Bess,    by 
I    Captain  White's 
j    Don  out  of  Deuce, 

v    *)  

I    sister  to  Die  the 

256 

\.  Dam  of  Rake. 

THE  ABOVE  POINTERS  ARE  THE  PROPERTY  OF  A  GENTLEMAN,  AND  HAVE  BEEN 
BRED  WITH  THE  GREATEST  CARE. 


t*  The  first  twelve  Lots  are  well  broke,  but  have  not  been  shot  over.  Lots  13  and  14 
have  been  shot  over  both  in  England  and  Scotland,  and  are  in  every  respect 
superior  Pointers. 


IRISH  RED  SETTER.—"  Steadily  pointing."    Par.  3S2. 


CH.  XIIT.]  SMALL  SUMS  FOR  DOGS.  223 

380.  In  marked  contrast  to  such  high  prices,  are  those  often 
realized  at  Laing's  and  at  Wordsworth's  stables,  in  Edinburgh, 
where  sometimes  a  batch  of  pointers  and  setters  are  sent  for  un- 
reserved sale,  of  whose  previous  history  and  education  no  one  can 
tell  anything,  except  perhaps,  the  party  sent  by  the  vendor, — natu- 
rally considered  a  prejudiced  if  not  an  interested  witness. 

381.  The  Mr.  C 1  named  in  289  boasts,  that  he  never  gives 

more  than  half  a  sovereign  for  any  dog,  and  that  he  has  some  of  the 
best  in  Scotland.     He  attends  at  Laing's  and  Wordsworth's,  when 
dogs  are  advertised  for  sale  by  auction,  and  buys  all  those  that  are 
decent-looking,  and  fetch  no  higher  bid  than  ten  shillings, — a  fre- 
quent occurrence  where  their  characters  are  quite  unknown.     He 
takes  his  bargains  to  the  moors.    Those  that  show  any  promise  he 
keeps  for  further  trial ;  the  rest  he  at  once  shoots,  leaving  their 
bodies  unhonoured  by  any  other  burial  than  the  purple  heather  that 
blooms  around  them. 

382.  A  red  setter  brought  the  largest  price  that  I  ever  knew  paid 
for  a  dog.     After  mid-day  he  came  upon  a  covey  basking  in  the 
sun.     His  owner  very  knowingly  told  the  shooting  party  that  they 
might  go  to  luncheon  ;  that  he  would  leave  the  dog,  and  accompany 
them,  engaging  that  they  should  find  him  still  steadily  pointing  on 
their  return.     The  promise  was  faithfully  redeemed  by  the  stanch 
setter.     One  of  the  sportsmen  was  so  struck  with  the  performance, 
that  he  could  not  resist  buying  at  a  tremendous  figure,  and  he  soon 
regained,  I  believe,  much  of  the  purchase-money  from  some  in- 
credulous acquaintance,  by  backing  the  animal  to  perform  a  similar 
feat.     It  was,  however,  no  great  test  of  excellence. 

383.  I  conceive  those  dogs  must  be  considered  the 
lest,  which  procure  a  persevering  sportsman  most  shots 
in  a  season,  and  lose  him  fewest  winged  birds.*     If  you 
are  anxious  for  your  pupil  to  attain  this  superlative 
excellence  (I  will  repeat  it,  at  the  risk  of  being  accused 
of  tautology),   you   must   be  at  all  times  consistently 
strict,  but  never  severe.     Make  him,  as  much  as  you 
can,  your  constant  companion ;  you  will  thereby  much 
develop   his   intelligence,   and   so   render  him  a  more 
efficient   assistant  in  the  field,  for  he  will  understand 
your  manner  better  and  better,  and  greatly  increase  in 
affection  as  well  as  observation.     Many  men  would  like 
so  faithful  an  attendant.     Teach  obedience  at  home — to 
obtain  it  in  the  field.  Consider  the  instantaneous  "drop," 

*  And  if  hares  are  shot  to  him,  fewest  wounded  hares. 


224  BEST  DOGS.  [CH.  xin. 

the  moment  he  gets  the  signal,  as  all-important, — as  the 
very  key-stone  of  the  arch  that  conducts  to  the  glorious 
triumphs  of  due  subordination.  Notice  every  fault,  and 
check  it  by  rating,  but  never  punish  with  the  whip  un- 
less you  judge  it  absolutely  necessary.  On  the  other 
hand,  following  Astley's  plan  (10),  reward,  or  at  least 
praise,  every  instance  of  good  behaviour,  and  you  will 
be  surprised  to  find  how  quickly  your  young  dog  will 
comprehend  your  wishes,  and  how  anxious  he  will  be  to 
comply  with  them.  Remember  that  evil  practices,  un- 
checked until  they  become  confirmed  habits,  or  any 
errors  in  training  committed  at  the  commencement  of 
his  education,  cannot  be  repaired  afterwards  without 
tenfold — nay,  twentyfold  trouble.  Never  let  him  hunt 
from  under  your  eye.  Unceasingly  endeavour  to  keep 
alive  in  him  as  long  as  possible  his  belief  that  you  are  in- 
tuitively aware,  as  fully  when  he  is  out  of  sight  as  within 
sight,  of  every  fault  he  commits,  whether  it  arise  from 
wilfulness  or  mere  heedlessness.  This  is  a  very  impor- 
tant admonition.  Remember,  however,  that  the  best 
dogs  will  occasionally  make  mistakes  when  they  are 
running  down  wind  (especially  if  it  blows  hard),  and 
that  there  are  days  when  there  is  scarcely  any  scent. 
(Note  to  174.) 

384.  I  said,  "  Make  him,"  (your  pupil,)  "  as  much  as  you  can, 
your  constant  companion."  Many  breakers  seem  not  to  consider,  or, 
at  least,  seem  not  to  be  sufficiently  influenced  by  the  consideration, 
that  it  is  companionship  with  us,  through  successive  generations, 
which  alone  has  led  to  the  dog's  becoming  the  useful  servant  we  find 
him.  In  his  wild  state  he  may  have  as  much  sagacity  as  when 
domesticated  ;  but  this  he  displays  in  a  manner  in  no  way  advan- 
tageous to  us  ; — it  is  shown  in  the  mode  in  which  he  procures  his 
food,  avoids  his  enemies,  &c.  We  hear  much  of  the  different  de- 
grees of  "  natural  sagacity  "  evinced  in  different  breeds  ; — of  the 
wonderful  intelligence  of  collies,  &c. :  but  surely  it  is  chiefly  associ- 
ation with  man  that  awakened  that  apparently  greater  intelligence ; 
or,  to  speak  more  correctly,  that  gave  them  the  greater  habit  of 
observation, — of  watching  their  master's  looks, — of  listening  to  his 


CH.  XIIL]      BLIND  MAN  AND  TWEED  SPANIEL.  225 

voice,  &c. :  whence  comes  their  readier  comprehension  of  his  wishes 
and  orders — often  termed  sagacity. 

385.  When  recently  salmon-fishing  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
Tweed,  I  occasionally  met  on  its  banks  a  totally  blind  man,  and 
who,  in  spite  of  this  great  disqualification,  continued  a  keen  and 
successful  trout-angler.     He  had  been  for  some  years  entirely  sight- 
less, and  was  led  about  by  a  large  brown  Tweed-side  spaniel,  of 

whose  intelligence  wonderful  stories  are  told.     M r  travelled 

much  round  the  country  ;  and  it  is  certain,  for  he  would  frequently 
do  so  to  show  off  the  dog's  obedience,  that  on  his  saying  (the  cord 
being  perfectly  slack),  "  Hie  off  to  the  Holmes,"  or,  "  Hie  off  to 
Melrose,"  &c.,  &c.,  the  animal  would  start  off  in  the  right  direction 
without  an  instant's  hesitation.     Now,  this  Tweed  spaniel  was  not 
born  with  more  brains  than  other  Tweed  spaniels,  but  he  was 

M r's  constant  companion,  and  had,  in  consequence,  acquired  a 

singular  facility  of  comprehending  his  orders,  and  doubtless  from 
great  affection  was  very  solicitous  to  please. 

386.  Attend  most  carefully  to  the  injunction  not  to 
let  your  dog  hunt  out  of  sight.     It  is  essential  that  you 
do  so. 

I  once  possessed  a  pointer  who  behaved  admirably  while  he  was 
under  my  eye,  but  who,  if  he  could  cunningly  contrive  to  get  on  the 
other  side  of  rising  ground,  would  invariably,  instead  of  pointing, 
make  a  rush  at  any  game  he  came  across, — determined,  as  my  Irish 
companion  used  to  say,  "  to  take  his  divarsion  : "  and  it  was  most 
curious  to  remark  how  immediately  his  pace  would  slacken,  and 
how  promptly  he  would  resume  a  cautious  carriage,  the  moment  he 
perceived  I  again  had  the  power  of  observing  him.  His  proceedings 
displayed  so  much  sagacity,  that  though  I  was  extremely  vexed,  I 
could  hardly  find  it  in  my  heart  to  punish  him  as  he  deserved. 

387.  Notwithstanding  Beckford's  capital  story  of  the 
hounds  making  a  dinner  of  the  old  ram  which  his  lord- 
ship had  left  in  their  kennel  to  intimidate  them,  if  your 
dog  be  unhappily  too  fond  of  mutton  or  lamb  of  his  own 
killing,  perhaps  no  better  cure  can  be  attempted,  provided 
you  superintend  the  operation,  than  that  of  muzzling 
him,  and  letting  a  strong  ram  give  him  a  butting  at  the 
time  that  you  are  administering  the  lash,  and  hallooing 
out  "  Ware  "  or  "  Sheep."     But,  unfortunately,  this  too 
often  fails. 

388.  If  you  do  not  succeed,  you  must  hang  or  drown 

Q 


226  KILLING  SHEEP.  [CH.  xm. 

him,  (the  latter  is  probably  the  less  painful  death,  but  a 
charge  of  shot  well  lodged  behind  the  ear  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  brain  would  be  yet  better.)  Therefore  you 
will  not  mind  giving  him  another  chance  for  his  life, 
though  confessedly  the  measure  proposed  is  most  bar- 
barous. Procure  an  ash-pole  about  five  feet  long.  Tie 
one  extremity  of  the  pole  to  a  strong  ram,  by  the  part 
of  the  horns  near  the  forehead.  To  the  opposite  ex- 
tremity of  the  pole  attach  a  strong  spiked  collar,  and  strap 
it  round  the  dog's  throat,  to 'the  audible  tune  of  "Ware" 
or  "Sheep."  (To  prevent  the  possibility  of  the  cord 
slipping,  through  each  end  of  the  pole  burn  a  hole.) 
The  continued  efforts  of  the  ram  for  same  hours  either 
to  free  himself  from  his  strange  companion,  or  to  attack 
him,  will  possibly  so  worry  and  punish  the  dog  as  to 
give  him  a  distaste  ever  afterwards  for  anything  of  a 
woolly  nature.  The  pole  will  so  effectually  separate 
these  unwilling  (but  still  too  intimate)  associates,  that 
you  need  not  muzzle  the  dog. 

389.  There  is  yet  another  remedy,  which  I  will  name 
as  it  sounds  reasonable,  though  I  cannot  speak  of  its 
merits  from  personal  observation,  never  having  seen  it 
tried. 

Wrap  a  narrow  strip  of  sheep-skin,  that  has  much 
wool  on  it,  round  the  dog's  lower  jaw,  the  wool  outwards, 
and  fasten  it  so  that  he  cannot  get  rid  of  it.  Put  this 
on  him  for  a  few  hours  daily,  and  there  is  a  chance  that 
he  will  become  as  thoroughly  disgusted,  as  even  you 
could  wish,  with  every  animal  of  the  race  whose  coat 
furnished  such  odious  mouthfuls  ;  but  prevention  being 
better  than  cure,  pay  great  attention  to  your  dog's  morals 
during  the  lambing  season.  Dogs  not  led  away  by  evil 
companionship  rarely  commence  their  depredations 
upon  sober,  full-grown  sheep.  In  ninety-nine  cases  out 


CH.  XIII.] 


CURE  ATTEMPTED. 


227 


of  a  hundred,*  they  have  previously  yielded  to  the  great 
temptation  of  running  down  some  frisking  lamb,  whose 
animated  gambols  seemed  to  court  pursuit. f 


*  In  the  remaining  odd  case 
<one  out  of  a  hundred)  the  pro- 
pensity may  be  traced  to  the 
animal  belonging  to  a  vicious 
stock, — in  short,  to  hereditary 
instinct. 

t  Mr.  C.  B y,  who  has  writ- 
ten so  cleverly  and  usefully  under 
the  name  of  "  Harry  Hieover," 
supports  (in  "  Practical  Horse- 
manship") an  argument  respecting 
the  breaking  of  horses,  by  de- 
scribing with  such  good  judgment 
the  manner  in  which  he  would 
proceed  to  gradually  wean  a  dog 
from  worrying  sheep  (much  on  the 
principle  of  taking  him  to  a  rabbit- 
warren,  337),  that  I  think  some 
of  my  readers  may  peruse  it  with 
profit : — 

"  I  suppose  myself  to  have  a  dog 
addicted  to  chasing  sheep.  He 
must  be  cured  of  that.  If  I  de- 
pute a  servant  to  do  this,  1  know 
how  he  will  set  about  it.  He  will 
take  the  dog  on  a  common,  where 
sheep  are  running  at  large.  The 
moment  they  see  the  dog  they 
begin  running.  This  is  just  what 
the  man  wished  they  might  do. 
The  dog,  of  course,  immediately 
sets  off  after  them,  and  the  man 
after  the  dog.  Probably  after  the 
latter  has  ceased  chasing,  he  is 
caught ;  and  at  a  moment  when 
he  is  not  in  fault  he  is  most 
brutally  thrashed,  knowing  or  not 
knowing  what  he  is  thrashed  for. 
He  is  cowed  for  the  day,  and 
sore  for  three  or  four  afterwards, 
when  he  forgets  the  beating  ;  and 
the  next  time  he  sees  the  sheep, 
he  feels  the  same  excitement  and 
propensity,  and  away  he  goes  after 
them  ;  so  probably  it  would  be  as 
long  as  he  lives. 

"I  now  take  the  dog  in  hand, 
and  as  sedulously  avoid  taking 


him  where  he  has  a  chance  of 
seeing  sheep  running,  as  the  other 
sought  for  a  place  where  he  should ; 
for  I  know,  with  his  present  habits, 
the  temptation  will  be  too  strong 
for  the  dog  to  resist.  I  put  a 
collar  round  his  neck,  with  a  chain 
to  hold  him  by,  and  a  good  dog- 
whip  in  my  hand.  I  take  him  to 
a  sheep-fold  :  here  the  sheep  can- 
not run  :  and  not  being  wild,  the 
utmost  they  can  do  on  seeing  the 
dog  is  to  huddle  all  together.  On 
entering  the  fold  I  cry  in  a  warn- 
ing voice,  'Ware  sheep,  Don.' 
The  dog  looks  up.  '  Ware  sheep, ' 
I  cry  again.  If  he  appears  in  the 
least  elated  or  fidgety,  '  Ware 
sheep, '  I  cry  in  a  voice  of  anger. 
If  he  attempt  to  make  any  hasty 
advance  towards  them,  a  smart 
stroke  or  two  of  the  whip  makes 
him  find  *  Ware  sheep '  must  be 
attended  to.  If  after  this  he  pulls 
towards,  or  jumps  at  them,  I  give 
him  a  good  flogging,  he  deserves  it, 
for  he  knows  he  is  doing  wrong,  and 
has  not  over-excitement  as  an  ex- 
cuse. In  a  day  or  two,  more  or  less, 
as  he  is  more  or  less  incorrigible, 
he  will  cease  not  only  to  jump  at 
the  sheep,  but  will  walk  quietly 
among  them.  He  has  learned  per- 
fectly one  lesson,  which  is,  that  he 
must  not  touch  sheep  standing 
still.  Probably,  being  now  cowed 
by  the  warning  'Ware  sheep,'  if 
I  took  him  on  the  common,  he 
would,  if  he  saw  sheep  running, 
stop  at  being  halloed  to  (if  not  too 
far  oft')  ;  but  it  would  be  highly 
injudicious  to  trust  him,  for  if  he 
broke  away,  my  three  or  four  days' 
lesson  would  go  for  nothing : — he 
would  be  nearly  as  bad  as  ever. 

"  I  now  take  him  where  sheep 
are  wild,  but  never  get  near  enough 
to  set  them  running.  But  sup- 

Q2 


228  THE  ADMIRAL'S  PLAN.  [CH.  xm. 

390.  A  full  admiral  (Sir  H n  S d),  as  well  known  in  the 

field  as  in  the  ballroom,  and  whose  exhilarating  society  is  coveted 
alike  by  young  and  old,  had  many  years  ago  a  valuable  retriever 
named  "  Lion,"  bred  between  a  setter  and  a  Newfoundland,  fast  and 
high-couraged,  but  which  had  not  been  properly  trained. 

His  condemnation  had  been  pronounced  by  his  owner,  the  late 

Sir  J s  D n  H y,  in  the  hearing  of  the  admiral,  who  at 

once  asked  for  and  obtained  the  dog.  Sir  J s'  keeper  (P n) 

had  put  a  ring  upon  one  of  the  animal's  fore  feet  to  prevent  his 
travelling  too  fast.  This  the  admiral  immediately  removed,  and  by 
making  "  Lion  "  his  companion,  and  feeding  him  himself,  he  soon 
brought  him  into  tolerable  obedience,  but  he  had  the  vexation  of 
finding  that  the  retriever  always  showed  a  great  longing  to  chase 
sheep,  and  more  than  once  had  pulled  one  down  in  spite  of  all 
threats  and  admonitions. 

One  fine  summer's  morning  the  cheery  admiral,  who  is  an  excel- 
lent piscator,  had  started  at  sunrise  across  the  moors  to  fish  a  dis- 
tant loch.  "  Lion "  quietly  followed  behind  the  dog-cart,  but  on 
getting  sight  of  some  sheep  he  started  off  and  overturned  one. 

The  admiral  hurried  up  in  time  to  save  its  life.  Although  alone, 
he  managed  to  tie  its  legs  securely  together.  Ditto  "  Lion's,"  and 
then  he  laid  the  two  helpless  animals  nearly  side  by  side.  With 
his  driving-whip  he  belaboured  "Lion"  most  severely,  endeavouring 
to  make  him  comprehend  why  he  was  punished,  and  in  the  intervals 
of  the  flagellation  caressing  the  poor  sheep. 

This  occurred  about  6  A.M.  and  the  admiral  did  not  return  to  his 
captives  until  the  same  hour  in  the  evening.  After  repeating  his 
powerful  admonitions  he  released  both  the  animals,  determined  to 
give  up  the  dog  as  incorrigible  should  he  ever  repeat  the  offence, — 
but  he  never  did.  He  turned  out  an  admirable  retriever,  and  a 
faithful,  attached  friend.  He  seemed  ever  after  ashamed  to  look  a 
sheep  in  the  face.  On  catching  sight  of  one,  he  would  slink  to 
heel. 

Be  assured  that  the  truly  gallant  admiral's  is  an  excellent  recipe  for 
giving  a  dog  a  higher  relish  for  cooked  than  for  uncooked  mutton. 

pose  they  were  to  do  so,  I  am  pre-  him  head  over  heels,  haul  him  up, 

pared,  for  I  have  him  in  a  cord  and  getting  hold  of  him,  give  him  a 

some  twenty  yards  long.      This  second  thrashing — a  lesson  or  two 

length  gives  him  something  of  a  more,  and  he,  in  nine  cases  in  ten, 

feeling  of  liberty.     If  he   looks  will  be  broken  of  the  habit.     But 

towards  the  flock,   '  Ware  sheep '  if  without  the  cord  to  check  him 

reminds  him  of  his  lessons.     In  he  had  got  in  full  career,  flaying 

a  day  or  two  I  approach  them  ;  the  poor  brute  alive  would  not 

they    begin    to    run  :    Don    gets  have  prevented  his  doing  it  again ; 

fidgety,  but  the  warning  and  show-  but   his  propensity  having   been 

ing  him  the  whip  most  probably  diminished    gradually,    moderate 

controls  him  ;  if  it  does  not,  and  reflection  will  reform  him,  which 

he  breaks  away,  I  let  him  reach  it  would  not  have  done  while  that 

the  elid  of  the  cord,  and  with  a  propensity  was  in  full  force." — 

stentorian  'Ware  sheep,'  I  pull  Page  171. 


OH.  XIIL]  KILLING  FOWLS.  229 

391.  If  ever  you  have  fears  that  you  may  be  unable 
to  prevent  a  dog's  breaking  away  to  worry  sheep,  hunt 
him  in  a  muzzle  *  of  a  size  that  will  not  interfere  with 
his  breathing,  and  yet  effectually  prevent  the  wide  ex- 
tension of  his  jaws. 

392.  The  killing  of  fowls  is  more  easily  prevented. 
The  temptation,  though  equally  frequent,  is  not  so  great 
—he  will  only  have  tasted  blood,  not  revelled  in  it. 
Take  a  dead  fowl — one  of  his  recent  victims  if  you  can 
procure  it, — and  endeavour,  by  pointing  to  it,  while  you 
are  scolding  him,  to  make  him  aware  of  the  cause  of 
your  displeasure.     Then  secure  him  to  a  post,  and  thrash 
him  about  the  head  with  the  bird,  occasionally  favouring 
his  hide  with  sundry  applications  of  a  whip,  and  his 
ears  with  frequent  repetitions  of  the  scaring  admonition, 
"  Ware   fowl,"   "  Fowl — fowl — fowl."      Whenever   you 
afterwards  catch  him  watching  poultry,  be  sure  to  rate 
him. 

*  A  muzzle  is  the  best  recipe  for  should    invariably   be    employed 

keeping  a  howling  dog  quiet   at  whenever  any  ointment  is  applied 

night — from  what  is  commonly  to  his  skin  for  mange,  &c. 
called   "  baying  the  moon."     It 


CHAPTEE  XIV. 


A  REST  BEYOND  "HALF-WAY  HOUSE."    ANECDOTES  OP  DOGS  ON 
SERVICE  AT  HOME. 

393.  A  Halt  sounded ;  present  Position  considered ;  Refinements  or  extra  Accom- 
plishments easily  taught.— 394.  Excellent  Snipe-shot  who  never  used  Dog.— 
395.  Dog  employed  by  another.— 398.  Which  Sportsman  had  the  best  of  it.— 

399.  Squire  O n's  and  Mr.  C d's  Match.— 39(5.   Snipe  killed  off.— 397. 

Woodcocks  become  attached  to  undisturbed  Covers  ;  Mr.  S t's. — 400.  Par- 
tridges cut  off  from  Place  of  Refuge. — 401.  Turnip-Field  ridden  round.— 402. 
After  Wind  and  Rain,  hunt  driest  places ;  late  in  season,  beat  uncultivated  lands. 
— 403.  In  hot  weather,  give  marked  birds  time  to  run. — 404.  Advantage  of 
killing  Old  Birds;  protects  young  Breeders. — 405  to  407.  Old  Hen  Pheasants 
shot ;  case  in  point ;  in  Note,  Pheasants  reared  under  barn-door  hen  require 
meat ;  so  do  Fowls.  Cantelo's  method.  Pheasantries,  Mr.  Knox.  (See  Appen- 
dix). Oak-bark  a  tonic.  Cross  with  China  Pheasant.— 408.  Sportsmen  urged 
to  break  in  their  own  Dogs.— 409.  Shooting  conducive  to  Health. — 410,  411. 

Mr.  W n  and  the  old  crippled  Scotch  Sportsman.— 412.    Instructing  Dogs 

improves  temper  ;  not  an  ungentlemanly  recreation.  —  413.  "  Beckford's  " 
opinion. — 414.  "Munito"  selecting  cards. — 415.  Shepherds'  Dogs  in  France.— 
416.  Collie  Dogs.— 417.  "Fairy"  ringing  bell.— 418,  419.  "MedorV  fetching 
house-keys.  Installed  as  their  keeper.— 420.  "  Sultan's  "  keeping  the  key  in  his 

larder. — 421.  Mr.  A n's  "  Taffy"  knowing  by  name  every  member  of  family.— 

422.  "  Taffy ' '  proves  himself  a  first-rate  Watch-Dog. —423.  "  Taffy ' '  understands 
why  he  is  borrowed.— 424.  "Taffy"  an  able  Poacher.— 425.  "Taffy"  being 
insulted  bides  his  time  to  avenge  the  affront. — 426.  "Taffy"  "turns  the  tables" 
upon  workman  who  tries  to  impose  upon  him.— 427.  "Taffy"  purloins  for  his 
master  when  ordered. — 428.  "Taffy"  betrayed  into  momentary  weakness  pur- 
loins for  himself.— 429.  "Taffy's"  birth  and  education  revealed;  but  his 
parentage  a  mystery. -430.  "Taffy's"  dam  shipwrecked  on  the  Needles.— 431. 
Jesse's  opinion  of  Dogs ;  in  Note,  Lord  Brougham's— cunning  of  Fox— of  Dog 
—of  Monkey. — 432.  Exhibition  of  jealousy. — 433.  Lost  Child  fed  by  Dog.— 
434.  "Philax"  and  "Brae"  playing  Dominos. — 135  to  441.  Showman's  Dogs  in 
Paris.  Tricks  with  Cards  and  Numbers.  Fortune-telling.  Playing  Dominos. 
— 442.  How  assisted  by  Showman. — 443.  Our  attention  to  be  confined  to 
Sporting  Dogs. 

393.  WE  have  now  arrived  at  a  good  halting-station,  far  beyond 
the  half-way  house  ;  for  any  dog  educated  as  I  have  described  may 
fairly  be  considered  well-broken.  Shall  we  here  part  company,  or 
will  you  proceed  with  me  to  what  I  termed  "refinements"  in 
breaking  ?  I  did  so,  as  I  mentioned  at  the  time,  in  deference  to 
general  opinion,  for  many  would  call  it  superfluous  breaking.  It 
may  be — but  the  additional  excellence  is  easily  attainable  by  per- 
severance in  the  system  which  I  have  detailed,  and  but  little 


CH.  xiv.]  REFINEMENTS.— SNIPE  SHOT.  231 

extension  of  it.  Why  then  should  we  not  strive  to  reach  it  ?  It 
must,  however,  be  granted  that  so  finished  an  education  is  not 
absolutely  necessary,  for  many  killing  dogs  never  attain  it :  indeed, 
many  good  sportsmen  have  never  witnessed  it.  And  this  is  pro- 
bably the  reason  why  such  a  number  abjure  the  aid  of  a  dog  in 
snipe-shooting. 

394.  Years  ago,  when  I  was  in  County  Wexford,  I  knew,  by 
sight,  a  capital  snipe-shot,  though  he  constantly  wore  spectacles, 
who  loathed  the  idea  of  letting  a  dog  accompany  him.     This  he 
would  not  have  done,  had  he  known  to  what  perfection  the  animal 
could  be  brought.     But  certainly  our  spectacled  friend  had  less 
occasion  for  canine  assistance  than  any  man  I  ever  saw.     He  knew 
every  rushy  spot  for  miles  around.     If  there  was  a  snipe  in  a  field, 
he  would  point  to  within  a  few  feet  where  it  was  lying.     He  walked 
very  fast ;  was  indefatigable  ;  without  waiting  for  loading  picked 
up  every  bird  the  moment  it  was  knocked  over;  kept  relays  of 
ammunition  at  several  farm-houses  ;  and  nearly  always  came  home 
with  his  capacious  pockets  (for  he  carried  no  bag)  well  filled.     I 
heard  an  anecdote  of  him,  more  in  praise  of  the  correctness  of  his 
eye  than  the  make  of  his  leg,  that  on  one  occasion,  after  he  had 
stuffed  his  pockets  full  of  snipe,  he  proceeded  actually  to  cram  more 
birds  into  the  tops  of  his  boots. 

395.  An  officer  whom  I  knew  well  in  Canada  came  for  a  few  days 
to  Isle  Aux  Noix.     He  paddled  himself  and  a  favourite  dog  to  the 
opposite  shore.     The  dog  made  nineteen  separate  points  at  snipe — 
of  which  my  friend  bagged  seventeen, — and  he  thinks  he  did  not 
see  above  three  more  birds.     He  admits  that  the  day  was  hot,*  and 
that  in  consequence  the  snipe  lay  well ;  but  he  certainly  would  not 
have  obtained  so  many  shots  without  the  assistance  of  his  intelli- 
gent companion.     He  was,  however,  beautifully  broken.     I  do  not 
suppose  that  my  friend  had  once  occasion  to  use  his  voice.     And 
the  sagacious   animal  would  creep  across  wind  as  stealthily  as  a 
cat  on  the  right  hand  being  slightly  raised,  as  described  in  xn. 
of  141. 

396.  My  friend's  sport  caused  a  laugh  in  the  little  garrison  at 
the  expense  of  its  Fort  Adjutant,  by  no  means  a  first-rate  shot, 
who  complained  that  his  favourite,  though  confessedly  very  small, 
preserve  was  destroyed  for  the  season  ;  and  I  rather  think  it  was  ; 
for  my  experience  leads  me  to  believe,  contrary  to  what  is  generally 
supposed,  that  snipe,  when  once  they  have  had  time  to  settle  in  a 
spot,  become  attached  to  it,  and  do  not  much  shift  their  ground. 
At  least  I  have  known  many  places  in  which  snipe  having  been 
killed  off  early  in  the  season,  none  appeared  the  same  season  in 
their  stead,  although  in  preceding  years  birds  had  been  plentiful 
during  the  whole  winter. 

397.  Woodcocks  also  consider  themselves  permanently  established 
in  localities  where  they  have  been  long  undisturbed  (82).     Mr. 


*  A  dark  day  with  a  good  breeze  would  be  preferred  with  us., 


232  WOODCOCK-SHOOTING.  [CH.  xiv. 

S 1  of  C n,  on  the  west  coast  of  Ireland,  was  so  fully  im- 
pressed with  this  opinion  that  he  would  not  allow  a  gun  to  be  fired 
in  his  covers  until  after  Christmas, — asserting  that  not  a  bird  would 
then  leave  them  before  the  regular  period  of  migration,  but  merely, 
when  flushed,  remove  from  one  part  of  the  woods  to  another.  It 
is  hard  to  think  that  he  reasoned  incorrectly,  for  he  had  when  I 
was  in  his  neighbourhood, — and  may  have  to  this  day  for  aught  I 
know  to  the  contrary, — nearly  the  best,  if  not  undeniably  the  best, 
woodcock-shooting  in  Ireland  until  the  very  end  of  the  season. 
This,  too,  is  saying  a  "big  word,"  for  woodcock-shooting  in  the 
emerald  isle  is  the  cream  of  sport. 

398.  Now  our  spectacled  acquaintance  (394),  capital  sportsman 
as  he  was,  owed  his  numerous  shots  solely  to  his  great  pedestrian 
powers,  and  the  large  development  of  his  organ  of  locality.     It  is 
sometimes  difficult  enough,  even  with  a  clever  dog,  to  spring  a  jack 
snipe,  and  you  will  not  tell  me  that  he  (not  master  "  Jack,"  but  the 
gentleman)  would  not  have  bagged  mare  birds,  and  have  had  to 
walk  over  less  ground,  had  he  possessed  as  good  an  animal  as  that 
which  helped  to  destroy  the  Fort  Adjutant's  preserve.     And  do 
you  think  that  our  friend  with  the  barnacles,  who  was  in  no  way  of 
a  misanthropical  disposition,  would  not  thus  have  more  enjoyed  his 
day's  sport  ?   He  might  have  been  assured  that  birds,  if  they  would 
not  lie  for  a  good-nosed  dog,  who  hunted  as  cautiously  as  the 
officer's,  would  not  lie  for  his  walking  them  up.    And  if  on  a 
boisterous  day  he  chose  to  shoot  down  wind  (as  snipe  fly  against  it), 
why  should  he  not  call  his  companion  in  to  "  heel,"  and  afterwards 
employ  him  when  re-hunting  the  same  ground  up-wind  ?    An  ex- 
perienced old  dog,  would  rarely,  however,  when  beating  down-wind, 
pass  by  many  birds  without  noticing  them. 

399.  We  often  hear  of  sportsmen  shooting  against  each  other  for 
considerable  sums  in  our  best  partridge-counties,  where  the  game  is 
so  abundant  that  they  consider  it  most  advisable  to  employ  no  dog, 
save  one  or  two  retrievers.  I  at  once  admit  that  they  act  judiciously 
in  not  hunting  any  ordinary  animal,  but  I  am  confident  that  the 
competitor  who  used  such  a  cautious  dog  as  the  officer's  (395),  would 
not  only  get  more  shots  than  his  opponent,  but  be  able  to  kill  to 
a  greater  certainty,  because  better  prepared  for  every  rise.     The 
quantity  of  game  would  not  have  confused  that  first-rate  dog, — his 
nose  was  too  discriminating.     He  would  have  walked  quietly, — 
almost  crept, — up  to  every  bird,  and  I  will  venture  to  say  would 
not  have  sprung  one  out  of  shot,  that  would  not  have   risen  as 
readily  had  he  been  left  in  his  kennel.     In  the  match  that  came  off 

in  October,  '50,  at  Lord  L h's,  R d  Hall,  between  the  Squire 

O n  and  Mr.  C d, — both  good  performers— so  many  birds 

would  not  have  been  missed  had  the  sportsmen  been  warned  to  look 
out  for  most  of  their  shots  by  a  careful  dog's  drawing  upon  the 
birds.     Victory  would  have  sided  with  the  party  thus  aided. 

.  400.  I  said  (398),  "  An  experienced  old  dog  would  rarely,  how- 
ever, even  when  beating  down-wind,  pass  by  many  birds  without 
noticing  them  : "  and  most  fortunate  is  it  that  this  is  the  case,  for 


,  H.  xiv.]  DRIEST  GROUND  HUNTED.  233 

otherwise  you  would  seldom  get  a  shot  to  a  poiiit  at  partridge  when 
the  ground  is  wet,  and  the  birds  have  taken  to  running  ahead  along 
a  furrow — or,  as  is  frequently  the  case,  are  all  making  off  in  one 
direction,  probably  seeking  the  shelter  of  some  well-known  friendly 
cover.  Should  you  think  this  likely  to  happen,  you  must,  without 
minding  what  quarter  the  wind  blows  from,  commence  your  beat 
by  traversing  the  ground  that  lies  between  them  and  their  place  of 
refuge.  Even  then  you  will  often  find  that  they  will  rather  face 
you,  than  be  diverted  from  their  original  design. 

401.  In  large  turnip-fields  you  would  do  well  when  birds  are 
wild  to  hunt  the  outer  parts  first,  and  so  gradually  work  round  and 
round  towards   the  centre.     Then  return  to  the  outer  parts,  and 
airain  work  round  the  borders.     The  birds-  thus  finding  themselves 
headed  in  every  direction  are  much  more  likely  to  lie  than  if  you 
had  not  so  manreuvred.    On  such  occasions  the  great  advantages  of 
caution  in  dogs,  and  of  their  prompt  obedience  to  the  hand  are  made 
maniiest.     I  heard  of  a  man  who,  in  order  to  make  birds  lie  close 
in  turnips,  used  to  direct  his  little  boy  to  trot  his  pony  round  and 
round  the  field.     The  plan  was  very  successful.     The  birds  seemed 
quite  bewildered,  especially  when  time  had  been  allowed  for  the 
boy  to  complete  the  circuit  before  the  dogs  were  permitted  to  enter. 
I  remember  a  good  sportsman  telling  me  that  he  had  more  than 
once  succeeded  in  making  wild  birds  lie  by  attaching  soft-sounding 
bells  to  the  collars  of  his  pointers.     The  novel  sound  appeared  to 
arrest  the  attention  of  the  partridges.     This  seems  opposed  to 
what  is  said  in  74  about  bells  used  in  cover  scaring  game. 

402.  High  winds  and  rain  greatly  disturb  birds  ;  and  if  you  are 
a  tyro  in  partridge-shooting  you  should  thank  me  for  recommending 
you,  if  you  are  ever  so  anxious  to  get  a  few  shots,  to  wait  for  the 
first  hour  of  sunshine  after  such  weather,*  and  then  to  hunt  the 
•// -i>  4  grounds,  where  you  probably  will  find  the  birds  not  feeding, 
but  quietly  reposing,  after  the  knocking  about  they  have  undergone. 
But,  my  young  friend,  I  should  like  to  give  you  another  hint. 
When  it  is  late  in  the  season,  instead  of  constantly  beating  the 
denuded  stubbles,  try  the  wild  uncultivated  lands  (if  there  are  any 
in  your  neighbourhood)  where  it  is  likely  the  birds  will  be  found 
searching  for  the  common  grass-seeds  which  they  neglected  when 
more  palatable  grain  could  be  easily  obtained.     Wind  without  wet 
sometimes  makes  wild  birds  lie, — probably  because  they  do  not  hear 
the  sportsman's  footsteps. 

403.  After  you  have  sprung  a  covey,  and  succeeded  in  killing  the 
old  pair,  should  the  scent  be  bad,  give  the  young  birds  time  to  run 
a  little  before  you  let  your  dogs  hunt  for  them.     Late  in  the  season, 
in  hot,  dry  weather,  such  delay  is  frequently  productive  of  much 

*  But  there  is  this  to  be  said  in  under  the  two-fold  annoyance  of 

favour  of  your  perpetually  shooting  the  gun  and  such  weather,   the 

in  wind  and  wet : — you  will'be  act-  birds  will  fly  to  great  distances  to 

ing  a  most  friendly  part  by  your  seek  for  quiet  shelter, 
less    persecuting    neighbour,   for 


234  KILL  OLD  BIRDS.  [CH.  xiv. 

good,  for  partridges  will  often  at  such  times  not  move  an  inch  from 
the  spot  where]  they  first  pitched  ;  thereby  emitting  so  little  scent 
that  an  ordinary  dog  will  not  be  able  to  find  them,  however  accurately 
you  may  have  marked  the  place  where  they  opened  their  wings  pre- 
paratory to  dropping. 

404.  If,  when  first  a  covey  rose,  the  old  pair  was  knocked  over, 
the  young  ones  would  lie  singularly  close,  awaiting  the  accustomed, 
unspellable,  unpronounceable  parental  call.  But  there  is  a  yet 
stronger  reason  why  the  precedence  and  attention  usually  given  to 
age  should  not  in  the  present  instance  be  withheld.  Old  birds, 
whether  breeding  or  barren,  drive  off  the  younger  ones  during  the 
breeding  season.  Some  sportsmen,  I  am  aware,  deem  this  opinion 
a  vulgar  prejudice  ;  but,  if  it  be  well  founded,  common  sense  bids 
us  kill  the  old  birds,  that  the  young  ones  may  have  undisturbed 
possession  of  their  ground.  They  must  be  unusually  small  squeakers 
if  they  cannot  shift  for  themselves  early  in  September,  particularly 
if  the  weather  be  warm.  They  will  come  to  no  harm,  where  the 
keeper  has  done  his  duty  as  a  trapper.  On  estates  infested  with 
vermin,  they  will,  of  course,  suffer  from  the  absence  of  the  warning 
parental  cry.  There  are  country  gentlemen  who  go  so  far  as  to 
have  the  old  birds  shot  in  August  (when  they  can  readily  be  dis- 
tinguished even  in  the  most  forward  coveys),  well  knowing  that  a 
jealous  old  pair  of  partridges  will  take  possession  of  as  much  ground 
in  spring,  as  would  suffice  for  nearly  half-a-dozen  young  couples  ; 
especially  if  the  latter  belong  to  the  same  covey,  and  are  therefore 
accustomed  to  associate  together  ;  for,  contrary  to  the  general  laws 
of  nature,  these  birds  breed  in  and  in. 

405.  Old  hen  pheasants  should  also  be  killed  off : — they  are  barren, 
and  are  accused  of  sucking  the  eggs  of  the  younger  birds.     They 
may  be  readily  distinguished  by  their  deeper  and  more  brilliant 
plumage.     As  a  case  in  point, — 

406.  I  know  of  a  gentleman  going  to  the  North  to  reside  on  a 
small  property,  where  the  game  had  not  been  preserved  for  years. 
He  at  once  engaged  a  clever  keeper,  who  joined  him  immediately 
after  the  conclusion  of  the  shooting  season.     In  a  few  days  the 
latter  requested  to  see  his  master. 

"  Well,  George,  I  fear  you  don't  find  much  game." 

The  other  replied,  in  broad  Yorkshire  dialect,  "  No-o,  sir,  no — 
n6t  mutch.  'A'  been  thruff  (through)  t'  covers,  and  seen  some  auld 
budds — and,  please,  sir,  I'd  loike  to  shut  'em." 

The  gentleman  started.  "  Shoot  them  !  That's  an  odd  way  of 
preserving  them,  unless  indeed  you  intend  to  stuff  them.  Are 
you  mad  ?  There  may  be  only  a  few  birds,  but  I  suppose  a  few  are 
better  than  none." 

"No-o,  sir,  no — they  beant.  A  few  auld  budds  is  wuss  than 
none." 

"  How's  that  ?    What  do  you  mean  ? " 

"  Well,  I  tell'e,  sir— t'  auld  uns  be  so  stri^id— -jealous  verre  (very) 
— t'  missis  is  surnames  (sometimes)  ees  verre — I  sure  she  is.  They 
fght  t'  young  uns,  and  can't  do  with  strangers  no  how.  Folks  say 


CH.  xiv.]      YORKSHIRE  GAMEKEEPER'S  ADVICE.  235 

— folks  say  a  barren  hen,  if  she  folnd  (find)  a  nest,  'ill  brak  all 
t'  eggs.  A  don't  k?iow  about  that ;  perhaps  they  brak  'em  i'  t' 
fighting,  but  they  be  brukken  sure  enact  So  ye  see,  sir,  'spose  we 
have  no  budds  here,  then  t'  young  'uns,  when  t'  auld  'uns  fight  'em 
in  neighbours'  covers,  cooin  in  here  to  uz — and  folnd  'emselves  quite 
coomfortuble  and  bide.  And  b'sides  they'll  know-thSy-'ve-no-rlght 
— they'll  know-they-'ve-nS-right  themselves,  and  so  they  wunt  fight 
t'  new  comers.  There  be  sum  gentlemen  as  shuts  doon  one-third 
of  their  estate  every  year,  clean  right  away — and  then  t'  pheasants 
and  t'  partridge  coom  in  like-o-o-o.  Quite  many  of  them  ;  yes,. 
they  do  like  t'  settlars  in  'Merika,  as  a'  do  hear  say." 

407.  This  homely  reasoning  of  the  honest  Yorkshireman  *  pre- 
vailed, and  a  good  show  of  game  the  following  season  satisfactorily 
established  the  soundness  of  his  views. 

408.  But  we  have  been  astray  on  the  stubbles  and  in  cover,,  in- 
stead of  attending  to  our  friend  (394,  398)  snipe-shooting  in  the 
marshes,  and  determining  (for  our  own  satisfaction,  if  not  for  his) 
whether  the  companionship  of  a  good  dog  would  not  have  greatly 
added  to  his  enjoyment.     Doubtless  it  would  ;  for  I  appeal  to  you, 
if  you  are  a  devotee  to  the  double  detonator,  whether  it  be  not  a 
magnificent  thing  to  witness  brilliant  performance  in  fine  dogs — to 
watch  their  prompt  obedience — their  graceful  action — the  expres- 
sion of  their  intelligent  countenances — to  hope  at  the  first  feathering 
at  a  haunt — to  participate  in  the  nervous  start  on  a  closer  touch — 
to  share  in  the  exciting  alternation  of 'the  cautious  "road,"  and 
the  momentary  stop — to  exult  in  the  certainty  of  a  sure  find — to 
hesitate  in  the  expectation  of  a  sudden  rise, — and,  finally,  to  triumph 
in  the  fall  of  the  noble  old  bird  you  have  been  steadily  following 
through  all  his  wiles  and  stratagems  ?     If  we  have  travelled  over 
the  past  pages  together,  I  hope  you  will  further  agree  with  me  in 
thinking,  that  should  you  shoot  over  well-educated  dogs  of  your 
own  making,  instead  of  to  dogs  broken  by  others,  your  gratification 
would  be  as  greatly  increased  as  would  have  been  our  Irish  acquaint- 
ance's, had  he  shot  to  really  killing  dogs,  instead  of  possessing  none 
at  all.     I  firmly  believe  that  more  than  half  the  pleasure  a  sports- 
man derives  from  shooting,  consists  in  watching  the  hunting  of  well- 
broken  dogs,  and  that  his  gratification  is  nearly  doubled  if  the  dogs 
are  of  his  own  training.     It  was  this  persuasion  that,  on  our  intro- 
duction to  each  other  (3),  made  me  so  strongly  urge  you  to  break 
in  your  dogs  yourself. 

409.  I  might  urge  you  to  do  so  from  yet  another  motive.     What 
can  you  name  besides  glorious  hunting  that  will  keep  you  in  strength 
and  prime  condition  so  long  as  shooting  ?    Is  not  an  autumnal  ex- 
cursion to  the  wild  moors,  or  even  homely  stubbles,  far  more  in- 
vigorating than  a  saunter  at  the  most  salubrious  watering-place  ? 
And  would  not  continued,  though  it  may  be  diminished,  zest,  for 
the  sport  induce  you  to  take  air  and  exercise  at  a  time  of  life 

*  This  note  about  rearing  phea-      printer  has  placed  it  in  an  Ap- 
sants,  &c.,  is  so  long  that  the      pendix.     See  page  335. 


236  OLD  SCOTCH  SPORTSMAN.  [CH.  xiv. 

when  little  else  would  lure  you  from  the  fire-side  ?  That  shooting, 
then,  may  not  pall  upon  you  as  years  creep  on,  surely  you  would 
do  well  to  make  the  healthy  recreation  as  attractive  as  possible  ;  and 
hunting  dogs  of  your  own  breaking  would  undeniably  lend  it  not 
only  a  great  but  an  enduring  charm. 

410.  A  fondness  for  the  beauties  of  nature,  a  sense  of  freedom 
while  one  is  inhaling  the  pure  mountain  breezes,  and  it  may  be  a 
consciousness  of  power,  have  made  men  bordering  on  four-score 
continue  to  love  their  guns  with  a  feeling  somewhat  akin  to  the 
fervour  of  their  first  love,  as  is  well  exemplified  in  an  aged  tenant 

of  Mr.  W n  of  Edinburgh,  to  whom  I  have  been  occasionally 

indebted  for  a  capital  day's  sport. 

411.  Mr  W n  visiting  one  of  his  farms,  found  the  old  man, 

who  had  been  a  keen  sportsman  all  his  life,  labouring  under  chronic 
rheumatism  (caught  by  injudicious  exposure  in  the  discharge  of  his 
agricultural    duties),  so   severe   as   to  be  obliged  to  go  about  on 
crutches.      After  the  usual  salutations,   at  meeting,  the  farmer 
began :  — 

"  May  be  ye'll  think  the  place  negleckit-like,  but  I'm  no  able  to 
look  after  the  wark  noo." 

"Keep  a  good  heart,"  said  Mr.  W n;  "things  are  looking 

well  enough.  I  suppose  you  are  pining  after  the  shooting — you 
can  get  no  sport  now." 

"  Ye  may  weel  think  that,"  replied  the  farmer,  adding  in  a  sort 
of  chuckle  and  confidential  undertone,  "  the  auld  gun  and  me  is 
no  parted  yet." 

"  But,"  rejoined  Mr.  W n,  "  you  surely  don't  mean  that  you 

can  still  kill  birds  ?  You  can  hardly  manage  that." 

"  I  can  manage  it  fine,"  observed  the  other,  with  some  pique  ; 
"  the  cart  takes  me  to  the  neeps.*  The  bit  callant  f  helps  me  oot. 
I  hirple  +  on.  When  the  dog  maks  a  point,  doon  gang  the  crutches 
— the  laddie  takes  haud  o'  me,  and  though  my  legs  is  neither  straught 
nor  steady,  my  e'e  is  as  true  as  yer  ain." 

412.  Breaking  in  dogs  is  not  only  an  invigorating  bodily  exercise, 
but  a  healthy  moral  training  ;  for  to  obtain  great  success,  you  m  ust 
have  much  patience  and  self-command  ;  and  whatever  may  be  your 
rank  or  position  in  life,  Beckford — not  he  of  Fonthill,  but  the  man 
whose  memory  is  held  in  veneration  by  all  Nimrods  for  his  admir- 
able "  Thoughts  on  Hunting  " — will  not  allow  you  to  plead,  as  an 
excuse,   for  what  just  possibly  may  be  want  of  energy  or  sad 
laziness,  that  breaking  in  dogs  for  your  own  gun  is  an  ungentle- 
manly  or  unbecoming  recreation.  I  grant  he  is  speaking  of  instructors 
of  hounds,  but  his  words  in  their  spirit  are  fully  as  applicable  to 
the  instructors  of  pupils  accustomed  to  the  smell  of  gunpowder. 

413.  In  his  22d  letter  he  writes,  "  It  is  your  opinion,  I  find,  that 
a  gentleman  might  make  the  best  huntsman.     I  have  no  doubt  that 


Neeps,  anglice  turnips.  f  Callant,  anglice  boy. 

£  Hirple,  anglick  limp. 


CH.   XIV.] 


BECKFORD  CITED. 


237 


he  would,  if  he  chose  the  trouble  of  it.  I  do  not  think  there  is  any 
profession,  trade,  or  occupation,  in  which  a  good  education  would 
not  be  of  service ;  and  hunting,  notwithstanding  that  it  is  at  present 
exercised  by  such  as  have  not  had  an  education,  might  without 


SCENE  FROM  'CRIPPLE-GAIT.'— 'GAME'  TO  THE  LAST. -Par.  411. 

doubt  be  carried  on  much  better  by  those  that  have.  I  will  venture 
to  say  fewer  faults  would  be  committed,  nor  is  it  probable  the  same 
faults  would  be  committed  over  and  over  again  as  they  now  are. 
Huntsmen  never  reason  by  analogy,  nor  are  they  much  benefited  by 
experience."  I  fear  we  may  say  the  same  of  the  generality  of 
keepers,  for  decidedly  dog-breaking  has  not  kept  pace  with  the 
manifest  improvements  in  other  arts.  Few  brigades — indeed  few 

dogs  are  now-a-days  broken  like.  Major  B d's  (251),  or  Captain 

J n's  (542).     But  I  do  not  intend  to  say  it  is  necessary  ;    all 

that  is  merely  for  show  might  be  advantageously  dispensed  with. 

414.  It  is  hard  to  imagine  what  it  would  be  impossible  to  teach 
a  dog,  did  the  attainment  of  the  required  accomplishment  suffi- 
ciently recompense  the  instructor's  trouble.  Most  of  us  have  heard 
of  the  celebrated  dog  "  Munito,"  who,  at  some  private  signal  from 
his  master,  quite  imperceptible  to  the  spectator,  would  select  from 
a  pack  of  out-spread  cards  that  which  the  spectator  had  named  to 
the  master  in  a  whisper,  or  merely  written  on  a  piece  of  paper. 


238  FAIRY  AND  MfiDOR.  [OH.  xiv. 

415.  In  the  unenclosed  parts  of  France,  when  the  young  crops 
are  on  the  ground,  you  may  frequently  see  a  shepherd's  dog  trusted 
to  prevent  the  sheep  from  nibbling  the  tender  wheat  growing  con- 
tiguous to  the  grass,  which  he  peaceably  permits  them  to  crop  within 
a  foot  of  the  tempting  grain  ;  but  he  is  keenly  watching,  ready  to 
dart  at  the  first  epicure  who  cannot  resist  a  bite  at  the  forbidden 
dainty  ;  and  so  ably  and  zealously  does  the  dog  discharge  his  duties, 
that  even  in  such  trying  circumstances  will  the  shepherd  leave  his 
sheep  for  hours  together  under  the  charge  of  their  sagacious  and 
vigilant  guardian.     In  a  similar  manner,  a  couple  of  dogs,  stationed 
one  at  each  flank  of  a  large  flock,  effectually  protect  the  vineyards 
from  their  depredations.     The  latter  you  will  think  not  so  remark- 
able an  instance  of  discrimination  as  the  former ;  for,  compared 
with  the  difference  in  appearance  between  the  herbage  and  the  vine, 
there  is  but  little  between  the  young  grain  and  the  adjacent  grass. 

416.  Who  has  not  read  with  intense  delight  the  tales  of  the 
almost  incredible  intelligence  and  devotion  to  their  duties  of  the 
Scotch  collie   dogs,  as  related   by  the  Ettrick  Shepherd  ?     He 
mentions   one  which,  when   his  master  was  speaking,  evidently 
understood  much  of  what  was  said. 

417.  I  know  a  lady  who  had  a  small,  nearly  thorough-bred  King 
Charles.     Being  one  day  desired  by  her  mother  to  ring  the  bell, 
she  turned  to  the  dog,  and  said,  very  energetically,  "  Fairy,  ring  the 
bell."    The  little  dog  had  no  previous  training,  but  she  had  been 
observant,  and  was  imitative.     She  immediately  sprung  at  the  bell- 
rope,  and  pulled  it.     "Fairy,"  indeed,  unfortunately  pulled  with 
great  violence — the  rope  came  down,  and  so  alarmed  was  she  (re- 
member how  I  have  cautioned  you  never  to  alarm  your  pupil),  that 
no  subsequent  coaxing  could  induce  her  to  return  to  the  bell.     But 
if  she  had  not  been  frightened,  she  might  have  become  as  service- 
able a  bell-ringer  as  the  little  dog  that  preceded  her  in  the  office  of 
pet.     That  predecessor  (the  mention  of  a  useful  pet,  though  a  lady 
was  not  his  instructor,  will,  I  hope,  redeem  my  character  with  the 
fair  sex)  saved  his  young  mistress  from  many  an  interruption  of 
work  and  study,  by  ringing  the  bell  on  command.     And  "  Bob  " 
was  discreet  in  his  spontaneous  ringings.     He  never  rang  without  a 
cause  ;  but  if  he  was  unreasonably  detained  by  himself,  or  a  visitor's 
knock   remained  too  long  unanswered,   the  tardy  attendant  was 
warned  of  his  remissness  by  a  loud  peal. 

418.  A  French  lady,  who  is  fond  of  animals,  at  my  request  com- 
mitted the  following  anecdote  to  paper  : — 

419.  "  My  dear  Medor,  a  beautiful  red  and  white  setter,  was  re- 
markable, I  am  told,  for  many  rare  qualities  as  a  sporting  dog ; 
but,  of  course,  none  of  these  could  be  compared,  in  my  eyes,  to  his 
faithfulness  and  sagacity.     I  looked  upon  him  as  a  friend  ;  and 
I  know  that  our  affection  was  mutual.     I  could  mention  several 
instances  of  his  intelligence,  I  might  say  reflection,  but  one  in  par- 
ticular gave  me  such  delight  that,  though  years  have  since  passed 
away,  all  the  circumstances  are  as  fresh  in  my  memory  as  if  they 
had  occurred  but  yesterday.     I  was  returning  from  school  at  Ver- 


CH.  xiv.]  SULTAN  AND  THE  GATE-KEY.  239 

sallies,  and  having  rung  uselessly  for  a  little  time  at  the  front  door, 
I  went  round  to  the  carriage-gate  to  have  a  chat  with  my  silky- 
haired  favourite.  He  barked  anxiously  ;  thrust  his  cold  nose  through 
an  opening  near  the  ground  ;  scratched  vigorously  to  increase  its 
size  ;  and  in  numerous  ways  testified  great  joy  at  again  hearing  my 
voice.  I  put  my  hand  under  the  gate  to  caress  him,  and  while  he 
was  licking  it,  I  said  in  jest,  but  in  a  distinct,  loud  voice,  '  Dear 
Medor,  I  am  shut  out — go,  bring  me  the  keys.'  It  so  happened  that 
the  stable  where  they  usually  hung  was  not  closed.  Medor  ran  off, 
and  in  a  few  seconds  returned  and  placed  them  in  my  hands.  I 
will  not  attempt  to  describe  my  gratification  at  such  a  striking  proof 
of  his  intelligence,  nor  his  evident  pride  at  seeing  me  enter  the  hall ; 
nor  yet  the  fright  of  the  servant  at  thinking  how  long  the  street- 
door  must  have  been  carelessly  left  open.  '  Medor  deserves  that 
his  life  should  be  written,'  said  I  to  my  uncle  when  afterwards 
telling  him  the  whole  story  ;  '  I  am  sure  his  deeds  are  as  wonderful 
as  those  related  of  the  "  Chiens  celebres"  by  De  Freville.' 

"  My  setter  was  immediately  declared  *  Keeper  of  the  Keys,'  and 
forthwith  invested  with  all  the  rights  of  office, — nor  was  this  con- 
fidence misplaced.  He  would  never  give  up  his  charge  to  any  one 
but  to  my  uncle  or  myself  ;  and  always  seemed  fully  sensible  of  the 
dignity  and  responsibility  of  his  new  position." 

420.  Another  anecdote  touching  keys. 

A  family  residing  at  Chepstow  had  a  house  with  a  gate  leading 
into  the  castle-ditch,  and  they  used  to  pass  through  it  almost  daily 
in  order  to  avoid  the  bustle  of  the  town.  The  key  of  this  gate  was 
kept  in  the  kitchen,  and  a  black  retriever,  Sultan  by  name,  was 
accustomed  to  ask  the  cook  for  it  by  pulling  her  dress  until  he  suc- 
ceeded in  bringing  her  under  the  nail  on  which  the  key  was  hung, 
and  he  always  returned  it  most  honestly  when  the  family  had  done 
with  it.  One  day,  however,  having  brought  it  back  as  usual,  he 
found  the  cook  too  busy  to  attend  to  him,  and,  growing  impatient 
he  trotted  off  with  it,  and  for  a  whole  fortnight  it  was  missing.  At 

length  Miss ,  being  much  inconvenienced  by  its  loss,  armed 

herself  with  a  whip,  and,  standing  by  the  gate,  called  the  dog,  and 
said  in  a  very  determined  tone,  "  Now,  Sultan,  bring  me  that  key 
directly."  Off  he  went  to  a  gooseberry-bush,  scratched  up  the  key, 
and  brought  it  to  her.  He  had,  probably,  found  the  same  spot  a 
safe  depository  for  many  a  bone. 

421.  Mr.  A n,  with  whom  I  was  slightly  acquainted, — a  man 

of  great  originality,  and  singular  shrewdness  and  intelligence,— had 
a  dog  called  Taffy,  who  had  a  remarkable  aptitude  for  comprehending 
whatever  was  told  him.     He  knew  by  name  every  member  of  Mr. 


a  certainty 

harder  grip  ;"  the  dog  would  bite  more  firmly.  At  the  third  order, 
"  Harder,  my  boy, — yet  harder,"  the  party  assaulted  would  be  too 
glad  to  sue  for  mercy ;  for  no  one  dared  to  strike  Taffy  excepting 
Mr.  A n.  Even  to  him  the  animal  never  submitted  quietly,  but 


240  TAFFY  A  GOOD  WATCH-DOG.  [CH.  xiv. 

kept  growling  and  snarling  whenever  he  was  being  punished — indeed, 
on  more  than  one  occasion  he  fonght  for  the  mastery,  but  unsuccess- 
fully, for  few  men  are  more  resolute  than  was  Mr.  A n. 

422.  Taffy  was  an  admirable  watch-dog,  and  fully  sensible  of  the 
responsible  duties  that  devolved  upon  him.     It  happened  that,  in 

a  violent  storm,  late   one  evening,  when  Mr.  A n  was  from 

home,  the  force  of  the  wind  drove  in  the  front  door.     Taffy  forth- 
with commenced  a  search  from  the  bottom  of  the  house  to  the 
top,  apparently  to  ascertain  that  no  stranger  had  entered,  and  he 
then  went  downstairs.      Next  morning  he  was  found  lying  across 
the  door-mat,  where  evidently  he  had  remained  the  whole  night, 
although  the  cold  and  wet  had  been  most  severe. 

423.  Taffy's  character  was  so  established  as  a  sagacious,  faithful 

guardian,  that  Mr.   A n's  sister-in-law,  feeling  nervous  at  her 

husband's  being  obliged  to  leave  home,  begged  the  loan  of  Taffy 

for  a  few  nights.      Mr.   A n   consented,  and  ordered   Taffy, 

manifestly  to  his  great  annoyance,  to  remain  at  the  house.     Four 

days  afterwards  he  reappeared  at  home,  when  Mr.  A n,  in  the 

belief  that   he  had  run  away,   was  about   to  beat  him,  but  was 
persuaded   to  suspend   the  punishment  until   it    was  ascertained 

whether  Mrs. had  not  brought  him  into  the  neighbourhood. 

About  an  hour  afterwards  she  arrived  to  make  inquiries  about  the 
dog,  wrho,  she  said,  had  left  her  house  the  moment  her  husband  put 
his  foot'  withinside  the  door. 

424.  Taffy  was  also  a  sporting  character, — I  fear  I  ought  to  say  a 
poaching  character, — for  he  was  a  peculiar  dog,  he  had  peculiar 
ideas — would  that  such  ideas  were  more  peculiar — on  the  subject  of 
game,  and  fancied  all  means  lawful  that  insured  success.     In  the 
Isle  of  Wight  there  once  were  (probably  the  spot  is  now  drained) 
ten  or  twelve  acres  of  marsh-land,  nearly  surrounded  by  water, 
much  in  the  shape  of  a  horse-shoe.     It  was  a  favourite  resort  for 
hares,  as  Taffy  well  knew.     His  bulk  prevented  his  ever  having  a 
chance  of  catching  any  in  a  fair  run  ;  he  used,  therefore,  to  dodge 
about  between  them  and  the  outlet,  and  would  so  worry  and  distress 
them,  that  he  was  pretty  certain  of  eventually  carrying  off  one  as  a 
prize. 

425.  We  all  remember  the  story  of  the  unfortunate  tailor  deluged 
with  a  shower  of  dirty  water  by  the  indignant  elephant  whose  pro- 
boscis he  had  imprudently  insulted  in  the  morning  by  pricking  it 
with  his  needle,  instead  of  presenting  the  expected  delicacy.     It 
would  appear  as  though  Taffy  had  heard  and  understood  the  anecdote. 
He  was  once  pelted  with  stones  by  some  boys  from  behind  a  wall : 
having  then  no  means  of  retaliating,  he  seemed  to  take  the  affront 
quietly,  but  he  did  not  forget  it  ;  he  patiently  bided  his  time,  and, 
as  opportunities  offered,  avenged  himself  upon  each  successively  by 
knocking  them  down  in  the  dirt  ;  nor  did  he  allow  one  to  escape 
unpunished,  though  some  of  them  avoided  him  for  three  weeks  or  a 
month.     There  were  six  offenders,  and  he  made  all  the  six  expiate 
their  offences  in  a  dirty  kennel. 

426.  Indeed,  Taffy  would  never  allow  anybody,  young  or  old,  to 


CH.  xiv.]  TAFFY  PURLOINS.  241 

play  tricks  upon  him  with  impunity.  On  one  occasion,  when  the 
labourers  had  left  off  work  to  take  their  dinners,  one  of  them 
amused  himself  by  offering  Taffy  a  piece  of  bread  stuck  on  the  end 
of  a  knife,  and  by  suddenly  turning  it  over,  managed  to  give  the 
dog  a  rap  on  the  nose  with  the  handle,  on  his  attempting  to  seize 
the  proffered  gift.  Taffy  bore  the  joke  patiently  for  some  time  ;  but 
at  length,  thinking  that  his  good-nature  was  unduly  taxed,  and 
perceiving  also  that  the  loaf  was  fast  decreasing,  he  determined  to 
turn  the  tables.  Bristling  up,  therefore,  he  jumped,  open-mouthed, 
at  the  man,  and  so  alarmed  him,  that  in  his  fright  he  dropped  the 
bread,  and  Taffy  quietly  walked  off  with  it,  much  to  the  delight  of 
the  bystanders. 

427.  Though  Taffy's  natural  parts  were  so   great,   they  were 

doubtless  improved  by  education.     If  Mr.  A n  ever  called  the 

dog's  attention  to  a  thing  by  pointing  at  it,  the  dog  would,  to 
nearly  a  certainty,  bring  it  to  him  when  he  had  got  well  out  of 
sight,  and  was,  therefore,  not  likely  to  be  suspected  of  participating 
in  the  robbery.  Many  a  time  has  Taffy  run  off  with  the  finest  fish 
from  the  side  of  the  unsuspecting  angler,  who,  until  he  was  en- 
lightened upon  the  subject  on  its  safe  restoration,  may  in  his  be- 
wilderment have  gravely  considered  whether,  under  very  favouring 
circumstances,  it  would  be  possible  for  a  trout  to  possess  the  same 
vitality  and  power  of  locomotion  as  an  eel.  It  always  tended  to  the 
maintenance  of  the  piscator's  proverbial  reputation  for  patience  and 
equanimity,  that  he  should  not  detect  Taffy  in  the  commission  of 
the  theft ;  for  the  dog  would  constantly  show  fight  rather  than  give 
up  the  prize.  He  evinced  yet  greater  adroitness  in  securing  pigeons. 
On  numerous  occasions  bets  have  been  laid,  and  rarely  lost,  that  he 
would  bring  home  the  particular  one  indicated  to  him  out  of  a  large 
flock  feeding  on  the  ground  ;  for  he  would  patiently  crouch, — per- 
haps affecting  to  be  asleep, — until  it  incautiously  afforded  him  the 
opportunity  of  seizing  it ;  but  so  careful  was  he  of  his  charge,  that 
he  invariably  delivered  it  up  to  his  master,  perfectly  uninjured. 

428.  With  all  his  cunning  and  eccentricities,  Taffy  was  "  passing 
honest,"  and  seldom  purloined  on  his  own  account ;  but  I  regret  to 
say  it  is  recorded  of  him,  that  in  a  moment  of  weakness  and  hunger 
he  yielded  to  temptation,  The  instance  was  this. — Taffy  observed 
a  woman  seated  at  a  cottage-door  feeding  her  child.  He  earnestly 
begged  for  a  share,  but  in  vain.  Remarking,  however,  that  she 
frequently  turned  round  to  dip  the  spoon  into  something,  he  con- 
trived to  creep  behind  her  without  her  perceiving  him,  when  to  his 
satisfaction  he  discovered  a  basin  of  pap  on  the  floor.  It  was  too 
hot  to  gobble  up  at  once  ;  so  waiting  quietly  until  her  attention 
was  drawn  away,  he  cautiously  took  up  the  crock  and  trotted  off 
with  it — to  the  good  woman's  dismay,  who  was  wondering  what  had 
become  of  her  dear  baby's  dinner — and,  without  spilling  any  of  the 
contents,  carried  it  to  a  convenient  distance,  where  he  leisurely  ate 
up  all  the  carefully-prepared  food,  leaving  the  basin  perfectly  un- 
damaged, and  as  clean  as  if  it  had  been  washed  by  the  most  praise- 
worthy housewife. 

K 


242 


TAFFY'S  PARENTAGE. 


[CH.  XIV. 


429.  Other  stories  could  be  told  of  Taffy's  sagacity,  but  these 
you  will  probably  think  more  than  sufficient.     However,  you  would 
perhaps  like  to  hear  how  he  was  bred.     No  one  can  tell  you  more 
than  that,  judging  from  his  appearance,  he  must  have  ha'd  a  strain 
of  the  Newfoundland  in  him,  for  the  circumstances  attending  his 
birth  and  parentage  are  nearly  as  singular  as  his  character. 

430.  A  ship  was  lost  in  a  storm  off  the  Needles,  in  1811.     No- 
thing was  saved,  not  a  plank  whereon  was  a  letter  to  indicate  to 
what  country  she  belonged.     For  some  weeks  afterwards,  a  farmer 
in  the  Isle  of  Wight  found  that  regularly  every  night  one  of  his 
sheep  was  destroyed.     A  watch  was  set.     The  culprit  was  at  length 
discovered  to  be  a  strange,  savage-looking  dog.  supposed  to  have 
escaped  from  the  wreck.     For  many,  many  nights  it  baffled  its  pur- 
suers, but  was  at  length  wounded,  and  tracked  by  its  blood  to  a  cave, 
where  it  was  killed.     Three  young  pups  were  found.     One  of  them, 

the  said  Taffy,  was  saved,  and  brought  up  by  hand  by  Mr.  A n, 

who  became  so  fond  of  it  that  their  attachment  might  almost  be 
said  to  be  mutual.     Taffy  lived  admired  and  honoured  beyond  the 
term  of  life  usually  assigned  to  the  canine  race. 

431.  Jesse  *  narrates  many  instances  similar  to  the  foregoing,  in 


*  Lord  Brougham,  in  his  "  Dia- 
logues on  Instinct,"  gives  anec- 
dotes showing  the  great  sagacity 
of  animals.  He  writes  —  "The 
cunning  of  foxes  is  proverbial ; 
but  I  know  not  if  it  was  ever 
more  remarkably  displayed  than 
in  the  Duke  of  Beaufort's  country ; 
where  Reynard, beinghard  pressed, 
disappeared  suddenly,  and  was, 
after  strict  search,  found  in  a 
water-pool  up  to  the  very  snout,  by 
which  he  held  on  to  a  willow-bough 
hanging  over  the  pond.  The  cun- 
ning of  a  dog,  which  Serjeant 
Wilde  tells  me  of  as  known  to 
him,  is  at  least  equal.  He  used 
to  be  tied  up  as  a  precaution 
against  hunting  sheep.  At  night 
he  slipped  his  head  out  of  the 
collar,  and  returning  before  dawn, 
put  on  the  collar  again  to  conceal 
his  nocturnal  excursions." 

All  animals  are  more  or  less 
cunning.  The  cunning  of  monkeys 
— I  do  not  quite  like  using  that 
word  :  it  hardly  does  them  justice 
— is  nearly  as  proverbial  as  the 
cunning  of  foxes — but  it  is  not 
so  generally  admitted  that  the 
monkey  has  an  innate  sense  of  the 


ludicrous  ;  and  it  would  surprise 
many  to  be  told  that  its  mischievous 
propensities  frequently  arise,  not 
from  a  spirit  of  wanton  destruc- 
tiveness,  but  from  a  consciousness 
of  fun — from  a  feeling  of  enjoy- 
ment at  thinking  of,  or  witnessing 
the  embarrassments  created  by  its 
pranks.  Yet  it  is  so.  Captain 

H e,  when  in  the  7th  Fusiliers, 

mentioned  to  me  that  the  sailors 
of  the  ship  in  which  he  returned 
from  the  Mediterranean  had  two 
pet  monkeys  on  board.  The  older 
one  not  being  so  tame  as  the 
smaller,  a  belt  with  a  short  rope 
was  fastened  round  his  waist,  in 
order  that  he  might  be  occasionally 
tied  up,  and  as  this  belt  had  chafed 
him  he  greatly  disliked  its  being 
touched.  One  hot  day  when  the 
monkeys  were  lying  beside  each 
other  on  the  deck,  apparently 

asleep,  H e  observed  the  little 

one  raise  himself  softly,  look  at 
his  companion,  and  feeling  assured 
that  he  was  asleep,  sink  down 
quietly,  close  his  eyes,  and  give 
the  obnoxious  belt  a  sudden  twitch. 
The  other  instantly  sprang  up, — 
perceiving,  however,  nothing  near 


CH.  XIV.] 


JESSE'S  OPINION. 


243 


his  amusing  work  on  Dogs — a  book  likely  to  convince  the  most 
sceptical,  that  few  among  us  give  the  canine  race  credit  for  half  the 
sagacity  and  intelligence  with  which  they  are  really  endowed.  He 
asserts,  and  I,  for  one,  fully  agree  with  him,  "  that  there  is  not  a 
faculty  of  the  human  mind,  of  which  some  evident  proof  of  its 
existence  may  not  be  found  in  dogs.  Thus,"  he  says,  "  we  find 
them  possessed  of  memory,  imagination,  curiosity,  cunning,  revenge, 
ingenuity,  gratitude,  devotion  or  affection,  and  other  qualities." 

432.  To  this  list  he  ought  to  have  added  jealousy  :  only  this  year 
I  heard  of  a  stronger  instance  of  it  than  I  could  have  imagined 
possible.  Walking  near  Devonport,  I  met  a  man  with  two  small 
dogs  ;  one  was  evidently  a  foreigner.  Apologising  for  the  abrupt- 
ness of  the  question,  I  inquired  from  what  country  the  animal 
came.  "  From  Japan."  I  then  asked  whether  he  had  ever  bred 
from  the  other  dog,  a  most  varmint-looking,  wiry  little  terrier  ;  he 
replied  that  she  was  three  years  old,  and  had  never  had  but  one 
pup,  which,  because  he  was  fondling  it,  she  had  deliberately  killed 
that  very  morning,  although  it  was  six  weeks  old,  and  she  was  still 
nursing  it.  I  cannot  say  that  she  manifested  either  sorrow  for  its 


him  but  the  little  fellow  (seem- 
ingly) in  a  deep  slumber,  he  laid 
himself  down  to  continue  his  siesta. 
After  a  while  the  young  tormentor 
cautiously  peered  round ;  when 
satisfied  that  his  friend  was  again 
in  the  arms  of  "  Mr.  Murphy,"  he 
repeated  the  disagreeable  twitch 
with  yet  greater  success, — the  old 
chap  becoming  this  time  delight- 
fully puzzled. 

A  third  time  the  little  rascal, 
after  the  same  precautions  as  be- 
fore, endeavoured  to  play  off  his 
trick, — but  he  was  foiled  at  his 
own  weapons.  The  old  gentleman 
suspecting  him,  had  cunningly 
pretended  to  be  asleep  ;  and  on  the 
small  paw  quietly  approaching  his 
sensitive  loins,  he  jumped  up — 
seized  the  culprit  in  the  very  fact, 
and  forthwith  gave  him  a  drub- 
bing that  taught  him  more  re- 
spectful manners  during  the 
remainder  of  the  voyage. 

But  to  return  for  a  moment  to 
foxes.  A  story  is  told  in  the 

family  of  Mr.  C s  E n  (286) 

of  the  sagacity  of  these  animals, 
to  which  he  gives  implicit  cre- 
dence. Adjacent  to  their  old 
family  house  stands  a  yet  older 


high  tower,  the  summit  of  which 
commands  an  extensive  view  of 
the  surrounding  country,  and  con- 
sequently of  the  several  rides  lead- 
ing to  the  building.  From  this 
elevated  position  his  grandfather 
was  one  morning  watching  the 
hounds  drawing  some  neighbour- 
ing covers,  when  he  saw  a  fox 
steal  away  unobserved,  and  hide 
himself  in  a  few  furze-bushes.  The 
pack  passed  by  at  some  distance 
from  him,  and  Monsieur  Reynard 
must  have  begun  congratulating 
himself  upon  his  escape,  when  to 
his  horror  he  perceived  two  lag- 
ging skirters  approaching  his  place 
of  concealment.  Instead  of  break- 
ing away  in  an  opposite  direction, 
he  at  once  went  forth  to  greet 
them, — lay  down,  playfully  wag- 
ging his  tail, — and  gave  them  a 
pressing,  and  doubtless  sincere, 
invitation  to  join  in  a  game  of 
romps.  The  ruse  was  successful. 
The  hounds  came  up,  paid  him  the 
compliment  of  sniffing  at  him  as 
he  rolled  on  his  back  humbly 
admitting  his  inferiority,  and  then 
cantered  off  to  join  their  com- 
panions. Upon  this,  Pug  at  once 
retreated  to  his  first  covert. 
R  2 


244  PHILAX  AND  BRAC.  [OH.  xiv. 

loss,  or  repentance  of  her  unnatural  conduct  ;  on  the  contrary  her 
joyous  gambols  seemed  to  evince  her  delight  at  having  removed 
from  her  path  a  dreaded  rival  in  the  affections  of  her  master. 

433.  We  must  all  admit  that  they  have  much  reflection,  or  they 
would  not  evince  the  good  judgment  they  so  frequently  display  in 
unusual  circumstances — circumstances  in  which  mere  instinct  could 
in  no  way  assist  them.*     An  industrious  couple,  who  lived  high  on 
the  side  of  one  of  the  romantic  Ennerdale  Hills,  (Cumberland)  in 
a  cottage  which  had  descended  through  several  generations  from 
father  to  son,  used  to  gather  fuel  in  a  neighbouring  wood.     They 
often  took  their  little  daughter  with  them  ;  but  one  evening,  whilst 
hunting  for  wild  flowers,  she  strayed  beyond  their  sight  or  hearing. 
They  searched  unceasingly  for  their  lost  darling  as  long  as  the 
waning  light  permitted  them  to  distinguish  objects  amidst  the  thick 
foliage  ;  and  then,  with  heavy  hearts,  turned  towards  home,  the 
father  endeavouring  to  cheer  the  mother  with  the  hope  he  could 
not  himself  entertain  that  the  little  girl  might  have  wandered  to  her 
accustomed  haunts  ;  but  they  had  the  grief  of  finding  that  she  had 
not  returned  ;  and  fruitless  also  was  the  anxious  search  renewed  by 
torchlight.     The  poor  mother  mechanically  spread  out  the  frugal 
supper,  thinking  it  possible  that  her  husband  might  partake  of  the 
food  she  could  not  taste.     It  would,  however,  have  remained  on  the 
board  untouched  had  not  the  old  dog  seized  a  large  slice  of  the  loaf 
and  rushed  out  of  the  cottage.     The  father  quietly  observed,  "  I 
never  knew  the  dog  to  thieve  before."    Ere  the  day  had  fully 
dawned,  they  were  again  hunting  the  wood  ;  but  they  could  dis- 
cover no  trace  of  their  child.     At  breakfast-time  the  dog,  as  on  the 
preceding  evening,  purloined  a  piece  of  bread.     The  man  was  about 
to  strike  the  depredator,  but  his  wife,  her  countenance  radiant  with 
hope,  stopped  him  with  the  exclamation,  "  I  am  sure  he  knows 
where  Agnes  is."     They  ran  down  hill  after  him,  and  at  length  found 
him  near  the  edge  of  the  lake,  lying  on  the  child  to  keep  her  warm. 
She  appeared  quite  satisfied  with  her  position,  and  extremely  pleased 
with  her  shaggy  companion.     In  her  small  fat  fingers  she  grasped 
the  stolen  bread,  together  with  many  flowers  she  had  gathered. 

434.  You  may  have  seen  the  account  of  the  marvellous  tricks 
which  Monsieur  Leonard,  by  kindness  and  perseverance,  taught  his 
dogs  Philax  and  Brae.     That  a  dog  could  be  tutored  into  playing 
as  good  a  game  of  dominos  as  a  man,  may  sound  preposterously 
unreasonable,  but  the  respectability  of  the  writer  compels  us  to  give 
credence  to  the  recital. 

435.  I,  also,  had  once  the  honour  of  playing  a  game  of  dominos 
with  a  learned  dog,  whose  celebrity,  however,  was  far  inferior  to 
that  acquired  by  M.  Leonard's  clever  pupil.     It  thus  happened. 
As  I  was  crossing  the  Place  St.  Sulpice,  at  Paris,  I  saw  a  large 
crowd  collected  in  a  circle  of  considerable  diameter  round  a  man 


*  Is  not  the  capability  of  form-       upon  the  exercise  of  the  reasoning 
ing  a  good  judgment  in  unusual       than  the  instinctive  faculties  ? 
circumstances     more     dependent 


CH.  XIV.] 


SHOWMAN'S  DOGS. 


245 


who  was  exhibiting  tricks  with  dogs.  He  had  a  great  variety.  Six 
were  yoked  in  pairs  to  a  light  carriage.  On  the  roof  sat  a  terrier 
dressed  up  most  fantastically,  and  who  with  difficulty  retained  his 
elevated  position  when  the  carriage  was  in  motion.  Two  others, — 
one  an  extremely  small  animal,  called  the  "  petit  Caporal," — were 
favoured  with  places  in  the  interior.  There  were,  also,  two  slight 
greyhounds  and  a  Russian  poodle.  Total,  a  dozen.  It  may  be 
worthy  of  note  that  all,  with,  I  believe,  only  one  exception,  were 
of  the  masculine  gender.  They  were  miserably  thin,  but  I  must 
admit  that  they  appeared  attached  to  their  master. 


DOMINI  AND  '  DOMINOS.'— Par.  434. 

436.  When  I  joined  the  group,  the  showman  was  making  a  dog, 
dressed  in  a  petticoat  and  smart  cap,  dance  a  minuet.  Then  a 
greyhound  leaped,  of  course  gracefully,  through  a  hoop  held  by  a 
boy  over  his  head ;  and  afterwards  trotted,  as  ungracefully,  on  three 
legs,  affecting  extreme  lameness  on  each  alternately.  The  man 
then  promised  numerous  surprising  feats  if  he  could  but  collect 
as  many  as  twelve  sous.  On  summing  up  the  coppers  thrown  to 
him,  there  appeared  to  be  thirteen.  This  he  averred  to  be  such  an 
unlucky  number  that  he  dare  not  proceed  unless  some  benevolent, 
Christian-like  person  would  break  the  charm  by  adding  another 
sou.  His  demand  was  immediately  complied  with. 

In  order  to  increase  the  size  of  the  arena — at  least,  such  I  con- 
ceived to  be  the  reason,  it  certainly  had  the  effect — he  drove  the 
car  fast  round  the  circle.  He  then  spread  ten  cards  on  the  four 


246  CARD  TRICKS.  [CH.  xiv. 

sides  of  an  old  cloth,  about  five  feet  long,  and  of  nearly  the  same 
width.  Each  card  bore  a  legibly- written  number  from  0  to  9.  He 
invited  the  spectators  to  ask  for  whatever  number  they  pleased, 
provided  it  did  not  hold  doublets,  nor  contain  more  than  four  of 
the  cyphers  ;  asserting  that  his  dogs,  without  the  least  assistance 
from  him,  would  bring,  in  regular  order,  the  several  cards  repre- 
senting the  required  number ;  and  to  create,  as  it  seemed  to  me, 
the  impression  that  it  was  a  matter  of  perfect  indifference  what 
dog  he  took,  he  unyoked  one  of  the  leaders,— a  close-cropped,  small 
Dane, — and  called  him  to  the  centre.  I  begged  a  lady  who  was 
leaning  on  my  arm,  and  whose  eyes  are  generally  sharp  enough,  to 
watch  the  man  most  carefully.  Some  one  demanded  1824.  The 
dog  went  round  and  round  the  cloth  as  if  examining  every  card 
separately,  and  lifted,  in  regular  succession  (carrying  them  one  by 
one  to  his  master),  the  several  numbers  composing  1824.  The  dog 
committed  no  blunder  ;  and  did  not  long  hesitate  in  making  his 
selection.  Another  person  in  the  crowd  called  out  for  29,  when 
the  dog  was  equally  successful  ;  and  on  neither  occasion  could  the 
lady  or  myself  perceive  that  the  man  gave  the  slightest  sign.  At  one 
time  I  thought  I  had  detected  that  he  took  a  short  step  forward,  as 
if  to  receive  the  card,  when  the  dog  was  about  to  grasp  the  right 
one  ;  but  I  was  soon  aware  that  I  had  only  found  a  "  mare's  nest." 

437.  When  reharnessing  the  Dane  to  the  carriage,  the  showman 
gave  out  that,  if  duly  paid,  he  could  exhibit  before  the  "  respect- 
able and  discriminating  company  "the  feats  of  a  far  more  wonderful 
animal.      He   collected  what   satisfied  him  ;    and  producing  two 
similar  packs  of  common  playing  cards  (say  a  dozen  in  each),  he 
bade  the  Russian  come  forth  and  astonish  the  public.     The  man 
distributed  one  pack  along  the  borders  of  the  cloth  ;  and  handing 
round  the  other  pack,  he  begged  as  many  of  the  company  as  pleased, 
to  take  a  card.     Five  or  six  did  so.     The  man  then  showed  what 
cards  remained  in  his  hands  to  the  poodle,  desiring  him  to  point 
out  those  that  had  been  taken.     The  dog  walked  round  and  round 
the  cloth,  and  one  by  one  fetched  the  corresponding  cards. 

438.  The  showman  still  more  astonished  the  gaping  crowd  by 
assuring  them  that  this  dog's  intellect  was  so  extraordinary  and 
wonderful,  that  he  could  read  their  most  secret  thoughts  ;  and  to 
prove  the  truth  of  his  assertion,  whilst  telling  a  good-humoured 
fiacre-driver,  well  known  to  many  of  them,  to  think  of  a  card,  he 
successfully  forced  *  one  upon  his  sight :  and  after  coachee  had, 


*    So    adroitly    obtruding    (or  the  eight  by  lightly  sticking  on  a 

forcing)  a  particular  card  of  an  bit  of  paper  cut  into  proper  shape, 

outspread  pack  upon  the  notice  of  and  of  the  same  colour  as  the  suit, 

an  unsuspecting  party,  that  he  un-  The  metamorphosed  card  is  forced 

hesitatingly  selects  that  identical  upon  one  of  the  audience,  and  the 

card.  This  trick  is  performed  very  exhibitor  manages  unperceived  to 

effectively,  having  previously  con-  remove  the  deception  with    his 

cealed  the  eight  of  a  suit,  by  tern-  little  finger  when  reshuffling  the 

porarily  converting  the  seven  into  cards. 


CH.  xiv.]  PLAYING  DOMINOS.  247 

agreeably  to  the  showman's  desire,  whispered  to  a  neighbour  what 
it  was,  the  dog,  without  taking  much  time  for  reflection,  selected 
the  true  card  from  among  those  lying  on  the  cloth. 

439.  The  expressions  of  admiration  and  bewilderment  this  feat 
elicited  having  somewhat  subsided,  the  showman  again  laid  out 
those  cards  on  which  the  numbers  were  written.     There  was  a  large 
public  clock  easily  visible  from  the  Place :  he  held  the  dog's  head 
towards  it ;  requested  him  to  look  at  it  attentively,  and  tell  the 
gentlemen   and   ladies  the  exact  time, — first  the  hours,  then  the 
minutes.     It  was  a  quarter-past  two.     The  dog  brought  2  for  the 
hours,  and  then  1  and  5  for  the  minutes. 

440.  Having  now  sufficiently  worked  upon  the  imagination  and 
credulity  of  the  observers,  the  showman  drew  forth  a  quantity  of 
small  folded  papers  of  various  colours  ;  and  having  spread  them 
along  the  edges  of  the  cloth,  he  solemnly  protested  that  the  dog 
would  tell  the  fortune  of  any  of  his  hearers  who  would  first  give 
him  a  sou.     As  a  guarantee  for  the  dog's  ability,  he  told  them  they 
might  compare  the  several  fortunes  written  on  the  papers  selected 
for  them  by  the  dog,  however  numerous  they  might  be,  when  it 
would  be  found  that,  without  a  single  exception,  the  canine  magician 
would  have  foretold  to  each  what  could  only  happen  to  an  individual 
of  his  or  her  sex.     The  charlatan  reaped  a  plentiful  harvest,  for  the 
temptation  was  strong — to  female  curiosity  especially  ;  and  no  one 
could  prove  that  the  dog  was  ever  in  error. 

441.  After  a  laughable  exhibition  of  several  of  the  dogs  marching 
in  procession,  which  he  called  "  the  carnival  of  Venice,"  he  affected 
suddenly  to  discover  that  none  of  the  dogs  had  been  allowed  a 
game  of  dominos.     He  again  unyoked  the  Dane,  and  asked  if  any 
one  was  willing  to  become  his  antagonist.     As  no  one  would  step 
forward,  whether  from  bashfulness  or  fear  of  necromancy  I  cannot 
say,  I  avowed  my  willingness  to  play.  There  were  fourteen  dominos. 
I  drew  seven.     The  others  were  arranged  for  the  dog  on  the  cloth, 
far  apart  from  one  another.     He  had  the  double  six,  and  he  imme- 
diately took  it  up  to  begin  the  game.     I  followed  ;  and  we  alter- 
nately played  a  piece  in  the  most  orderly  and  regular  manner— the 
dog  carrying  the  dominos  to  the  man  to  place  for  him ;  wagging  his 
short  stump  when  he  found  (from  his  master's  manner),  that  he 
was  right  ;  and,  to  do  him  justice,  he  never  made  a  mistake. 

442  Although  I  was  now  close  to  the  showman,  I  could  not  re- 
mark that  he  gave  the  least  signal  by  look,  or  by  motion  of  hand  or 
foot :  but  I  fancied — this,  however,  may  be  only  another  "  mare's 
nest,"  though  I  cannot  think  it  was — that  I  heard  him  make  a  slight 
chuckling  sound*  (with  his  tongue  against  the  roof  of  his  mouth), 
whilst  the  dog  was  walking  round  from  domino  to  domino,  which 
ceased  when  he  approached  the  right  domino,  leaving  the  man  at 
liberty  to  jest  and  talk  nonsense  for  the  amusement  of  the  crowd. 

*  This  would  account  for  the      his  audience  at  a  respectable  dis- 
showman's  wish  to  increase  the       tance,  well  out  of  hearing, 
size  of  the  circle  (436),  and  keep 


248  EXCELLENCE  EXPECTED.  [CH.  xiv. 

He  had  evidently  a  long  string  of  ready-prepared  witticisms.  He 
laughed  at  the  dog  for  being  so  long  in  making  up  his  mind  as  to 
what  it  would  be  most  judicious  to  play  ; — told  him  that  he  had 
been  so  hospitably  treated  by  the  good  Parisians,  that  it  was  evident 
his  brains  were  not  so  clear  as  they  ought  to  be,  &c.,  &c. :  all  which 
verbiage  I  suspect  the  dog  took  as  a  confirmation  that  he  was 
making  the  selection  his  master  wished.  The  man  promised  to  call 
upon  me  ;  but  I  was  obliged  to  leave  Paris  sooner  than  I  had  ex- 
pected, and  I  never  saw  him  again. 

443.  Our  attention,  however,  perhaps  you  will  think,  ought  to 
be  confined  to  instances  of  intelligence  and  high  education  in 
sporting-dogs.  Well,  then,  in  the  next  Chapter  I  will  speak  of 
what  some  dogs  of  that  class  do  in  this,  and  some  are  trained  to  do 
in  other  countries  ; — facts  for  the  truth  of  which  I  can  vouch,  and 
I  hope  the  account  will  induce  you  to  believe  I  am  not  unreason- 
able in  asserting  that  we  have  a  right  to  require  greater  excellence 
in  our  sporting-dogs  than  what  is  now  regarded  by  most  of  us  as 
satisfactory. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

ANECDOTES  OF  DOGS  ON  SERVICE  ABROAD.     RUSSIAN  SETTERS. 

444.  Dogs  for  Hunting  Bears  in  India.— 445.  Polygar  Dogs  for  Hunting  Wild  Hog 
in  India. — 446.  Beaters  in  India  ;  the  greater  utility  of  Dogs. — 447.  Mongrel 
Pointer  in  India  which  proved  of  great  value. — 448.  Cross  between  Pointer  and 
Indian  Dog  recommended ;  in  Note,  Arab  Greyhounds. — 449.  Coolness  neces- 
sary in  attacking  large  Game.— 450  to  457.  K g"s  critical  encounter  with 

Elephant.— 458.  Sketch  of  Scene.— 459,  460.  Wounded  Elephant. — 461.  Pot 
shot  at  Bear  to  be  potted.— 462.  Skull  of  Indian  and  African  Elephant  differs.— 

463  to  467.  M e  bearding  Lion  in  Den.— 468.  Hindu's  estimate  of  courage  of 

Europeans.  Encounter  with  Wild  Boar. — 469.  Strong  Greyhounds  for  killing 
Kangaroos  in  Australia. —470.  Greyhound  hunted  with  Falcon. — 471.  The  Creole 
Sportsman  and  admirable  little  Cur. — 472.  His  good  generalship  with  Wild  Hog. 
—473.  The  moral  of  the  Story ;  in  Note,  Guinea  chicks ;  Guinea  birds'  eggs, 
how  taken.  Cross  with  Muscovy  Drake.— 474,  475.  Quantity  of  fish  at  New- 
foundland. Dog  Fishing.— 476.  Sir  H dD s. — 477  to  480.  Newfoundland 

fetching  back  Fox.— 481.   Sir  George  B k,  R.N.— 482  to  488.   His  Terrier 

"Muta"  leading  him  to  Musk  Bull.— 489.  His  Sketch  of  the  Scene.— 490.  Lord 

M f;  the  dogs  "Captain"  and  "Suwarrow." — 491.  Dot-and-go-one,  with  his 

old  Pointer.— 492.  How  fairly  done  by  "Captain."— 493.  Breakers,  not  dogs,  in 
fault ;  they  could  be  taught  anything. — 494.  "  Rap"  (a  Pointer)  hunting  covers 
with  Springers  and  Terriers. — 495.  "Shot"  (a  Pointer),  on  alternate  days,  hunt- 
ing with  Hounds  and  standing  at  Birds. — 496.  How  accounted  for.— 497.  Affec- 
tion an  incentive  to  exertion  ;  Dropper  alternately  pointing  Grouse  and  Snipe  ; 
Grouse-dog  to  be  rated  when  noticing  Snipe.  —  498.  Capital  Dropper  from 
Russian  Setter;  difficulty  of  procuring  Russian  Setters. — 499.  Bet  respecting 
superiority  of  two  Keepers  in  the  Highlands ;  how  decided.— 500.  High-priced 
,dogs  ought  to  be  highly  broken. 

444.  BEARS  of  the  common  species  which  we  often  see  led 
about,  are  very  numerous  in  the  hilly  districts  of  some  parts  of 
India.     In  rocky,  nearly  inaccessible  places,  the  natives  hunt  them 
with  a  strong-set  wiry  dog.     This  dog  is  trained  to  watch  for  his 
opportunity,  and  leap  very  high  upon  the  chest  of  the  bear,  and 
seize  his  throat.     You  would,  perhaps,  think  this  the  most  disad- 
vantageous position  which  the  dog  could  select,  enabling  Bruin  to 
crush  nim  in  his  powerful  embrace.     Not  so.     The  well-instructed 
creature  draws  himself  up  so  high  that  the  bear,  in  lieu  of  crushing 
his  ribs,  merely  presses  his  hips, — and  the  bear's  arms,  instead  of 
injuring  his  opponent  are  often  his  best  protection  ;  for  the  animals 
frequently  come  rolling  together  to  the  foot  of  the  hill,  where  the 
hunters  despatch  poor  Bruin  with  their  spears. 

445.  In  other  parts  of  India  the  natives  chase  the  wild  hog  with 


250  BOAR  AND  POLYGAR  DOGS.  [CH.  xv. 

a  coarse  dog  of  the  Polygar  breed.  The  dog  is  taught  to  seize  the 
hog  between  the  hind  legs  when  he  has  turned  his  head  to  meet 
some  other  assailant,  and  to  retain  the  hold  until  the  hunters  come 
up. 

446.  Talking  of  India,  however,  I  cannot  help  digressing.     Why 
should  not  more  Europeans  residing  in  that  country,  have  dogs  as 
well-trained  for  birds  as  the  Natives  have  for  the  bear  and  hog  ?     I 
have  often  thought  what  much  finer  sport  I  should  have  enjoyed, 
when  I  was  serving  there,  if  I  had  then  gained  as  much  experience 
in  dog-breaking  as  I  now  have.     As  too  many  young  fellows,  be- 
longing both   to   the  Queen's  and  Company's  service,  frequently 
complain  of  their  inability  to  kill  time — (time  which  so  soon  kills 
them  !) — it  is  a  pity  more  of  them  do  not  take  to  the  innocent 
amusement  of  dog-breaking.     The  broiling  sun*  makes  all  game 
lie  so  close  in  India  (except  very  early  in  the  morning,  and  towards 
the  close  of  day)  that  the  best  beaters,  unless  the  number  be  un- 
usually great,  leave  nearly  a  dozen  head  of  game  behind  them  for 
every  one  that  is  sprung,  especially  in  jungly  ground.     The  evil  is 
partially,  I  allow,  but  very  partially,  remedied  in  grass-land,  by 
attaching  numerous  little  bells  to  the  long  cord  carried  by  the  line 
of  beaters.     I  have  heard  of  this  plan  being  pursued  in  England 
in  the  absence  of  dogs,  or  when  the  scent  was  unusually  bad. 

447.  The  object  at  that  time  of  my  especial  envy  was  a  nonde- 
script belonging  to  an  officer  of  the  Company's  service,  with  whom 
I  used  occasionally  to  shoot  near  Belgaum.     The  animal  had,  I 
fancy,  some  cross  of  pointer  in  his  composition  ;  so  little,  however, 
that  he  never  pretended  to  point.     He  used  just  to   "feather" 
feebly  when  he  happened  to  get  near  any  game  ;  and  as  he  was  a 
wretchedly  slow  potterer,  and  never  strayed  (for  hunting  it  could 
not  be  called)  far  from  his  master,  all  that  he  did  put  up  was  well 
within  gun-range.     His  owner  thus  got  nearly  twice  as  many  shots 
as  any  of  his  companions.     How  much  his  sport  would  have  been 
increased  had  he  possessed  a  good  dog  ! 

448.  Now  there  are  some  native  dogs  t  in  India  with  not  a  bad 
nose  (those,  for  instance,  which  are  employed  to  hunt  the  porcupine 
at  night),  and  a  breed  from  them  with  an  European  pointer  £  would, 


*  We  speak  not  of  the  delight-  fields  are  cut ;  but  in  high  grass 

ful  Neilgherry  hills,  nor  the  val-  and  strong  jungle  a  team  of  Clum- 

leys  of  the  magnificent  Himalaya  bers  would  be  invaluable.  They 

mountains.  could  not,  however,  be  kept  healthy 

t  The  really  wild  dogs  of  India,  in  the  low,  hot  lands.  We  must 

— the  Dhole, — hunt  by  nose,  and  naturally  expect  that  in  the  cool 

in  packs.  parts  of  India  the  true  English 

J  Pointer  rather  than  setter,  not  pointer  (or  setter)  would  be  found 

only  on  account  of  his  shorter  coat,  more  serviceable  than  the  best  cross, 

but  because  his  nose  seems  better  For  those  who  are  fond  of  coursing 

suited  to  a  hot  climate.  This  cross  in  India  what  a  pity  it  is  that  it 

would  be  hardy;  and  prove  ex-  should  be  so  difficult  to  procure 

tremely  useful  when  the  grain  good  Arab -grey  hounds.  Whilst 


CH.  xv.]  ANGLO-INDIAN  DOGS.  251 

doubtless,  prove  extremely  useful.  Their  strength  of  constitution 
would  compensate  for  acknowledged  inferiority  in  every  other  re- 
spect. A  cross  with  the  Spanish  I)on  would  probably  be  the  best, 
and  the  easiest  broken  in,  as  he  is  so  steady  and  full  of  point.  But 
the  Hidalgo  would  be  of  little  service  out  of  the  kennel.  From 
his  natural  inactivity  and  weight,  he  would  soon  knock  up  under 
an  Indian  sun.  Three  or  four  pups  would  be  enough  for  the  dam 
to  rear.  Those  most  like  the  sire  should  be  preserved  ;  and  they 
might  be  kept  in  good  health,  if  they  were  occasionally  treated  to 
a  little  calomel  overnight,  with  castor  oil  in  the  morning,  and 
allowed  full  liberty  to  run  about  for  an  hour  every  morning  and 
evening.  I  knew  some  greyhounds  of  a  purely  English  breed,  but 
born  in  the  country,  which  were  thus  maintained  in  capital  health. 
They  belonged  to  the  only  litter  that  the  mother  ever  had.  The 
climate,  which  is  generally  fatal  to.  England-born  dogs,  killed  both 
the  parents  within  a  year  after  their  arrival  in  India.  It  is  best  that 
the  pups  should  be  whelped  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year,  as  they 
would  then  acquire  some  strength  before  the  setting  in  of  the  hottest 
weather,  and  be  of  an  age  to  commence  hunting  at  the  beginning 
of  the  following  cool  season.  The  companionship  of  dogs  in  the 
jungle  adds  much  to  the  security  of  the  pedestrians.  A  timid  yelp  or 
a  clamorous  bark  gives  timely  notice  of  the  vicinity  of  every  dis- 
agreeable, dangerous  neighbour,  and  enables  the  sportsman  to  take 
a  cool  deliberate  aim,  instead  of  having  to  make  a  hurried  snap- 
shot at  some  stealthy  panther  or  tiger,  or  the  far  more  formidable 
foe,  a  solitary  buffalo.  The  habit  of  placing  the  fore-finger  along- 
side the  stock,  and  not  letting  it  touch  the  trigger,  until  the  moment 
of  firing,  proves  very  valuable  in  these  critical  circumstances.  Many 
a  barrel  has  gone  off,  even  in  the  hands  of  an  old  sportsman,  before 
he  properly  covered  some  vital  part  of  his  first  royal  tiger.  The 
certainty  of  ignition  afforded  by  a  detonator  gives  great  confidence 
to  the  present  generation  of  sportsmen.  Even  in  the  wettest 
weather,  the  waterproof  caps  manufactured  by  Eley  and  others, 
seem  to  insure  an  instantaneous  fire. 

449.  Great  presence  of  mind  in  moments  of  unforeseen,  sudden 
peril  is  undoubtedly  a  gift ;  but  calmness  and  self-possession,  for- 
tunately for  sportsmen  seeking  "  large  game  "  (burrah  shicar),  as  it 
is  technically  termed  in  India,  can  be  acquired  by  reflection  and 
habit. 

450.  A  friend  and  old  fellow-passenger  of  mine,  one  of  the 

Colonels  K g, — a  name  that  will  long  be  remembered  at  Hythe 

— evinced  in  1816  as  much  coolness  as  I  ever  heard  of.     He  was 


I  was  in  the  country,  but  I  speak  parts  of  Arabia,  where  an  admi- 

of  many  years  ago,  I  never  saw  a  rable,  short-coated  greyhound  is 

decent  one.     A  far  better  descrip-  reared  for  different  kinds  of  cours- 

tion  of  dog,  and  one  which  would  ing.     The  best  dogs  are  greatly 

keep  healthy  in  the  hottest  weather,  valued,  and  it  is  a  question  whether 

might  be  imported  (if  expense  was  our  noble  breed  is  not  originally 

no  consideration)  from  the  upper  derived  from  this  stock. 


252  ROGUE-ELEPHANT.  [en.  xv. 

then  on  the  staff  at  Ceylon,  and  used,  while  accompanying  the 
Governor  on  his  annual  tour  throughout  the  island,  to  have  mag- 
nificent sport  in  places  rarely  visited  by  Europeans.  Indeed,  his 
character  as  a  slayer  of  elephants  was  so  fully  established  that  he 
was  often  called  "  elephant-king." 

451.  On  the  party  arriving  one  morning  within  the  Mahagam- 

pattoo  district,  the  Governor  said  to  K g,  "  Surely  you  will  not 

attack  the  desperate  brute  that  lately  killed  those  villagers  and 
the  two  letter-carriers?"    The  sportsmen  modestly  replied,  "I 
cannot  say,  sir ;  perhaps  I  may."     Now  it  is  well  known  that  a 
rogue-elephant  is  always  a  formidable  animal ;  but  one  recently 
driven  from  a  herd  by  a  stronger  bull  is  particularly  dangerous. 
In  his  malignant  rage  he  often  wantonly  attacks  whatever  he  sees  ; 
and  there  are  several  instances  of  his  having  displayed  extraordinary 
patience  in  waiting  for  imprisoned  men  who  had  climbed  into  trees, 
or  retreated  into  caves,  to  avoid  his  fury. 

452.  The  elephant  the  Governor  referred  to  was,  at  that  time, 
the  terror  of  the  surrounding  neighbourhood  ;  for  when  maddened 
by  jealousy  and  rage  at  being  expelled  after  a  severe  conflict  from 
the  harem,  and  smarting  from  the  blows  and  wounds  inflicted  by 
his  more  powerful  rival,  he  had  ventured  to  attack  an  unfortunate 
labourer,  and  finding  how  slight  was  the  resistance  offered,  he  had 
since  sought  opportunities  for  wreaking  his  vengeance  on  man,  of 
whom  he  had  now  lost  all  his  former  instinctive  dread. 

453.  About  four  o'clock,  as  the  Governor,  Lady  B g,  and  the 

staff,  &c.,  were  seated  at  dinner,  which  was  nearly  over,  a  message 
that  caused  some  excitement  among  the  hearers  was  delivered  to 

K g.     The   Governor  inquired  about  it.      K g  explained 

that  the  Shircarree  set  as  a  watch  had  reported  that  the  much 
dreaded  "  Rogue  "  had  just  left  the  jungle  and  appeared  upon  the 

plain.     K g  asked  leave  to  attack  him.     Lady  B g  begged 

that,  escorted  by  a  few  gentlemen,  she  might  be  allowed  to  watch 

his  proceedings  from  some  safe  spot.     This  K g  acceded  to,  but 

stipulated  that  he  was  then  to  be  left  entirely  to  himself.     On 
getting  a  view  of  the  low  ground,  and  observing  several  herds  of 
elephants  scattered  over  the  extensive  plain,  her  ladyship  became 
nervous,   and  returned  to  the  encampment.      Her  brother,  Mr. 

B 1  and  Mr.  G.  (now  living  in  London)  remained  ;  and  K g 

placed  them  in  a  secure  position  amidst  some  trees  standing  too 
close  together  to  admit  of  the  elephant's  forcing  his  large  body 
through,  should  he  be  merely  wounded,  and  perchance  take  that 
direction. 

454.  After  carefully  examining  the  localities,  K g  made  a 

detour  to  prevent  the  "  Rogue "  from  winding  him.     There  was 
some  brushwood,  but  no  trees,  to  cover  his  approach.     The  vindic- 
tive solitary  animal  was  apparently  brooding  over  his  wrongs  in  an 
open  space  rich  with  the  luxuriant  vegetation  consequent  on  tropical 
rains.  He  began  to  feed,  striking  the  ground  with  each  fore-foot  alter- 
nately, in  order  to  loosen  the  grass  from  the  soil.    He  then  collected 
the  herbage  with  his  trunk  ;  but  before  carrying  the  mass  to  his 


CH.  xv.]  ELEPHANT  KILLED.  253 

mouth,  shook  it  carefully  to  free  the  roots  from  earth.  This  gave 
K g  the  opportunity,  stealthily  and  creeping  low,  to  get  unde- 
tected about  twenty  paces  in  rear  of  him.  There  he  knelt  and 
anxiously  awaited  the  turn  of  the  head  that  should  expose  some 
spot  not  completely  protecting  the  brain. 

455.  Long  did  he  watch,  for  the  elephant,  when  not  engaged  in 
feeding,   stood  motionless,  save  an  occasional  whisk  of  his  cord- 
like  tail,  or  the  flopping  of  his  huge  ears.     At  times,  however,  he 
would  slightly  bend  his  head  when  with  his  proboscis  scattering 
sand  over  his  body,  in  order  to  drive  off  some  troublesome  insect ; 
at  which  moment  the  hopeful  sportsman  would  noiselessly  cock  his 
piece,  but  only  to  again  half  cock  it  in  disappointment. 

456.  Messrs.  B.  and  G.  became  impatient.     They  fancied  the 
elephant  must  have  stolen  away  ;  and  a  peacock  happening  to  fly 
over  their  heads,  they  fired  at  it.  On  hearing  the  noise,  the  elephant 

wheeled,  and  perceived  K g.     He  curled  his  trunk  under  his 

neck,  lowered  his  head,  and  charged.     The  most  vulnerable  spot 

was  thus  presented.     K g's  barrel  was  deliberately  poised, — a 

cool  aim  taken,   and  the  trigger  pulled  ; — but  it  yielded  not ! 

K g  felt,  he  told  me,  "  a  choking  sensation  " — certain  death  was 

before  him  ;  but  instantly  remembering  that  he  had  replaced  the 
piece  on  half-cock,  he  brought  it  from  his  shoulder — full-cocked  it 
— raised  it  again  to  level — and  with  unshaken  nerve,  and  unerring 
precision,  a  second  time  covered  the  vulnerable  spot.     Down  with  a 
tremendous  crash  dropped  the  ponderous  brute,  first  on  his  knees, 
then  on  his  chest ;  and  with  such  speed  was  he  charging  that  he 
almost  made  a  complete  somerset  in  the  act  of  falling  stone  dead 
near  the  feet  of  his  comparatively  puny  conqueror — vanquished  by 
skill  and  cool  intrepidity. 

457.  The  party  on  descending  found  K g  endeavouring  to 

climb  up  the  enormous  carcass.     They  feared  the  animal  might  be 

only  stunned,  but  K g  satisfied  them  by  probing  to  its  brain 

with  his  ramrod  in  the  direction  the  bullet  had  taken. 

458.  Colonel  W.  (the  Q.  Master  General),  who  was  of  the  party, 
made  a  spirited  sketch  of  the  scene.     I  have  more  than  once  ad- 
mired it.     It  is  admirably  done  in  red  chalk.     K g  is  seen 

standing  upon  the  prostrate  elephant,  and  a  number  of  the  natives 
are   represented  in  their  picturesque   costumes,  making  grateful 
salaams   to  the   u  brave   sahib "  who  had   slain  their  formidable 
enemy.     Underneath  the  sketch  is  written  "  The  Mighty  King." 

459.  My  friend's  nerves  were  so  little  affected  by  his  narrow 
escape  that  he  killed  two  more  elephants  the  same  evening,  and 
wounded  another.     It  was  a  long  shot  across  the  river.     The  animal 

was  feeding.  K g  waited  to  aim  until  he  could  bring  its  temple 

so  low  as  to  align  with  the  elbow,  when  the  head  would  be  in  a 
favourable  position  for  a  well-directed  ball  to  penetrate  to  the 
brain.      But  the  two  oz.  bullet  missed  the  temple ;   it,  however, 
struck  the  elbow  and  fractured  the  bone.     Darkness  was  gradually 
coining  on, — the  river  was  full  of  alligators, — there  was  no  bridge, — 
and  K g  was  unwillingly  compelled  to  defer  despatching  the 


254  ASIATIC  AND  AFKICAN  ELEPHANTS.        [CH.  xv. 

poor  creature  until  daylight  the  next  morning.  He  left  it  ineffectu- 
ally endeavouring  to  make  use  of  the  fractured  limb  by  frequently 
lifting  it  with  his  trunk  and  placing  it  in  front. 


THE  MIGBTY  KING.— Par.  458. 

460.  Colonel  W.,  whose  artistic  sketch  shows  that  he  was  an 
undeniable  hand  at  the  pencil,  whatever  he  might  be  with  the  rifle, 
was  ambitious  of  being  able  to  say  he  had  killed  an  elephant.     He, 
therefore,  begged  leave  to  give  the  wounded  animal  its  coup  de 
grace.   It  was  found  wallowing  in  an  adjacent  buffalo  hole.    Colonel 
W.  got  within  twelve  yards  of  it,  but  bespattered  by  the  mud  the 
disabled  beast  threw  over  him — the  novel  and  only  defence  it  could 

make — his  aim  was  so  uncertain,  that,  after  all,  K g  had  to  put 

the  sufferer  out  of  its  misery. 

461.  Colonel  W.'s  ambition  recals  to  my  mind  a  singular  adver- 
tisement, though  I  cannot  think  that  even  he  would  have  answered 
it  had  he  been  in  London  at  the  time.     It  appeared  in  the  papers 
many  years  ago,  but  was  too  ludicrous  not  to  be  still  in  the  recollec- 
tion of  many.     A  perfumer  in  Bishopsgate  Street  Without,  gave 
notice  in  conspicuous  characters  "  to  SPORTSMEN,"  that  a  splen- 
did Bear  was  to  be  killed  on  his  premises,  at  which  they  might 
have  a  shot  by  paying, — I  now  forget  what  exact  sum. 

462.  I  am  told  that  an  examination  of  the  skulls  of  the  Asiatic 
and  African  elephants  would  show  a  marked  difference  between  the 
two,  and  explain  why  the  latter  animal  cannot  be  instantaneously 
killed.     In  the  Asiatic  elephant  there  is  a  spot  about  the  size  of  a 
man's  hand  between  and  somewhat  above  the  eyes,  where  a  bullet 


COOL  AS  A  CUCUMBER. 
Made  the  Caffre  boy  behind  him  pull  the  deadly  trigger."— Par.  464. 


cir.  xv.]  ENCOUNTER  WITH  LION.  257 

can  easily  penetrate  to  the  brain  when  the  head  is  carried  low ; 
whereas  the  brain,  it  is  said,  of  the  African  elephant  is  as  effectually 
guarded  on  the  forehead  as  elsewhere.  This  might  be  inferred 
from  a  perusal  of  Gordon  Cumming's  exciting  book.  Murray 
would  not  print  many  of  the  startling  anecdotes  related  in  the 
manuscript,  fearing  they  might  throw  discredit  upon  the  work. 
But  it  is,  I  think,  to  be  regretted  that  he  did  not  trust  more  to  the 
discernment  of  the  public  ;  and  to  the  strong  internal  evidence  of 
truthfulness  afforded  in  the  descriptions  given  of  the  habits  of  the 
various  beasts  which  the  author  had  singular  opportunities  of 
observing. 

463.  The  mention  of  Gordon  Cumming's  name,  which  is  naturally 
associated  with  feats  of  cool  daring,  leads  one  to  speak  of  an  old 
fellow-sportsman  of  his  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.     Doubtless 
there  are  men  of  whom  it  may  be  almost  averred  that  they  know 
not  the  sensation  of  fear.     Of  this  number  was  Gordon  Cumming's 

friend  Captain  G.  B.  M e  of  the  45th.     Alas  !    we  must  say 

"  was,"  for  that  brave  heart  has  ceased  to  beat. 

464.  Whilst  quartered  with  his  regiment  at  the  Cape,  M e 

took  constant  opportunities  of  encountering  single-handed  the  real 
lords  of  the  forest  in  their  own  wild  domain  ;  and  numerous  are 
the  stories  told  by  his  brother  officers  of  his  hair-breadth  escapes. 
Gordon  Gumming  and  he  often  shot  together  ;  and  I  have  heard  it 
said  that  at  a  time  when  his  left  arm  was  so  much  injured  as  to  be 
perfectly  useless,  he  went  close  up  to  a  lion,  which  was  standing 
over  Cumming's  prostrate  body,  and  with  his  right  hand  aiming  at 
the  animal's  heart  made  the  Caffre  boy  behind  him  pull  the  deadly 
trigger.      And  does  not  the  little  fellow's  heroic  conduct,  who 
placed  such  implicit  confidence  in  his  master's  address  and  nerve, 
claim  much  of  our  admiration  ! 

465.  M e's  courage  was  reckless.     Having  more  than  once 

failed  in  getting  a  shot  at  a  formidable  lion  which  had  committed 
great  ravages,  and  was  reported  to  be  of  immense  size,  he  deter- 
mined upon  tracking  the  beast  to  his  rocky  fastness,  and  forcing 
him  to  a  hand-to-hand  combat  in  his  very  den.     One  morning  a 
recent  spoor  *  enabled  him  to  find  the  cave  he  sought,  the  entrance 
of  which  was  so  contracted  that  in  order  not  wholly  to  exclude  the 
light,  he  was  compelled  to  lie  down  and  crawl  in  upon  his  elbows. 
Pushing  the  muzzle  of  his  gun  before  him,  slowly,  inch  by  inch  he 
crept  on,  expecting  every  moment  to  see  the  large,  glaring,  cat-like 
eye-balls,  or  to  hear  the  menacing  growl.    His  sight  becoming  more 
accustomed  to  the  gloom,  he  was  enabled  to  scan  every  crevice,  and 
was  satisfied  that  the  master  of  the  habitation  could  not  have  yet 
returned  from  his  nocturnal  rambles.     Bones  of  large  size  were 
strewn  about,  as  well  as  others  whose  suspicious  appearance  prompted 
the   involuntary  reflection   that   the   absent   animal  was   in  very 
truth  the  dreaded  "  man-eater  "  who  had  so  long  baffled  all  pursuit. 


Impression  of  feet. 


258  ENCOUNTER  WITH  BOAR,  [CH.  xv. 

Nothing  daunted,  but  rather  aroused  by  the  thought  to  an  increased 

determination  to  destroy  the  monster,  M e  resolved  quietly  to 

await  his  return. 

466.  Hour  after  hour  passes.     The  shades  of  evening  fall.     The 
bark  of  the  jackal  and  the  howlings  of  the  hyaena,  showing  the 
advance  of  night,  meet  his  ear, — but  not  the  longed-for  roar  of  the 
expected  lion.     Surely  he  will  again  seek  his  lair  while  the  bright 
moon  yet  favours  the  intrepid  sportsman.  No — he  comes  not.  Com- 
plete darkness  sets  in — darkness  intense  in  that  deep  recess  ; — but 
ere  long  the  discordant  screams  of  the  peacock  announce  the  early 
dawn,  and  after  a  while  the  hot  beams  of  the  sun  again  hush  all 
into  silence,  save  the  busy  hum  of  innumerable  insects.     Horrible 
suspense  !     The  weary  hours  drag  on — still  he  returns  not ;  and 
there  still  sits  M e,  but  not  the  man  he  was.     Anxious  excite- 
ment— want  of  sleep — and,  above  all,  the  deprivation  of  bodily 
stimulants,  have  done  their  work.     He  was  agitated  and  unnerved. 
To  quote  his  own  words  when  afterwards  recounting  the  adventure, 
he  "  would  have  given  worlds  to  have  been  away,  or  to  have  had  a 
flask  of  brandy."    What  madness,  he  thought,  could  have  tempted 
him  to  seek  such  certain  destruction  ?     Had  the  taint  of  his  feet 
raised  the  animal's  suspicions  ?     Was  his  presence  detected  ?    And 
was  the  shaggy  monster  watching  outside,  crouching  low,  ready  to 
spring  when  his  victim  should  be  forced  by  hunger  to  emerge  ?  Quit 
he  dare  not ;  yet  to  remain  with  nerves  unstrung  was  terrible.     In 
his  diseased  state  of  mind  imagination  conjured  up  awfully  har- 
rowing scenes  in  which  man  in  his  feebleness  had  succumbed  ; — 
and  was  it  really  decreed  that  his  crushed  bones  should  mingle 
unhonoured  and  unnoticed  with  the  heap  around  him  ?    Hours  that 
seemed  days  of  torture  passed  away — again  the  sun  reached  the 
zenith — again  it   sets — and    again  it  shines  upon  the  remains  of 
huge  limbs,  and  upon  those  of  slighter  mould  that  bear  a  fearfully 
close  resemblance  to  his  own  !     The  sun  has  sunk  behind  the  sum- 
mit of  the  distant  hills,  already  the  short  twilight  commences.    Can 
he  survive  another  night  of  horrors,  or  shall  he,  risking  vall,  rush 
forth. 

467.  Suddenly  a  deep  and  angry  growl  is  heard.     It  acts  as 
music  upon  his  soul — his  nerves  are  at  once  restored  to  their 
pristine  firmness — strong  is  his  pulse — steady  his  hand  ;  his  coun- 
tenance lights  up  with  hope  and  animation  ;   and  as  the  cave  is 
darkened  by  the  entrance  of  its  legitimate  but  no  longer  dreaded 
owner,  the  favourite  barrels  are  deliberately  levelled  with  the  ac- 
customed deadly  aim. 

468.  The  Hindoos,  who  are  naturally  an  inoffensive  timid  race, 
have  an  almost  fabulous  reverence  for  the  courage  of  Europeans, 
whom  they  often  term  fighting  devils — an  epithet  applied  in  no  dis- 
paraging way,  but,  on  the  contrary,  as  the  highest  of  compliments. 

The  Assistant-surgeon  (B h)  and  a  Lieutenant  (D n),  of  a 

regiment  to  which  I  once  belonged  on  the  Indian  establishment, 
were  travelling  up  the  country.     On  arriving  early  one  morning  at 
their  breakfast  tent  (which  had  been  sent  forward  as  usual  the 


/  J.  M. 


A  REGULAR  BORE. 

Dropped  upon  his  right  knee,— brought  his  firelock  to  the  charging  position."— Par.  468. 


S   2 


CH.  xv.]  GREYHOUNDS  AND  KANGAROO.  261 

preceding  evening),  they  were  met  by  the  Cutwal  and  principal 
men  of  the  small  village,  bearing  a  trifling  present  of  fruit.  After 
many  salaams,  the  deputation  said  that  the  villagers  were  in  the 
greatest  distress,— that  an  enormous  wild  boar  and  a  sow  had  taken 
up  their  abode  in  the  neighbouring  sugar  plantation, — that  the  crop 
was  fully  ripe,  but  that  whenever  the  labourers  ventured  in  to  cut 
the  canes  they  were  driven  out  by  a  charge  of  the  swine  ;  that  the 
whole  body,  women  as  well  as  men,  had  united  more  than  once  in 
an  attempt  to  alarm  the  intruders  with  the  noise  of  tomtoms,  cholera 
horns,  firing  of  matchlocks,  &c.,  but  that  the  unclean  brutes  would 
not  leave,  and  that  the  inhabitants  had  nearly  resigned  all  hope  of 
saving  the  crop,  when  they  had  the  happiness  of  hearing  that  an 
English  officer  was  expected,  who,  as  a  matter  of  course,  could  have 

no  objection  to  shoot  the  vicious  animals.     D n  and  B h 

willingly  consented  to  start  directly  after  breakfast.  The  former 
was  a  keen  sportsman,  but  the  latter  had  never  fired  a  gun  ;  how- 
ever, he  said  he  would  do  his  best  ;  and  being  furnished  with  an 
old  musket,  he  sallied  forth  "at  fixed  bayonets."  Almost  the 
moment  they  entered  the  cover  a  crashing  noise  warned  them  to  be 
on  their  guard.  The  boar,  without  an  instant's  hesitation,  rushed 
at  the  invaders,  making  a  special  selection  of  the  individual  least 

accustomed  to  arms.     B h,  in  no  way  daunted,  dropped  upon 

his  right  knee, — brought  his  firelock  to  the  charging  position, — and 
calmly  waited  to  pull  trigger  until  the  formidable  beast  was  so  close 

upon  the  bayonet,  that  he  knocked  the  piece  out  of  B h's  grasp, 

and  sent  him  spinning  heels  over  head.     On  regaining  his  feet, 

B h  found  that  his  formidable  adversary  was  already  dead  ;  the 

bayonet,  much  bent  in  the  encounter,  was  buried  deep  in  his  huge 
chest ;  and  subsequent  examination  showed  that  the  ball  had 
severed  his  heart  into  two  nearly  equal  portions.  The  sow  had 
apparently  quickly  become  aware  of  the  mischance  that  had  befallen 
her  mate,  for  she  ignominiously  fled  from  the  field  at  her  best  pace. 
In  reply  to  the  thanks,  congratulations,  and  encomiums  bestowed 
upon  the  worthy  Assistant-surgeon  for  his  success  and  admirable 
coolness,  he  quietly  observed,  that  all  was  well  that  ended  well ; 
that  it  was  an  awful  beast ;  and  that  he  would  take  precious  good 
care  never  voluntarily  to  encounter  such  another  ; — that  he  had 
had  his  first  shot,  and  fervently  hoped  it  would  be  his  last. 

469.  To  hark-back,  however,  to  our  subject.  Greyhounds  of  a 
large  rough  kind  are  trained  in  some  parts  of  Australia  to  course 
the  kangaroo.  A  kangaroo  when  he  is  brought  to  bay*  would 
disable  a  great  number  of  dogs,  however  bold  and  strong  they 
might  be,  should  they  incautiously  attack  him  in  front  :  for  while 
he  is  sitting  upon  his  hind  quarters,  or  standing  upright,  he  can  by 
one  blow,  or  rather  strike  of  his  hind-leg,  which  is  furnished  with 
huge  claws,  tear  open  the  strongest  greyhound  from  the  chest  down- 
wards ;  and  many  dogs  have  been  thus  killed.  As  soon,  therefore, 
as  a  large  kangaroo  is  seen,  a  well-educated  brace  of  greyhounds  are 

*  In  general  he  knowingly  places  his  back  against  a  tree. 


262  GREYHOUNDS,  FALCON,  AND  DEER.        [CH.  xv. 

slipped.  For  some  time,  by  a  succession  of  enormous  bounds,  the 
animal  keeps  far  ahead  of  his  pursuers — especially  when  running 
up  hill,  where  he  is  as  much  favoured  by  his  long  hind-legs  as  a 
hare  is  by  hers,— and  all  are  soon  lost  to  the  sight  of  unmounted 
hunters.  When  he  has  been  overtaken  and  brought  to  bay,  one  of 
the  trained  dogs  keeps  him  there  ;  and  this  he  does  barking  round 
and  round  him,  threatening  every  moment  to  fly  at  him.  The  other 
dog  returns  to  the  hunters,  and  leads  them  to  the  spot  where  his 
companion  is  detaining  the  kangaroo :  and  so  completely  does  the 
noisy  assailant  engage  the  attention  of  the  unfortunate  beast,  that 
the  hunters  are  frequently  enabled  to  approach  unperceived,  and 
stun  him  with  a  blow  over  the  head.  An  old  kangaroo  is  there 
termed  by  the  hunters  "  an  old  man  ;  "*  the  flesh  of  a  young  one 
is,  however,  by  many  considered  very  delicate  eating.  A  powerful 
dog  will  kill  a  small  kangaroo  single-handed  ;  and  if  properly  taught, 
will  then  seek  for  his  master,  and  conduct  him  to  the  body. 

470.  In  Persia  and  many  parts  of  the  East  greyhounds  are  taught 
to  assist  the  falcon  in  the  capture  of  deer.     When  brought  within 
good  view  of  a  herd  the  bird  is  flown,  and  at  the  same  moment  the 
dog  is  slipped.     The  rapid  sweep  of  the  falcon  soon  carries  him  far 
in  advance.     It  is  the  falcon  who  makes  the  selection  of  the  in- 
tended victim, — which  appears  to  be  a  matter  of  chance, — and  a 
properly-trained  greyhound  will  give  chase  to  none  other,  however 
temptingly  close  the  alarmed  animals  may  pass  him.     The  falcon  is 
instructed  to  aim  at  the  head  only  of  the  gazelle,  who  soon  becomes 
bewildered  ;  sometimes  receiving  considerable  injury  from  the  quick 
stroke  of  its  daring  adversary.     Before  long  the  gazelle  is  overtaken 
by  the  greyhound.     It  is  not  always  easy  to  teach  a  dog  to  avoid 
injuring  the  bird,  which  is  so  intent  upon  its  prey  as  utterly  to  dis- 
regard the  approach  of  the  hound.     Death  would  probably  be  the 
penalty  adjudged  to  him  for  so  heinous  an  offence  ;  fora  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  assail- 
ing party,  and  the  sudden  evasions  of  the  helpless  defendant.     The 
education  of  this  falcon  is  conducted  on  the  same  principle  as  that 
of  the  cheeta. — (Note  to  284.)     The  lure  is  a  stuffed  gazelle.     It  is 
placed  at  gradually  increased  distances.     The  raw  meat  is  fixed 
between  its  eyes,  and  the  concluding  lessons  terminate  with  the 
sacrifice  of  a  few  tame  or  maimed  deer  ;  a  portion  of  whose  warm 
flesh  is  given  to  the  bird  as  a  reward  for  his  aid  in  recapturing  the 
unfortunate  creatures. 

471.  An  officer,  quartered  at  Antigua,  used  occasionally  to  obtain 
permission  to  shoot  on  an  island  called  Barbuda,  in  the  possession 
of  Sir  Bethel  Codrington.     It  is  a  strange  spot, — a  coral  rock  just 

*  The  North  American  trappers  apply  the  same  term  to  an  old 
beaver. 


THERE  ARE  BOUNDS  TO  SPORT. 
"JJy  a  succession  of  enormous  bounds,  the  animal  keeps  far  ahead." — Par.  469 


CH.  xv.]  BARBUDA  CUB.  265 

emerging  from  the  sea,  its  highest  point  being  no  more  than  one 
hundred  and  twenty  feet  above  the  water.  The  horses,  cattle,  and 
everything  on  the  island  are  wild,  save  the  manager  and  two  over- 
seers, its  only  white  inhabitants.  The  former  (I  speak  of  the  year 
1835)  was  a  splendidly  built  man,  not  very  refined,  but  full  of 
energy,  an  excellent  shot,  and  an  indefatigable  sportsman.  No 
Indian  had  a  keener  eye  for  a  trail.  A  turned  leaf  or  a  broken 
twig  told  him  the  path,  and  almost  the  distance,  of  the  hog  or  deer 
which  he  was  pursuing  through  the  dark  intricacies  of  stunted  trees, 
cactus,  and  long  grass,  with  which  the  island  is,  in  a  great  measure, 
covered.  A  small  mangy-looking  mongrel,  with  a  long  thin  muzzle, 
and  lanky  body,  always  accompanied  him.  The  sagacity  of  this 
brute,  and  his  powers  of  scenting  game,  were  most  remarkable. 
He  generally  walked  about  ten  yards  in  front  of  his  master,  and 
suddenly  throwing  his  nose  high  in  the  air,  would  quicken  his  pace, 
and  trot  up  wind.  Gradually  again  his  pace  would  slacken, — the 
trot  was  changed  to  a  walk,  the  walk  to  stealthy  creeping,  when  he 
would  raise  each  foot  with  the  greatest  caution,  putting  it  down  as 
noiselessly  as  though  shod  with  velvet,  most  carefully  avoiding  the 
crisp  leaves  and  dry  twigs,  for  fear  of  making  the  slightest  sound. 
Presently  he  would  stand  stock-still  (the  inclination  to  point  is,  I 
think,  more  general  among  dogs  than  many  men  suppose)  and  look 
at  his  master  ;  but  he  never  did  this  unless  the  game  was  well 
within  shot.  His  master  would  now  peer  closely  round,  and  his 
eagle-eye  never  failed  to  detect  the  tip  of  a  horn,  or  a  dappled  spot, 
showing  where  a  fallow-deer  was  feeding.  If  there  was  a  flock  of 
Guinea-birds,*  (which  are  numerous  in  Barbuda,)  the  sagacious 


*  Guinea-birds beingmuch  prized  is  seldom  told  him, — and  therein 

in  such  of  the  islands  as  possess  lies  the  real  secret, — that,  in  ad- 

but  little  game,  many  are  reared  dition    to   such    precautions,    he 

at  the  farms  of  the  planters.    The  never  ought  to  rob  a  nest  without 

negroes  dig  up  ants'  nests,  which  leaving  at  the  least  three  eggs.    It 

are  disagreeably  numerous,  and  on  is  surprising  how  many  may  in  this 

bringing  one  into  the  yard,  dash  way  be  taken.     I  know  of  a  single 

it  violently  upon  the  ground,  when  pair   of  guinea-birds   being  thus 

the  chicks  eagerly  scramble  for  the  robbed  in  one  spring  of  no  less 

contents,  —  the   insects   and    the  than  eighty-four, 
eggs.     By  the  bye,  much  is  said  Having  got  into  a  Creole's  poul- 

about  the  difficulty  of  taking  eggs  try-yard,  I  am  unwilling  to  quit 

from  Guinea-birds  without  making  it   without    observing,    that    few 

them  abandon  their  nests.     The  better  birds  are  reared  than  his 

would-be  purloiner,  in  answer  to  cross  between  common  ducks  and 

his  inquiries,  is  often  recommended  a  Muscovy  drake.     It  is  found 

to  keep  as  far  as  possible  from  the  necessary  carefully  to  guard  against 

nest ;  and,  that  it  may  in  no  way  be  the  ungainly  gentleman's  having 

contaminated  by  his  touch,  to  re-  any  rival   of  the   ordinary  breed 

move  the  eggs  during  the  absence  iu  the  neighbourhood,  for  if  the 

of  the  birds  with  an  iron  or  silver  opportunity  were  afforded  them, 

spoon,    having  a  long   stick  at-  the  ladies  would  to   a  certainty 

tached  to  it  as  a  handle ; — but  it  forsake  their  cumbrous  lord  for 


266 


CUR  AND  WILD  HOG. 


[CH.  XV. 


little  creature  would  wait  until  the  gun  was  close  to  him,  and  then, 
to  prevent  their  running,  would  dash  in  and  spring  them. 

472.  If  a  hog  was  in  the  wind,  the  cur  dashed  off  immediately, 
following  the  animal  until  it  stopped  at  bay,  when  a  shrill  bark 


WARM  GREETING  OF  A  GREAT  '  BORE.'— Par.  472. 

warned  the  sportsman  of  the  scene  of  action.  The  tiny  animal  had 
many  a  scar  on  his  rugged  hide,  cut  by  hogs,  with  whose  ears  and 
heels  he  frequently  took  liberties  ;  but,  up  to  the  time  that  the 
officer  left  that  part  of  the  world,  the  dog  had  escaped  serious  injury 
by  his  good  generalship  and  activity.  He  certainly  had  a  very  just 
estimate  of  his  own  physical  powers,  for  with  young  porkers  he 
stood  on  little  ceremony,  rushing  into  them  at  once,  and  worrying 
and  holding  them  until  the  hunter  came  to  his  assistance. 

473.  You  might  draw  a  useful  moral  from  this  long  story  by 
considering  for  a  moment  what  kind  of  sport  our  Creole  acquaintance 
would  have  had,  and  what  number  of  Guinea-birds,  wild  hogs,  and 
deer  (capital  shot  as  he  was)  he  would  have  killed  in  the  year,  had 


the  more  active  commoner.  Al- 
though the  true  Muscovy  is  very 
coarse  eating,  the  Hybrid  is  as 
much  an  improvement  upon  the 
flavour  as  it  is  upon  the  size  of 


the  common  duck.  I  have  known 
the  birds  to  be  reared  in  this 
country,  and  often  wondered  that 
the  plan  was  not  more  generally 
pursued. 


CH.  XV.] 


A  NEWFOUNDLAND  FISHING. 


267 


he  been  obliged  to  speak  to  the  little  cur  when  hunting.  The 
calculation,  I  fancy,  would  not  be  found  difficult  from  the  number 
of  figures  employed  in  the  enumeration. 

474.  You  may  think  the  foregoing  a  tough  yarn,  but  I  have  now 
in  my  mind  an  instance  of  sagacity  in  a  Newfoundland,  apparently 
so  much  less  entitled  to  credence,  that  I  should  be  afraid  to  tell  it 
(though  the  breed  is  justly  celebrated  for  its  remarkable  docility 
and  intelligence),  if  its  truth  could  not  be  vouched  for  by  Capt. 

L n,  one  of  the  best  officers  in  the  navy  ;  and  who,  when  I  had 

the  gratification  of  sailing  with  him,  commanded  that  noble  ship, 
the  "  Vengeance." 

475.  At  certain  seasons  of  the  year  the  streams  in  some  parts  of 
North  America,  not  far  from  the  coast,  are  filled  with  fish  to  an 
extent  you  could  scarcely  believe,  unless  you  had  witnessed  it — and 
now  comes  the  Munchausen  story.    A  real  Newfoundland,  belonging 
to  a  farmer  who  lived  near  one  of  those  streams,  used,  at  such  times, 
to  keep  the  house  well  supplied  with  fish.     He  thus  managed  it : — 
He  was  perfectly  black,  with  the  exception  of  a  white  fore-foot,  and 


INVITATION  TO  A  'WHITE-BAIT'  DINNER. -Par.  475. 

for  hours  together  he  would  remain  almost  immoveable  on  a  small 
rock  which  projected  into  the  stream,  keeping  his  white  foot  hanging 


268  NEWFOUNDLAND  AND  FOX.  [CH.  xv. 

over  the  ledge  as  a  lure  to  the  fish.  He  remained  so  stationary 
that  it  acted  as  a  very  attractive  bait ;  and  whenever  curiosity  or 
hunger  tempted  any  unwary  fish  to  approach  too  close,  the  dog 
plunged  in,  seized  his  victim,  and  carried  him  off  to  the  foot  of 
a  neighbouring  tree;  and,  on  a  successful  day,  he  would  catch  a 
great  number. 

476.  I  have  another  anecdote  of  a  young  Newfoundland,  told  me 
by  General  Sir  H d  D s,  to  whose  scientific  attainments 

\yy^  the  two  sister-services,  the  army  and  the  navy,  are  both  so  greatly 

\.         indebted.     He  bred  the  dog  in  America,  having  most  fortunately 

\,      taken  the  dam  from  England  ;  for,  to  her  address  in  swimming,  and 

,  willingness  to  "fetch,"  he  and  his  surviving  shipwrecked  companions 

syere,  under  Providence,  chiefly  indebted  for  securing  many  pieces 

ol  salt  pork  that  had  drifted  from  the  ill-fated  vessel,  and  which 

constituted  their  principal  food  during  their  six  weeks'  miserable 

detention  on  an  uninhabited  island. 

477.  At  a  station  where  he  was  afterwards  quartered  as  a  subaltern, 
in  '98,  not  far  from  the  falls  of  Niagara,  the  soldiers  kept  a  tame 
fox.     The  animal's  kennel  was  an  old  cask,  to  which  he  was  at- 
tached by  a  long  line  and  swivel.     The  Newfoundland  and  the  fox 
soon  scraped  an  acquaintance,  which,  in  due  course,  ripened  into  an 
intimacy. 

478.  One  day  that  Sir  H d  went  to  the  barracks,  not  seeing 

anything  of  the  fox,  he  gave  the  barrel  a  kick,  saying  to  a  man 
standing  by,  "  Your  fox  is  gone ! "     This  sudden  knock  at  the  back- 
door of  his  house  so  alarmed  the  sleeping  inmate,  that  he  bolted 
forth  with  such  violence  as  to  snap  the  light  cord.    Off  he  ran.    The 

soldiers  felt  assured  that  he  would  return,  but  Sir  H d,  who 

closely  watched  the  frightened  animal,  had  the  vexation  of  observing 
that  he  made  direct  for  the  woods. 

«  479.  Sir  H d  bethought  him  to  hie  on  Neptune  after  Eeynard, 

on  the  chance  of  the  friends  coming  back  together  in  amicable  con- 
verse. It  would,  however,  appear  that  the  attractions  of  kindred 
(more  probably  of  freedom)  had  greater  influence  than  the  claims 
of  friendship  ;  for,  instead  of  the  Newfoundland's  returning  with 
Pug  as  a  voluntary  companion,  after  a  time,  to  the  surprise  and 
delight  of  many  spectators,  the  dog  was  descried,  with  the  end  of 
the  rope  in  his  mouth,  forcibly  dragging  along  the  disappointed  fox, 
who  was  struggling,  manfully  but  fruitlessly,  against  a  fresh  introduc- 
tion to  his  military  quarters. 

480.  "Nep"was  properly  lauded  and  caressed  for  his  sagacity; 

and  Sir  H d  was  so  satisfied  that  he  would  always  fetch  back 

the  fox  perfectly  uninjured  and  un worried,  however  much  excited 
in  the  chase,  that  the  next  day,  after  turning  out  Reynard,  he 
permitted  the  officers  to  animate  and  halloo  on  the  dog  to  their 
utmost.  When  slipped,  though  all  eagerness  for  the  fun  in  hand, 
"Nep"  took  up  the  trail  most  accurately,  hunted  it  correctly,  and 
in  due  course,  agreeably  to  his  owner's  predictions,  dragged  back 
the  poor  prisoner  in  triumph,  having,  as  on  the  previous  occasion, 
merely  seized  the  extremity  of  the  cord. 


BRINGING  HOME  THE  BRUSH. 

"  The  dog  was  descried,  with  the  end  of  the  rope  in  his  mouth,  forcibly  dragging  along  the 
disappointed  fox."— Par.  479. 


CH.  xv.]  MUTA  AND  MUSK-BULL.  271 

481.  For  the  following  anecdote  I  am  indebted  to  Sir  G e 

B k,  the  intrepid  and  scientific  navigator,  whose  name  will  be 

mentioned  as  long  as  British  deeds  of  the  present  century  are  cited, 
descriptive  of  bold  daring  and  perseverance  in  surmounting  the 
greatest  difficulties. 

482.  "  On  the  8th  of  September,  1834,  after  a  laborious  morning 
spent  in  ascending  a  part  of  the  Thlew-ee-choh-dezeth,  or  Back 
Kiver,  we  were  detained  by  the  portage  of  the  *  Cascades.'    While 
the  men  were  actively  employed  in  carrying  the  things  across,  I  was 
equally  busy  in  the  tent,  working  a  series  of  observations  which  had 
just  been  obtained  for  longitude,  &c. 

483.  "A  little  dog,  a  species  of  terrier,  called  'Muta'  from  her 
silent,  quiet  habits,  was  my  only  companion.     She  had  been  the 
faithful  follower  of  my  party  to  the  polar  sea,  and,  independently  of 
her  value  as  a  good  watch,  was  not  only  a  pet  of  mine,  but  had 
managed  to  become  a  great  favourite  with  all  the  others. 

484.  "  Muta  had  left  the  tent  for  upwards  of  an  hour,  but  returned 
in  great  haste,  bustled  about  inside,  rubbed  against  me,  and  with 
eyes  bright  and  eager  stood  looking  in  my  face.     Finding  I  paid  no 
attention  to  her,  she  rushed  out — came  back,  however,  quickly ; 
and  standing  over  the  gun,  which  was  near  me,  again  looked 
imploringly  at  me.     Once  more  she  sprung  outside,  and  barked 
anxiously. 

485.  "  Still  I  continued  my  calculations  ;    and  perhaps  twenty 
minutes  might  have  elapsed  when  Muta,  warm  and  panting,  leapt 
upon  me — ran  to  the  gun — then  to  the  opening  of  the  tent,  and 
evinced  such  very  unusual  restlessness  that  I  could  not  help  fancy- 
ing something  must  be  wrong.     Being  alone,  I  thought  it  well  to  be 
prepared,  and  accordingly  put  a  ball  into  my  second  barrel, — there 
always  was  one  in  the  first, — and  followed  her  out. 

486.  "  Her  joy  was  unbounded,  and  perfectly  noiselessly  she  led 
me  such  a  distance  that  I  thought  she  was  deceiving  me,  and  I 
chidingly  told  her  so  ;   but  she  still  persisted  in  going  forward, 
pleased  though  excited.     I  walked  on  a  little  further,  when  con- 
ceiving I  was  but  losing  my  time  I  turned  back.     She  ran  round 
to  intercept  me,  and  so  earnestly  resisted  my  attempts  to  retrace  my 
steps,  that  I  yielded  to  the  appeal,  and  again  consented  to  accompany 
her. 

487.  "  She  brought  me  to  the  edge  of  a  gully,  fully  half-a-mile 
from  the  tent,  partly  sheltered  by  willows.     Here  she  stopped. 
Thinking  she  had  tricked  me,  I  began  to  reproach  her,  on  which  she 
darted  like  lightning  into  the  underwood,  barking  furiously,  when, 
to  my  great  surprise,  out  rushed  a  large  musk  bull,  which  unluckily 
I  only  wounded,  to  Muta's  manifest  disappointment,  and  my  own 
great  annoyance. 

488.  "  Poor  Muta's  sad  fate  is  recorded  in  the  462d  page  of  my 
Narrative  of  the  Arctic  Land  Expedition  of  1833-4-5,  and  she  may 
be  seen  in  the  mouth  of  the  white  wolf  that  killed  her,  safely  housed 
in  a  glass  case  within  the  walls  of  the  United  Service  Institu- 
tion." 


272 


CAPTAIN  AND  SUWABROW. 


[CH.  XV. 


489.  At  my  request,  Sir  G e  kindly  drew  the  spirited  sketch, 

which  I  have  had  engraved,  of  the  scene  he  so  vividly  described. 


SCENE  ON  THE  'THLEW-EE-CHOH-DEZETH.'-Par.  487. 


490.  Dining  one  day  at  the  hospitable  board  of  Lord  M f, 

he  told  me,  that  many  years  ago  an  uncle  of  his,  an  excellent  sports- 
man, lent  him  a  brace  of  short-haired  English  dogs,  yclept  "Captain" 
and  "  Suwarrow," — martial  names  !  yet  not  inappropriate,  you  will 
think,  when  you  hear  some  of  their  feats  of  strategy.     "  Captain," 
moreover,  had  other  warlike  propensities  ;   he  was  a  close-knit, 
powerful  dog,  and  there  was  no  peace  in  any  kennel  he  ever  entered 
until'  its  boldest  inmates  had  conceded  to  him  all  the  privileges  of 
commander- in-chief. 

491.  Lord  M f  and  a  friend  had  obtained  permission  to  shoot 

on  a  considerable  part  of  an  extensive  valley  in  Perthshire,  lying  at 
the  foot  of  "  Schichallion ;"  but  unfortunately  they  had  not  the  sole 
right, — a  similar  favour  had  been  granted  to  a  lame  man,  but  no 
lame,  sportsman,  who  for  some  days  greatly  annoyed  them.     Start 
when  they  would,  and  take  what  line  they  might,  Dot-and-go-one 
with  his  old  pointer  was  sure  to  be  on  the  heather  before  them. 

492.  "Captain"  and  "Suwarrow"  bore  this  for  some  time  with 
greater  apparent  patience  than  the  gentlemen.     On  one  occasion, 
however,  when  the  inferiority  of  the  ground  they  were  compelled  to 
take  was  more  than  usually  obvious,  "Captain's"  blood  was  fairly 


OH.  xv.]  RAP.  273 

roused, — he  could  stand  it  no  longer.  Leaving  his  companion,  he 
crossed  at  full  speed  to  the  other  side  of  the  valley, — not,  as  might 
possibly  be  surmised,  to  wreak  his  vengeance  upon  the  old  pointer, 
—but,  strange  to  say,  to  hunt  at  his  best  pace  the  good  ground  in 
front  of  his  rival,  and  raise,  not  point,  every  grouse  he  could  find. 
When  he  conceived  he  had  done  enough  mischief,  or  perhaps  thought 

he  had  driven  a  fair  proportion  of  birds  to  Lord  M f 's  side  of 

the  valley,  he  quietly  returned  to  his  usual  duties — duties  which, 
be  it  remarked,  he  always  performed  most  steadily.  As  an  evidence 
— on  the  evening  of  that  very  day,  instead  of  pointing,  as  was  his 
wont,  he  dropped,  on  unexpectedly  getting  into  the  midst  of  a  pack, 
and  did  not  stir  an  inch  until  all  the  birds  had  successively  risen. 
You  will  surely  think  his  right  to  be  considered  a  first-rate  tactician 
is  fully  proved : — when  you  read  530,  you  will  perhaps  allow  that 
"Suwarrow"  has  an  equally  good,  if  not  superior,  claim  to  the 
title. 

493.  And  will  not  these  evidences  of  great  sagacity  and,  except 
in  the  few  last  cases,  instances  of  good  breaking — and  they  might  be 
multiplied,  I  was  nearly  saying,  ad  infinitum,  [for  every  sportsman 
could  furnish  some— convince  you,  that  it  is  our  own  fault,  if  our 
high-bred  pointers,  setters,  and  retrievers  (which  can  scarcely  be 
surpassed  in  docility  and  intelligence),  are  indifferently  educated  ? 
It  is  not  that  they  cannot  understand,  but  that  we,  either  for  want  of 
patience  or  reflection,  cannot  make  ourselves  understood.     The  fault 
is  ours,  not  theirs.     They  might,  indeed,  almost  be  taught  anything 
— even  things  quite  opposed  to  their  nature — if  we  did  but  act  more 
reasonably,  and  were  not  in  most  cases  supinely  content  to  stop  so 
very  far  short  of  perfection,  apparently  grudging  a  little  additional 
trouble. 

494.  In  the  "Sporting  Magazine"  for  May,  1834,  a  likeness  is 
given  of  an  admirable  pointer  named  "Rap,"  of  whom  it  is  recorded 
that  "  he  often  hunted  in  the  woods  with  springers  and  terriers,  all 
which  time  he  played  in  both  characters,  and  in  both  excelled.     No 
sooner,  however,  had  he  returned  to  his  especial  occupation,  as  a 
pointer,  than  he  became  as  steady  as  ever." 

495.  I  knew  intimately  an  excellent  shot  (T.  F e,  of  the  76th), 

who,  some  years  ago,  during  one  of  the  many  disturbances  in  County 
Tipperary,  was  quartered  with  a  detachment  of  men  at  a  gentle- 
man's house,  in  rather  a  wild  part  of  the  country.     The  proprietor 
kept  a  small  scratch-pack  of  harriers,  with  which  the  officer's  pointer, 
called  Shot,  became  very  intimate.     When  the  hunting  season  com- 
menced, Shot  accompanied  them  to  the  field,  joined  in  the  chase, 
and  performed  uncommonly  well ;   indeed,  he  frequently  led  the 
pack,  and  yet,  singular  to  say,  he  continued  as  steady  as  possible 
when  he  was  shot  to.     As  you  may  well  suppose,  it  was  a  source  of 
much  fun  and  laughter  to  the  Nimrods  to  see,  regularly  hunting 
with  their  harriers,  a  dog  which  possibly  had  stanchly  pointed  at 
birds  the  preceding  day. 

496.  Though  I  had  bred  and  educated  him  myself, — he  was  the 
dog  of  which  I  spoke  (139)  as  behaving  so  well  on  the  Galtee  moun- 

T 


274  MR.  B E'S  DROPPER.  [CH.  xv. 

tains  when  first  shown  game, — no  one  could  be  more  surprised  than 
I  was  at  hearing  of  so  novel  a  display  of  intelligence.  It  is  partly 
to  be  accounted  for  by  the  fact,  that  none  of  his  high  animal  spirits 
and  self-confidence  had  been  destroyed  by  severity  in  breaking.  I 
can  conscientiously  aver  that  I  do  not  think  I  whipped  him  more 
than  twice  in  the  whole  course  of  his  training,  and  I  am  certain  not 
once  harshly  ;  and  his  next  owner  was  equally  kind, — I  might  more 
correctly  say,  equally  judicious. 

497.  As  a  dog  that  loves  you,  and  possesses  proper  self-confidence. 
— though,  at  the  same  time,  he  entertains  due  respect  for  your 
authority, — will  always  exert  himself  to  the  best  of  his  abilities 
to  please,  it  remains  but  for  you  to  direct  those  abilities  aright. 
"  Shot,"  you  see,  pointed  and  hunted  on  alternate  days.     A  little 
bitch,  that  I  knew,  would,  on  the  same  day,  set  alternately  different 
kinds  of  game,  according  to  the  wishes  of  her  master.     She  belonged 

to  a  Mr.  B e,  near  Templemore,  and,  with  the  exception  that 

she  had  no  established  judicious  range,  was  one  of  the  most  killing 
dogs  to  be  met  with  in  a  long  drive.     She  was  an  ugly,  short-tailed 
dropper ;   in  appearance  not  worth  three  half-crowns.     She  was 
capital  on  snipe ;  but  on  the  bogs,  if  you  were  in  expectation  of 
meeting  with  grouse,  and,  in  consequence,  refused  to  fire  at  one  or 
two  snipes,  and  slightly  scolded  her  for  pointing  them,  she  would 
immediately  leave  off  noticing  them,  confining  herself  entirely  to 
hunting  for  grouse.     If  you  shot  a  snipe,  and  showed  it  to  her,  she 
would  immediately  recommence  seeking  for  the  long-bills.     But  this 
would  be  a  dangerous  lesson  to  teach  a  dog  ever  likely  to  be  required 
on  the  moors.     A  dog  trained  for  grouse  should  invariably  be  rated 
whenever  he  notices  snipe  ;  lest,  after  toiling  up  the  side  of  a  moun- 
tain on  a  broiling  day,  in  expectation  of  hearing  the  exciting 
"•  Whirr-r  whirr-r,"  you  be  only  greeted  with   the  disappointing 
"  Skeap,  skeap."    On  the  other  hand,  if  you  live  in  the  lowlands, 
and  think  you  may  hereafter  wish  to  take  your  dog  out  snipe- 
shooting,  make  him  occasionally  point  one  in  the  early  part  of  his 
education.     It  is  often  difficult  to  bring  a  partridge-dog  to  notice 
snipe,  whereas  a  snipe-dog  will  readily  acknowledge  partridge  on 
account  of  the  stronger  scent. 

498.  Many  sportsmen  are  of  opinion  that  droppers  inherit  more 
of  the  bad  than  the  good  qualities  of  their  parents  ;  but  occasionally 

one  of  a  litter,  like  Mr.  B e's  bitch,  turns  out  an  admirable  dog, 

and  proves  a  valuable  exception  to  the  supposed  rule.     Some  time 
since  I  heard  an  officer  of  the  Eng'neers  expatiating  upon  the 
excellent  qualities  of  a  dropper  (by  his  pointer  "  Guy  ")  out  of  a 
Eussian  setter,  which,  as  he  said,  belonged  to  me  many  years  ago  : 
but  he  was  mistaken.     I  never  possessed  one.     I  wish  I  had  ;  for  I 
hear  the  breed  is  capital, — that  they  are  very  easily  broken, — are 
very  intelligent,— have  excellent  noses,  and  great  endurance,  but  not 
much  speed, — and  never  forget  what  has  been  once  taught  them  :  in 
this  respect  more  resembling  pointers  than  our  setters,  which  are 
often  wild  at  the  beginning  of  a  season.     Could  we,  by  judicious 
crossing,  improve  them  half  as  much  as  we  did  the  old  heavy 


RUSSIAN  SETTER. 
"Difficult  to  procure  even  in  Russia  of  a  pure  breed."— Par.  498. 


T  2 


CH.  xv.]  RIVAL  KEEPERS.  277 

Spanish  pointer.*  what  glorious  dogs  we  should  possess  !  It  is, 
however,  very  difficult  to  procure  them  even  in  Russia  of  a  pure 
breed  ;  for  so  few  sportsmen  in  that  country  think  of  shooting 
according  to  our  system,  that  but  little  attention  is  paid  to  their 
fine  setters. 

499.  If  your  patience  is  not  exhausted,  you  shall  hear  (as  told  me 

by  an  old  commanding  officer  of  mine,  Major  S n)  how,  many 

years  ago,  a  bet  was  decided  in  the  Highlands,  as  to  the  perfection 
in  dog-breaking  attained  by  two  rival  keepers.     It  was  in  the  month 
of  August,  and  there  was  plenty  of  game.     The  dogs  produced  by 
the  two  competitors  performed  so  brilliantly, — were  hunted  so  noise- 
lessly,— quartered  their  ground  so  systematically  and  independently, 
—and  worked  so  zealously,  yet  cautiously,  that  the  awarding  of  the 
palm  seemed  to  be  a  difficult  matter.     At  length  one  of  the  keepers 
obtained  the  decision  of  the  umpires  in  his  favour  by  the  following 
feat.     He  made  his  three  dogs,  in  obedience  to  a  low  whistle  and  a 
sign,  at  a  moment  when  all  three  were  separately  setting,  retreat 
from  their  several  points  without  flushing  any  of  the  birds,  and  take 
up  each  other's  points,  each  dog  remaining  stationary  until  he  was 
individually  shot  o^er.     This  great  command,  I   suppose,  but  I 
cannot  assert  it  positively,  must  have  been  gained  by  much  such 
kennel  discipline  as  is  described  in  30.     It  would  appear,  too,  as  if 
a  distinct  whistle  or  note  had  been  employed  for  each  dog  (505). 

500.  I  only  advocate  instruction  that  is  really  useful ;  therefore, 
I  merely  mention  this  instance  of  excellent  breaking  as  another 
evidence  of  the  great  perfection  to  which  our  well-bred  dogs  can  be 
brought :  and  as  it  is  certain  they  can  reach  such  perfection,  I  think 
you  will  admit  that  every  high-priced  dog  ought  to  be  far  better 
educated  than  is  customary.     Indeed,  I  trust,  if  you  are  an  enthusiast 
on  the  subject,  that  you  will  not  only  agree  with  me  in  requiring 
that  he  be  as  fully  made  as  I  have  described,  and  as  I  am  of  opinion 
is  absolutely  necessary  (393),  but  that  occasionally  you  will  wish 
him  to  be  yet  further  instructed  in  some  of  the  still  higher  accom- 
plishments or  refinements  which,  if  you  are  willing,  we  will  now 
proceed  to  consider. 


*  Improved  as  regards  shape  and  action,  but  not  as  to  stanclmess 
and  nose. 


CHAPTEE  XVI. 

DISTINGUISHING  WHISTLES.  "BACKING"  THE  GUN.  RETREAT  FROM 
AND  RESUMPTION  OF  POINT.  RANGE  UNACCOMPANIED  BY  GUN. 
HEADING  RUNNING  BIRDS. 

501.  A  DISTINGUISHING  WHISTLE  FOR  EACH  DOG  ;  disadvantage  of  em- 
ploying but  one  Whistle  for  several  Dogs ;  supposed  Case. — 502.  Another  Case. 
503.  Third  Case. — 504.  Reader  will  admit  correctness  of  reasoning. — 505.  Dis- 
similar Whistles,  or  distinct  notes  on  one  whistle.— 506.  Boatswain's  Whistle 
almost  a  musical  instrument. —507.  Railway  Whistles  ;  Porteous':  general  Rule 
for  whistling.— 508.  Porteous'  newly-invented  Dog  Whistles.— 509.  DOG  TO 
BACK  THE  GUN ;  how  taught ;  it  creates  Caution ;  in  Note,  sagacity  of  Fawn 
Antelope  in  concealing  itself;  want  of  like  sagacity  in  Pea-fowl.  Portable  rest 
for  Rifle.— 510.  Advantage  of  Dog  backing  the  Gun.— 511.  American  Wood- 
duck.— 512.  DOG  TO  RETREAT  FROM  POINT  AND  RESUME  IT. —513.  How 
taught. — 514.  Shows  dog  object  for  which  he  is  hunted. — 515.  Not  taught  too 
early. — 516.  Dog's  Consciousness  of  its  Object. — 517.  Pointer  doing  it  spon- 
taneously.—518.  Setter  which  was  taught  to  do  it.— 511).  Surprising  author  by 
volunteering  the  feat.— 520.  Irish  Setter  retreating  from,  and  resuming  point  at 
Hare.— 521.  Bitch  that  barked  when  pointing  and  hid  in  cover.— 522.  DOG  TO 
HUNT  FROM  LEEWARD  TO  WINDWARD,  UNACCOMPANIED  BY  GUN  ; 
how  taught. — 523.  A  careful  Dog  running  down  wind  would  not  spring  birds. — 
524.  The  great  Advantages  of  the  Accomplishment.— 525.  DOG  TO  HEAD 
RUNNING  BIRDS ;  could  be  taught— 526.  Tolfrey's  ''Sportsman  in  France." 
—527.  Instance  of  Dog's  spontaneously  heading,  and  thus  intercepting,  red- 
legged  Partridges.— 528,  529.  M i's  "Albert"  volunteering  to  head  Guinea 

birds. — 530.    Lord  M f's   "Snwarrow"  spontaneously   heading   running 

Grouse;  then  keeping  his  stern  towards  them.— 531.  How  accounted  for. — 
532.  Not  so  extraordinary  had  the  Dog  been  taught  to  hunt  "unaccompanied 
by  Gun." — 533.  The  accomplishment  taught  by  "lifting ;"  not  commenced  first 
season.  In  Note,  "  Niger's"  spontaneously  running  to  further  sidge  of  hedge  to 
drive  birds  to  this  side.— 534.  Could  be  taught  as  easily  as  Shepherds'  Collies 
are  instructed.— 535.  Particularly  useful  where  the  red-legged  Partridge  is 
found.  Shooting  in  Africa. 


A  DISTINGUISHING  WHISTLE  FOR  EACH  DOG. 

501.  THOUGH  you  may  have  only  begun  to  shoot  last 
season,  have  you  not  often  wished  to  attract  the  atten- 
tion of  one  of  your  two  dogs,  and  make  him  hunt  in  a 
particular  part  of  the  field,  but,  for  fear  of  alarming  the 


CH.  xvi.]  WHISTLES.  279 

birds,  have  been  unwilling  to  call  out  his  name,  and 
have  felt  loth  to  whistle  to  him,  lest  you  should  bring 
away  at  the  same  time  the  other  dog,  who  was  zealously 
hunting  exactly  where  you  considered  him  most  likely 
to  find  birds. 

502.  Again :  have  the  dogs  never  been  hunting  close 
together  instead  of  pursuing  distinct  beats ;  and  has  it 
not  constantly  happened,  on  your  whistling  with  the 
view  to  separate  them,  that  both  have  turned  their  heads 
in  obedience  to  the  whistle,  and  both  on  your  signal 
changed  the  direction  of  their  beat,  but  still  the  two 
together  ?     And  have  you  not,  in  despair  of  ever  parting 
them  by  merely  whistling  and  signalling,  given  the 
lucky  birds  (apparently  in  the  most  handsome  manner, 
as  if  scorning  to  take  any  ungenerous  advantage)  fair 
notice  of  the  approach  of  the  guns  by  shouting  out  the 
name  of  one  of  the  dogs. 

503.  Or,  if  one  dog  was  attentive  to  the  whistle,  did 
he  not  gradually  learn  to  disregard  it  from  observing 
that  his  companion  was  never  chidden  for  neglecting  to 
obey  it  ? — and  did  not  such  laxity  more  and  more  con- 
firm both  in  habits  of  disobedience  ? 

504.  I  believe  several  of  my  readers  will  be  con- 
strained to  answer  these  questions  in  the  affirmative ; 
and,  further,  I  think  their  own  experience  will  remind 
them  of  many  occasions,  both  on  moor  and  stubble  when 
birds  were  wild,  on  which  they  have  wished  to  attract 
the  notice  of  a  particular  dog  (perhaps  running  along  a 
hedge,  or  pottering  over  a  recent  haunt ;   or  hunting 
down  wind  towards  marked  game)  by  whistling  instead 
of  calling  out  his  name,  but  have  been  unwilling  to  do 
so,  lest  the  other  dogs  should  likewise  obey  the  shrill 
sound  to  which  all  were  equally  accustomed. 

505.  Now,  in  breaking  young  dogs,  you  could,  by 


280  DIFFERENT  NOTES.  [CH.  xvr. 

using  whistles  of  dissimilar  calls,  easily  avoid  the 
liability  of  these  evils ;  and  by  invariably  employing  a 
particular  whistle  for  each  dog  to  summon  him  separately 
to  his  food  (30),  each  would  distinguish  his  own  whistle 
as  surely  as  every  dog  knows  his  own  master's  whistle, 
and  as  hounds  learn  their  names.  Dogs  not  only  know 
their  own  names,  but  instantly  know  by  the  pronuncia- 
tion when  it  is  uttered  by  a  stranger.  To  prevent 
mistakes,  each  dog's  name  might  be  marked  on  his  own 
whistle.  You  might  have  two  whistles,  of  very  different 
sound,  on  one  short  stock.  Indeed,  one  whistle  would 
be  sufficient  for  two  dogs,  if  you  invariably  sounded  the 
same  two  or  three  sharp  short  notes  for  one  dog,  and  as 
invariably  gave  a  sustained  note  for  the  other.  Nay, 
the  calls  could  thus  be  so  diversified,  that  one  whistle 
might  be  used  for  even  more  than  two  dogs. 

506.  Whoever  has  heard  the  boatswain  of  a  man-of-war  piping 
all  hands  on  deck,  must  think  his  whistle,- from  the  variety  of  its 
tones,  almost  a  musical  instrument ;    but  it  could  not  well  be 
employed  for  dogs,  as  they  would  not  understand  it  when  sounded 
by  any  one  but  their  master. 

507.  Eailways  have  led  to   the  introduction  of  new  whistles. 
Porteous,  the  band-master  at  Chelsea  College  (whose  Light  Infantry 
Field  Pipe  is  well-known  to  military  men),  has  exercised  his  in- 
genious talents  in  making  several,  but  they  are  too  shrill  to  be  of 
much  service  to  the  sportsman.     The  acorn  (or  bell  pattern)  has, 
however,  a  much  softer  tone,  yet  it,  too,  makes  an  awful  noise. 

But  whatever  whistle  you  choose  to  employ,  be  sure, 
both  in  and  out  of  the  field,  to  sound  it  softly  whenever 
the  dog  is  near  you.  Indeed,  you  would  act  judiciously 
to  make  it  a  constant  rule,  wherever  he  may  be,  never  to 
whittle  louder  than  is  really  requisite,  otherwise  (as  I 
think  I  before  remarked)  he  will,  comparatively  speak- 
ing, pay  little  attention  to  its  summons,  when,  being  at 
a  distance,  he  hears  it  but  faintly. 

508.  I  wrote  to  Mr.  Porteons,  explaining  how  much  a  whistle 
was  wanted  that  might  be  used  by  the  most  unmusical  person,  yet 


CH.  xvi.]  BACKING  THE  GUN.  281 

give  distinct  unvarying  sounds,  so  that  no  dog  could  mistake  his 
own  whistle,  let  it  be  blown  by  whom  it  might.  He  at  once  under- 
stood what  was  required,  and  has  invented  one  with  a  slide  that 
answers  well  for  two  dogs.  He  told  me  that  he  was  making  further 
improvements,  and  expected  to  contrive  one  which  would  answer 
for  as  many  as  three  or  four  dogs.  Messrs.  Stevens,  Darlington 
Works,  Southwark-bridge  Koad,  are  the  manufacturers. 

TO  BACK  THE  GUN. 

509.  In  shooting,  especially  late  in  the  season,  you 
will  often  mark  down  a  bird,  and  feel  assured  that  you 
stand  a  better  chance  of  getting  a  shot  at  it  if  the  dogs 
cease  hunting  whilst  you  approach  it.  You  can  teach 
your  dog  to  do  this  by  holding  up  your  right  hand 
behind  you  when  you  mark  down  a  bird,  saying  at  the 
same  time,  "Toho,"  in  an  earnest,  quiet  voice,  and 
carrying  your  gun  as  if  you  were  prepared  to  shoot. 
He  will  soon  begin,  I  really  must  say  it,  to  back  you, — 
for  he  actually  will  be  backing  you,  ludicrous  as  the  ex- 
pression may  sound.  After  a  few  times  he  will  do  so  on 
the  signal,  without  your  speaking  at  all ;  and  he  will  be 
as  pleased,  as  excited,  and  as  stanch,  as  if  he  were 
backing  an  old  dog.  Making  him  "  drop  "  will  not  effect 
your  object ;  for,  besides  that  it  in  no  way  increases  his 
intelligence,  you  may  wish  him  to  follow  at  a  respectful 
distance,  while  you  are  stealing  along  the  banks  of  some 
stream,  &c.  Ere  long  he  will  become  as  sensible  as 
yourself  that  any  noise  would  alarm  the  birds,  and  you 
will  soon  see  him  picking  his  steps  to  avoid  the  crisp 
leaves,  lest  their  rustling  should  betray  him.  I  have 
even  heard  of  a  dog  whose  admirable  caution  occasionally 
led  him,  when  satisfied  that  his  point  was  observed,  to 
crawl  behind  a  bush,  or  some  other  shelter,  to  screen* 
himself  from  the  notice  of  the  birds. 

*  On  one  occasion,  shooting  in      animal's    endeavouring    to   hide 
India,    I  saw  an  instance  of  an      itself,  that  always  struck  me  as 


282 


BACKING  THE  GUN. 


[CH.  XVI. 


510.  The  acquisition  of  this  accomplishment — and  it 
is  easily  taught  to  a  young  dog  previously  made  steady 
in  backing  another  (it  should  not  be  attempted  before) — 
will  often  secure  you  a  duck,  or  other  wary  bird,  which 
the  dog  would  otherwise,  almost  to  a  certainty,  spring 


remarkable  from  the  youth  of  the 
creature,  and  the  fact  that  its 
usual  instincts  lead  it  to  seek 
safety,  not  in  concealment,  but  in 
flight.  I  was  looking  for  a  small 
kind  of  grouse  commonly  called 
there  rock-pigeon,  when,  crowning 
a  small  eminence,  I  unexpectedly 
came  upon  a  young  antelope,  about 
a  hundred  yards  off,  that  appa- 
rently had  lost  its  dam.  The 
country  was  open  and  bare,  with 
here  and  there  a  few  stunted 
bushes.  It  instantly  ran  behind 
one  of  these,  and  there  remained 
while  I  drew  the  shot,  and  had 
nearly  rammed  down  one  of  the 
balls  (enclosed  in  greased  cloth) 
that  I  constantly  carried  in  my 
pocket  ready  for  immediate  use. 
I  was  almost  prepared,  when  off 
it  went.  As  the  ball  was  nearly 
home,  I  forced  it  down,  not  liking 
the  trouble  of  extracting  it,  and 
took  a  random  chance  shot  at  the 
little  animal.  I  could  not  perceive 
that  it  winced,  and  it  was  not 
until  it  fell  that  I  was  aware  I  had 
struck  it  The  ball  had  passed 
through  its  body  a  little  too  far 
behind  the  shoulder,  and  some- 
what too  high — a  common  fault. 
It  was  so  thin  and  poor  that  it 
must  have  been  separated  for  some 
time  from  its  mother.  The  want  of 
sagacity  evinced  by  peafowl,  when 
hiding  themselves,  is  strongly 
contrasted  with  the  intelligence 
displayed  by  the  fawn.  I  have 
known  these  birds,  when  alarmed, 
run  their  heads  into  a  crevice, 
leaving  the  whole  of  their  bo- 
dies exposed,  and  then  fancy 
themselves  so  effectually  protec- 
ted, as  to  remain  immoveable, 


until  the  sportsman  got  close  to 
them. 

"When  you  are  hunting,  rifle  in 
hand,  for  large  game  on  an  open 
prairie,  or  where  it  is  unlikely  that 
you  will  find  a  convenient  rest, 
you  can  carry  in  your  waistcoat 
pocket,  until  the  moment  you 
require  it,  not  a  very  bad  sub- 
stitute, in  the  shape  of  a  piece  of 
string  looped  at  both  ends.  This 
string  will  have  been  carefully  ad- 
justed to  exactly  such  a  length  that 
when  one  loop  is  slipped  over  your 
left  foot,  and  the  other  loop  over 
the  end  of  the  ramrod  (near  the 
muzzle),  on  your  bringing  up  your 
rifle  to  the  poise,  the  pull  of  the 
string  will  restrain  you  from  unduly 
elevating  it  while  taking  aim.  An 
ordinary  rest  prevents  your  lower- 
ing the  muzzle  when  in  the  act  of 
firing — the  resistance  of  the  string 
opposes  your  raising  it.  The  string, 
however,  will  not  wholly  hinder 
the  muzzle  from  diverging  to  the 
right  or  left, — but  in  reality  it 
will  much  prevent  such  unsteadi- 
ness, by  permitting  your  left  hand 
to  press  strongly  upwards  against 
the  rifle.  In  the  new  drill  for  tiring 
with  the  Enfield,  the  soldier  is 
taught  a  position  which  gives  him 
a  firm  rest  for  his  musket.  It  is  to 
sit  on  his  right  heel  (the  right  knee 
carried  well  to  the  right,  and  rest- 
ing on  the  ground),  and  to  place 
his  left  elbow  on  his  left  knee. 
He  is  taught  to  take  aim  a  little 
below  the  object,  and  to  raise  the 
muzzle  very  slowly — and  to  pull 
the  moment  he  covers  the  object, 
having  previously  well  considered 
what  allowance  he  should  make 
for  the  influence  of  the  wind. 


TELL  ME  MY   HEART  (HART)  IF  THIS   BE  LOVE. 
"  And  took  a  random  chance  shot."— Par.  509,  Note. 


CH.  xvi.]  POINT  RESUMED.  285 

out  of  gun-shot.  If  you  should  "  soho  "  a  hare,  and  wish 
to  kill  one,  you  will  have  an  excellent  opportunity  of 
practising  this  lesson. 

511.  In  America  there  is  a  singular  duck,  called,  from  its  often 
alighting  on  trees,  the  Wood-duck.     I  have  killed  some  of  these 
beautiful,  fast-flying  birds,  while  they  were  seated  on  logs  over- 
hanging the  water,  which  I  could  not  have   approached  within 
gun-shot  had  the  dog  not  properly  backed  the  gun  when  signalled 
to,  and  cautiously  crept  after  me,  still  remaining  far  in  the  rear. 

TO  EETBEAT  FROM  A  POINT  AND  RESUME  IT. 

512.  Amidst  coppices,  osiers,  or  broom  — indeed,  some- 
times on  a  rough  moor — you  will  occasionally  lose  sight 
of  a  dog,  and  yet  be  unwilling  to  call  him,  feeling  as- 
sured that  he  is  somewhere  steadily  pointing  ;  and  being 
vexatiously  certain  that,  when  he  hears  your  whistle,  he 
will  either  leave  his  point,  not  subsequently  to  resume 
it,  or  (which  is  far  more  probable)  amuse  himself  by 
raising  the   game   before   he    joins    you.      There   are 
moments  when  you  would  give  guineas  if  he  would 
retreat  from  his  point,  come  to  you  on  your  whistling, 
lead  you  towards  the  bird,  and  there  resume  his  point. 

513.  This  accomplishment  (and  in  many  places  abroad 
its  value  is  almost  inappreciable)  can  be  taught  him, 
if  he  is  under  great  command,  by  your  occasionally 
bringing  him  to  heel  from  a  point  when  he  is  within 
sight   and   near  you,  and  again  putting  him   on   his 
point.     You  will  begin  your  instruction  in  this  accom- 
plishment when  the  dog  is  pointing  quite  close  to  you. 
On  subsequent  occasions,  you  can  gradually  increase  the 
distance,  until  you  arrive  at  such  perfection  that  you  can 
let  him  be  out  of  sight  when  you  call  him.    When  he  is 
first  allowed  to  be  out  of  your  sight,  he  ought  not  to  be 
far  from  you. 

514.  You  may,  for  a  moment,  think  that  what  is  here 


286  DOG  SHOWING  HIMSELF.  [OH.  xvi. 

recommended  contradicts  the  axiom  laid  down  in  359 ; 
but  it  is  there  said,  that  nothing  ought  to  make  a  dog 
"voluntarily"  leave  his  point.  Indeed,  the  possession 
of  this  accomplishment,  so  far  from  being  productive 
of  any  harm,  greatly  awakens  a  dog's  intelligence,  and 
makes  him  perceive,  more  clearly  than  ever,  that  the 
sole  object  for  which  he  is  taken  to  the  field  is  to  obtain 
shots  for  the  gun  that  accompanies  him.  When  he  is 
pointing  on  your  side  of  a  thick  hedge,  it  will  make  him 
understand  why  you  call  him  off; — take  him  down  wind, 
and  direct  him  to  jump  the  fence  :  he  will  at  once  go  to 
the  bird,  and,  on  your  encouraging  him,  force  it  to  rise 
on  your  side. 

515.  You  will  practise  this  lesson,  however,  with  great 
caution,  and  not  before  his  education  is  nearly  completed, 
lest  he  imagine  that  you  do  not  wish  him  always  to 
remain  stanch  to  his  point.  Indeed,  if  you  are  precipi- 
tate, or  injudicious,  you  may  make  him  blink  his  game. 

516.  After  a  little  experience,  he  will  very  likely  some 
day  satisfactorily  prove  his  consciousness  of  your  object, 
by  voluntarily  coming  out  of  thick  cover  to  show  you 
where  he  is,  and  again  going  in  and  resuming  his  point. 

517.  I  was  once  shooting  in  Ireland  with  a  friend  (MajorL e), 

late  in  the  season,  when  we  saw  a  very  young  pointer  do  this  solely 
from  his  own  intelligence.     Unperceived  by  either  of  us  he  had 
broken  fence,  and  was  out  of  sight.     In  vain  we  whistled  and  called. 
At  length  we  saw  him  on  the  top  of  a  bank  (in  that  country  usually 
miscalled  "  ditch  ") ;  but  the  moment  he  perceived  that  we  noticed 
him,  down  he  jumped.     We  went  up,  and  to  our  great  satisfaction 
found  him  steadily  pointing  a  snipe.     I  need  not  say  that  he 
received  much  praise  and  many  caresses  for  the  feat. 

518.  I  was  partridge-shooting  a  few  seasons  back  with  an  intimate 
friend,  who  was  anxious  to  give  me  a  good  day's  sport,  when  I 
observed  him  beckoning  to  me  from  a  distance.     He  told  me,  when 
I  came  up  to  him,  that  some  birds  were  immediately  before  him. 
I  was  puzzled  to  conceive  how  he  could  know  this,  for  his  white 
setter  was  alongside  of  him  rolling  on  her  back.     He  signalled  to 
her  to  go  forward,  and  sure  enough  she  marched  on,  straight  as  an 
arrow's  flight,  to  a  covey  lying  on  the  stubble.     In  answer  to  my 


CH.  xvi.]          POINT  VOLUNTARILY  RESUMED.  287 

inquiries,  my  friend,  who  seemed  to  attach  no  value  to  the  feat,  but 
to  take  it  as  a  matter  of  course,  told  me  that  he  had  called  the 
bitch  away  from  her  point  lest  her  presence  should  alarm  the  birds, 
and  make  them  take  wing  before  I  could  come  up. 

519.  As  my  friend  was  obliged  to  return  home  early,  he  left  the 
lady  with  me.    I  had  marked  some  partridges  into  the  leeward-side 
of  a  large  turnip-field.     I  could  not  get  her  to  hunt  where  I  wished  ; 
I,  therefore,  no  longer  noticed  her,  but  endeavoured  to  walk  up  the 
birds  without  her  assistance.     After  a  time  she  rejoined  me,  and 
ranged  well  and  close.     I  then  proceeded  to  beat  the  other  part  of 
the  field — the  part  she  had  already  hunted  contrary  to  my  wishes. 
Instead  of  making  a  cast  to  the  right  or  left,  on  she  went,  directly 
ahead,  for  nearly  three  hundred  yards.     I  was  remarking  to  my 
attendant  that  she  must  be  nearly  useless  to  all  but  her  master, 
when  I  observed  her  come  to  a  stiff  point.     I  then  felt  convinced 
that  I  had  done  her  great  injustice,— that  she  must  have  found 
and  left   this   covey,  whilst  I  was  hunting  far  to  leeward, — and 
that  she  had  gone  forward  to  resume  her  point,  as  soon  as  my  face 
was  turned  in  the  right  direction.     On  my  mentioning  all  this 
to  her  owner,  he  said  he  had  no  doubt  but  that  such  was  the  case,  as 
she  would  often  voluntarily  leave  game  to  look  for  him,  and  again 
stand  at  it  on  perceiving  that  he  watched  her  movements. 

520.  An  old  Kentish  acquaintance  of  mine,  though  he  is  still  a 
young  man,  has  an  Irish  setter  that  behaved  in  a  very  similar 

manner.     F r,  having  severely  wounded  a  hare  in  cover,  put  the 

dog  upon  the  scent.     He  immediately  took  it  up,  but  "  roaded  " 
so  fast  as  to  be  soon  out  of  sight.     After  a  fruitless  search  for  the 

setter,  F r  was  obliged  to  whistle  two  or  three  times,  when  he 

showed  himself  at  the  end  of  a  ride,  and  by  his  anxious  looks  and 
motions   seemed  to  invite  his  master  to  come  on.     This  he  did. 
The  sagacious  beast,  after  turning  two  corners,  at  each  of  which  he 

stopped  until  F r  came  up,  went  into  cover  and  resumed  the 

point,  which  my  friend  feels  satisfied  the  dog  must  have  left  on 
hearing  the  whistle,  for  the  wounded  hare,  whose  leg  was  broken, 
was  squatted  within  a  yard  of  him.     Such  instances  of  a  voluntary 
relinquishment  and  resumption  of  a  point,  must  lead  us  to  think 
that  this  accomplishment  cannot  be  very  difficult  to  teach  dogs  who 
have  been  accustomed  to  the  gratification  of  always  seeing  their 
game  carefully  deposited  in  the  bag. 

521.  In  a  capital  little  treatise  on  field  diversions,  written  by 
a  Suffolk  sportsman  upwards  of  seventy  years  ago,  it  is  recorded 
that  a  pointer  bitch,  belonging  to  a  Doctor  Bigsbye,  used  to  give 
tongue  if  she  found  in  cover  and  was  not  perceived,  and  that  she 
would  repeatedly  bark  to  indicate  her  locality  until  she  was  relieved 
from  her  point. 


288  TO  RANGE  WITHOUT  GUN.  [CH.  xvi. 


TO  HUNT  REGULARLY  FROM  LEEWARD  TO  WINDWARD 
WITHOUT  THE  GUN. 

522.  In  paragraph  201  I  observed,  that  when  you 
are  obliged,  as  occasionally  must  be  the  case,  to  enter 
a  field  to  windward  with  your  pupil,  you  ought  to  go* 
down  to  the  leeward  side  of  it,  keeping  him  close  to 
your  heels,  before  you  commence  to  hunt.  After 
undeviatingly  pursuing  this  plan  for  some  time,  you 
can,  before  you  come  quite  to  the  bottom  of  the  field, 
send  him  ahead  (by  the  underhand  bowler's  swing  of 
the  right  hand,  IV.  of  141),  and,  when  he  has  reached 
the  bottom,  signal  to  him  to  hunt  to  the  right  (or  left). 
He  will  be  so  habituated  to  work  under  your  eye  (176) 
that  you  will  find  it  necessary  to  walk  backwards  (up 
the  middle  of  the  field),  while  instructing  him.  As  he 
becomes,  by  degrees,  confirmed  in  this  lesson,  you  can 
sooner  and  sooner  send  him  ahead  (from  your  heel), — 
but  increase  the  distances  very  gradually, — until  at 
length  he  will  be  so  far  perfected,  that  you  may  venture 
to  send  him  down  wind  to  the  extremity  of  the  field 
(before  he  commences  beating),  while  you  remain  quietly 
at  the  top  awaiting  his  return,  until  he  shall  have  hunted 
the  whole  ground,  as  systematically  and  carefully  as  if 
you  had  accompanied  him  from  the  bottom.  By  this 
method  you  will  teach  him,  on  his  gaining  more  ex- 
perience, invariably  to  run  to  leeward,  and  hunt  up  to 
windward  (crossing  and  re-crossing  the  wind)  whatever 
part  of  a  field  you  and  he  may  enter.  What  a  glorious 
consummation  !  and  it  can  be  attained,  but  only  by 
great  patience  and  perseverance.  The  least  reflection, 
however,  will  show  you  that  you  should  not  attempt  it 
until  the  dog  is  perfected  in  his  range. 


CH.  xvi.]  HEAD  RUNNING  BIRDS.  289 

523.  A  careful  dog,  thus  practised,  will  seldom  spring 
birds,  however  directly  he  may  be  running  down  wind. 
He  will  pull  up  at  the  faintest  indication  of  a  scent, 
being  at  all  times  anxiously  on  the  look-out  for  the 
coveted  aroma. 

524.  Not  only  to  the  idle  or  tired  sportsman  would  it 
be  a  great  benefit  to  have  a  field  thus  beaten,  but  the 
keenest  and  most  indefatigable  shot  would  experience 
its  advantages  in  the  cold  and  windy  weather  customary 
in  November,  when  the  tameness  of  partridge-shooting 
cannot  be  much  complained  of;  for  the  birds  being  then 
ever  ready  to  take  wing,  surely  the  best  chance,  by  fair 
means,  of  getting  near  them  would  be  to  intercept  them 
between  the  dog  and  yourself.     The  manoeuvre  much 
resembles  that  recommended  in  284,  but  in  this  you 
sooner  and  more  directly  head  the  birds. 

525.  Here  the  consideration  naturally  arises,  whether 
dogs  could  not  be  taught  (when  hunting  in  the  ordinary 
manner  with  the  dog  in  rear) 

TO  HEAD  RUNNING  BIRDS. 

Certainly  it  could  be  done.  There  have  been  many 
instances  of  old  dogs  spontaneously  galloping  off,  and 
placing  themselves  on  the  other  side  of  the  covey  (which 
they  had  pointed)  as  soon  as  they  perceived  that  it  was 
on  the  run, — and  by  good  instruction  you  could  develop, 
or  rather  excite,  that  exercise  of  sagacity. 

526.  Tolfrey  (formerly,  I  believe,   of  the  43rd)  gives,  in  his 
"  Sportsman  in  France,"  so  beautiful  an  instance  of  a  dog's  un- 
tutored intelligence,  leading  him  to  see  the   advantage  of  thus 
placing  running  birds  between  himself  and  the  gun,  that  I  will 
transcribe  it,  although  I  have  already  mentioned  (end  of  206) 
Grouse's  very  similar  behaviour. 

527.  "  On  gaining  some  still  higher  ground,  the  dog  drew  and 
stood.     She  was  walked  up  to,  but  to  my  astonishment  we  found 
no  birds.     She  was  encouraged,  and  with  great  difficulty  coaxed  off 

U 


290  ALBERT  AND  PEGGY.  [CH.  xvi. 

her  point.  She  kept  drawing  on,  but  with  the  same  ill-success.  I 
must  confess  I  was  for  the  moment  sorely  puzzled  ;  but  knowing 
the  excellence  of  the  animal,  I  let  her  alone.  She  kept  drawing  on 
for  nearly  a  hundred  yards — still  no  birds.  At  last,  of  her  own 
accord,  and  with  a  degree  of  instinct  amounting  almost  to  the  faculty 
of  reasoning,  she  broke  from  her  point,  and  dashing  off  to  the  right 
made  a  detour,  and  was  presently  straight  before  me,  some  three 
hundred  yards  off,  setting  the  game  whatever  it  might  be,  as  much 
as  to  say,  '  I'll  be  ******  if  you  escape  me  this  time.'  We  walked 
steadily  on,  and  when  within  about  thirty  yards  of  her,  up  got  a 
covey  of  red-legged  partridges,  and  we  had  the  good  fortune  to  kill 
a  brace  each.  It  is  one  of  the  characteristics  of  these  birds  to  run 
for  an  amazing  distance  before  they  take  wing  ;  but  the  sagacity  of 
my  faithful  dog  baffled  all  their  efforts  to  escape.  We  fell  in  with 
several  coveys  of  these  birds  during  the  day,  and  my  dog  ever  after 
gave  them  the  double,  and  kept  them  between  the  gun  and  herself." 

528.  Mr.  M i,  an  officer  high  in  the  military  store  department, 

wrote  to  me  but  last  Christmas  (1863)   almost  in  the  following 
words  : — 

529.  "  When  stationed  in  Jamaica,  quail  and  the  wild  guinea-fowl 
were  the  only  game  I  ever  hunted  for.     The  latter  are  very  difficult 
to  approach,  as  they  run  for  hours  through  the  long  grass  and  brush- 
wood, and  will  not  rise  unless  hard  pressed  ;  but  when  once  flushed, 
they  spread  through  the  cover,  and  lie  so  close,  that  one  may 
almost  kick  them  before  without  raising  them.     My  dog,  '  Albert, 
was  broke  on  grouse  before  I  had  him  out  from  home.     A  steadier 
or  better  dog  you  will  rarely  see.     The  first  time  we  went  out  after 
guinea-fowl  he  set  to  work  as  though  hunting  for  grouse,  pointing, 
and  reading  cautiously  when  he  came  on  the  run  of  the  birds,  but, 
from  their  pace  through  the  cover,  never  coming  up  with  them. 
This  occurred  the  first  two  or  three  mornings,  and  annoyed  him 
greatly.     At  last  one  day,  as  soon  as  he  found  that  the  birds  were 
running  through  the  bush,  he  halted,  turned  round,  and  looked  up 
at  me  as  much  as  to  say  :  *  My  poking  after  these  fellows  is  all 
nonsense  ;  do  let  me  try  some  other  dodge.'     So  I  told  him  to  go 
on,  when  he  instantly  started  off,  making  a  wide  cast  until  he 
headed  his  game,  when  he  commenced  beating  back  towards  me, 
driving  the  birds  before  him  until  they  were  sufficiently  near  me, 
when  he  dashed   suddenly  in   amongst  them,  forcing  the  whole 
pack  to  take  wing.     They  spread  through  the  surrounding  grass 
and  cover,  and  '  Albert '  and  his  mother,  '  Peggy,'  went  to  work, 
picking  up  the  birds  singly  or  in  pairs  as  they  lay.     Old  mother 
'  Peggy '  was  far  too  sedate  and  stanch  to  follow  her  son  in  the 
chase  ;  she  remained  with  me  until  he  had  brought  back,  and  flushed 
the  birds,  and  then  she  vied  with  him  in  finding  them. 

From  this  time  I  never  had  any  difficulty  in  getting  shots  at  these 
wary  birds,  for  the  very  moment  they  commenced  running,  'Albert' 
was  off  until  he  headed  them,  drove  them  back,  and  flushed  them, 
as  above  described. 

When  looking  for  quail,    'Albert'   behaved  quite  differently, 


CH.  xvi.]  SUWAKROW.  291 

working  steadily  and  cautiously,  and  never  attempting  to  run  into 
or  spring  his  game  until  I  came  close  up  to  him." 

530.  Grouse  were  unusually  on  the  run  one  misty  day,  when  the 
able  Judge  mentioned  in  490  was  shooting  over  "  Captain's  ''  com- 
panion, "Suwarrow."     The  dog  "roaded"  a  pack  for  some  time 
very  patiently,  but  suddenly  darted  off  for  a  considerable  distance 
to  the  right  and  dropped  into  a  long  hag,  through  the  mazes  of 
which  Lord  M — • — f  followed  as  fast  as  the  nature  of  the  ground 
would  permit  him.     Every  now  and  then  the  dog  just  raised  his 
head  above  the  heather  to  satisfy  himself  that  his  Lordship  was 
coming.     Where  the  hag  ceased,  and  "  Suwarrow  "  could  no  longer 
conceal  his  movements,  he  commenced  a  very  curious  system  of 
tactics,  travelling,   after  a  most  extraordinary  fashion,   sideways 
on  the  arc  of  a  circle,  constantly  keeping  his  stern  towards  its 
centre.     At  length  he  wheeled  about,  and  stood  stock-still  at  a  fixed 

point,  as  if  inviting  Lord  M f  to  approach.     He  did  so, — raised 

a  large  pack,  and  had  a  capital  right  and  left. 

531.  It  would  appear  that  the  "Marshal"  soon  perceived  that 
he  had  no  chance  of  being  enabled  by  a  regular  pursuit  to  bring  his 
artillery  to  bear  upon  the  retreating  party  ;  he,  therefore,  resorted 
to  a  novel  strategy  to  lull  them  into  fancied  security,  and  induce 
them  to  halt.     He  at  once  made  a  feint  of  abandoning  the  pursuit, 
and  moved  off  to  the  flank.     He  made  a  forced  concealed  march  in 
the  hag  ;  and  when  it  would  no  longer  mask  his  plans  and  he  was 
compelled  to  show  himself,  he  merely  let  them  see  his  rear  guard, 
that  they  might  still  think  he  was  retiring,  and  did  not  show  any 
front  until  he  had  fairly  entangled  them  between  himself  and  his 
guns.     It  was  a  feat  worthy  of  "  Wellington  "  or  "  Napoleon,"  let 

alone  "  Suwarrow."    By  the  bye,  it  explains  why  Lord  M d's 

dog  (295)  faced  about  whenever  he  perceived  that  his  presence 
alarmed  the  birds. 

532.  If  "Grouse"  (206),  Tolfrey's  bitch,  "Albert," 
and  "  Suwarrow "  had  been  taught  to  "  hunt  from  lee- 
ward to  windward  without  the  gun  "  (522),  they  would 
have  been  habituated  to  seeing  game  intercepted  between 
themselves  and  their  masters, — and  then  their   spon- 
taneously heading  running  birds    (though  undeniably 
evincing  great  intelligence)  would  not  have  been  so  very 
remarkable.      They  would  but  have  reversed  matters 
by  placing  themselves  to  windward  of  the  birds  while 
the  gun  was  to  leeward.    This  shows  that  the  acquisition 
of  that  accomplishment  (522)  would  be  a  great  step 
towards  securing  a  knowledge  of  the  one  we  are  now 

u  2 


292  HEADING  WOUNDED  BIRDS.  [CH.  xvi. 

considering.  Indeed,  there  seems  to  be  a  mutual  relation 
between  these  two  refinements  in  education,  for  the  pos- 
session of  either  would  greatly  conduce  to  the  attain- 
ment of  the  other. 

533.  This  accomplishment — and  hardly  any  can  be 
considered  more  useful — is  not  so  difficult  to  teach  an 
intelligent  dog  as  one  might  at  first  imagine  ;  it  is  but 
to  lift  him,  and  make  him  act  on  a  larger  scale,  much  in 
the  manner  described  in  309  and  544.     Like,  however, 
everything   else   in   canine    education — indeed,   in    all 
education — it  must  be  effected  gradually ;  nor  should 
it  be  commenced  before  the  dog  has  had   a   season's 
steadying ;  then  practise  him  in  heading  every  wounded 
bird,  and  endeavour  to  make  him  do  so  at  increased 
distances.     Whenever,  also,  he  comes  upon  the  "  heel " 
of  a  covey  which  is  to  leeward  of   him, — instead  of 
letting  him  "  foot "  it, — oblige  him  to  quit  the  scent  and 
take  a  circuit  (sinking  the  wind),  so  as  to  place  himself 
to  leeward  of  the  birds.     He  will  thereby  head  the  covey, 
and  you  will  have  every  reason  to  hope  that  after  a  time 
his  own  observation  and  intellect  will  show  him  the 
advantage  of  thus  intercepting  birds  and  stopping  them 
when  they  are  on  the  run,  whether  the  manoeuvre  places 
him  to  leeward  or  to  windward  of  them.* 

534.  If  you  could  succeed  in  teaching  but  one  of 
your  dogs  thus  to  take  a  wide  sweep  when  he  is  ordered, 
and  head  a  running  covey  before  it  gets  to  the  extremity 
of  the  field  (while  the  other  dogs  remain  near  you),  you 
would  be  amply  rewarded  for  months  of  extra  trouble  in 

*  A  reverend  and  very  enthu-  winded  birds  on  the  other  side  of 

siastic   dog-breaker    in   Cornwall  a  hedge,  he  would  make  a  circuit, 

(R.  R.  W t),  who  took  to  the  and  coming  behind  them  would 

art  late  in  life,  had  an  admirable  drive  them  over  to  his  master, 

dog  named  Niger,  who  practised  This  was  all  innate  talent.     In  no 

a  peculiar  self-taught  dodge.     He  way  did  it  result  from  tuition, 
had  a  capital  nose,  and  when  he 


CH.  XVL]  SETTER  TO  RETRIEVE.  293 

training,  by  obtaining  shots  on  days  when  good  sports- 
men, with  fair  average  dogs,  would  hardly  pull  a  trigger. 
And  why  should  you  not  ?  Success  would  be  next  to 
certain,  if  you  could  as  readily  place  your  dog  exactly 
where  you  wish,  as  shepherds  do  their  collies  (143). 
And  whose  fault  will  it  be  if  you  cannot  ?  Clearly  not 
your  dog's,  for  he  is  as  capable  of  receiving  instruction 
as  the  shepherd's. 

535.  Manifestly  it  would  be  worth  while  to  take 
great  pains  to  teach  this  accomplishment,  for  in  all 
countries  it  would  prove  a  most  killing  one  when  birds 
become  wild  ;  and,  as  Tolfrey  shows  (529),  it  would  be 
found  particularly  useful  wherever  the  red-legged  part- 
ridge abounds,* — which  birds  you  will  find  do  not  lie 
badly  when  the  coveys  are,  by  any  means,  well  headed 
and  completely  broken.  But  there  are  other  accom- 
plishments nearly  as  useful  as  those  already  detailed ; 
the  description  of  them,  however,  we  will  reserve  for  a 
separate  Chapter. 

*  Unless  they  are  very  young  Mr.  L d,  A r's  keeper  (of 

they  are  little  prized  at  table  ;  and  H n  Hall),  told  me  he  had  on 

they  afford  such  bad  sport  to  the  several  occasions  seen  the  young 
gun  that,  notwithstanding  their  red-legged  Frenchmen  persever- 
beauty,  great  pains  are  now  taken  ingly  attack  and  eventually  kill 
in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  to  exter-  a  whole  covey  of  the  less  active 
minate  the  breed.  Their  nests  English  squeakers.  The  late  Mar- 
are  sought  for  to  be  destroyed  ;  quis  of  Hertford  has  the  credit  (?) 
and  when  the  snow  is  on  the  of  having  been  the  first  to  turn 
ground,  the  old  birds  are  killed  in  out  a  few  of  the  strangers.  This 
great  numbers.  It  is  observed  was  nearly  fifty  years  ago  at  Sud- 
that  in  proportion  as  they  increase,  bourn  Hall,  his  seat  in  Suffolk, 
so  do  the  common  partridge  de-  whence  they  have  spread  over  that 
crease.  The  stronger  bird,  accord-  county  and  Norfolk,  and  are  fast 
ing  to  the  general  law  of  nature,  invading  the  northern  parts  of 
drives  off  the  weaker  congener.  Essex. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

SETTER  TO  RETRIEVE.     BLOODHOUNDS.     RETRIEVERS  TO  "BEAT." 
WOUNDED  WILD  FOWL  RETRIEVED  BEFORE  THE  KILLED. 

536.  SETTER  TO  RETRIEVE ;  obtain  thereby  in  one  dog  the  services  of  two ; 
necessity  of  having  some  Dog  that  retrieves.— 537.  Predilection  for  Setters  con- 
fessed; Reason  given;  in  Note,  Setters  daily  becoming  more  valuable  than 
Pointers ;  Partridges  netted  by  Poachers,  also  by  Keepers,  to  make  birds  wary ; 
Bloodhounds  to  track  Poachers;  Education  of  Bloodhounds;  Education  of 
Keeper's  night  dog.  (See  Appendix).— 538.  Retrieving  not  to  be  taught  first 
season. — 539.  Value  of  retrieving  instanced  in  Pointer.— 540.  One  Dog  only 
to  retrieve  ;  Dog  that  bolted  Partridge  because  interfered  with  by  companion ; 
Birds  kept  cool.— 541.  Let  "retrieving"  be  done  by  "Finder."— 542.  Captain 
J n's  three  Dogs  that  alternately  retrieved  as  ordered.— 543.  Such  an  Educa- 
tion could  be  given,  but  unnecessary.— 544.  Seeking  Dead  with  two  Dogs ; 
Winged  Bird  searched  for  in  direction  of  covey's  flight.— 545.  Scent  differs  of 
wounded  and  unwounded  birds.— 546.  Three  dead  Snipe  lifted  in  succession; 
Setter  that  stood  fresh  birds  while  carrying  a  dead  one ;  Pointer  that  pointed 
Partridge  while  carrying  a  hare;  Retriever  refusing  to  relinquish  chase  of 
wounded  Hare;  wounded  Woodcock  walked  up  to,  not  "set"  by  Dog. — 547. 
"Venus"  tracking  winged  Partridge  through  Pheasants  and  Rabbits.— 548.  In- 
judiciousness  of  retrieving  Setter  pointing  dead.  —  549.  Argument  against 
employing  retrieving  Setters  holds  against  using  regular  Retrievers.  — 550. 
REGULAR  RETRIEVERS  TO  BEAT  ;  its  Advantages ;  one  Dog  does  the  duty 
of  two.— 551.  Instance  of  Retriever  doing  so  spontaneously.— 552.  Retriever 
that  never  disturbed  fresh  ground.— 553.  WATER  RETRIEVERS  (OR  WATER 
SPANIELS)  TO  RETRIEVE  CRIPPLED  BEFORE  PICKING  UP  DEAD 
WILD  FOWL ;  how  taught.— 554.  None  of  these  Accomplishments  so  difficult 
to  teach  as  a  good  range.— 555.  Might  be  taught  by  your  Gamekeeper  but  not 
to  be  expected  of  regular  Breaker. 

SETTER  TO  RETRIEVE. 

536.  UNDENIABLY  there  is  some  value  in  the  extra 
number  of  shots  obtained  by  means  of  highly-broken 
dogs  ;  and  nearly  as  undeniable  is  it  that  no  man,  who 
is  not  over-rich,  will  term  that  teaching  superfluous 
which  enables  him  to  secure  in  one  dog  the  services  of 
two.  Now,  I  take  it  for  granted  (as  I  cannot  suppose 
you  are  willing  to  lose  many  head  of  killed  game),  that 
you  would  be  glad  to  be  always  accompanied  in  the 


CH.  xvii.]       SETTER  PREFERRED  TO  POINTER,  295 

field  by  a  dog  that  retrieves.  Unless  you  have  such 
a  companion,  there  will  be  but  little  chance  of  your 
often  securing  a  slightly  winged  bird  in  turnips.  In- 
deed, in  all  rough  shooting,  the  services  of  a  dog  so 
trained  are  desirable  to  prevent  many  an  unfortunate 
hare  and  rabbit  from  getting  away  to  die  a  painful,  linger- 
ing death  ;  and  yet,  if  the  possession  of  a  large  kennel  is 
ever  likely  to  prove  half  as  inconvenient  to  you  as  it 
would  to  me,  you  would  do  well,  according  to  my  idea 
of  the  matter,  to  dispense  with  a  regular  retriever, 
provided  you  have  a  highly-broken  setter  who  retrieves 
well. 

537.  I  say  setter  rather  than  pointer,  not  on  account 
of  his  more  affectionate,  and  perhaps  more  docile  dispo- 
sition (for  certainly  he  is  less  liable  to  sulk  under 
punishment),  but  because,  thanks  to  his  long  coat,  he 
will  be  able  to  work  in  any  cover,  and  that  from  nature 
he  "  roads  "  quicker. 

I  must,  however,  plead  guilty  (for  many  good  sportsmen  wil 
think  I  evince  bad  taste)  to  a  predilection  for  setters — meaning 
always  cautious  setters — a  partiality,  perhaps,  attributable  to 
having  shot  more  over  wild,  uncertain  ground  than  in  well-stocked 
preserves.  Doubtless,  in  a  very  enclosed  country,  where  game  is 
abundant,  pointers  are  preferable,  far  preferable,  more  especially 
should  there  be  a  scarcity  of  water  ;  but  for  severe  and  fast  work, 
and  as  a  servant  of  all  work,  there  is  nothing,  I  humbly  conceive, 
like  the  setter.*  He  may  be,  and  generally  is,  the  more  difficult  to 
break  ;  but  when  success  has  crowned  your  efforts,  what  a  noble, 
enduring,  sociable,  attached  animal  you  possess.  I  greatly,  too, 
admire  his  long,  stealthy,  blood-like  action, — (for  I  am  not  speaking 
of  the  large  heavy  sort  before  which  in  old  days  whole  coveys  used 
to  be  nettled),  and  the  animated  waving  of  his  stern,  so  strongly 
indicative  of  high  breeding  ;  though,  strange  to  say,  in  gracefulness 
of  carriage  the  fox,  when  hunting,  and  actually  on  game,  far  excels 
him.  But  we  are  again  getting  astray  beyond  our  proper  limits  ; 
let  us  keep  to  the  subject  of  dog-breaking. 


*  This  note  on  setters,  poachers,       has  placed  it  in   an   Appendix, 
keepers,  bloodhounds,  night-dogs,       See  page  344. 
&c.,  is  so  long,  that  the  printer 


296  TO  RETRIEVE  SECOND  SEASON.          [CH.  xvn. 

538.  As  it  will  be  your  endeavour,  during  your  pupil's 
first  season,  to  make  him  thoroughly  stanch  and  steady, 
I  cannot  advise  you  (as  a  general  rule  liable,  of  course, 
to  many  exceptions — one  of  which  is  named  in  317),  to 
let  him  retrieve, — by  retrieve  I  always  mean  fetch, — 
until  the  following  year.      There  is  another  advantage 
in  the  delay.     His  sagacity  will  have  shown  him  that 
the  design  of  every  shot  is  to  bag  the  game — when, 
therefore,  he  has  once  been  permitted  to  pick  up  a  bird, 
he  will  be  desirous  of  carrying  it  immediately  to  you, 
and  will  resist  the  temptation  to  loiter  with  it,  mouthing 
and   spoiling  it ;   and  however  keenly  he  may  have 
heretofore  "  sought  dead,"  he  will  henceforth  search  with 
redoubled  zeal,  from  the  delight  he  will  experience  in 
being  permitted  to   carry  his   game.      Moreover,   the 
season's   shooting,  without  lifting,  will  have  so   tho- 
roughly confirmed  him  in  the  "  down  charge,"  that  the 
increased  *  inclination  to  bolt  off  in  search  of  a  falling 
bird  will  be  successfully  resisted.    If  he  has  been  taught 
while  young  to  "fetch"  (107,  109,  &c.),  he  will  be  so 
anxious  to  take  the  birds  to  you,  that  instead  of  there 
being  any  difficulty  in  teaching  him  this  accomplish- 
ment, you  will  often,  during  his  first  season,  have  to 
restrain  him  from  lifting  when  he  is  "pointing  dead." 
The  least  encouragement  will  make  him  gladly  pick  up 
the  birds,  and  give  them,  as  he  ought,  to  no  one  but 
yourself. 

539.  Suppose  you  possess  no  regular  retriever — if,  instead  of 
lifting  your  game  yourself,  you  accustom  one  of  your  pointers  or 
setters  to  do  so,  you  will  occasionally,  in  some  odd  manner,  bag  a 
bird  which  you  would  otherwise  inevitably  lose.     In  97  is  given 
such  an  instance  ;  and  in  Scotland,  no  later  than  last  season,  I  saw 
another.     An  outlying  cock-pheasant  rose  out  of  stubble.     It  was  a 
long  shot,  but  he  was  knocked  over,  falling  into  an  adjoining  piece 

*  "Increased  :"  the  gratification  of  carrying  being  far  greater  than 
that  of  merely  "  pointing  dead. " 


CH.  XVII.] 


ONLY  ONE  TO  RETRIEVE. 


297 


of  turnips.  After  the  "  down  charge,"  a  pointer  bitch  accustomed 
to  retrieve,  was  sent  to  fetch  him.  The  moment  she  approached 
the  bird,  up  he  got,  apparently  as  strong  as  ever,  and  flew  over  some 
rising  ground,  but  whither,  I  had  no  idea,  further  than  suspecting 
that  he  was  making  for  a  distant  cover  on  forbidden  ground.  I, 
therefore,  at  once  gave  him  up  as  lost.  The  dog,  however,  was 
more  sanguine,  for,  to  my  great  surprise,  off  she  started  in  pursuit, 
clearly  imagining  it  was  quite  a  mistake  of  the  pheasant's.  I  soon 
lost  sight  of  her,  but,  to  my  great  gratification,  I  observed  her,  some 
little  time  afterwards,  topping  the  hillock  with  the  bird  in  her 
mouth.  If  she  had  been  young,  her  chase  after  the  pheasant  might 
only  have  shown  sad  unsteadiness  and  wildness  ;  but  as  she  was 
a  stanch  sober  old  lady,  it  manifestly  evinced  nothing  but, — it 
will  be  safest  to  say, — much  intelligence  and  discrimination,  lest 
you  cavil  at  the  words  reason  or  reflection.  I  must  own  I  should 
not. 

540.  You  need  hardly  be  cautioned  not  to  let  more 
than  one  dog  retrieve  the  same  bird.     "With  more  dogs 


"  With  more  dogs  than  one  the  bird  would,  almost  to  a  certainty,  be  torn." 

than  one  the  bird  would,  almost  to  a  certainty,  be  torn  r 
and  if  a  dog  once  becomes  sensible  of  the  enjoyment  he 


298  THE  FINDER  TO  RETRIEVE.  [CH.  xvn. 

would  derive  in  pulling  out  the  feathers  of  a  bird,  you 
will  find  it  difficult  to  make  him  deliver  it  up  before  he 
has  in  some  way  disfigured  it. 

A  bitch  that  retrieved  admirably,  known  to  an  acquaintance  of 
mine,  was  on  one  occasion  so  annoyed  at  being  interfered  with  by 
her  companion,  that,  in  a  fit  of  jealousy,  she  actually  bolted  the 
partridge  she  was  carrying  lest  "  Jack  "  should  come  in  for  a  nibble. 
I  must  confess  I  think  it  of  much  importance  that  a  dog  who 
retrieves  should  be  tender-mouthed,  for  I  own  I  like  to  put  my 
birds  by  smooth  and  tidy,  and,  if  I  want  them  to  keep  long,  take 
care  to  observe  the  old  rule  of  hanging  them  (by  their  heads  rather 
than  their  feet,  that  rain  may  not  saturate  the  feathers)  on  the  loops 
outside  the  game-bag  until  they  are  quite  cool,  before  I  allow  them 
to  become  inside  passengers  ;  but  I  generally  have  their  bodies 
placed  within  the  netting,  as  for  want  of  this  precaution  many  a  bird 
has  been  decapitated  in  the  scramble  through  a  thick  hedge.  Game, 
whether  cool  or  warm,  kept  in  a  close  Mackintosh  bag,  soon  becomes 
unfit  to  send  to  any  distance. 

541.  If  you  shoot  with  several  dogs  that  retrieve,  be 
careful  always  to  let  the  dog  who  finds  the  game  be 
the  one  to  bring  it.     It  is  but  fair  that  he  should  be  so 
rewarded,  and  thus  all  will  be  stimulated  to  hunt  with 
increased  diligence. 

542.  Captain  J n,  K.N.,  of  Little  B w,  Essex  (well-known 

for  the  gallantry  and  skill  he  displayed  when  risking  his  own  life  to 
save  that  of  many  stranded  on  the  Kentish  coast),  used  to  break  in 
his  own  dogs,  and  required  them  to  show  yet  greater  obedience  and 
forbearance  while  retrieving.     At  one  period  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
taking  two  pointers  and  a  little  spaniel  into  the  field  to  hunt 
together, — the  latter  so  small  that  he  often  carried  it  in  his  pocket 
when  it  was  fatigued.     The  following  kind  of  scene  constantly 
occurred.     One  of  the  pointers  would  stand, — the  other  back, — so 

also  would  the  spaniel.     Captain  J n,  after  killing  his  bird  and 

loading,  probably  said,  "  Don,  go  fetch  it."     Don  went  forward  to 
obey.     "Stop, Don."    Don  halted.     " Carlo, fetch  the  bird."    Carlo 
advanced.     "  Stop,  Carlo."    Carlo  obeyed.     "  Tiny,  bring  it."    The 
little  creature  did  as  ordered,  and  placed  it  in  her  master's  hand,  the 
pointers  meanwhile  never  moving. 

543.  I  am  not  urging  you  to  give  up  the  time  requisite  to  educate 
dogs  so  highly  as  this,  but  you  see  it  can  be  done. 

544.  If  the  dog  that  found  the  covey  be  not  able 
to  wind  the  bird  you  have  shot,  make  one  of  the  other 


CH.  xvii.]     SCENT  OF  HIT  AND  MISSED  BIRDS.  299 

dogs  take  a  large  circuit.  The  latter  may  thus,  without 
interfering  with  the  first  dog,  come  upon  the  bird,  should 
it  have  run  far.  Send  him  in  the  direction  the  covey 
has  taken — the  chances  are  great  that  the  bird  is  travel- 
ling towards  the  same  point.  By  pursuing  this  plan, 
obviously  there  will  be  much  less  chance  of  your  losing 
a  bird  than  if  you  allow  the  dogs  to  keep  close  together 
while  searching.  (See  also  115.) 

545.  Do  not  think  that  by  making  your  setter  lift 
(after  his  first  season),  instead  of  "  pointing  dead,"  there 
will  be  any  increased  risk  of  his  raising  unsprung  birds. 
The  difference  between  the  scent  of  dead  or  wounded 
game,  and  that  of  game  perfectly  uninjured,  is  so  great 
that  no  steady,  experienced  dog  will  fail  to  point  any 
fresh  bird  he  may  come  across  whilst  seeking  for  that 
which  is  lost. 

As  a  proof  of  this  I  may  mention  that, 

546.  In  North  America  I  once  saw  three  snipe  lying  on  the  ground, 
which  a  pointer,  that  retrieved,  had  regularly  set  one  after  the 
other,  having  found  a  couple  on  his  way  to  retrieve  the  first,  and 
which  he  afterwards  brought  in  succession  to  his  master,  who  had 
all  the  time  governed  the  dog  entirely  by  signs,  never  having  been 
obliged  to  use  his  voice  beyond  saying  in  a  low  tone,  "  Dead,"  or 
"  Find."    I  remember,  also,  hearing  of  a  retrieving  setter  that  on 
one  occasion  pointed  a  fresh  bird,  still  retaining  in  her  mouth  the 
winged  partridge  which  she  was  carrying, — and  of  a  pointer  who 
did  the  same  when  he  was  bringing  a  hare  ;  there  must,  too,  be 
few  sportsmen  who  will  not  admit  that  they  have  found  it  more 
difficult  to  make  a  dog  give  up  the  pursuit  of  a  wounded  hare  than 
of  one  perfectly  uninjured.     I  know  of  a  sportsman's  saying  he  felt 
certain  that  the  hare  his  retriever  was  coursing  over  the  moors  must 
have  been  struck,  although  the  only  person  who  had  fired  stoutly 
maintained  that  the  shot  was  a  regular  miss.     The  owner  of  the 
dog,  however,  averred  that  this  was  impossible,  as  he  never  could 
get  the  discerning  animal  to  follow  any  kind  of  unwounded  game  ; 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  that  no  rating  would  make  him  quit  the 
pursuit  of  injured  running  feather  or  fur.     The  retriever's  speedy 
return  with  puss,  conveniently  balanced  between  his  jaws,  bore 
satisfactory  testimony  to  the  accuracy  of  both  his  own  and  his  master's 
judgment.     In  December,  '49,  a  woodcock  that  was  struck  hard 
took  a  long  flight.     A  setter-bitch  I  have  often  shot  over  came, 


300  COLONEL  T Y'S  VENUS.  [OH.  xvn. 

quite  unexpectedly  to  herself,  on  the  scent  of  the  bird  when  it  was 
at  such  a  distance  from  her  that  the  party  who  had  shot  it  felt  sure 
she  was  on  other  game.  Instead,  however,  of  "  setting,"  the  bitch, 
who,  be  it  observed,  is  particularly  steady,  drew  on,  and  after 
deliberately  walking  up  to  the  woodcock,  gave  it  a  touseling,  for 
she  is  not  broken  into  "pointing  dead."  It  is  certain  that  her 
olfactory  nerves  plainly  told  her  there  was  no  chance  of  its  rising. 

547.  In  corroboration  of  the  correctness  of  the  opinion  I  have 
just  expressed,  respecting  the  difference  between  the  scent  of  injured 
and  uninjured  birds,  I  am  glad  to  be  permitted  to  make  the  following 

extract  from  a  letter  I  lately  received  from  Colonel  T y,  spoken, 

of  in  99.     He  writes,  "  When  shooting  at  Alresford,  in  Essex,  last 
year,  I  had  a  singular  instance  of  Venus'  sagacity  in  detecting  the 
scent  of  wounded  game.     I  was  returning  home,  and  while  walking 
through  a  field  of  turnips  a  covey  of  birds  got  up  near  the  fence.     I 
winged  one,  which  fell  in  the  midst  of  some  rabbits  and  pheasants 
feeding  near  the  edge  of  the  cover  on  the  opposite  side.     Of  course, 
they  all  bolted  at  the  appearance  of  such  an  unwelcome  visitor  as 
the  retriever — the  rabbits  into  their  burrows, — the  pheasants  into 
cover.     My  servant  brought  the  bitch  up  to  the  place  where  I 
thought  the  bird  had  fallen.     After  puzzling  about  for  some  time, 
she  took  the  trail  about  thirty  yards  down  by  the  side  of  the  fence, 
and  then  'set'  at  a  rabbit-hole.     Thinking  she  was  mistaken,  I 
rated  her  and  tried  to  get  her  away,  but  she  stuck  to  her  point. 
Determining,  therefore,  to  ascertain  the  facts,  we  dug  up  the  top 
part  of  a  narrow  fence,  and  bolted  a  couple  of  rabbits  out  of  the 
hole,  at  the  further  end  of  which  we  found  my  wounded  bird,  an  old 
Frenchman."  * 

548.  Some  good  sportsmen  maintain  that  a  retrieving 
setter  (or  pointer)  on  finding  a  dead  bird  ought  to  point 
it  until  directed  to  lift  it.     This  training  they  hold  to  be 
advisable,  on  the  ground  that  it  conduces  to  the  dog's 
steadiness  by  diminishing  his  wish  to  run  forward  on 
seeing  a  bird  fall ;  but  the  plan  has  necessarily  this  evil 
consequence,  that  should  the  setter,  when  searching  for 
the  dead  bird,  come  across  and  point,  as  he  ought,  any 
fresh  game,  on  your  telling  him  to  fetch  it   (as  you 
naturally  will),  he  must  spring  it  if  he  attempt  to  obey 
you.     Surely  this  would  tend  more  to  unsteady  him 
than  the  habit  of  lifting  his  dead  birds  as  soon  as  found  ? 
Your  dog  and  you  ought  always  to  work  in  the  greatest 

*  A  red-legged  partridge. 


CH.  xvii. ]    HARMONY  BETWEEN  DOG  AND  MASTER.          301 

harmony — in  the  mutual  confidence  of  your,  at  all  times, 
thoroughly  understanding  each  other — and  you  should 
carefully  avoid  the  possibility  of  ever  perplexing  him  by 
giving  him  any  order  it  is  out  of  his  power  to  obey, 
however  much  he  may  exert  himself.  Moreover,  if  you 
teach  your  retrieving  setter  to  "  point  dead,"  you  at  once 
relinquish — surely  unnecessarily  ? — all  hope  of  ever  wit- 
nessing such  a  fine  display  of  sagacity  and  steadiness  as 
has  just  been  related  in  the  first  part  of  546. 

549.  If  you  object  to  a  setter's  being  taught  to  lift  on 
the  ground,  that  it  will  make  the  other  dogs  jealous, 
pray  remember  that  the  argument  has  equal  force  against 
the  employment  of  a  regular  retriever  in  their  presence. 

REGULAR  RETRIEVER  TO  BEAT. 

550.  We  all  have  our  prejudices, — every  Englishman 
has  a  right  to  many.     One  of  mine  is  to  think  a  regular 
retriever  positively  not  worth  his  keep  to  you  for  general 
shooting  if  one  of  your  setting  dogs  will  retrieve  well — but 
what  an  all-important "  if"  is  this  !  However,  if  you  shoot 
much  in  cover,  I  admit  that  a  regular  retriever  which  can 
be  worked  in  perfect  silence,  never  refusing  to  come  in 
when  he  is  merely  signalled  to,  or,  if  out  of  sight,  softly 
whistled  to,  is  better*  (particularly  when  you  employ 
beaters),  but  even  then  he  need  not  be  the  idler  that 
one  generally  sees, — he  might  be   broken  in  to  hunt 
close  to  you,  and  give  you  the  same  service  as  a  mute 
spaniel.    I  grant  this  is  somewhat  difficult  to  accomplish, 
for  it  much  tends  to  unsteady  him,  but  it  can  be  effected, 
— I  have  seen  it, — and  being  practicable,  it  is  at  least 
worth  trying ;  for  if  you  succeed,  you,  as  before  (536), 
make  one  dog  perform  the  work  of  two  ;  and,  besides  its 

*  Of  course,  a  regular  retriever       of  which  are  accustomed  to  re- 
is  absolutely  necessary  when   a      trieve  (78). 
team  of  spaniels  is  hunted,  none 


302  RETRIEVERS  BEATING.  [CH.  xvn. 

evident  advantage  in  thick  cover,  if  lie  accompany  you 
in  your  every-day  shooting,  you  will  thus  obtain,  in  the 
course  of  a  season,  many  a  shot  which  your  other  dogs, 
especially  in  hot  weather,  would  pass  over.  If,  too,  the 
retriever  hunts  quite  close  to  you,  he  can  in  no  way 
annoy  his  companions,  or  interfere  with  them,  for  I  take 
it  for  granted  he  will  be  so  obedient  as  to  come  to 
"  heel "  the  instant  he  gets  your  signal. 

551.  Many  regular  retrievers  take  spontaneously  to  beating.    Two 

brothers,  named  W e,  living  at  Grewell,  in  Hampshire,  termed 

by  the  village  wags,  not  inappropriately,  "  Watergruel "  (there  is 
good  snipe  and  duck-shooting  in  the  surrounding  marshes),  have  a 
ranging-retriever  (a  Newfoundland),  still  young,  now  called  "  Nelly," 
though,  as  a  puppy,  christened  "  Nelson  "  by  the  girls  of  the  family. 
Miss  Nelly,  as  if  to  give  further  proof  of  the  impropriety  of  her 
original  name,  is  remarkably  timid,  and  therefore  has  been  allowed 
to  follow,  unchecked,  her  own  devices  in  the  field.     In  imitation  of 
her  companions,  she  took  to  beating  and  pointing ;  and,  after  the 
"  down-charge,"  would  retrieve  as  zealously  and  efficiently  as  if  she 
had  never  been  allowed  to  "  quit  heel,"  except  for  that  express 
purpose.     I  have  myself,  when  in  the  north,  killed  game  to  the 
voluntary  point  of  "  Sambo,"  a  black  regular-retriever,  who  was 
permitted  to  range  close  to  the  keeper.     I  have  also  shot  to  the 
point  of  "  Bang,"  a  very  handsome  animal,  a  cross  between  a  New- 
foundland and  a  setter.     Dogs  so  bred  often,  when  ranging,  take  to 
pointing  for  a  short  period  before  dashing  in  ;  or  can  easily  be  made 
to  do  so, — thereby  giving  the  gun  a  very  acceptable  caution. 

552.  The  sire  of  "  Venus  " — honourable  mention  is  made  of  her 
in  99 — a  very  celebrated  dog,  had  an  invaluable  quality  as  a  retriever, 
though  the  very  opposite  of  the  range  I  have  been  recommending. 
He  disturbed  as  little  ground  as  possible  during  his  search,  and  no 
fresh  ground  returning.    After  running  with  the  greatest  correct- 
ness a  wounded  pheasant  through  a  large  cover,  he  would  invariably 
return  upon  the  same  track  he  had  taken  when  first  sent  from 
"  heel."     I  confess  I  cannot  see  how  this  admirable  habit  could  be 
taught  by  any  one  but  Dame  Nature.     Is  it  not  a  beautiful  instance 
of  sagacity  ?    But  you  will  observe  that,  singularly  good  as  was  this 
regular-retriever,  he  would  have  sprung  the  snipe  at  which  the 
retrieving-pointer  stood  (546).     For  instructions  regarding  regular 
land  retrievers,  see  112  to  130. 


EXAMPLE  BETTER  THAN  PRECEPT. 
Accoutred  as  I  was  I  plunged  in  and  bade  him  follow. "-Pars.  276  and  553. 


OH.  xvii.j  WATEB  SPANIELS.  305 

WATER  RETRIEVERS  (on  WATER  SPANIELS) 

TO   RETRIEVE  WOUNDED,    BEFORE    PICKING  UP  KILLED  WILDFOWL. 

553.  This  a  knowing  old  dog  will  often  do  of  his  own 
accord  ;  but  you  must  not  attempt  to  teach  a  young  one 
this  useful  habit,  until  you  are  satisfied  that  there  is 
110  risk  of  making  him  blink  his  birds.     You  can  then 
call  him  off  when  he  is  swimming  towards  dead  birds, 
and  signal  to  him  to  follow  those  that  are  fluttering 
away.     If  the  water  is  not  too  deep,  rush  in  yourself, 
and  set  him  a  good  example  by  actively  pursuing  the 
runaways ;  and  until  all  the  cripples  that  can  be  re- 
covered *  are  safely  bagged,  do  not  let  him  lift  one  of 
those  killed  outright.     If  very  intelligent,  he  will  before 
long  perceive  the  advantage  of  the  system,  or  at  least 
find  it  the  more  exciting  method,  and  adhere  to  it  with- 
out obliging  you  to  continue  your  aquatic  excursions. 
(For  advice  about  water  retrievers,  see  90  to  95.)     I 
have  placed  this  paragraph  among  the  "  refinements  "  in 
breaking ;    but   I   ought,  perhaps,  to  have  entered  it 
sooner ;  for  if  you  are  fond  of  duck-shooting,  and  live 
in  a  neighbourhood  where  you  have  good  opportunities 
of  following  it,  you  should  regard  this  accomplishment 
as  a  necessary  part  of  your  spaniel's  education. 

554.  In  your  part  of  the  country  none  of  these  extra, 
or,  as  some  will  say,  always  superfluous  accomplishments 
may  be  required ;  but  if  you  consider  that  a  pupil  of 
yours  attaining  any  one  of  them  would  be  serviceable, 
be  not  deterred  from  teaching  it  by  the  idea  that  you 
would  be  undertaking  a   difficult  task.     Any  one  of 
them,  I  was  nearly  saying  all  of  them,  could  be  taught 

*  In  deep  water  diving  birds  will  of  course  beat  the  most  active 
dog. 

X 


306  SUPERFLUOUS  ACCOMPLISHMENTS.      [CH.  xvn. 

a  dog  with  far  greater  ease,  and  in  a  shorter  time,  than 
a  well-established,  judicious  range. 

555.  It  would  be  quite  unreasonable  to  expect  a 
regular  breaker  ("  mark/'  I  do  not  say  your  gamekeeper) 
to  teach  your  dog  any  of  these  accomplishments.  He 
may  be  fully  aware  of  the  judiciousness  of  the  system, 
and  be  sensible  of  its  great  advantages,  but  the  many 
imperious  calls  upon  his  time  would  preclude  his  pur- 
suing it  in  all  its  details.  At  the  usual  present  prices 
it  would  not  pay  him  to  break  in  dogs  so  highly. 


CHAPTEE  XVIII. 


BECKFORD.     ST.  JOHN.     CONDITION.     INOCULATION.     VACCINATION 
CONCLUSION. 

556.  Reflect  on  what  is  said.— 557.  Not  to  rest  content  with  bad  dogs.— 558.  Beck- 
ford's  opinion  of  the  education  that  could  be  given  to  Dog. — 559.  Education  of 
the  Buckhound. — 560,  561.  St.  John's  opinion.  The  old  Show-woman's  learned 
dog.— 562.  Hunting  to  be  Dog's  principal  enjoyment.— 563.  While  young,  not 
to  have  run  of  kitchen.  To  be  in  kennel ;  not  tied  up  ;  chain  better  than  rope. 
— 564.  When  older,  more  liberty  allowed,  but  never  to  "  self-hunt ;"  old  Dogs 
spontaneously  take  judicious  liberties.  Easier  to  teach  accomplishments  than 
cure  faults.  "Self-hunter's"  example  most  dangerous. — 565.  Fine  range  and 
perseverance  attained.  Irish  red  setters. — 566.  Good  condition ;  exercise  oil 
road ;  attention  to  feet.  In  Note,  Claws  sometimes  too  long  ;  Claws  of  Tigress 
that  ran  into  feet.— 567.  Diet  to  be  considered ;  muscle  wanted ;  fat  detrimental, 
except  to  Water  Retrievers.  In  Note,  recipe  for  waterproofing  boots. — 568. 
Indian-corn  meal;  Mr.  Herbert's  opinion  of;  feed  of  an  evening.— 569.  Beef- 
soup  brings  Mange  in  hot  climates  :  Mutton  better— meat  necessary  to  prevent 
disgusting  habits. — 570.  Good  condition  of  Nose  most  material ;  Kennels. — 
571.  Warmth  necessary ;  Winter  pups. — 572.  Pups  inoculated  for  Distemper. — 
573  to  575.  Vaccinated  for  Distemper.— 577.  Elaine  and  Colonel  Cook  thought 
it  useless. — 577.  Old  prejudice  against  Vaccination. — 578.  Colonel  Hawker 
advocates  it. — 579.  Salt  for  Distemper. — 580.  Easy  to  give  medicine. — 581.  The" 
method.— 582.  If  force  is  necessary. — 583.  Castor  oil  lapped  up  with  milk.— 
584.  Dog  not  to  be  lent. — 586.  In  Note,  old  sportsman's  advice  about  choosing 
a  Keeper.— 588.  Education  gradual ;  taught  from  the  A,  B,  C.  In  Note,  Query, 
do  Keepers  find  time  to  break  in  dogs  of  strangers,  while  their  masters'  remain 
unfinished?  Advantage  of  young  Dog's  accompanying  Keeper  when  he  goes 
his  rounds  by  day.  "  Snap"  daily  visiting  the  traps  for  his  master. — 585  to  589. 
The  Conclusion. 

556.  WE  have  come  to  the  concluding  division  (dignified  by  the 
name  of  Chapter)  of  this  little  Work  ;  for  I  have  at  length  nearly 
finished  my  prosing  about  dog-breaking.     But  reflect  upon  what  I 
have  said.     The  more  you  do,  the  more,  I  think,  you  will  be  of 
opinion  that  I  have  recommended  only  what  is  reasonable,  and  that 
but  little  attention  beyond  the  trouble  usually  bestowed,  if  directed 
by  good  judgment,  is  required  to  give  a  dog  the  education  which 
I  have  described. 

557.  I  wish  I  could  animate  you  with  but  a  quarter  of  the 
enthusiasm  which  I  once  felt  on  the  subject.     I  am  not  desirous  of 
making  you  dissatisfied  with  anything  that  you  possess,  excepting 
your  dogs,  such  as,  I  fear,  they  most  probably  are.  and  that  only 

x2 


308  BECKFORD-BUCKHOUND.  [CH.  xvm. 

because,  if  they  are  young,  a  little  judicious  extra-exertion  on  your 
part  will  add  as  much  to  their  usefulness  as  to  your  own  enjoyment. 
And  I  do  not  wish  them,  or  anything  you  have,  or  have  not,  to 
make  you  discontented  ;  I  only  pray  you  not  to  be  supine.  If  you 
can  get  no  more  alluring  drink  than  cold  water,  reflect  on  its  whole- 
someness,  and  enjoy  it,  if  you  can,  with  all  the  relish  of  a  parched 
Arab  ;  but  I  entreat  you  not  to  be  contented  with  a  disorderly 
noise-exciting  cur,  when  a  trifling  addition  to  your  pains  will  ensure 
you  an  obedient,  well- trained  animal, — one  that  will  procure  you 
twice  as  many  shots  as  the  other.  It  will,  indeed.  Believe  me,  I 
am  not  too  extravagant  in  my  conception  of  a  perfect  dog.  You 
may  not  consider  it  worth  your  while  to  take  the  trouble  of  giving 
him  such  an  education  ;  but  it  seems  hardly  reasonable  to  say  it 
could  not  be  imparted.  Naturally  enough  you  may  distrust  my 
judgment,  but  you  cannot  doubt  the  experience  of  the  reflecting, 
discriminating  Beckford ;  and  what  does  he  say  on  the  subject  of 
canine  education  ? 

558.  "  The  many  learned  dogs  and  learned  horses  that  so  fre- 
quently appear  and  astonish  the  vulgar,  sufficiently  evince  what 
education  is  capable  of ;  and  it  is  to  education  I  must  attribute  the 
superior  excellence  of  the  buckhound,  since  I  have  seen  high  bred 
fox-hounds  do  the  same  under  the  same  good  masters. 

559.  "Dogs  that  are  constantly  with  their  masters  acquire  a 
wonderful  degree  of  penetration,  and  much  may  be  done  through 
the   medium   of  their  affections.      I   attribute  the   extraordinary 
sagacity  of  the  buckhound  to  the  manner  in  which  he  is  treated. 
He  is  the  constant  companion  of  his  instructor  and  benefactor — the 
man  whom  he  was  first  taught  to  fear  he  has  since  learned  to  love. 
Can  we  wonder  that  he  should  be  obedient  to  him  ?     Oft  have  we 
viewed  with  surprise  the  hounds  and  deer  amusing  themselves 
familiarly  together  on  the  same  lawn, — living,  as  it  were,  in  the 
most  friendly  intercourse  ;  and  with  no  less  surprise  have  we  heard 
the  keeper  give  the  word,  when  instantly  the  very  nature  of  the  dog 
seemed  changed ;  roused  from  his  peaceful  state,  he  is  urged  on 
with  a  relentless  fury,  which  only  death  can  satisfy — the  death  of 
the  very  deer  he  is  encouraged  to  pursue.     The  business  of  the  day 
over,  see  him  follow,  careless  and  contented,  his  master's  steps,  to 
repose  on  the  same  lawn  where  the  frightened  deer  again  return, 
and  are  a^ain  indebted  to  his  courtesy  for  their  wonted  pasture. 
Wonderful  proofs  of  obedience,  sagacity,  and  penetration  !  " 

560.  If  you  have  at  hand  St.  John's  "  Tour  in  Sutherlandshire  " 
(he  is  the  author  of  that  most  interesting  work,  "  Wild  Sports  and 
Natural  History  of  the  Highlands  "),  pray  turn  to  the  part  in  the 
second  volume,  where  he  describes  the  old  show- woman's  learned 
dog.     I  would  transcribe  the  whole  of  the  amusing  account,  were 
not  this  little  book  already  swollen  to  undue  proportions — but  I 
must  quote  the  concluding  observations,  as  his  opinion  respecting 
the  aptitude  of  dogs  for  instruction  so  fully  coincides  with  Beckford's. 

561.  "  The  tricks  consisted  of  the  usual  routine  of  adding  up 
figures,  spelling  short  words,  and  finding  the  first  letter  of  any  town 


CH.  XVIIL]  SHOW-WOMAN'S  DOG.  309 

named  by  one  of  the  company.  The  last  trick  was  very  cleverly 
done,  and  puzzled  us  very  much,  as  we — i.e.  the  grown-up  part  of 
the  audience — were  most  intently  watching  not  him  but  his  mistress, 
in  order  to  discover  what  signs  she  made  to  guide  him  in  his  choice 
of  the  cards  ;  but  we  could  not  perceive  that  she  moved  hand  or 
foot,  or  made  any  signal  whatever.  Indeed,  the  dog  seemed  to  pay 
but  little  regard  to  her,  but  to  receive  his  orders  direct  from  any  one 
who  gave  them.  In  fact,  his  teaching  must  have  been  perfect,  and 
his  intellect  wonderful.  Now  I  dare  say  I  shall  be  laughed  at  for 
introducing  an  anecdote  of  a  learned  dog,  and  told  that  it  was  *  all 
trick.'  No  doubt  it  was  *  all  trick,'  but  it  was  a  very  clever  one,  and 
showed  how  capable  of  education  dogs  are — far  more  so  than  we 
imagine.  For  here  was  a  dog  performing  tricks  so  cleverly  that  not 
one  out  of  four  or  five  persons,  who  were  most  attentively  watching, 
could  find  out  how  he  was  assisted  by  his  mistress." 

562.  In  following  Beckford's  advice  respecting  your 
making,  as  far  as  is  practicable,  your  dog  your  "  constant 
companion,"  do  not,  however,  forget  that  you  require  him 
to  evince  great  diligence  and  perseverance  in  the  field  ; 
and,  therefore,  that  his  highest  enjoyment  must  consist 
in  being  allowed  to  hunt. 

563.  Now,  it  seems  to  be  a  principle  of  nature, — 
of  canine  as  well  as  human  nature, — to  feel,  through 
life,  most  attachment  to  that  pursuit,  whatever  it  may 
be,  which  is  most  followed  in  youth.     If  a  dog  is  per- 
mitted as  a  youngster  to  have  the  run  of  the  kitchen, 
he  will  be  too  fond  of  it  when  grown  up.     If  he  is 
allowed  to  amuse  himself  in  every  way  his  fancy  dic- 
tates, he  will  think  little  of  the  privilege  of  hunting. 
Therefore,  the  hours  he  cannot  pass  with  you  (after  you 
have  commenced  his  education),  I  am  sorry  to  say  it, 
but  I  must  do  so,  he  ought  to  be  in  his  kennel — loose  in 
his  kennel,*  not  tied  up ;  for  straining  at  his  collar 
would  throw  out  his  elbows,  and  so  make  him  grow  up 
bandy-legged.     If,  however,  he  must  be  fastened,  let  it 

*  Twice  a  day  he   should  be  pensities.     If  he  has  acquired  the 

allowed  to  runout,  that  he  may  disagreeable  trick  of  howling  when 

not  be  compelled  to  adopt  habits  shut  up,  put  a  muzzle  on  him. 
wholly  opposed  to  his  natural  pro- 


310  LIBERTIES  PERMITTED.  [OH.  xvni. 

be  by  a  chain.  He  would  soon  learn  to  gnaw  through 
a  cord,  especially  if  a  young  puppy,  who,  from  nature, 
is  constantly  using  his  teeth,  and  thus  acquire  a  trick 
that  some  day  might  prove  very  inconvenient  were  no 
chain  at  hand.  You  would  greatly  consult  his  comfort 
by  having  the  chain  attached,  with  a  loose  ring  and 
swivel,  to  a  spike  fixed  a  few  paces  in  front  of  his 
kennel,  so  that  he  could  take  some  exercise  by  trotting 
round  and  round. 

564.  When  your  dog  has  attained  some  age,  and 
hunting  has  become  with  him  a  regular  passion,  I  be- 
lieve you  may  give  him  as  much  liberty  as  you  please 
without  diminishing  his  zeal, — but  most  carefully  prevent 
his  ever  hunting  alone,  technically  called  "  self-hunting." 
At  that  advanced  time  of  life,  too,  a  few  occasional 
irregularities  in  the  field  may  be  innocuously  permitted. 
The  steadiest  dogs  will,  at  times,  deviate  from  the  usual 
routine  of  their  business,  sagaciously  thinking  that  such 
departure  from  rule  must  be  acceptable  if  it  tends  to 
obtain  the  game ;  and  it  will  be  advisable  to  leave  an 
experienced  dog  to  himself  whenever  he  evinces  great 
perseverance  in  spontaneously  following  some  unusual 
plan.  You  may  have  seen  an  old  fellow,  instead  of 
cautiously  "  reading  "  and  "  pointing  dead,"  rush  forward 
and  seize  an  unfortunate  winged  bird,  while  it  was 
making  the  best  use  of  its  legs  after  the  flight  of  the 
rest  of  the  covey — some  peculiarity  in, the  scent  emitted 
having  probably  betrayed  to  the  dog's  practised  nose 
that  the  bird  was  injured.  When  your  pup  arrives  at 
such  years  of  discrimination,  you  need  not  so  rigorously 
insist  upon  a  patient  "  down  charge,"  should  you  see  a 
winged  cock-pheasant  running  into  cover.  Your  dog's 
habits  of  discipline  would  be,  I  should  hope,  too  well 
confirmed  by  his  previous  course  of  long  drill  for  such  a 


CH.  xvm.]  "SELF-HUNTING."  311 

temporary  departure  from  rule  to  effect  any  permanent 
mischief ;  but,  oh !  beware  of  any  such  laxity  with  a 
young  pupil,  however  strongly  you  may  be  tempted.  In 
five  minutes  you  may  wholly  undo  the  labour  of  a 
month.  On  days,  therefore,  when  you  are  anxious, 
codte  qui  cotite,  to  fill  the  game-bag,  pray  leave  him  at 
home.  Let  him  acquire  any  bad  habit  when  you  are 
thus  pressed  for  birds,  and  you  will  have  more  difficulty 
in  eradicating  it  than  you  would  have  in  teaching  him 
almost  any  accomplishment.  This  reason  made  me  all 
along  keep  steadily  in  view  the  supposition,  that  you 
had  commenced  with  a  dog  unvitiated  by  evil  associates, 
either  biped  or  quadruped  ;  for  assuredly  you  would  find 
it  far  easier  to  give  a  thoroughly  good  education  to 
such  a  pupil,  than  to  complete  the  tuition  (particularly 
in  his  range)  of  one  usually  considered  broken,  and  who 
must,  in  the  natural  order  of  things,  have  acquired  some 
habits  more  or  less  opposed  to  your  own  system.  If,  as 
a  puppy,  he  had  been  allowed  to  self-hunt  and  chase, 
your  labour  would  be  herculean.  And  inevitably  this 
would  have  been  your  task,  had  you  ever  allowed  him 
to  associate  with  any  dog  who  "self-hunted."  The 
oldest  friend  in  your  kennel  might  be  led  astray  by 
forming  an  intimacy  with  the  veriest  cur,  if  a  "self- 
hunter."  There  is  a  fascination  in  the  vice — above  all, 
in  killing  young  hares  and  rabbits, — that  the  steadiest 
dog  cannot  resist  when  he  has  been  persuaded  to  join  in 
the  sport  by  some  vagabond  of  a  poacher  possessing  a 
tolerable  nose,  rendered  keenly  discerning  by  experience. 
565.  I  hope  that  by  this  time  we  too  well  understand 
each  other  for  you  now  to  wonder  why  I  think  that  you 
should  not  commence  hunting  your  young  dog  where 
game  is  a.bundant.  Professional  breakers  prefer  such 
ground,  because,  from  getting  plenty  of  points,  it  enables 


312  ENERGY  OF  IRISH  DOGS.  [OH.  xviu. 

them  to  train  their  dogs  more  quickly,  and  sufficiently 
well  to  ensure  an  early  sale.  This  is  their  object,  and 
they  succeed.  My  object  is  that  you  shall  establish 
ultimately  great  perseverance  and  a  fine  range  in  your 
young  dog,  let  birds  be  ever  so  scarce.  If  you  show  him 
too  many  at  first,  he  will  subsequently  become  easily 
dispirited  whenever  he  fails  in  getting  a  point. 

It  is  the  general  paucity  of  game  in  Ireland  (snipe  and  woodcock 
excepted)  that  makes  dogs  trained  in  that  country  show  so  much 
untiring  energy  and  indomitable  zeal  when  hunted  on  our  side  of 
the  Channel.  But  the  slight  wiry  Irish  red  setter  (whom  it  is  so 
difficult  to  see  on  the  moor  from  his  colour),  is  naturally  a  dog 
of  great  pace  and  endurance.  There  is,  however,  a  much  heavier 
sort. 

566.  Many  dogs,  solely  from  want  of  good  condition,  greatly 
disappoint  their  masters  at  the  beginning  of  the  season.  You  could 
not  expect  your  hunter  to  undergo  a  hard  day's  work  without  a 
previous  course  of  tolerably  severe  exercise ;  and  why  expect  it  of 
your  dog  ?  A  couple  of  hours'  quiet  exercise  in  the  cool  of  the 
morning  or  evening  will  not  harden  his  feet,  and  get  him  into  the 
wind  and  condition  requisite  for  the  performance  you  may  desire  of 
him  some  broiling  day  in  the  middle  of  August  or  early  in  September. 
If  you  do  not  like  to  disturb  your  game,  and  have  no  convenient 
country  to  hunt  over,  why  should  you  not  give  him  some  gallops 
before  the  beginning  of  the  shooting-season,  when  you  are  mounted 
on  your  trotting  hackney  ?  Think  how  greyhounds  are  by  degrees 
brought  into  wind  and  hard  meat  before  coursing  commences. 
Such  work  on  the  road  will  greatly  benefit  his  feet,*  particularly  if, 
on  his  return  home  in  wet  weather,  they  are  bathed  with  a  strong 
solution  of  salt  and  water.  When  the  ground  is  hard  and  dry.  they 
should  be  washed  with  warm  water  and  soap,  both  to  soothe  them 

*  Claws  of  dogs  kept  on  boarded  and  would  rub  against  the  bars 

floors,    or    not    exercised,    occa-  when    she    was    approached    by 

sionally    become    so    long,    that  visitors  to  invite  their  caresses ; 

unless    they  are  filed    or  pared  but  it  was  quite  distressing  to  see 

down,  they  cause  lameness.     In  her  raising  each  leg  alternately, 

the  menagerie  at  the  Cape  of  Good  really  to  ease  it  of  her  weight,  but 

Hope   I   saw  a  fine  tigress,   the  apparently  as  if  soliciting  relief, 

claws  of  whose  fore-feet  had  grown  The  blessings  of  chloroform  were 

so  far  beyond  her  power  of  sheath-  then  unknown.     No  tiger  while 

ing  that  they  had  penetrated  deep  under  its  drowsy  influence  had 

into  the  flesh,  and  it  was  under  ever  had  an  injured  limb  ampu- 

consideration  how  to  secure  her  tated,    as  was  once    successfully 

so  that  the  operator  should  incur  managed  at  the  Surrey  Zoological 

no  risk  while  sawing  off  the  ends.  Gardens. 
She  was  very  tame  and  sociable, 


CH.  xviii.]          MUSCLE  WANTED,  NOT  FAT.  313 

and  to  remove  all  dust  and  gravel.  They  might  afterwards  be 
gradually  hardened  by  applying  the  salt  and  water.  When  they 
are  inflamed  and  bruised,  almost  a  magical  cure  might  be  effected 
by  their  being  sponged  with  a  solution  of  arnica — ten  parts  of  water 
to  one  of  arnica.  Should  the  dog  lick  the  lotion,  dissolve  a  little 
aloes  in  it.  If,  by  the  bye,  you  would  make  it  a  rule  personally  to 
ascertain  that  attention  is  always  paid  to  your  dogs  after  a  hard 
day's  work,  and  not  leave  them  to  the  tender  mercies  of  an  un- 
interested servant,  you  would  soon  be  amply  repaid  for  your  trouble 
by  their  additional  performance.  Many  men  make  it  a  rule  to  send 
their  dogs  to  the  mountains  a  week  or  two  before  the  grouse  shoot- 
ing ;  but  they  seldom  even  then  get  sufficiently  exercised,  and  their 
mettle  is  slacked  (confessedly  a  temporary  advantage  with  half- 
broken,  wild  dogs),  instead  of  being  increased,  by  finding  that, 
however  many  points  they  may  make  (at  squeakers  under  their 
nose),  they  never  secure  a  bird.  A  month's  road- work,  with 
alterative  medicine,  is  far  better. 

567.  Dogs  severely  worked  should  be  fed  abundantly  on  a  nu- 
tritious diet.  Hunters  and  stage-coach  horses  have  an  unlimited 
allowance,  and  the  work  of  eager  setters  and  pointers  (in  a  hilly 
country  particularly)  is  proportionately  hard  ;  but  the  constitutions 
of  dogs  vary  so  greatly  that  the  quantity  as  well  as  quality  of  their 
diet  should  be  considered  ;  for  it  must  be  your  aim  to  obtain  the 
largest  development  of  muscle  with  the  least  superfluity  of  flesh, — • 
that  enemy  to  pace  and  endurance  in  dog  as  surely  as  in  horse  and  man. 
Yet  this  remark  does  not  apply  to  a  water  retriever :  he  should  have 
fat.  It  is  a  warm,  well-fitting  great  coat,  more  impervious  to  wet 
than  a  Mackintosh,— furnished  by  Providence  to  whales,  bears,  and 
all  animals  that  have  to  contend  with  cold;  and  obviously  your 
patient  companion  will  feel  the  benefit  of  one  when  he  is  shivering 
alongside  you  while  you  are  lying  perdu  in  a  bed  of  damp  rushes.* 


*  It  will  tend  to  your  comfort  ber  into  a  thick  fluid,   add  not 
and  health   to  have   your  boots  more  than  one  pint  of  oil ;  linseed 
made  waterproof,    and  you  will  oil,   or  neat's  foot  oil  is,   I  am 
not  easily  get  a  better  preparation,  told,  the  best, 
when  well  rubbed  into  the  leather,  For  waterproofing  cloth  : — 
for  effecting  your  object,  than  the  2  Ibs.  alum, 
following.     It  is  an  admirable  one  1  K>.  sugar  of  lead, 
for  rendering  all  kinds  of  leather  20  quarts  spring  water, 
pliable,  and  for  pres&rmng  them  in  Strain  off  to  clear.    Let  garment 
that  state — and  how  often  in  the  soak  48  hours.     Hang  up  until 
beginning  of  a  season  have  you  dry.    Well  brush  afterwards.    In- 
found  your  water-boots  as  hard  as  expensive  yet  effective  ! 
a  board !  When  you  catch  cold,  do  not 

To  one  ounce  of  India-rubber  too  hastily  blame  our  climate,  our 

(the  old  bottle-shaped  gum)  cut  enviable  climate,  which  preserves 

into  very  small  pieces,   and  dis-  longer  than  any  other  the  bloom 

solved  in  only  as  much  spirits  of  of  its  women  and  the  vigour  of  its 

naphtha  as  will  convert  the  rub-  men,  where  the  extremes  of  cold 

and 


314  NOSE  IN  CONDITION.  [CH.  xvm. 

568.  Having  mentioned  condition,  I  am  led  to  observe,  that  in 
America  I  saw  a  pointer,  which,  from  being  hunted,  I  may  say 
daily,  Sundays  excepted,  could  not  be  kept  in  condition  on  oatmeal 
and  greaves,  but  which  was  put  in  hard  flesh,  and  did  his  work 
admirably,  when  Indian-corn  meal  was  substituted  for  the  oatmeal. 
I  have  not  seen  it  used  in  this  country,  but  I  can  fancy  it  to  be  a 
heating  food,  better  calculated  for  dogs  at  regular  hard  work  than 
when  they  are  summering.*     It  is  well  known  that  no  food  should 
be  given  in  a  very  hot  state, — not  of  a  higher  temperature  than 
milk- warm ;  and  that  evening  is  the  proper  feeding  time,  in  order 
that  the  dogs  may  sleep  immediately  afterwards,  and  not  be  full 
when  they  are  taken  out  for  their  morning's  work. 

569.  In  India,  I  remember  complaining  to  an  old  sportsman  that 
I  had  much  difficulty  in  keeping  my  dogs  free  from  mange.     He 
at  once  asked  if  I  did  not  give  them  beef-tea  with  their  rice.     I 
acknowledged  that  I  did.     He  said  it  was  of  too  heating  a  nature. 
I  tried  mutton-broth,  agreeably  to  his  recommendation.     Every 
vestige  of  mange  vanished,  but  yet  I   could  hardly  believe  it 
attributable  to  so  slight  a  change  in  their  diet,  for  very  little  meat 
was  used.    As  the  mutton  was  much  dearer,  I  again  tried  the  beef. 
It  would  not  do.    The  mange  reappeared.    I  was,  therefore,  obliged 
to  return  to  the  mutton,  and  continue  it.     The  teeth  of  dogs  show 
that  flesh  is  a  natural  diet ;  and  if  they  are  wholly  deprived  of  it 
when  they  are  young,  they  will  acquire  most  revolting  habits, — 
feeding  upon  any  filth  they  may  find,  and  often  rolling  in  it.     The 
meat  should  be  cooked. 

570.  The  good  condition  of  a  dog's  nose  is  far  from 
being  an  immaterial  part  of  his  conditioning,  for  on  the 
preservation  of  its  sensitiveness  chiefly  depends  your 
hope  of  sport.     If  it  be  dry  from  being  feverish,  or  if  it 
be  habituated  to  the  villanous  smells   of   an  impure 
kennel,  how  are  you  to  expect  it  to  acknowledge  the 
faintest  taint  of  game — yet  one  that,  if  followed  up  by 

and  heat  are  equally  unknown,  in  all  the  extra  heat  he  acquired  from 

which  you  can  take  with  advan-  exercise. 

tage  exercise  every  day  in  the  year,  *  Since  the  publication  of  the 
and  need  never  suffer  annoyance  first  edition  of  this  book,  I  have 
from  mosquitoes,  sandflies,  fleas,  had  the  gratification  of  reading 
and  other  abominations,  from  Mr.  Herbert's  "  Field  Sports  in  the 
which  few  countries  are  free.  "When  United  States,  &c., "  and  find  that 
heated  by  labour,  are  we  not  too  he  does  not  consider  Indian-corn 
apt  to  throw  off  some  article  of  to  possess  any  injurious  qualities 
apparel  in  order  to  get  cool  ?  — on  the  contrary,  he  strongly  re- 
whereas  the  Turk,  more  sensibly,  commends  its  adoption  in  ken- 
puts  on  additional  clothing,  and  nels. 
sits  out  of  a  draught  until  he  loses 


CH.  xviii.]     KETOELS.     WARMTH  NECESSARY.  315 

olfactory  nerves  in  high  order,  would  lead  to  a  sure  find  ? 
Sweetness  of  breath  is  a  strong  indication  of  health. 
Cleanliness  is  as  essential  as  a  judicious  diet ;  and  you 
may  be  assured,  that  if  you  look  for  excellence,  you 
must  always  have  your  youngster's  kennel  clean,  dry, 
airy,  and  yet  sufficiently  warm.  The  more  you  attend 
to  this,  the  greater  will  be  his  bodily  strength  and  the 
finer  his  nose. 

In  India  the  kennels  are,  of  course,  too  hot ;  but  in  the  best 
constructed  which  fell  under  my  observation,  the  heat  was  much 
mitigated  by  the  roofs  being  thickly  thatched  with  grass.  In 
England,  however,  nearly  all  kennels — I  am  not  speaking  of  those 
for  hounds— are  far  too  cold  in  winter. 

571.  There  must  be  sufficient  warmth.     Observe  how 
a  petted  dog,  especially  after  severe  exercise,  lays  himself 
down  close  to  the  fire,  and  enjoys  it.     Do  you  not  see 
that  instinct  teaches  him  to  do  this  ?  and  must  it  not  be 
of  great  service  to  him  ?     Why,  therefore,  deny  him  in 
cold  weather,  after  a  hard  day's  work,  a  place  on  the 
hearth-rug?     It  is  the  want  of  sufficient  heat  in  the 
kennels,  and  good  drying  and  brushing  after  hard  work, 
that  makes  sporting  dogs,  particularly  if  they  are  long- 
coated  ones,  suffer  from  rheumatism,  blear  eyes,  and 
many  ills  that  generally,  but  not  necessarily,  attend 
them  in  old  age.     The  instance  given  in  226  is  a  proof 
of  this. 

Winter  pups,  you  are  told,  are  not  so  strong  as  those  born  in 
summer.  They  would  be,  if  they  were  reared  in  a  warm  room. 
The  mother's  bodily  heat  cannot  warm  them ;  for  after  a  while,  they 
so  pull  her  about  and  annoy  her,  that  she  either  leaves  them  for  a 
time,  or  drives  them  from  her. 

572.  As  I  have  casually  touched  on  puppies,  I  will  take  the 
opportunity  of  recommending,  according  to  the  plan  adopted  by 
some  sportsmen,  and  of  which  I  have  experienced  the  advantage, 
that  you  have  a  whole  litter,  soon  after  it  has  been  weaned, 
(provided  it  be  in  a  healthy  state),  inoculated  for  the  distemper, — 
a  small  feather,  previously  inserted  in  the  nose  of  a  diseased  dog, 
being  for  an  instant  put  up  the  nostrils  of  the  puppies.     It  will  be 


316  VACCINATION  FOR  DISTEMPER.        [<JH.  xvm. 

necessary  to  keep  them  unusually  warm,*  and  feed  them  high, 
while  they  are  suffering  from  the  effects  of  this  treatment.  It  is 
not  likely  that  you  will  lose  any ;  but  if  you  should,  the  loss  will  be 
small  compared  with  that  of  an  educated  dog  at  a  mature  age.  The 
extent  of  the  mischief  will  probably  be  a  slight  cough,  with  a  little 
running  at  the  nose  for  a  few  days. 

573.  Having  heard  that  vaccination  would  greatly  mitigate  the 
distressing   symptoms   of  distemper,  if   not   entirely   remove   all 
susceptibility  to  infection,  I  endeavoured  to  possess  myself  with  the 
facts  of  the  case.     Circumstances  were  thus  brought  to  my  know- 
ledge which  appear  so  interesting,  that  a  brief  detail  of  them  may 
not  be  unacceptable  to  some  of  my  readers.     It  would  seem  that 
vaccination  might  be  made  as  great  a  blessing  to  the  canine  race  as 
it  has  proved  to  mankind : — that  is  to  say,  many  experienced  men 
are  still  of  that  opinion.     All  that  I  heard  of  material  import  is 
nearly  embodied  in  letters  I  received,  some  years  ago,  from  Mr. 

L e,  of  Neat's  Court,  Isle  of  Sheppey,  an  intelligent  sportsman, 

much  attached  to  coursing.     As  I  am  sure  he  will  not  object  to  my 
doing  so,  I  will  quote  largely  from  his  notes.     He  writes  nearly 
mot-a-mot. 

574.  "  It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  answer  yours  of  this  morning, 
and  give  you  what  little  information  I  can  respecting  the  vaccination 
of  my  puppies.     Mr.  Fellowes,  who  resided  about  eight  years  since 
at  34,  Baker  Street,  was  the  first  person  from  whom  I  learned  any- 
thing on  the  subject.     He  was  a  great  breeder  of  bull-dogs,  of  all 
the  canine  race  the  most  difficult  to  save  in  distemper,  greyhounds 
being,  perhaps,  the  next  on  the  list.f     He  told  me  that  in  twelve 
years  he  had  lost  but  two  puppies,  and  those  not,  he  believed,  from 
distemper,  and  yet  he  had  regularly  bred  every  year. 

575.  "  I  went  to  town  purposely  to  see  him  operate  upon  a  clutch. 
The  method  is  very  simple.     Take  a  small  piece  of  floss  silk,  and 
draw  the  end  through  a  needle.     On  about  the  middle  of  the  silk 
place  some  matter  (when  in  a  proper  state)  extracted  from  a  child's 
arm.     Unfold  (throw  back)  the  ear  so  as  to  be  able  to  see  the 
interior  part  near  the  root.     You  will  then  perceive  a  little  project- 
ing knob  or  kernel  almost  detached  from  the  ear.    With  the  needle 
pierce  through  this  kernel.     Draw  the  silk  each  way  till  the  blood 
starts.    Tie  the  ends  of  the  silk,  and  the  process  is  completed.    You 
may  let  the  silk  remain  there :  it  will  drop  off  after  a  time.     The 
object  is  to  deposit  the  matter  by  this  method,  instead  of  employing 
a  lancet.     I  have  great  faith  in  the  efficacy  of  the  plan,  simple  as  it 
appears.     With  me  it  has  never  failed.     For  some  years  in  suc- 
cession I  dropped  a  clutch  of  greyhounds  and  two  litters  of  setters, 
and  not  a  single  pup  had  the  distemper  more  severely  than  for  the 
disease  to  be  just  perceptible.     A  little  opening  medicine  then 

*  In  all  diseases  of  dogs —  pointers  that  rarely  take  it, — espe- 

innammatory,  of  course,  excepted  cially  if  they  are  liberally  fed,  and 

— warmth  is  recommended.  lie  warm  while  young. — W.  N.  H. 

t  There  is  a  hardy  breed  of 


CH.  XVIIL]  MEDICINE,  HOW  GIVEN.  317 

quickly  removed  that  slight  symptom  of  illness.  Perhaps  the  best 
age  to  operate  upon  puppies  is  when  they  are  well  recovered  from 
their  weaning." 

576.  The  balance  of  testimony  and  experience  is,  in  my  opinion, 
quite  in  favour  of  vaccination  ;  but  there  are  authorities  of  weight 
who  think  that  no  good  results  from  it.     It  is,  however,  certain  that 
it  cannot  be  productive  of  harm.     Elaine  writes  that,  as  far  as  his 
experience  went,  "  vaccination  neither  exempts  the  canine  race  from 
the  attack  of  the  distemper,  nor  mitigates  the  severity  of  the  com- 
plaint."    He  adds,  however,  that  the  point  was  still  at  issue. 

577.  It  appears  right  to  observe  that  Elaine  and  Jenner  were 
contemporaries  at  a  period  when  the  medical  world  was  greatly 
opposed  to  the  vaccination  of  children.     It  is  not  surprising,  there- 
fore, that  there  should  have  been  an  unjust  prejudice  against  the 
vaccination  of  puppies.    'Youatt  is  altogether  silent  on  the  subject, 
although  he  quotes  Dr.  Jenner's  description  of  distemper.     Colonel 
Cook,  in  his  observations  on  fox-hunting,  &c.,  says,  "  Vaccination 
was  tried  in  some  kennels  as  a  preventive,  but  it  failed,  and  was 
abandoned."     Mayhew*  does  not  allude  to  it. 

578.  Not  until  after  the  foregoing  remarks  on  vaccination  were 
written,  was  I  aware  that  Colonel  Hawker  recommended  the  plan, 
or,  of  course,  I  should,  in  former  editions,  have  quoted  such  high 
authority.     Speaking  in  1838,  he  observes,  "  I  have   ever  since 
adopted  the  plan  of  vaccination  ;  and  so  little,  if  any,  has  been  the 
effect  of  distemper  after  it,  that  I  have  not  lost  a  dog  since  the  year 
1816." — "  This  remedy  has  been  followed  with  great  success  both 
here  and  in  the  United  States.     The  plan  adopted  is  to  insert  a 
small  quantity  of  vaccine  matter  under  each  ear,  just  as  you  would 
do  in  the  human  arm." 

579.  I  know  of  many  dogs  in  the  south  of  England  having  been 
cured  of  a  regular  attack  of  distemper  by  a  lump  of  salt,  about  the 
size  of  a  common  marble,  being  occasionally  forced  down  their 
throats  ;  say,  for  a  grown-up  pointer,  half  a  dozen  doses,  with  an 
interval  of  two  or  three  hours  between  each.     The  salt  acts  as  an 
emetic.     Nourishing  food  and  warmth  are  very  requisite. 

580.  To  some  few  of  my  readers  it  may  possibly  be  of  use  to 
observe,  that  with  a  little  management,  it  is  very  easy  to  trick  a  dog 
into  taking  medicine. 

581.  If  your  patient  is  a  large  animal,  make  a  hole  in  a  piece  of 
meat,  and  having  wrapped  the  physic  in  thin  paper,  shove  it  into 
the  hole.     Throw  the  dog  one  or  two  bits  of  meat,  then  the  piece 
containing  the  medicine,  and  the  chances  are  that  he  will  bolt  it 
without  in  the  least  suspecting  he  has  been  deceived.     A  pill, 
enveloped  in  silver  paper,  emits  no  smell.     If  a  powder  is  well 


*  "  Dogs,  their  Management,"  judgment ;   one  who  dares  think 

published  by  Routledge,  — a  work  for  himself,  not  servilely  treading 

evidently  written  by  akind-hearted  in  the  footsteps  of  his  predeces- 

man  of  reflection,  experience,  and  sors. 


318  DOG  NOT  TO  BE  LENT.  [CH.  XVIIL 

rubbed  up  with  butter,  and  a  little  at  a  time  of  the  mixture  be 
smeared  over  the  animal's  nose,  he  will  lick  it  off  and  swallow  it. 
Powders  can  also  be  placed  between  thin  slices  of  bread  and  butter, 
and  be  so  administered.  If  you  are  treating  a  small  pampered 
favourite,  probably  a  little  previous  starvation  will  assist  you. 

582.  Should  you  fail  in  your  stratagems,  and  force  be  necessary, 
it  will  be  best  to  lay  the  dog  on  his  back,  or  place  him  in  a  sitting 
posture  between  your  knees,  with  his  back  towards  you.     In  either 
position  his  legs  are  useless  to  him,  as  they  have  no  fulcrum.    While 
you  are  making  him  open  his  mouth,  if  you  do  this  by  forcing  your 
thumb  and  fingers  between  his  grinders,  you  can  effectually  protect 
yourself  from  a  bite  by  covering  them  wTith  the  dog's  own  lips — any 
powders  then  placed  far  back  on  the  tongue  near  the  throat  must  be 
swallowed  on  the  dog's  mouth  being  firmly  closed  for  a  few  seconds. 
He  will  not  be  able  to  eject  them  as  they  will  adhere  to  his  moist 
tongue.     If  given  with  a  little  dry  sugar  they  will  be  the  less 
nauseous,  and  therefore  the  dog  will  be  less  disposed  to  rebel  when 
next  you  have  occasion  to  act  the  part  of  a  doctor. 

583.  Castor  oil  is  a  valuable  medicine  for  dogs  ;  and  it  is  a  good 
plan  to  let  a  pup  occasionally  lap  milk  into  which  a  little  of  this  oil 
is  poured,  as  then  he  will  not  in  after  life  dislike  the  mixture. 

584.  I  have  still  one  very  important  direction  to  give  :  NEVER 
LEND  YOUR  DOG.     It  may  seem  selfish,  but  if  you  make  him 
a  really  good  one,  I  strongly  advise  you  never  to  lend  him  to  any 
one  not  even  to  a  brother,  unless,  indeed,  his  method  of  hunting 
be  precisely  the  same  as  your's.     If  you  are  a  married  man,  you 
will  not,  I  presume,  lend  your  wife's  horse  to  any  one  who  has  a 
coarse  hand  ;  you  would  at  least  do  it  with  reluctance  ;  but  you 
ought  (I  hope  she  will  forgive  my  saying  so)  to  feel  far  more  reluc- 
tance and  far  more  grief,  should  you  be  obliged  to  lend  a  good  dog 
to  an  ignorant  sportsman  or  to  one  who  shoots  for  the  pot. 


CONCLUSION. 


585.  GENTLE  Reader,  according  to  the  courteous  phraseology  of 
old  novels,  though  most  probably  I  ought  to  say,  Brother  Sports- 
man;— if  you  have  had  the  patience  to  attend  me  through  the 
preceding  pages,  while  I  have  been  describing  the  educational 
course  of  a  dog  from  almost  his  infancy,  up  to  maturity,  I  will 
hope  that  I  may  construe  that  patience  into  an  evidence  that  they 
have  afforded  you  some  amusement  and,  perhaps,  some  useful 
instruction. 

586.  Though  I  may  have  failed  in  persuading  you  to  undertake 
the  instruction  of  your  dogs  yourself,  yet  I  trust  I  have  shown  you 
how  they  ought  to  be  broken  in;*  and  if  you  are  a  novice  in  the 
field,  I  hope  I  have  clearly  explained  to  you  in  what  manner  they 
ought  to  be  shot  over, — a  knowledge  which  no  one  can  possess  by 
intuition,  and  which  you  will  find  nearly  as  essential  to  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  good  qualities  of  well-tutored  dogs,  as  to  the  education 
of  uninformed  ones. 

587.  I  believe  that  all  I  have  said  is  perfectly  true,  and,  as  the 
system  which  I  have  described  advocates  kind  treatment  of  man's 
most  faithful  companion,  and  his  instruction  with  mildness  rather 
than  severity,  I  trust  that  you  will  be  induced  to  give  it  a  fair  trial, 
and  if  you  find  it  successful,  recommend  its  adoption. 

588.  I  dare  not  ask  for  the  same  favour  at  the  hands  of  the 
generality  of  regular  trainers — I  have  no  right  to  expect  such 
liberality.     They,  naturally  enough,  will  not  readily  forgive  my 
intruding  upon  what  they  consider  exclusively  their  own  domain, — 
and,  above  all,  they  will  not  easily  pardon  my  urging  every  sports- 
man to  break  in  his  own  dogs.     They  will,  I  know,  endeavour  to 
persuade  their  employers  that  the  finished  education  which  I  have 
described  is  useless,  or  quite  unattainable,  without  a  great  sacrifice 
of  tinie;f  and  that,  therefore,  the  system  which  I  advocate  is  a  bad 


*  A  right  good  sportsman,   in  +  Is  it  quite  certain  that  the 

days  long  gone  by,  gave  this  ad-  keepers  who  plead  their  inability 

vice  to  his  son — "  a  true  chip  of  to  devote  more  time  to  the  im- 

the  old  block," — "Don't  get  an  provement  of  their  masters'  dogs 

experienced  keeper  wedded  to  his  have  never  found  time  to  break  in 

own  customs  and  prejudices  ;  but  dogs  belonging  to  strangers  ?     If 

engage  a  young  man  fond  of  sport.  a  keeper  would  but  make  it  a  rule 

Break  him  to  your  mind ;  and  while  he  is  going  his  rounds  by 

then,  and  not  until  then,  will  you  day  (to  examine  his  traps,  &c.)  to 

have  dogs  broken  to  your  mind."  allow  each  of  his  pupils  in  turn 

to 


320 


"SNAP"  VISITING  THE  TRAPS. 


one.  They  will  wish  it  to  be  forgotten — that  I  advise  a  gradual 
advance,  step  by  step,  from  the  A,  B,  0 ; — that  accomplishments 
have  only  been  recommended  after  the  acquisition  of  essentials — 
never  at  the  expense  of  essentials ; — that  at  any  moment  it  is  in  the 
instructor's  power  to  say,  "  I  am  now  satisfied  with  the  extent  of  my 
pupil's  acquirements,  and  have  neither  leisure  nor  inclination  to 
teach  him  more;" — and  that  they  cannot  suggest  quicker  means  of 
imparting  any  grade  of  education,  however  incomplete;  at  least 
they  do  not — I  wish  they  would  ;  few  would  thank  them  more  than 
myself. 

589.  Greatly  vexed  at  the  erroneous  way  in  which  I  saw  some 
dogs  instructed  in  the  north  by  one,  who  from  his  profession  should 
have  known  better,  I  promised,  on  the  impulse  of  the  moment,  to 
write.  If  I  could  have  purchased  any  work  which  treated  the 
subject  in  what  I  considered  a  judicious  and  perspicuous  manner, 
and,  above  all,  which  taught  by  what  means  a  finished  education 
could  be  imparted,  I  would  gladly  have  recommended  the  study  of 
it, — have  spared  myself  the  trouble  of  detailing  the  results  of  my 
own  observations  and  experience, — and  not  have  sought  to  impose 
on  any  one  the  task  of  reading  them.  When  I  began  the  book,  and 
even  when  I  had  finished  it,  I  intended  to  put  it  forth  without  any 
token  by  which  the  writer  might  be  discovered.  Mr.  Murray,  how- 
ever, forcibly  represented  that  unless  the  public  had  some  guarantee 


to  accompany  him  in  fine  weather, 
and  avail  himself  of  that  oppor- 
tunity to  give  the  young  dogs  an 
occasional  out-door  lesson,  they 
would  all  be  brought  under  good 
subjection,  and  be  taught  to  obey 
implicitly  every  signal  of  the  hand 
— which  is  half  the  battle — with- 
out taking  him  from  his  other  oc- 
cupations, and  without  his  having 
devoted  more  than  a  few  hours  ex- 
clusively to  their  preparatory  edu- 
cation. If  a  keeper  feels  no  pride 
in  the  conduct  of  his  dogs— if  he 
is  not  animated  with  a  spark  of 
the  enthusiasm  that  incites  the 
huntsman  to  such  willing  exertion 
in  the  education  and  performance 
of  his  hounds,  he  (the  keeper)  had 
better  change  his  profession.  He 
may  attain  to  eminence  in  another, 
he  certainly  never  will  in  his  pre- 
sent position. 

As  I  have  just  talked  about  a 
keeper  "  going  his  rounds"  to  ex- 
amine his  traps,  it  would  be  wrong 
not  to  mention  the  serviceable 


"  Snap,"  a  white,  short-haired 
terrier  belonging  to  a  game-keeper 

of   Mr.  R es,  who  for  many 

years  has  sat  as  member  for  Dover. 
The  little  animal's  personal  quali- 
ties are  far  inferior  to  his  men- 
tal, for  even  his  master,  with  all 
his  well-known  partiality  for  his 
petted  companion,  cannot  call  him 
handsome  ;  but  he  has  a  right  to 
quote  in  the  dog's  favour  the  old 
saying,  "  Handsome  is  as  hand- 
somedoes."  Besides  other  ways  of 
rendering  himself  useful,  "  Snap  " 
willingly  considers  it  a  standing 
rule  that  he  is  to  start  off  alone 
every  morning  after  breakfast  to 
take  the  tour  of  all  the  traps.  On 
his  return  to  the  lodge,  if  he  has 
no  report  to  make,  lie  maintains 
a  discreet  silence ;  but  if  any  of 
them  are  sprung,  by  vermin  or 
otherwise,  he  loudly  proclaims 
the  fact,  and  leads  the  keeper, 
whose  time  and  legs  he  has  thus 
cleverly  saved,  direct  to  any  spots 
requiring  his  personal  attention. 


CAUSE  OF  AUTHOR'S  WRITING. 


321 


for  the  fidelity  of  the  details,  there  would  be  no  chance  of  the  little 
work  being  circulated,  or  proving  useful ;  therefore,  having  written 
solely  from  a  desire  to  assist  my  brother  sportsmen,  and  to  show  the 
injudiciousness  of  severity,  with  a  wish  that  my  readers  might  feel 
as  keen  a  zest  for  shooting  as  I  once  possessed,  and  with  a  charitable 
hope  that  they  might  not  be  compelled  to  seek  it  in  as  varied 
climates  as  was  my  lot,  I  at  once  annexed  my  address  and  initials 
to  the  manuscript,  but  with  no  expectation  that  my  pen  could 
interest  the  public  half  as  much  as  it  would  a  favourite  Skye  terrier, 
well  known  in  Albemarle  Street. 

UNITED  SERVICE  CLUB, 
PALL  MALL. 


BRISK. 


POSTSCEIPT 
TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION,  REPRINTED  IN  THIS. 


SOMETIME  after  the  foregoing  sheets  were  numbered  and  prepared 
for  the  press,  I  received  a  letter  on  the  subject  of  dogs  and  dog- 
breaking  from  Mr.  L g  (spoken  of  in  183). 

I  had  long  ago  requested  him  freely  to  make  remarks  upon  my 
book,  assuring  him  that  as  I  had  only  written  from  a  wish  to  be 
serviceable,  I  could  not  but  take  all  his  comments  in  good  part,  how- 
ever much  they  might  be  opposed  to  my  pre-conceived  ideas.  I 
further  promised  to  mention  his  criticisms  for  the  benefit  of  my  future 
readers,  if  I  considered  them  judicious. 

Every  man  is  fullv  entitled  to  form  an  opinion  for  himself :  and  as 
there  are  minor  points — though  on  most  we  are  fully  agreed — in 

which  Mr.  L g  and  myself  slightly  differ,  I  think  it  the  fairest 

plan  to  let  him  explain  his  own  views  in  his  own  way,  and  I  have  the 
less  hesitation  in  doing  so  as,  to  most  sportsmen,  a  letter  from  a  clever 
sportsman  on  his  favourite  subject  must  always  be  more  or  less  in- 
teresting. He  writes  nearly  word  for  word  as  follows  : — 

"  7,  HAYMARKET,  January,  1850. 

"  SIR, — On  perusing  your  book  on  dog-breaking  I  really  find  little, 
if  anything,  to  say  that  will  assist  you  in  vour  new  edition ;  but  I 
must  observe  that  I  think  you  would  be  doing  a  service  to  the  com- 
munity, if  you  would  lend  a  helping  hand  to  improve  the  breed  of 
pointers ;  or  rather  to  get  up  a  sort  of  committee  of  sportsmen 
(thorough  judges)  to  investigate  into  the  pedigree  of  dogs,  and  ex- 
press their  opinion  of  the  make,  nose,  durability,  &c.,  of  the  several 
animals  submitted  to  them ;  that  prizes  might  be  awarded,  or  stakes 
hunted  for ;  and  books  kept  of  the  pedigree  of  the  several  competitors, 
much  in  the  same  way  as  such  matters  are  managed  with  greyhounds. 

"  It  is  of  no  consequence  how  fast  a  dog  travels  who  is  wanted  for 
the  moors,  or  how  wide  he  ranges ;  but  such  a  dog  would  be  worse 
than  useless  in  the  south,  and  in  all  small  enclosures.  I  feel  assured 
that  dogs  which  are  first-rate  on  grouse  are  not  fitted  for  partridge. 
My  experience  tells  me  that  not  one  dog  in  twenty  is  worth  keeping, 
— that  the  generality  do  far  more  harm  than  good, — this  I  see  almost 
every  day  that  I  am  out.  There  seem  to  be  now-a-days  no  recognised 
thorough-bred  pointers,  but  those  obtained  from  one  or  two  kennels 
in  Yorkshire.  1  have  shot  over  many  north-country  dogs,  but  found 
there  was  too  much  of  the  fox-hound  blood  in  them  for  the  south, — 
they  are  too  high  couraged,  and  range  much  too  far.  After  the  first 


MR.  L G'S  LETTER.  323 

fortnight  of  partridge-shooting  you  want  quiet,  close  rangers  who 
will  never  move  until  told.  In  the  turnip  fields  in  Norfolk  you  will 
get  among  lots  of  birds,  and  you  may  then  fill  your  bag  any  day,  pro- 
vided you  can  hunt  the  field  in  perfect  quiet ;  but  with  a  rattling, 
blustering  dog  you  will  hardly  get  a  shot, — yet  you  want  a  dog  that 
shall  be  neither  too  large  nor  too  heavy. 

"  Not  one  dog  in  fifty  of  the  many  I  see,  properly  hunts  his  ground. 
The  reason  is  this.  The  keepers  in  the  north, — yet  none  understand 
their  duties  better, — take  out  a  lot  of  dogs  along  with  an  old  one ; 
off  they  all  start  like  oiled  lightning — some  one  way,  the  others  just 
the  contrary  :  one  gets  a  point,  they  all  drop  and  stop.  The  keepers 
say,  is  not  that  beautiful  ? — is  it  not  a  picture  for  Landseer  ?  I  have 
followed  the  party  on  the  moors  over  the  self-same  ground  a  dozen  of 
times,  and  obtained  with  my  brace  of  close  rangers  and  good  finders 
double  the  number  of  shots  that  they  did,  and  three  times  the  amount 
of  game ;  for  I  was  walking  at  my  ease,  and  giving  my  dogs  time  to 
make  out  the  birds — which  is  very  essential  in  the  middle  of  the  day, 
when  there  is  a  scorching  sun. 

"  I  recollect  one  instance  in  particular.  Some  years  ago  I  had  just 
arrived  at  the  top  of  a  very  stiff  hill  on  the  Bradfield  Moors  (in  York- 
shire), and  was  making  for  a  certain  spring  where  I  had  forwarded 
my  luncheon,  and  a  fresh  supply  of  ammunition,  when  I  saw,  imme- 
diately before  me,  two  gentlemen  with  their  keepers,  and  four  very 
good-looking  setters,  hunting  the  precise  ground  I  had  to  take  to  get 
to  my  point — about  a  mile  off.  I  therefore  sat  down  for  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  to  let  them  get  well  ahead.  They  found  several  straggling 
birds;  but  there  was  such  a  noise  from  the  keepers  rating  and 
hallooing  to  the  dogs,  that,  although  they  got  five  or  six  shots,  they 
only  bagged  one  brace  of  birds.  When  they  reached  the  spring,  they 
observed  me  coming  over  the  very  ground  they  had  beat  only  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  before.  I  got  ten  shots,  every  one  to  points,  and 
killed  nine  birds.  I  was  highly  complimented  on  the  beautiful,  quiet 
style  of  my  dogs,  &e.,  and  was  offered  a  goblet  of  as  fine  old  sherry 
as  man  ever  drunk.  I  need  not  observe  that  I  much  relished  it  after 
my  morning's  walk.  The  gentlemen  said,  that  if  I  felt  disposed  to 
take  the  dogs  to  the  Tontine  Inn,  Sheffield,  when  I  had  done  with 
them,  I  should  find  fifty  guineas  there  awaiting  me  ;  but  I  declined 
the  offer,  as  on  several  occasions  I  had  repented  having  yielded  to  the 
temptation  of  a  long  price  for  favourite  dogs.  The  brace  I  refused 
to  sell  were  young  setters,  bred  by  Tom  Cruddas,  keeper  to  —  Bowes, 
Esq.,  near  Barnard  Castle,  Durham.  I  subsequently  found  them  very 
unfitted  for  the  style  of  work  required  in  small  fields  and  indifferent 
stubble,  and  I  was  well  beaten  in  a  trial  with  them  against  a  brace  of 
Russian  setters.  I  afterwards  procured  the  latter  by  exchanging  my 
Englishmen  for  them.  For  two  years  I  was  much  pleased  with  the 
foreigners,  and  bred  some  puppies  from  them ;  they  did  not,  however, 
turn  out  to  my  satisfaction.  I  then  tried  a  cross  with  some  of  the 
best  dogs  I  could  get  in  England  and  from  Russia,  but  could  never 
obtain  any  so  good  as  the  original  stock.  I  have  now  got  into  a 
breed  of  red  and  white  pointers  from  the  splendid  stock  of  the  late 

Y  2 


324  MR.  L G'S  LETTER. 

Sir  Harry  Goodrich,  and  many  and  many  another  hundred  head 
of  game  should  I  have  killed,— and  in  much  greater  comfort  and 
temper  should  I  have  shot, — had  I  possessed  so  perfect  a  breed  twenty 
years  ago. 

"  As  a  proof  of  what  can  be  done  with  dogs,  I  will  mention  that 
I  broke  in  a  spaniel  to  hunt  (with  my  setters)  in  the  open  as  well  as 
in  cover,  and  made  him  '  point,'  '  back,5  and  '  drop  to  charge,'  as  per- 
fectly as  any  dog  you  ever  saw  ;  and  he  would,  when  ordered,  retrieve 
his  game ;  the  setter,  meanwhile,  never  moving  until  desired.  I  shot 
over  them  for  two  years.  They  were  a  very  killing  pair,  but  had  not 
a  sporting  look.  In  September,  '38,  I  took  them  with  me  to  that 
excellent  sportsman,  Sir  Richard  Sutton.  The  old  Squire  Osbaldiston, 
was  there.  They  were  both  much  pleased  with  the  dogs.  By  letting 
my  poor  pet  '  Dash '  run  about,  he  was  bitten  by  a  mad  dog  in  the 
neighbourhood.  Of  course  I  lost  him. 

"  Speaking  of  spaniels,  I  must  say  I  think  that  there  is  no  kind  of 
dog  that  retrieves  birds  so  well  in  thick  turnips,  where  so  much  dead 
ana  wounded  game  is  frequently  left  unbagged.  With  'Dash'  1 
seldom  lost  a  feather  in  the  strongest  turnips  in  the  course  of  a  whole 
day  ;  but  I  now  rarely  go  out  with  sportsmen  but  that  I  see  two  or 
three  birds  lost, — sometimes  more, — from  what  are  said  to  be  the 
best  breed  of  retrievers  in  the  country.  The  constant  loss  of  wounded 
birds  is  one  of  the  drawbacks  to  the  Norfolk  shooting,  where,  without 
doubt,  the  finest  shooting  in  England  is  to  be  obtained.  Gentlemen 
there  go  out,  some  four,  five,  or  six  in  a  line,  with  only  one  or  two 
retrievers,  and  a  man  to  each  to  pick  up  the  killed  game.  The  sports- 
men never  stop  to  load,  for  each  has  generally  a  man  by  his  side  with 
a  spare  gun  ready  charged.  If  a  bird  is  winged,  or  a  hare  wounded, 
the  dogs  go  in  at  once  to  fetch  it.  Were  the  sportsmen  to  divide  into 
distinct  parties,  each  party  taking  one  or  two  steady,  close-ranging 
dogs,  what  much  more  true  sport  and  pleasure  they  would  have  ! — 
and  kill,  too,  quite  as  much  game. 

"  You  ask  me  wherein  I  differ  from  you  in  what  you  have  written  ? 
Certainly  in  very  little, — and  I  have  sent  several  gentlemen  to 
Murray's  for  copies  of  your  book ;  but  in  page  3,  you  say  that  '  dog- 
breaking  does  not  require  much  experience.'  There  I  cannot  agree 
with  you, — for  how  is  it  that  there  are  so  few  who  understand  it  ? 
Not  one  keeper  or  gentleman  in  a  thousand,  in  my  opinion.  The 
reason  is  that  they  have  not  sufficient  practice  and  experience.* 

"  In  another  point  I  differ  with  you.  I  have  seen  some  of  the  best 
rangers  I  ever  shot  over  made  by  being  allowed  to  follow  their  mother 
in  the  field,  or  some  very  old  dog,f — what  some  people  would  term  a 
worn-out  potterer.  But  I  think  it  a  yet  better  plan  to  attach  a  lay 
cord  of  about  forty  yards  in  length  to  the  collar  of  the  young  dog, 
and  let  a  man  or'  boy  hold  the  other  end.  You  will  give  a  slight 


*  The  reason   in  my  opinion          +  An  expeditious  method,  as  is 
is,  that  they  have  not  been  pro-       admitted  in   191,    but   there,    I 
taught  —  how  to  teach.  —      think,  all  praise  ceases.  —  W.  N..H- 


perly   ta 


ME.  L G'S  LETTER.  325 

whistle  when  he  gets  to  the  extremity  of  his  range,  and  a  wave  of 
the  hand  to  turn  him  forward  or  back.*  By  such  means  I  have  seen 
dogs,  with  a  few  days'  constant  shooting,  made  perfect  in  that, — the 
most  essential  thing  in  all  dog-breaking. 

"  I  observe  that  you  condemn  the  check-collar  f  in  toto.  I  think 
you  are  wrong.  I  have  seen  dogs  cured  by  it  who  would  not  drop  to 
shot,  but  would  perpetually  rush  in,  especially  if  a  wounded  bird  was 
fluttering  near  them,  and  who  had  been  most  unmercifully  licked,  to 
no  useful  purpose.  I  recollect  orders  being  given  to  destroy  a  dog 
that  appeared  utterly  incorrigible.  As  he  was  a  beautiful  '  finder,5  I 
begged  that  he  might  be  allowed  one  more  trial.  I  sent  to  town  for 
a  check-collar,  and  in  a  few  hours  he  was  pulled  head  over  heels  half- 
a-dozen  times.  He  then  found  out  what  he  was  punished  for,  squatted 
down  accordingly,  and  never  afterwards  attempted  to  rush  forward, 
unless  he  was  over-fresh.  You  speak  of  hares  not  annoying  your 
dogs  in  Scotland.  I  have  been  sadly  annoyed  by  them  when  grouse- 
shooting  there.  In  one  part,  from  hares  jumping  up  every  five 
minutes,  I  had  great  difficulty  in  restraining  my  dogs  from  chasing ; 
and  on  this  occasion  I  found  the  check-collar  quite  a  blessing, — for 
had  I  used  the  whip  I  should  have  been  thrown  off  my  shooting,  and 
the  noise  would  have  disturbed  the  birds.  I  had  at  the  time  two  of 
the  best  shots  in  England  shooting  against  me,  and  I  should  to  a 
certainty  have  been  beaten  had  I  not  been  so  prudent  as  to  take  out 
the  collar. 

"  I  remember  selling  to  a  young  officer  a  brace  of  my  puppies,  or 
rather  young  dogs  (for  they  were  eighteen  months  old),  for  twenty- 
five  guineas.  They  were  well  broken,  but  had  not  been  shot  over. 
He  had  not  been  an  hour  on  the  moors  before  up  started  one  of  the 
small  Scotch  sheep.  Both  the  dogs  gave  chase,  and  on  their  return 
the  keeper  was  directed  to  give  them  a  good  dressing.  One  of  them 
would  not  hunt  for  them  again,  and  became  so  timid  that  the  officer 
desired  the  keeper  to  get  rid  of  it.  It  was  given  to  a  gentleman  in 
the  neighbourhood,  who  knew  he  could  not  be  far  away  in  accepting 
it,  as  it  had  been  bred  and  sold  by  me.  He  took  it  out  a  few  times 
and  soon  found  out  its  value.  The  other  dog  the  officer  sold  for  10/., 
and  then  wrote  a  very  angry  letter  to  me,  complaining  of  my  having 
sold  him  such  a  brace  as  well  broken.  A  fortnight  after  this  he  in- 
vited the  gentleman  who  had  become  possessor  of  the  shy  puppy  to 
come  and  shoot  with  him.  The  gentleman  made  his  appearance  with, 
what  he  termed,  his  '  shy  friend.'  After  many  protestations  against 


*  Doubtless  a  good  plan  ;  per-  his  range  being  more  extended. — 

haps  the  best  plan  with  a  bold  W.  N.  H. 

dog    whose    initiatory  education          t  Meaning    the    spike    collar 

has  been  neglected — and  who,  in  described  in  300  of  this,  and  136 

consequence,  will  not  watch  for  of  first  edition.     No  mention  was 

your  signals,  nor  yet  look  to  you  made  in  that  edition  of  the  milder 

on  your  whistling  ;  but  the  cord  collar  now  spoken  of  in  301. — 

might  be   longer,    and   the    boy  W.  N.  H. 
should  follow  the  dog  to  allow  of 


326  MR.  L— G'S  LETTER. 

taking  out  such  a  brute,  it  was  agreed  that  it  should  be  done  on  the 
gentleman's  offering  to  bet  5/.  that  his  'shy  friend'  would  get  more 
points  than  either  of  the  dogs  they  proposed  hunting ;  and  another 
5/.  that  he  should  prove  himself  the  best  broken  of  the  dogs,  and 
never  during  the  whole  day  offer  to  chase  hare  or  sheep.  The  bets 
were  not  made,  but  to  show  you  the  esteem  in  which  his  late  master 
afterwards  held  the  animal,  he  offered  fifty  guineas  to  get  her  back, 
but  the  money  was  refused.  His  brother  also  turned  out  a  magnifi- 
cent dog — so  much  for  want  of  patience. 

"  It  is  just  possible  that  all.  I  have  written  may  be  of  no  use, — but 
should  you  find  it  of  any,  it  is  quite  at  your  service.  Since  I  last  saw 
you  I  have  had  many  more  opportunities  of  observing  the  extraordinary 
nose  of  the  dog  I  showed  you — a  quality  in  which  I  fancy  forty -nine 
out  of  fifty  dogs  are  deficient.  I  sent  him  down  to  Hickfield-place, 
Hants,  for  the  Speaker,  who  is  an  excellent  sportsman',  to  use  for  a 
few  times  to  see  if  he  was  not  superior  to  his  dogs.  He  returned  the 
dog  with  a  very  handsome  basket  of  game,  saying  he  was  one  of  the 
finest  dogs  he  had  ever  seen  hunted,  and  he  begged  me  to  get  him  a 
brace  of  the  same  kind  against  next  season ;  stating  that  the  price 
would  be  no  consideration  if  they  proved  as  good  as  mine.  I  have 
tried  him  against  many  other  old  dogs,  said  to  be  '  the  best  in  Eng- 
land/ but  not  one  of  them  had  a  shadow  of  a  chance  against  him.  I 
have  refused  a  very  long  price  for  him.  For  beauty,  style,  symmetry, 
nose,  durability,  and  good-temper  (a  great  thing),  none  can  beat  him. 
I  should  like  to  increase  his  breed  for  the  sake  of  the  shooting  com- 
munity ;  yet  I  have  no  wish  to  keep  him  publicly  as  a  sire,  nor  to 
send  him  away.  I  think  I  should  be  doing  a  general  benefit,  if  I  gave 
it  out  that  his  services  could  be  obtained  for  three  guineas  :  and  that 
the  sums  thus  obtained  were  to  be  set  aside  as  a  prize  for  the  best 
dog,  to  be  contended  for  by  competitors  who  should  give  3/.  or  51. 
each.  Something  of  this  kind,  could,  I  think,  be  managed,  and  it  would 
greatly  tend  to  improve  our  breed  of  pointers.  I  bought  a  bitch  with 
the  view  of  getting  some  pups  by  him.  She  had  nine,  but  not  one 
like  the  father,  grandfather,  or  great-grandfather — so  I  sold  her, 
puppies  and  all.  I  have  just  purchased  another ;  she  comes  of  an 
excellent  stock,  and  has  good  shape.  I  shall  see  what  luck  I  have 
with  her.  She  is  a  far  more  likely  dam. 

"  I  should  have  written  to  you  long  ago,  had  I  not  expected  to 
meet  the  person  I  term  my  Yorkshire  breeder.  He  is  the  best  breaker 
I  ever  saw,  and  a  man  you  can  depend  upon.  He  and  his  father,  for 
sixty  years,  have  borne  as  high  a  character  for  honesty,  as  for  excel- 
lence in  breaking.  Many  a  time  has  he  contended,  and  always  come 
off  victor,  against  Mr.  Edge's  dogs — a  good  trial  kennel,  but  the 
breed  have  savage  dispositions,  bad  tempers,  and  are  very  un- 
manageable when  young.  I  have  tried  many  of  them  myself,  and 
have  no  faith  in  them. 

"On  the  moors,  when  the  work  is  excessively  fatiguing,  and 
plenty  of  water  is  generally  to  be  found,  you  may  with  advantage 
employ  setters :  but  in  a  hot  September,  in  England,  when  no  water 
could  be  procured,  I  have  known  some  of  the  best  setters  I  ever  saw 


MR.  L G'S  LETTER.  327 

do  nothing  but  put  up  the  birds.  In  mid-day,  when  there  was  but 
little  scent,  their  nasal  organs  seemed  quite  to  fail  them,  and  being 
fast  they  constantly  ran  into  coveys  before  they  could  stop  them- 
selves. 

"I  was  once  asked  to  be  umpire  in  a  match  between  a  pointer  and 
a  setter.  It  was  to  be  decided  by  which  of  the  dogs  got  most  points 
in  the  day.  As  this  was  the  agreement,  I  was  obliged  to  abide  by  it 
and  decide  accordingly  :  but  that  is  not  the  test  by  which  the  supe- 
riority of  dogs  ought  to  be  determined.  I  presume  what  is  really 
wanted  in  a  dog  is  usefulness  to  his  master  in  killing  game.  If  so,  that 
dog  ought  to  be  considered  best  which  gets  his  master  most  shots 
within  a  rise  not  exceeding  forty  yards.*  The  setter  being  faster  and 
taking  a  much  wider  range,  got  by  far  the  most  points,  therefore  I 
was  compelled  to  award  him  the  prize  ;  but  the  pointer  made  twenty- 
two  points  to  which  the  party  got  twenty-one  shots.  The  setter  got 
thirty  points,  but  only  sixteen  of  them  could  be  shot  to,  and  he  put 
up  thrice  as  many  birds  as  the  pointer.  I  could  mention  twenty 
other  similar  instances  of  trials  between  pointers  and  setters,  but  I 
should  fill  half-a-dozen  more  sheets  and  not  interest  you.  It  is  getting 
dark,  so  I  will  conclude  my  long  yarn. 

"  I  am,  Sir, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  "JOS FT.  LANG." 


In  the  correctness  of  this  reasoning  I  fully  concur. — "W.  N.  H. 


APPENDIX. 


NOTE  TO  65. — Covers. — Shooting. — Loading. 

WHAT  convenient  covers  they  are — and  what  excellent  shelter  they 
furnish  for  game,  when  planted  with  holly,  laurel,  and  other  ever- 
greens ! — especially  if  the  proprietor,  in  a  moment  of  sporting 
enthusiasm,  has  consented  to  his  keeper's  request,  and  had  some  of 
the  trees  half-felled,  so  that  the  branches  lying  on  the  ground  live 
and  grow,  deriving  nourishment  from  the  sap  still  flowing  through 
the  uncut  bark.  Perhaps  gorse  forms  the  best  ground  cover  for  the 
preservation  of  game ;  but  it  is  far  from  being  the  most  agreeable  to 
shoot  in.  It  has,  however,  a  great  merit — it  is  much  disliked  by 
poachers.  There  should  be  good  roosting-trees ;  and  the  different 
kinds  of  fir — spruce  particularly — give  most  security,  their  thick, 
spreading  branches  affording  much  concealment  at  all  seasons  of  the 
year.  They  are,  too,  of  quick  growth.  But  the  most  favourably 
planted  covers  will  prove  unattractive  unless  there  is  a  constant 
supply  of  water  within  a  reasonable  distance.  An  old  brother  officer 
of  mine,  who  has  property  in  Suffolk,  argues, — and  most  will  think 
correctly, — that  for  the  preservation  of  game,  beltings  should  not  run 
round  the  external  part  of  an  estate  (as  is  often  the  case,)  but  lie  well 
within  it,  and  at  some  distance  from  a  high  road. 

Talking  of  beltings  and  pheasants,  as  some  sporting  Griffin  (to  use 
an  Indian  expression)  may  come  across  this  book,  I  may  as  well,  for 
his  sake,  mention,  that  pheasants  are  generally  prevented  from  run- 
ning to  the  further  end  of  a  belting,  and  then  rising  in  one  dense 
cloud,  by  a  man  sent  ahead  striking  two  sticks  together,  or  making 
some  other  slight  noise  which,  without  too  much  alarming  the  birds, 
yet  prevents  their  running  past  him.  As  the  guns  approach  him  he 
gets  further  forward  and  takes  up  another  position,  keeping  wide  of 
the  cover  whilst  he  is  on  the  move.  Should  the  Griffin  make  one  of 
the  shooting-party,  he  is  advised  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  guns  should 
keep  close  to  the  hedge  (or  rails),  that  any  game  on  the  point  of 
"breaking"  may  not  so  readily  observe  them,  and  in  consequence 
beat  a  retreat.  By  the  bye,  my  young  friend,  should  you  wish  your 
host  to  give  you  another  invitation  to  his  covers  never  let  him  see 
you  carrying  your  barrels  horizontally.  If  you  are  a  bit  of  a  soldier 
you  will  know  what  I  mean  when  I  say  that,  combining  due  prepara- 
tion for  prompt  action  with  security  to  him  who  may  be  skirmishing 
near,  your  gun  can  be  conveniently  borne  across  the  open  at  the  "  Slope 
arms"  of  the  sergeant's  fusil.  When  you  are  in  cover  (or  your  dog 
draws  upon  game),  it  might  be  carried  much  in  the  position  of  "  Port 
arms."  At  the  moment  you  level,  following  the  example  of  the  best 
pigeon  shots,  place  your  left  hand  well  in  advance  of  the  poise.  If 


APPENDIX.  329 

you  have  any  fears  of  the  barrels  bursting,  leave  them  at  home.  Your 
steadiest  position  is  with  the  elbow  held  nearly  perpendicularly  under 
the  gun :  whereas  your  right  elbow  ought  to  be  almost  in  a  hori- 
zontal line  with  your  shoulder,  thus  furnishing  a  convenient  hollow 
for  the  reception  of  the  butt.  The  firmer  you  grasp  the  stock  the  less 
is  the  recoil.  That  amusing  fellow  Wanostrocht,  in  his  work  on 
cricketing  ("Felix  on  the  Bat"),  writes,  "  The  attitude  of  en  garde 
of  the  left-handed  swordsman  is  the  attitude  of  play  for  the  right- 
handed  batsman," — and  you,  my  supposed  Grifiin,  may  rest  assured 
that  it  is  the  best  position  your  feet  and  legs  can  take  on  a  bird's 
rising,  but  the  right  foot  might  be  with  advantage  a  little  more  to  the 
right.  Wanostrocht  continues,  "  The  knees  are  bent ;  and  the  body, 
well  balanced,  is  prepared,"  you  may  add,  "  to  turn  steadily  to  the 
right  or  left  according  to  the  flight  of  the  bird."  In  nine  cases  out 
of  ten  the  common  advice  to  "  keep  both  eyes  open  "  when  firing  is 
extremely  judicious.  But  some  men  are  "left-eyed;"  a  matter  you- 
have  probably  little  thought  about ;  and  yet  it  is  of  consequence,  for 
if  you  are  "  left-eyed,"  your  aim  from  the  right  shoulder  (both  eyes 
being  open)  cannot  be  correct.  To  determine  whether  or  not  you 
are  "  right-eyed,"  look  steadily,  with  both  eyes  open,  at  any  small 
object  near  you, — rapidly  raise  a  finger  (of  either  hand)  perpendicularly, 
endeavouring  to  cover  the  object.  Instantly  close  the  left  eye.  If 
you  find  that  your  finger  lies  in  the  direct  line  between  the  object  and 
your  right  eye,  you  will  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  you  are 
"  right-eyed ;"  but  if  your  finger,  instead  of  intercepting  the  object, 
is  wide  of  the  mark,  at  once  close  the  right  eye  and  open  the  left, 
when  you  will,  in  all  probability,  perceive  that  that  your  finger  lies 
directly  between  your  left  eye  and  the  object,  thereby  showing  that 
you  are  "left-eyed."  I  hope  it  may  not  be  so,  as,  unless  you  can 
shoot  from  the  left  shoulder,  you  ought  to  close  the  left  eye  when 
bringing  your  gun  to  the  poise,  until  from  practice  you  become 
"right-eyed."  The  odds  are  in  favour  of  your  being  right-legged  as 
well  as  right-eyed,  which  important  point  will  be  settled,  I  hope  to 
your  satisfaction,  should  you  ever  be  under  the  disagreeable  neces- 
sity of  having  to  kick  an  impertinent  fellow  downstairs.  Never 
shoot  in  a  hurry.  Strive  to  acquire  coolness — in  other  words,  strive 
to  acquire  such  a  command  over  your  trigger-finger  that  it  shall  never 
bend  until  so  ordered  by  your  judgment.  Your  eye  will  inform  your 
reason  of  the  exact  moment  when  you  ought  to  pull,  and  your  finger, 
submissive  to  reason,  ought  to  wait  for  that  precise  moment,  and  not 
yield  to  any  nervousness.  Look  with  the  greatest  intensity  at  the  bird 
as  it  rises,  and  coolly  observe  its  line  of  flight  while  deliberately 
bringing  the  barrels  to  your  shoulder.  Steadiness  will  be  increased 
by  your  not  removing  the  gun  from  your  shoulder  the  instant  you 
have  fired.  Never  fire  when  your  shot  can  be  of  no  more  advantage 
than  a  single  bullet.  If  you  have  a  bet  about  killing  a  jack  snipe, 
seize  the  favourable  moment  for  pulling  the  trigger  when  the  pellets 
will  be  spread  over  a  disk  of  more  than  a  yard  in  diameter.  He  will 
then  be  zigzagging  some  thirty-five  or  forty  yards  from  you ;  and  if 
your  aim  is  taken  at  this  moment  a  full  foot  in  advance  of  his  general 


330  APPENDIX. 

line  of  flight,  there  is  little  chance  of  his  escaping  unpeppered  (and 
one  grain  will  suffice),  however  adroitly  he  may  turn  and  twist.  For 
any  kind  of  bird  flying  at  that  distance  rapidly  down-wind  and  cross- 
ing you,  your  gun  ought  to  be  pitched  much  further  forward.  A 
still  greater  allowance  should  be  made  if  the  distance  be  considerable  : 
and  greater  elevation  should  be  then  given  to  the  barrels,  as  the 
grains  of  shot  will  become  deflected.  The  same  rule  holds  with  birds 
rising.  Aim  must  be  taken  above  them.  There  is  always  more  fear 
of  your  firing  too  much  to  the  rear  and  too  low,  than  too  much  to  the 
front  and  too  high.  Fancy  that  hares  and  rabbits  have  only  heads — 
and  get  into  the  habit  of  looking  at  no  other  part, — nay,  of  looking 
yet  further  ahead.  The  best  cover-shot  I  know  says,  that  he  aims  at 
a  rabbit  rushing  through  gorse  or  underwood  a  yard  in  front  of  the 
spot  where  he  last  caught  a  glimpse  of  it.  Rabbits  halt  for  a  moment 
the  instant  they  get  hidden  by  cover — not  so  hares.  That  their 
hands  and  eyes  may  work  in  unison,  novices  have  been  recommended 
to  hang  on  the  flight  of  swallows  with  an  unloaded  gun.  It  would 
be  better  practice  to  hang  on  a  full  foot  or  more  in  front  of  the  birds. 
To  save  your  locks  use  snap  caps,  and  pull  the  very  instant  you 
think  your  aim  is  correct.  No  second  aim  can  be  so  effective  as 
the  first.  The  more  you  thus  practise  (and  at  game  especially,  in 
order  to  overcome  any  nervous  sensation  occasioned  by  birds  rising) 
before  you  commence  using  powder,  the  more  certain  is  it  that 
you  will  eventually  become  a  cool,  steady  shot.  After  having  com- 
menced the  campaign  in  right  earnest,  should  you  be  shooting  un- 
steadily or  nervously,  you  would  do  well  to  have  the  philosophy 
to  go  up  a  few  times  to  your  dog's  point  with  uncapped  nipples,  and 
by  taking  (long  after  the  birds  are  on  the  wing,  but  yet  within 
shot)  a  deliberate  aim  reassure  yourself  of  the  folly  of  all  hurry  and 
precipitancy.  Lest  you  should  (as  often  happens  in  spite  of  every 
previous  resolution)  involuntarily  pull  the  trigger  sooner  than  you 
intend,  keep  your  finger  off  it  until  the  very  instant  you  wish  to  fire.* 
If  you  shoot  with  a  muzzle  loader  and  carry  one  of  Sykes's  spring- 
shot  pouches — at  present  in  such  general  use — by  having  its  nozzle 
lengthened  (some  few  are  made  lone), — I  mean  by  having  a  cylinder 
of  nearly  three  inches  in  length  welded  to  its  end, — you  will  be  able 
to  load  quicker  than  most  of  your  fellow-sportsmen — particularly  if 
you  use  a  loading-rod :  the  best  are  of  cane,  because  the  material  is 
light  and  tough.  You  can  make  the  long  nozzle  of  the  shot-pouch 
(its  end  being  cut  square,  i.e.  at  a  right  angle  to  its  length)  force  the 
wad  over  the  powder  so  far  down  the  barrel  before  you  press  the 
pouch-spring  to  pour  in  the  charge  of  shot,  that  you  need  not  draw 
your  ramrod  to  drive  home  until  after  you  have  inserted  the  shot- 
wad.  Using  a  long  nozzle  has  also  this  great  advantage,  that  the 
shot  is  packed  more  densely  than  the  powder.  In  the  new  German 
copper-cap  musket  (whose  long  range  is  now,  1854,  much  spoken  of,) 
to  keep  the  powder  loose  when  the  charge  is  rammed  home,  a  thick 
peg,  nearly  one  and  a  half  inches  long,  is  fixed  longitudinally  in  the 

*  See  end  of  448. 


APPENDIX.  331 

centre  of  the  chamber, — I  mean,  in  the  direction  of  the  axis  of  the 
bore.  This  cylindrical  peg,  which  is  much  like  the  tige  invented  by 
Colonel  Touv'enin  in  1828,  arrests  the  jagged  bullet  at  the  precise 
moment  when  the  powder  is  sufficiently  pressed  to  remove  all  chance 
of  the  slightly  six-grooved  barrel's  bursting ;  and  yet  not  so  much 
pressed  as  to  interfere  with  the  complete  ignition  of  every^  grain. 
These  lie  loose  round  the  peg.  The  want  of  this  complete  ignition 
(owing  to  the  rapidity  of  explosion  not  giving  time  for  all  the  par- 
ticles of  closely -wedged  powder  being  fired)  has  been  the  only  valid 
objection  yet  ottered  to  the  detonating  system.  Eor  strong  shooting, 
the  wad  over  the  powder  should  be  much  thicker  than  the  wad  placed 
over  the  shot.  The  several  waddings  now  sold  greased  with  some 
mercurial  preparation  undeniably  retard  leading — a  great  gain.  If 
the  long  nozzle  of  the  shot-pouch  fits  close  within  the  barrel,  on  un- 
loading your  gun  you  can  easily  return  the  shot  into  the  pouch 
without  'losing  a  grain.  As  a  concluding  piece  of  advice  let  me 
recommend  you,  my  young  friend,  to  make  but  a  light  breakfast 
whenever  you  expect  a  heavy  day's  work, — take  out,  however,  a 
few  sandwiches  for  luncheon. 

NOTE    TO  283. — Trapping. — Owl  as  decoy. — Hen  Harrier.— Keeper's 

Vermin  dogs. — Stoats. 

A  good  book  for  gamekeepers'  on  trapping  is  still  a  great  desidera- 
tum. It  should  be  written  by  a  practical  man  who  is  a  bit  of  a 
naturalist ;  for  no  trapper  can  be  very  successful  unless  he  is  well 
acquainted  with  the  haunts  and  habits  of  the  many  kinds  of  vermin  it 

is  his  business  to  destroy.    Mr.  C e's  gamekeeper,  at  R n, 

Perthshire,  who  was  well  aware  of  the  great  importance  of  diligently 
searching  for  their  nests  in  the  breeding  season,  was  at  length  amply 
repaid  for  often  watching  the  proceedings  of  a  hen-harrier  frequently 
seen  hovering  over  a  small  wood  not  far  from  his  cottage.  He  could 
never  perceive  that  she  alighted  on  any  of  the  trees ;  but  from  the 
time  of  year,  and  her  so  perseveringry  returning  to  the  spot,  he  felt 
convinced  that  her  nest  was-  not  far  off.  Ineffectual,  however,  was 
every  search.  At  length,  one  morning  he  was  lucky  enough  to 
remark  that  something  fell  from  her.  He  hunted  close  in  that  direc- 
tion,— found  the  nest,  and  the  young  ones  regaling  on  a  snipe  whose 
remains  were  still  warm ;  evidently  the  identical  bird  she  had  most 
adroitly  dropped  from  a  considerable  height  into  the  middle  of  her 
hungry  brood.  It  would  have  been  very  interesting  to  have  observed 
how  she  managed  on  a  windy  day.  Probably  she  would  have  taken 
an  easy  shot  by  sweeping  close  to  the  trees.  In  Germany  much 
winged  vermin  is  destroyed  with  the  aid  of  a  decoy  honied  owl.  The 
keeper  having  selected  a  favourable  spot  on  a  low  hillock  where  the 
bird  is  likely  to  be  observed,  drives  an  upright  post  into  the  ground, 
the  upper  part  of  which  is  hollowed.  The  bird  is  placed  on  a  perch 
much  shaped  like  the  letter  T.  A  string  is  attached  to  the 
bottom  of  the  perpendicular  part,  which  is  then  dropped  into  the 
hollow  or  socket.  The  armed  keeper  conceals  himself  in  a  loopholed 
sentry-box,  prepared  of  green  boughs,  at  a  suitable  distance,  amidst 


332  APPENDIX. 

sheltering  foliage.  His  pulling  the  string  raises  the  perch.  The  owl, 
to  preserve  its  balance,  flutters  its  wings.  This  is  sure  to  attract  the 
notice  of  the  neighbouring  magpies,  hawks,  crows,  &c.  Some  from 
curiosity  hover  about,  or,  still  chattering  and  peering,  alight  on  the 
neighbouring  trees  (of  course,  standing  invitingly  within  gun-shot) ; 
others,  having  no  longer  any  reverence  for  the  bird  of  Wisdom  in  his 
present  helpless  condition,  wheel  round  and  round,  every  moment 
taking  a  sly  peck  at  their  fancied  enemy,  while  their  real  foe  sends 
their  death-warrant  from  his  impervious  ambuscade. 

Talking  of  vermin,  I  am  reminded  that  J s  H d,   an  old 

gamekeeper  with  whom  I  am  acquainted,  avers  that  one  of  his  craft 
can  hardly  be  worth  his  salt  unless  he  possesses  "  a  regular  good 
varmint  of  a  dog."  It  should  be  of  a  dark  colour,  not  to  betray  so 
readily  the  movements  of  his  master  to  interested  parties.  He  says 
he  once  owned  one,  a  bull-terrier,  that  was,  to  again  quote  the  old 
man's  words,  "  worth  his  weight  in  gold  to  a  gamekeeper;"  that  it 
was  incredible  the  quantity  of  ground- vermin,  of  every  kind,  the  dog 
killed,  which  included  snakes  and  adders — destroyers  of  young  birds 
of  every  sort,  and  it  is  said  of  eggs  (but  this  it  is  difficult  to  conceive, 
unless  we  imagine  them  to  be  crushed  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
boa-constrictor  murders  his  victims,  a  supposition  without  a  shadow 
of  proof — small  eggs,  however,  might  be  swallowed  whole), — that  he 
was  perpetually  hunting,  but  never  noticed  game — had  an  excellent 
nose,  and,  on  occasions  when  he  could  not  run  into  the  vermin, 
would  unerringly  lead  his  master  to  the  hole  in  the  old  bank,  tree,  or 
pile  of  fagots  where  it  had  taken  refuge ;  when,  if  it  was  a  stoat  or 
weasel,  and  in  a  place  where  the  report  of  a  gun  was  not  likely  to 
disturb  game,  the  keeper  would  bring  him  into  "  heel,"  wait  patiently 
awhile,  and  then,  by  imitating  the  cry  of  a  distressed  rabbit,  endeavour 
to  entice  the  delinquent  to  come  forth  and  be  shot.  If  this  ruse 

failed,  H d  quickly  prepared  a  trap  that  generally  sealed  the  fate 

of  the  destructive  little  creature.  As  the  dog  retrieved  all  he  caught, 
the  old  barn-door  was  always  well  covered  with  recent  trophies.  Old 
trophies  afford  no  evidence  of  a  keeper's  diligence. 

The  dog  invariably  accompanied  his  master  during  his  rounds  at 
night,  and  had  great  talents  for  discovering  any  two-legged  intruder. 
On  finding  one  he  would  quietly  creep  up,  and  then,  by  running 
round  and  round  him  as  if  prepared  every  moment  to  make  a  spring, 
detain  him  until  joined  by  the  keeper ;  all  the  while  barking  furiously 
and  adroitly  avoiding  every  blow  aimed  at  his  sconce.* 


*  If  you  are  attacked  by  a  dog  generally   disable    the    strongest 

when  you  have  the  good  fortune  dog.     Consider  how  feelingly  alive 

to  be  armed  with  a  shilelagh,  do  your  own  shins  are  to  the  slightest 

not  hit  him  across  the  head  and  rap.      I   have  in    India  seen    a 

eyes  ;  bear  in  mind  that  the  front  vicious  horse  quite  cowed  under 

part  of  his  fore  legs  is  a  far  more  such    discipline,     and    a    really 

vulnerable    and    sensitive     spot.  savage  nag  in  that  country  is,  to 

One  or  two  well  applied  blows  use  an  expression  common  among 

upon  that  unprotected  place  will  the  natives,  a  fellow  who  would 


APPENDIX.  333 

He  was  moreover  (but  this  has  little  to  do  with  his  sporting- 
habits),  a  most  formidable  enemy  to  dogs  of  twice  his  power ;  for  he 
would  cunningly  throw  himself  upon  his  back  if  overmatched,  and 
take  the  same  unfair  advantage  of  his  unfortunate  opponent  which 
Polygars  are  trained  to  do  when  they  are  attacking  the  wild  hog 
(445). 

I  relate  this  story  about  H d  and  his  bull  terrier  because  few 

men  ever  were  so  successful  in  getting  up  a  good  show  of  game  on  a 
property.  It  was  a  favourite  observation  of  his  that  it  was  not 
game,— it  was  vermin,  that  required  looking  after ;  that  these  did 
more  injury  than  the  largest  gang  of  poachers,  as  the  depredations 
of  the  latter  could  be  stopped,  but  not  those  of  the  former.  There 
are  few  who,  on  reflection,  will  not  agree  with  the  old  keeper.  Stoats 
are  so  bloodthirsty,  that  if  one  of  them  come  across  a  brood  of  young 
pheasants  he  will  give  each  in  succession  a  deadly  gripe  on  the  back 
of  the  neck  close  to  the  skull,  not  to  make  any  use  of  the  carcasses, 
but  in  the  epicurean  desire  to  suck  their  delicate  brains.  All  who  are 
accustomed  to  "rabbiting"  know  that  even  tame  ferrets  evince  the 
same  murderous  propensities,  and  commit  indiscriminate  slaughter, 
apparently  in  the  spirit  of  wanton  destructiveness. 

From  all,  however,  that  I  have  seen  and  heard,  I  fancy  no  animal 
so  much  prevents  the  increase  of  partridges  and  pheasants,  as  the 
hooded  crow. 

An  intelligent  man,  C s  M n  (an  admirable  dresser  of 

salmon-flies),  whose  veracity  I  have  no  reason  to  distrust,  assured  me 
that  he  had  seen  about  the  nest  of  a  "  hoodie "  (as  he  called  the 
bird),  the  shells  of  not  less  than  two  hundred  eggs,  ah1  nearly  of  the 
partridge  and  pheasant.  He  told  me  that  he  once  had  an  opportunity 
of  observing  the  clever  proceedings  of  a  pair  of  these  marauders,  bent 
on  robbing  the  nest  on  which  a  hen-pheasant  was  actually  sitting.  One 
of  the  depredators  by  fluttering  round  her,  and  slily  pecking  at  her 
unprotected  stern,  at  length  so  succeeded  in  irritating  her,  that  she 
got  up  to  punish  him.  By  a  slow  scientific  retreat,  he  induced  her 
to  pursue  him  for  a  few  steps,  thus  affording  his  confederate,  who 


"eat  one  to  the  very  turban."  his  high  spirit  and  great  courage 

They  will  sometimes  cure  a  biter  make^him  quite  indomitable, 

by  letting    him    seize    a    leg  of  With  a  stout  stick,    a  better 

mutton  burning  hot  off  the  fire —  defence  than  you   may  at   first 

not  so  expensive  a  remedy  as  you  imagine  can  be  made  against  the 

may  think,  where  sheep,  wool,  or  attack  of  a  vicious  bull.      Smart 

rather  hair  and  all,  are  constantly  blows  struck  on  the  tip  of  his 

sold  at  25.  each, — I  will  not  de-  horns  seem  to  cause  a  jar  painfully 

scribe  how  poor, — I   have   lifted      felt  at  the  roots.     Mr.  B n,  of 

them  up,   one  in  each  hand,  to       A n,  when  he  was  charged  in 

judge  of  their  comparative  weight.  the  middle  of  a  large  field  by  a 

A  country  bred  horse  may  be  con-  bull  which  soon  afterwards  killed 

quered  by  harsh  means  ;   but  a  a  man,  adopting  this  plan,  beat 

true  Arab  never.      It  is  rare  to  off  the    savage    animal,    though 

find  one  that  is  not  sweet-tern-  it  several  times  renewed  its  at- 

pered  ;  but  when  he  is  vicious,  tacks. 


:i;M  AIM'KNIMX. 

had  concealed  himself.  I  he  opport  null  v  of  muouiii,'  eertaiiiK  one  eirir, 
perhaps  two.  H)  repetitions  of  this  .sli;nu  aii.uk  ami  retreat,  the 
adroit  pilferer^  i  \cnlnallx  managed  to  empl  x  llic  nest. 

The  above  mentioned  man  had  been  brought  up  us  a  i;amekeeper 
in  Cumberland.  !!«'  became  anexeelleut  trapper;  ami  x\as  afterwards 
employed  on  an  estate  near  the  (  he\  iot  Hills,  \\  here,  in  a  .short  lime, 
he  u'ot  up  a  decent  stock  offline  h\  destroMii^  the  xcrmiu.  He 
fouiul  llic  grounds  sx\armiiit;  with  "  hoodies  ;"  hut  il  was  not  until 
their  hreedini;  .season  the  following  spring.  XN  hen  he  was  favoured  in 
hi-,  operations  l)>  a  t'tv-.|  .  that  he  Miei'eeileil  in  eaplurmi;  them  in 
eoiiMilerahle  nnnthers.  On  tlu>  ^ronml  heeomini*1  hai'il,  he,  tor  nearly 
a  t'.ulnmht,  fed  eertain  >pots  on  the  hanks  of  I  he  Te\  iot  \\ilh  IfOOfl 
sule 


In 


EUftn  r.il'lnls.  liesules  an\  \ennin  that  he  eoiiln\e(l  to 
that  tune  tin-  "hoodies"  halulnalK  n-soiled.  \ulhoul  ilisinisi.  to 
tho>e  phu'es  lor  food.  He  then  set  his  lr;ip>  lulled  \Mlh  all  Mirh 
delieaeies.  luit  he  eoiisulereil  a  small  ral»lu(.  or  a  pigeon  1\  111-'  on  its 
haek  \\  ith  ontst  retehcd  \\  m^s.  as  the  mi>s|  temptiim-ot'  his  m\  it  at  ions  ; 
ami  it  often  happened  that  he  had  seareeK  disappeared  In-fore  the 
eliek  of  ihe  eloMiis;  sprni:;  anpnsetl  him  of  a  capture.  \\  hen  his  he 
queul  success  had  rendered  the  Imds  sh\.  he  set  lu.s  traps  in  the 
.i>l|.u(iil  stream.  co\(-riui;-  their  sides  \uili  urass  (.r  ruslies.  —  the 
attraeliNc  hail  alone  appearini;  alune  the  .surface.  For  three  reasons 
he  re-aided  the  hanks  of  the  rncr  as  the  best  situation  lor  his  traps 
lie  could,  as  just  mentioned,  conceal  them  in  the  \\ater  on  the  birds 
liecomini;-  too  suspii'ious  M-eo»ull\  .  streams  arc  mueh  n->ortcil  !o  l.\ 
the  •'hoodie."  \\ho  searches  dihuvnlK  tor  an  \  I'hanci 
the  \\aler,  and  lasth.  (lu-  rooks,  ot  \\  Inch  there  \\erc  man\  in  that 
p.  nl  of  the  countrx.  from  natural!)  hunting  inland,  the  reverse  of  the 
"  hoodie,"  \\erc  the  less  likeU  to  spring  hts  (raps 

i  ron  the  short,  fuller  nci  k.    the  lu  ul  beat  peerixtghr  downwiurda, 

—but,   ahove  all.  front  the  ha\\  k  like  nio\eme*ita  of  the  wing,  tJ^e 

sportsman  \\ill  he  able  to  distinguish  the  : 

at  a  moment  \\heu  he  max  he  too  distant  e  the  black  anil 

inou   hooked  lull.—  mul  never  let  him  spare,     lie  should  lk>  s\»spieious 
,\  hirdhcsccsrn-s-.nl:    .u.,1  n  ,  ;  ,  -    .11^  a  tielil.—  in  realit  \  \\\\\\\- 
ing  it  Wltb  ftS  regular  a  heal  a--  a  pointer's. 

11  -  n  kdKd  a  grout  wftuv  atoata  Mid  weaaela  with  wtoiM 

traps.  As  it  is  t  he  hahit  of  these  little  animals,  \\hcn  hunting  a  hedge- 
row. t«»  prefer  ruuiuu-;-  through  a  cox  cred  passage  to  t\num-  aside. 
he  nsed,  \\herc  the  ground  fa\oinvii  h»m  In  slight  K  nsiu^.  lo 
inlash(,ii  .ham,  about  a  tool  in  breadth,  and  rather  less  in  denth, 
parallel  and  oloae  to  the  hedge  it  \\ith  the  sods  he  had 

icnuncd  At  the  bottom  of  these  drains  he  fixed  his  trans,  as  soon 
as  the  animals  i  .ncd  to  the  r\u\.  and  r:uvl\  fade*!  \\\ 

sci-ni  the  \\easel  famiK    \\luch  had  taXen   \u>  its 

ahoile  in  thc'Mcutitx.       The  best   description    of  hntch  trap   (wmdl 
man\    prefer   to    the'  u'intrap>  is   maile    entire!)    of   u     .     .  x..ptiu»j 
the  bottoms.      All  appears  so   lisjht    and  a>rv    that    little  s\ispu  ., 
a\\akeucd.      The  doors  tall  on  am  llnn^  rni'nnn^  oxer  the  tlooi 


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336 


APPENDIX. 


food.  In  a  long  voyage  a  bird  that  dies  in  a  coop  is  often  found  by 
"  Billyducks "  *  half  eaten  up ;  and  it  is  questionable  whether  a 
sickly  companion  be  not  occasionally  sacrificed  by  his  stronger 
associates  to  appease  their  natural  craving  for  flesh.  In  the  West 
Indies  the  accidental  upsetting  of  an  old  sugar-cask  in  a  farm-yard, 
and  its  scattering  forth  a  swarm  of  cock-roaches,  sets  all  the 
feathered  tribe  in  a  ferment.  The  birds  that  had  been  listlessly 
sauntering  about,  or  standing  half-asleep  in  the  friendly  shade,  sud- 
denly seem  animated  with  the  fury  of  little  imps, — and,  influenced 
by  a  taste  in  every  way  repugnant  to  our  feelings,  with  outstretched 
necks  and  fluttering  wings  race  against  each  other  for  possession  of 


FOUL'  FEEDING. 


the  offensive,  destructive  insects,  evincing  in  the  pursuit  an  agility 
and  a  rapidity  of  movement  of  which  few  would  imagine  them  to  be 
capable. 

The  keeper  just  spoken  of  used  to  rear  his  pheasants  within 
doors,  or  rather  in  an  outhouse,  the  floor  of  which  was  in  part 

covered  with  sods  of  turf, — but  I  think  J s  T n,  another  of 

the  craft  whom  I  know  well,  pursues  a  better  and  far  less  trouble- 


*  The  common  sobriquet  of  the  boy  in  charge. 


APPENDIX.  337 

some  plan.  He  selects  a  piece  of  clover  *  facing  the  south,  and 
sheltered  from  the  north  and  east  winds  by  a  contiguous  small  copse 
which  he  feels  assured  can  harbour  no  destructive  vermin.  On  this 
grass-plat,  if  the  weather  is  fine,  he  places  the  common  barn-door 
hens, — each  with  her  brood  the  moment  they  are  hatched, — under 
separate  small  coops.  Two  or  three  boards  run  from  each  coop, 
forming  a  temporary  enclosure,  which  is  removed  in  about  a  week 
on  the  little  inmates  gaining  strength.  If  he  has  any  fear  of  their 
being  carried  off  by  hawks,  &c.,  he  fixes  a  net  overhead.  The  hens 
had  sat  on  the  eggs  in  an  outhouse. 

The  first  food  given  to  the  chicks  is  soaked  bread, — and  white  of 
eggs  cut  up  fine!  The  colour  (is  not  that  a  bull  ?)  catches  their  eye, 
which  is  the  alleged  reason  for  all  their  food  being  given  to  them 
white.  Ants'  nests  are  procured  for  them, — of  the  red  ant  first, — of 
the  larger  kind,  when  the  chicks  become  so  strong  that  the  insects 
cannot  injure  them — later  in  the  season,  wasps'  nests.  When  there 
is  a  difficulty  in  procuring  any  of  these  nests,  curd  is  often  given ; 
but  should  it  become  sour,  as  frequently  happens  in  hot  weather,  it 
is  likely  to  occasion  dysentery,  f  therefore  oatmeal  porridge  made 
with  milk  is  considered  a  safer  diet.  This  is  eagerly  picked  up 
when  scattered  about,  sprinkled  as  it  were, — and  the  weaker  chicks 

are  thus  enabled  to  secure  a  fair  share.  T n  breeds  a  quantity 

of  maggots  for  them, — and  at  no  expense, — in  the  adjacent  copse. 
Whatever  vermin  he  kills  (whether  winged  or  four-footed)  he  hangs 
up  under  a  slight  awning  as  a  protection  from  the  rain.  On  the 
flesh  decaying  the  maggots  drop  into  the  box  placed  underneath  to 
receive  them.  The  insects  soon  become  clean,  if  sand  and  bran  is 
laid  at  the  bottom  of  the  box,  and  it  is  an  interesting  sight  to  see 
the  excited  little  birds  eagerly  hurrying  from  all  quarters  to  the 
grass-plat  on  the  keeper  striking  the  tray  with  his  knuckles  to  invite 
them  to  partake  of  some  choice  maggots,  spread  out  on  sanded 
boards. 

If  a  piece  of  carrion  is  placed  under  a  wire  netting  near  the 
coops,  the  chicks  will  feed  with  avidity  on  the  flies  it  attracts. 

Change  of  food  is  beneficial : — therefore,  boiled  barley  or  rice,  is 
often  substituted,  or  oatmeal,  or  Indian-corn  meal, — mixed  with  the 
flesh  of  boiled  rabbits. 

Saucers  of  clean  water  are  placed  about.  Water  in  a  dirty  state 
is  very  injurious.  It  is  not  of  any  depth,  lest  the  chicks  should  wet 
their  feathers  when  standing  in  it.  Occasionally  iron  saucers  are 
used,  ingeniously  designed  on  the  ridge  and  furrow  plan.  The 


*  Clover  does  not  retain  the  wet  lump  about  the  size  of  a  walnut 

like  common  grass,  and  it  affords  to  half  a  gallon  of  water— also 

some  shade  in  hot  weather  to  the  mix  such  a  quantity  of  common 

very  young  birds.  salt  in  their  food,  that  the  stim- 

t  Until  the  young  birds  recover  ulant  therein  is  quite  perceptible 

do  not  let  them  have  access  to  to    your    taste,    and    feed    more 

any  water  in  which  alum  is  not  sparingly  than  usual, 
dissolved  in  the  proportion  of  a 


338  APPENDIX. 

ridges  are  so  little  apart,  that  the  chicks  can  insert  no  more  than 
their  heads  into  the  furrows.  As  cleanliness  must  in  all  things 
be  preserved,  the  coops  are  shifted  a  few  feet  aside  twice  a  day. 

The  chicks  soon  quit  the  hens  to  roost  in  the  shrubs,  which  afford 
welcome  shade  during  the  mid-day  heat ;  but  the  imprisoned 
matrons  are  still  useful,  as  their  plaintive  call  prevents  the  chicks 
from  becoming  irreclaimable  truants.  As  they  have  always  the 
opportunity  of  running  in  the  grass  and  copse,  where  they  find  seeds 
ana  insects,  they  quickly  become  independent,  and  learn  to  forage 
for  themselves, — yet  when  fully  grown  up  they  are  not  so  likely  to 
stray  away  as  birds  who  have  been  more  naturally  reared,  and  who 
have  been  made  wanderers  even  in  their  infancy.  This  is  a  great 
advantage. 

That  the  chicks  may  come  upon  fresh  ground  for  seeds  and  insects, 
the  situation  of  the  coops  may  be  occasionally  changed.  If  liable  to 
be  attacked  by  vermin  at  night,  a  board  can  be  fixed  in  front  of  each 
coop. 

Partridges  may  be  reared  by  the  same  means.  But  instances  are 
rare  of  their  laying  while  in  a  state  of  captivity. 

That  the  young  birds  may  be  able  to  rid  their  bodies  of  vermin, 
they  should  be  provided  with  small  heaps  of  sand  protected  from 
rain,  and  dry  earth,  in  which  they  will  gladly  rub  themselves. 

If  you  design  rearing  pheasants  annually,  always  keep  a  few  of  the 
tame  hens  and  a  cock  at  home.  By  judicious  management  these  will 
supply  a  large  quantity  of  eggs  for  hatching, — eggs  that  you  can 
ensure,  when  in  their  freshest  state,  being  placed  under  barn-door 
hens.  Keep  the  eggs  in  a  cool  place.  I  cannot  believe  that  you 
will  ever  be  guilty — for  it  is  guilt,  great  guilt — of  the  sin  of  purchasing 
eggs.  "Buyers  make  thieves," — and  one  sneaking,  watching,  un- 
winged  pilferer  on  two  legs  would  do  more  mischief  in  the  month  of 
May  than  dozens  of  magpies  or  hooded  crows. 

Pheasants  so  soon  hunt  for  their  own  subsistence,  that  they  are 
brought  to  maturity  at  less  expense  than  common  fowls. 

Since  the  publication  of  the  second  edition,  I  have  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  talking  to  Mr.  Cantelo,  the  clever  inventor  of  the  novel 
hatching  machine,  whereby  (following  nature's  principle)  heat  is 
imparted  only  to  the  upper  surface  of  eggs.  He  annually  rears 
a  large  quantity  of  all  kinds  of  poultry,  besides  partridges  and 
pheasants,  and  I  believe  no  one  in  England  is  so  experienced  in  these 
matters. 

He  found  it  best  not  to  give  food  to  any  kind  of  chicks  for  the 
two  first  days  after  they  were  hatched.  As  they  would  not  all  break 
the  shell  together,  it  is  probable  that  in  a  state  of  nature  many  of 
them  would  be  for,  at  least,  this  period  under  the  hen  before  she 
led  them  forth  to  feed.  To  young  turkeys  and  pheasants  he  gave 
no  food  for  three  days.  They  would  then  eat  almost  anything 
voraciously,  whereas,  when  fed  sooner,  they  become  dainty  and 
fastidious. 

He  recommends  that  the  lean  of  raw  beef,  or  any  meat  (minced 
fine,  as  if  for  sausages)  be  given  to  partridge  or  pheasant  chicks, 


APPENDIX.  339 

along  with  their  other  food,*  or  rather  before  their  other  food,  and 
only  in  certain  quantities ;  for  if  they  are  fed  too  abundantly  on 
what  they  most  relish,  they  are  apt  to  gorge  themselves,  and 
they  will  seldom  refuse  meat,  however  much  grain  they  may  have 
previously  eaten.  He  said  that  they  should  be  liberally  dieted,  but 
not  to  repletion, — that  once  a  day  they  should  be  sensible  of  the 
feeling  of  hunger. 

It  certainly  is  most  consonant  to  nature,  that  the  flesh  given  to 
the  chicks  should  not  be  cooked ;  and  Mr.  Cantelo  observed  that  it 
would  be  immediately  found  on  trial,  that  young  birds  prefer  that 
which  is  undressed, — nay,  that  which  has  a  bloody  appearance. 

He  considers  maggots  (gentles)  an  admirable  diet,  and  he  gave  me 
a  valuable  hint  about  them.  This  is,  that  they  be  fattened  on 
untainted  meat,  placed  in  the  sand-box  into  which  they  fall.  The 
pieces  of  meat  will  soon  be  drilled  like  a  honey-comb,  and  the  little 
crawlers,  by  becoming  in  a  day  or  two  large  and  fat,  will  prove  a 
far  more  nourishing  diet  than  when  given  in  the  attenuated  state  to 
which  they  are  commonly  reduced,  by  the  present  starving  process  of 
cleansing. 

Mr.  Cantelo  has  remarked  that  guinea-birds  require  food  at  an 
earlier  period  after  they  are  hatched  than  any  other  sort  of  chick, 
— and  that  they  and  ducklings  eat  most  meat, — turkey-poultry 
least. 

Wet  is  injurious  to  all  chickens  (the  duck-tribe  excepted) ;  and 
when  the  hen,  from  being  confined,  cannot  lead  her  brood  astray, 
they_  will,  of  themselves,  return  to  her  coop  on  finding  the  grass  too 
damp. 

Mr.  Cantelo  is  strongly  of  opinion,  that  all  diseases  to  which 
infant  birds  are  liable  are  contagious.  He  advises,  in  consequence, 
that  the  moment  any  one  of  the  brood  is  attacked  with  diarrhoea, 
sore  eyes,  or  sneezing,  it  be  instantly  separated  from  the  others. 

He  considers  all  chickens  safe  from  ordinary  diseases  on  their 
gaining  their  pen-feathers. 

He  has  found  that  nest  eggs,  not  sat  on  for  twelve  hours,  do  not 
lose  their  vitality.  This  shows  that  eggs  taken  by  mowers  should 
not  be  hastily  thrown  away,  in  consequence  of  a  considerable  delay 
unavoidably  occurring  before  they  can  be  placed  under  a  hen  to 
complete  their  hatching. 

Pheasants  sit  about  five  days  longer  than  common  fowls. 

Mr.  Cantelo  recommends  that  eggs  sent  from  a  distance  be  packed 
in  oats.  He  had  succeeded  in  hatching  some  he  had  kept,  as  an 
experiment,  upwards  of  two  months  in  a  temperate  atmosphere, 
turning  them  daily.  This  continued  vitality  is,  however,  seldom  a 
consideration  as  regards  pheasants ;  for  the  earlier  in  the  season  the 
birds  can  be  produced  the  better.  It  is  a  great  advantage  to  have 
five  months'  growth  and  feed  in  them  by  the  first  of  October. 


*  Principally  Indian  corn-meal.       full-grown  birds  of  a  large  species, 
When  the    chickens    are    older,       it  is  given  whole, 
the  grain  is  merely  bruised.     To 

z  2 


340  APPENDIX. 

Mr.  Knox,  in  his  interesting  work  on  "  Game-birds  and  Wild- 
fowl," has  given  some  good  advice  about  the  rearing  and  preservation 
of  pheasants.  I  will  make  some  extracts  from  it,  and,  I  think,  many 
would  do  well  to  read  the  whole  book. 

With  respect  to  a  pheasantry  for  procuring  eggs,  he  is  of  opinion 
that  in  March, — the  time  when  the  cocks  begin  to  fight, — the 
enclosure  containing  the  stock  of  birds  should  be  divided,  by  high 
hurdles,  or  wattles,  into  partitions,  so  that  each  cock  may  be  told  off 
with  three  hens  into  a  distinct  compartment.  He  advises  that  no 
harem  should  be  greater  in  a  state  of  confinement.  His  opportunities 
for  forming  a  correct  judgment  have  probably  been  greater  than 
mine  ;  but  I  must  observe  that  I  have  known  of  ladies,  kept  in  such 
small  seraglios,  being  worried  to  death.  "  The  larger  the  compart- 
ments," he  says,  "the  better;"  "a  heap  of  bushes  and  a  mound  of 
dry  sand  in  each ; "  an  attendant  to  visit  them  once  (and  but  once)  a 
day,  to  take  in  the  food  of  "barley,  beans,  peas,  rice,  or  oats; 
boiled  potatoes,  Jerusalem  artichokes,  and  Swedish  turnips;"*  and 
to  remove  whatever  eggs  may  have  been  laid  during  the  preceding 
twenty-four  hours. 

The  accidental  destruction  of  the  net  overhanging  Mr.  Knox's 
pheasantry,  and  the  escape  of  the  cocks,  led  to  his  ascertaining  a 
fact  of  much  importance;  viz.  that  pinioned  hens  (one  wing  ampu- 
tated at  the  carpal  joint — "  the  wounds  soon  healed  ")  kept  in  an 
unroofed  enclosure,  near  »  cover,  into  which  (what  are  called)  "  tame- 
bred  pheasants "  have  been  turned,  will  always  attract  sufficient 
mates — mates  in  a  more  healthy  state  than  confined  birds, — and  that 
the  eggs  will  be  more  numerous,  and  unusually  productive. 

I  can  easily  imagine  that  such  matrimonial  alliances  are  sure  to  be 
formed  wherever  the  opportunity  offers  ;  and  if  I  were  establishing  a 
pheasantry,  I  would  adopt  the  plan  Mr.  Knox  recommends,  unless 
withheld  by  the  fear  that  more  than  one  cock  might  gain  admittance 
to  the  hens ;  for  I  am  aware  of  facts  which  incline  me  to  think,  that, 
in  such  instances,  the  eggs  may  be  unserviceable.  At  a  connexion's 
of  mine,  where  the  poultry-yard  lies  close  to  a  copse,  hybrid  chickens 
have  often  been  reared — the  offspring  of  barn-door  hens  and  cock- 
pheasants  not  tame-bred. 

Mr.  Knox  elsewhere  observes,  that  the  hen-pheasants  kept  in  con- 
finement should  be  tame-bred;  that  is,  be  "birds  which  have  been 
hatched  and  reared  under  domestic  hens,  as  those  which  are  netted, 
or  caught,  in  a  wild  state,  will  always  prove  inefficient  layers." 
"  About  the  fourth  season  a  hen's  oviparous  powers  begin  to  decline, 
although  her  maternal  qualifications,  in  other  respects,  do  not 
deteriorate  until  a  much  later  period.  It  is,  therefore,  of  consequence 
to  enlist,  occasionally,  a  few  recruits,  to  supply  the  place  of  those 
females  who  have  completed  their  tliird  year,  and  who  then  may  be 
set  at  large  in  the  preserves."  Of  course,  not  those  birds  who  have 
had  the  fore-hand  of  a  wing  amputated. 

*  For  reasons  already  given,  I  think  some  animal  food  should  be 
aided.— W.  N.  H. 


APPENDIX.  341 

Talking  of  ants'  eggs,  which  Mr.  Knox  terms  "  the  right-hand  of 
the  keeper "  in  rearing  pheasant  chicks — it  is  the  first  food  to  be 
given  to  them — Mr.  Knox  says,  "  Some  persons  find  it  difficult  to 
separate  the  eggs  from  the  materials  of  the  nest.  The  simplest  mode 
is.  to  place  as  much  as  may  be  required — ants,  eggs,  and  all — in  a  bag 
or  light  sack,  the  mouth  of  which  should  be  tied  up.  On  reaching 
home,  a  large  white  sheet  should  be  spread  on  the  grass,  and  a  few 
green  boughs  placed  round  it  on  the  inside,  over  which  the  outer 
edge  of  the  sheet  should  be  lightly  turned;  this  should  be  done 
during  sunshine.  The  contents  of  the  bag  should  then  be  emptied 
into  the  middle,  and  shaken  out  so  as  to  expose  the  eggs  to  the  light. 
In  a  moment,  forgetting  all  considerations  of  personal  safety,  these 
interesting  little  insects  set  about  removing  their  precious  charge — 
the  cocoons — from  the  injurious  ravs  of  the  sun,  and  rapidly  convey 
them  under  the  shady  cover  afforded  by  the  foliage  of  the  boughs 
near  the  margin  of  the  sheet.  In  less  than  ten  minutes  the  work 
will  be  completed.  It  is  only  necessary  then  to  remove  the  branches ; 
and  the  eggs,  or  cocoons,  may  be  collected  by  handfuls,  unencumbered 
with  sticks,  leaves,  or  any  sort  of  rubbish." 

Mr.  Knox  goes  on  to  say,  that  "  green  tops  of  barley,  leeks,  boiled 
rice,  Emden  groats,  oatmeal,  &c.,"  are  excellent  diet  for  the  chicks, 
but  that  this  kind  of  food  is  "almost  always  given  at  too  early  a 
period.  In  a  state  of  nature,  their  food,  for  a  long  time,  would  be 
wholly  insectile."  "  Now,  as  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  procure  the 
quantity  and  variety  of  small  insects  and  larvae  which  the  mother- 
bird  so  perseveringly  and  patiently  finds  for  them,  we  are  obliged  to 
ha.ve  recourse  to  ants'  eggs,  as  easily  accessible,  and  furnishing  a 
considerable  supply  of  the  necessary  sort  of  aliment  in  a  small 
compass." 

"When  the  chicks  are  about  a  week  or  ten  days  old,  Emden 
groats  and  coarse  Scotch  oatmeal  may  be  mixed  with  the  ants'  eggs ; 
and  curds,  made  from  fresh  milk,  with  alum,  are  an  excellent  addition. 
If  ants'  nests  cannot  be  procured  in  sufficient  quantities,  gentles 
should  occasionally  be  given." 

When  more  wasps'  nests  are  obtained  than  are  required  for  imme- 
diate use,  "  it  will  be  necessary  to  bake  them  for  a  short  time  in  an 
oven.  This  will  prevent  the  larvae  and  nymphs  from  coming  to  ma- 
turity,— in  fact,  kill  them — and  the  contents  of  the  combs  will  keep 
for  some  weeks  afterwards.  Hempseed,  crushed  and  mingled  with 
oatmeal,  should  be  given  them  when  about  to  wean  them  from  an 
insect  diet.  Hard-boiled  eggs,  also,  form  a  useful  addition,  and 
may  be  mixed,  for  a  long  time,  with  their  ordinary  farinaceous 
food." 

"  Young  pheasants  are  subject  to  a  kind  of  diarrhoea,  which  often 
proves  fatal.  If  the  disease  be  taken  in  time,  boiled  milk  and  rice, 
in  lieu  of  any  other  diet,  will  generally  effect  a  cure.  To  these  chalk 
may  be  added,  to  counteract  the  acidity  which  attends  this  complaint ; 
and  should  the  symptoms  be  very  violent,  a  small  quantity  of  alum, 
as  an  astringent." 

This  treatment  appears  reasonable.    Many  consider  rice  a  judicious 


342  APPENDIX. 

diet  in  such  cases ;  and  I  know  of  a  surgeon's  giving  boiled  milk 
with  great  success,  in  the  West  Indies,  to  patients  suffering  from 
diarrhoea. 

"  But  the  most  formidable  disease  from  which  the  young  pheasant 
suffers  is  that  known  by  the  name  of  '  the  gapes  : ' — so  termed  from 
the  frequent  gaping  efforts  of  the  bird  to  inhale  a  mouthful  of  air. 
Chickens  and  turkeys  are  equally  liable  to  be  affected  by  it ;  and  it 
may  be  remarked,  that  a  situation  which  has  been  used,  for  many 
successive  seasons,  as  a  nursery  ground,  is  more  apt  to  be  visited 
with  this  plague,  than  one  which  has  only  recently  been  so  employed. 
Indeed,  I  have  observed  that  it  seldom  makes  its  appearance  on  a 
lawn  or  meadow  during  the  first  season  of  its  occupation ;  and,  there- 
fore, when  practicable,  it  is  strongly  to  be  recommended,  that  fresh 
ground  should  be  applied  to  the  purpose  every  year :  and  when  this 
cannot  be  done,  that  a  quantity  of  common  salt  should  be  sown 
broadcast  over  the  surface  of  the  earth,  after  the  birds  have  left  it  in 
the  autumn."  He  elsewhere  describes  the  gapes  as  that  "  dreadful 
scourge,  which,  like  certain  diseases  that  affect  the  human  subject, 
seems  to  have  been  engendered  and  fostered  by  excessive  population 
within  a  limited  district." 

"  Dissection  has  proved  that  the  latent  cause  of  this  malady  is  a 
minute  worm  of  the  genius  fasciola,  which  is  found  adhering  to  the 
internal  part  of  the  windpipe,  or  trachea."  Then  Mr.  Knox  explains 
how  this  worm  may  be  destroyed;  (and  only  by  such  means, — the 
most  delicate  operator  being  unable  to  extract  it  without  materially 
injuring  the  young  bird) — viz.  by  fumigating  with  tobacco-smoke, 
according  to  the  method  (which  he  fully  describes)  recommended  by 
Colonel  Montagu.  If  the  worm  is  not  destroyed,  the  death  of  the 
bird  ensues  "  by  suffocation  from  the  highly  inflamed  state  of  the 
respiratory  apparatus." 

I  once  kept  many  guinea-birds  when  abroad;  and  I  am  now 
convinced  that  I  should  have  succeeded  in  rearing  a  far  greater  num- 
ber, had  I  adopted  more  closely  the  mode  of  feeding,  &c.,  here 
recommended  for  young  pheasants. 

In  July,  '57,  I  saw  in  a  large  clover  field  at  Sandling,  East  Kent, 
820  pheasant  chicks  which  had  been  reared  by  M n  under  sixty- 
six  common  hens.  It  was  a  very  interesting  sight.  I  accompanied 
him  round  all  the  coops.  They  stood  about  twenty  paces  apart,  and 
I  could  not  detect  a  single  bird  with  a  drooping  wing  or  of  sickly 
appearance.  He  told  me  most  positively  that  he  had  not  lost  one  by 
disease,  but  a  few  had  been  trodden  under  foot  by  careless,  awkward 
hens,  and,  what  seems  curious,  some  few  chicks  on  quitting  the  shell 
had  been  intentionally  killed  by  the  very  hens  which  had  hatched 
them.  A  hatching  hen  will  sometimes  thus  destroy  ducklings, — but 
these  are  far  more  unlike  her  natural  progeny  than  are  pheasant 

chicks.  M n  found  that  game-fowls  make  the  best  mothers — 

Cochin-china  the  worst.  He  has  a  prejudice,— how  doctors  differ ! 
against  maggots  and  ants'  nests.  However,  he  has  a  right  to  his 
notions,  for  he  lost  hardly  any  birds  in  the  year  '56,  out  of  the  400 
and  upwards  that  broke  the  shell.  He  devotes  himself  to  what,  with 


APPENDIX.  343 

him,  is  a  labour  of  love.  He  lias  great,  and  just  pride  in  liis  success. 
He  maintains  that  pheasants  can  be  reared  cheaper  than  barn-door 
fowls,  wherever  there  are  woods,  as  the  chicks  find  their  own  food  at 
such  an  early  age.  The  rearing  of  the  birds  that  I  saw  and  about  fifty 
partridge-chicks,  occupied  the  whole  of  his  time  and  that  of  an  assistant. 
There  was  also  a  boy  to  cook,  &c.  The  chicks  were  fed  every  two  hours 
throughout  the  day  with  a  mixture  of  hard  boiled  eggs,*  curds, 
bread-crumbs,  rape  and  canary  seed.  The  shutter  of  each  hutch 

doing  duty  as  a  tray  for  the  food.     After  the  chicks  had  fed  M.-, n 

made  his  rounds,  and  scraped  into  a  pot  all  that  was  not  consumed, 
being  careful  that  nothing  was  left  to  get  sour.  He  gave  a  small 
portion  of  these  remains  to  the  imprisoned  matrons.  He  feeds  the 
chicks  liberally,  yet  calculates  to  a  great  nicety  what  will  be  eaten,  for 
on  every  shutter  a  portion,  but  a  very  small  portion  of  food  was  left. 
Water,  kept  in  earthenware  pans  made  with  concentric  circles  on  the 
ridge  and  furrow  system,  was  placed  at  intervals  between  the  hutches. 
Many  times  a  day  he  moved  the  several  coops  a  few  feet  to  fresh 
ground.  At  night  when  all  the  chicks  have  joined  the  hens  he  fastens 
the  shutters,  and  does  not  remove  them  in  the  morning  until  the  dew 
is  off  the  grass.  How  entirely  is  this  practice  opposed  to  the  advice 
of  the  Yorkshireman  given  at  the  commencement  of  this  note !  and 
yet  it  might  be  possible  to  reconcile  the  contradictory  recommenda- 
tions by  supposing  that  as  soon  as  the  young  birds  have  nearly  reached 
maturity  they  are  allowed  to  search  for  insects  at  the  earliest  dawn. 

M n's  last  location  for  the  hutches  would  be  in  the  centre  of  the 

landlord's  property,  and  they  would  not  be  taken  away  until  the  hens 
were  quite  abandoned  by  'the  young  pheasants — which  in  general 
would  be  at  the  end  of  August.  Differing  much  from  Mr.  Knox,  it 

was  M n's  practice  to  keep  as  many  as  five  hens  with  one  cock 

for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  eggs.  I  observed  that  some  hutches 
possessed  a  disproportionate  number  of  inmates.  This  had  arisen 
from  the  hutches  having  been  placed  in  too  close  proximity  before  the 
chicks  had  the  sense  to  know  their  respective  foster-mothers. 

Remarking  once  after  a  good  battue  in  cover  upon  the  fine  condition 
of  the  birds  spread  in  a  long  array  on  the  lawn  for  the  inspection  of  the 
ladies,  I  was  told  that  the  keeper  greatly  attributed  their  size  and 
weight  to  keeping  ridge  and  furrow  pans  near  their  feeding  places 
constantly  filled  with  bark-water.  He  used  to  boil  from  a  quarter  to 
half  a  pound  of  oak-bark  in  two  gallons  of  water  until  it  was  reduced 
to  half  the  quantity.  After  once  tasting  it  the  pheasants  become 
fond  of  it,  their  natural  instinct  telling  them  the  advantages  of  the 
tonic.  A  cross  with  the  true  China  makes  the  young  birds  hardy  and 
wild.  The  brilliancy  of  the  plumage  is  much  increased  but  not  the 
size  of  the  birds.  However  long  Chinese  pheasants  may  be  kept  in 
confinement  they  will  be  alarmed  at  the  sight  of  strangers. 


*  French   eggs,  which  he  pur-       from    an    importing     house     at 
chased  cheap  in  large  quantities      Folkestone. 


344  APPENDIX. 


NOTE  TO  537. — Setters. — Poachers. — Keepers. — Netting  Partridges. — 
Bloodhounds. — Night-dogs. 


IT  is  far  more  easy  to  get  a  well-broken  pointer  than  a  well-broken 
setter ;  but  times  may  change,  for  clean  farming,  the  sale  of  game, 
poaching,  and  poisoning  of  seed-grain,  are  now  carried  on  to  such  an 
extent,  and  the  present  game-laws  are  so  inefficacious,  that,  probably, 
our  children  will  much  prefer  the  hard-working  setter  to  the  pointer. 
What  an  encouragement  to  villany  is  it  that  poulterers  will  give  a 
higher  price  for  game  that  appears  perfectly  uninjured,  than  for  what 
has  been  shot ;  and  seldom  ask  questions  !  It  is  a  pity  that  the  sale 
of  such  game  cannot  be  rendered  illegal.  The  destructive  net  sweeps 
off  whole  coveys  at  a  time.  The  darkest  night  affords  no  protection, 
for  the  lantern  attached  to  the  dog's  neck  sufficiently  shows  when  he 
is  pointing  at  birds.  A  friend  of  mine  in  Kent,  some  years  ago, 
wanted  a  partridge  in  order  to  break  in  a  young  bitch.  Under  a 
solemn  promise  of  secrecy  he  was  taken  to  an  attic  in  an  old  house, 
not  far  from  London,  where  he  saw  more  than  a  hundred  birds,  ready 
for  the  market  against  the  approaching  first  of  September,  running 
among  the  sheaves  of  corn  standing  in  the  corners  of  the  room.  To 
prevent  the  employment  of  the  net,  it  has  been  recommended  that 
the  fields  frequented  by  partridges  should  be  staked,  according  to  the 
method  successfully  followed  in  some  preserved  streams  :  but  there 
are  French  gamekeepers  who  adopt  a  far  less  troublesome,  and  more 
effective  plan.  They  themselves  net  the  coveys  at  night,  as  soon  as 
the  harvest  is  collected,  and  turn  them  out  again  on  the  same  ground 
the  next  evening,  in  the  fullest  confidence  that  the  birds  are  hence- 
forth safe  from  the  poacher's  net :  for,  however  carefully  they  may 
have  been  handled,  they  will  have  been  so  alarmed,  that  their  dis- 
trust and  wariness  will  effectually  prevent  their  being  again  caught  nap- 
ping. Talking  of  poaching,  I  am  led  to  observe  that  one  well-trained 
bloodhound  would  be  more  useful  in  suppressing  poaching  than  half- 
a-dozen  under-keepers ;  for  the  fear  poachers  naturally  entertain  of 
being  tracked  to  their  homes  at  dawn  of  day,  would  more  deter  them 
from  entering  a  cover,  than  any  dread  of  being  assailed  at  night  by 
the  boldest  armed  party.  Even  as  compared  with  other  dogs,  the 
sensitiveness  of  the  olfactory  nerves  of  the  bloodhound  appears  mar- 
vellous. Let  one  of  pure  breed  but  once  take  up  the  scent  of  a  man, 
and  he  will  hold  it  under  the  most  adverse  circumstances.  No  cross 
scents  will  perplex  him. 

At  two  o'clock  on  a  frosty  December  morning  in  '44,  when  the 
wind  blew  bitterly  cold  from  the  east,  Mr.  B e,  of  S d,  War- 
wickshire, was  called  up  by  the  keepers  of  a  neighbour,  Mr  W n, 

and  informed  that  some  poachers  were  shooting  pheasants  in  a  plan- 
tation belonging  to  Mr.  B e,  whose  keepers  were  on  the  look-out 


APPENDIX. 


345 


in  a  different  direction.     They  and  Mr.  W n's  had  agreed  to  work 

in  concert,  and  mutually  assist  each  other. 

Mr.   B e  instantly  dressed,  and  went  out  with  his  brother 

(Captain  B ),  and  the  butler,  making  a  party  of  eight,  including 

Mr.  W n's  keepers.     They  took  with  them  a  couple  of  trained 

bloodhounds  in  long  cords,  a  regular  night-dog,  and  a  young  blood- 
hound which  had  broken  loose,  and,  unsolicited,  had  volunteered  his 
services. 


"One  well-trained  bloodhound  will  be  more  useful."— Page  344. 


On  entering  the  plantation,  it  was  found  that  the  poachers,  having 
become  alarmed,  had  made  off.  Two  of  the  keepers  remained  to 
watch.  The  bloodhounds  were  laid  on  the  scent.  They  took  it  up 
steadily,  and  the  rest  of  the  party  followed  in  keen  pursuit.  As  the 
poachers  had  not  been  seen,  their  number  was  unknown,  but  it  was 
supposed  to  be  about  six  from  the  report  of  the  guns. 

Notwithstanding  the  cold  east  wind  and  sharp  frost  the  hounds 
hunted  correctly,  for  about  three  miles,  across  fields,  and  along  foot- 


346  APPENDIX. 

paths  and  roads,  until  they  came  to  a  wood  of  three  hundred  acres; 
They  took  the  scent  into  the  heart  of  it,  evincing  great  eagerness. 
Here  the  hunt  became  most  exciting,  for  the  poachers  were  heard  in 
the  front  crashing  through  the  branches.  A  council  of  war  was 
held,  which  unluckily  ended,  as  many  councils  of  war  do,  in  coming 
to  a  wrong  decision.  It  was  resolved  to  divide  forces,  and  endeavour 

to  head  the  enemy.  Captain  B e,  two  men  and  one  of  the  old 

hounds,  turned  down  a  ride  towards  which  the  poachers  seemed  to 
be  inclining;  while  the  others  continued  the  direct  chase.  The 
poachers,  however,  soon  broke  cover,  but  had  not  run  across  many 
fields  ere  they  were  overtaken.  The  clear,  bright  moon  showed  eight 
well-armed  men, — rather  a  disproportionate  force  for  the  attacking 
three.  A  fight  ensued.  The  young  hound  and  the  watch-dog  were 

shot.  Mr.  B e  was  lamed,  and  his  two  men  being  a  good  deal 

hurt,  the  poachers  triumphed  and  resumed  their  flight.  On  Captain 

B e  rejoining  the  baffled  party  the  pursuit  was  renewed  for  nine 

miles, — the  dogs  carrying  the  scent  the  whole  way  into  Coventry, 
where  they  were  stopped. 

It  was  now  half-past  seven.  Many  early  risers  were  about  the 
streets ;  the  police  offered  to  point  out  the  poachers,  provided  their 
identity  could  be  sworn  to.  The  hounds  were  stopped.  Two 
men  were  apprehended — (a  third  escaped  from  the  police) — were 
lodged  in  jail,  and  subsequently  convicted  and  sentenced  to  eighteen 
months'  hard  labour.  As  they  had  not  been  seen  until  the  time  of 
the  scuffle,  which  took  place  fully  five  miles  from  Mr.  B e's  plan- 
tation, the  only  evidence  to  prove  they  had  been  poaching  there  was 
furnished  in  the  undeviating  pursuit  of  the  hounds.  The  remainder 
of  the  gang  fled  the  country. 

A  farmer.,  several  years  ago,  sent  to  the  same  Mr.  B e  to  say, 

that  a  sheep  had  been  killed  and  carried  off  in  the  night.  Six  hours, 
to  a  certainty, — probably  many  more, — had  elapsed  since  the  animal 

had  been  stolen  before  Mr.  B e  could  put  the  only  hound  he  had 

with  him  on  the  scent.  The  dog,  which  was  loose,  hunted  very 
slowly  to  a  barn  where  the  hidden  skin  was  found  ;  and  afterwards, 
without  any  hesitation,  held  on  the  scent  from  the  barn  to  the  resi- 
dence of  a  respectable  person  so  wholly  beyond  all  suspicion  that  the 
hound  was  called  off.  It  was  so  late  in  the  day,  and  along  paths  so 
much  frequented,  that  it  was  thought  the  dog  must  have  been  hunting 

other  footsteps  than  those  of  the  real  culprit.  Mr.  B e  at  that 

moment  was  not  aware  that  the  respectable  householder  had  taken  in 
a  lodger.  This  lodger,  it  subsequently  appeared,  was  the  thief,  and 
in  bed  at  the  house  at  the  time.  Did  not  the  Squire  get  well  laughed 
at  in  all  the  adjacent  beer-shops  for  his  softness !  However,  this 
hunt,  and  another  not  very  dissimilar  under  the  head-keeper,  effec- 
tually suppressed  sheep-stealing  in  that  neighbourhood. 

The  principal  initiatory  lesson  for  a  bloodhound  pup  is  to  teach 
him  to  "  roaa  "  well,  as  described  in  43.  He  should,  too,  be  perfected 
in  following  quietly  at  "  heel."  When  commencing  to  teach  him  to 
follow  the  footsteps  of  the  runner  sent  on  in  advance,  it  will  be  your 
aim  to  make  the  dog  enjoy  the  scent  and  carry  it  on  with  eagerness. 


APPENDIX.  347 

Therefore,  that  the  mail's  shoes  may  prove  attractive,  have  them 
lightly  rubbed  with  tainted  meat  (or  blood).  The  savoury  applica- 
tion may  be  progressively  diminished  in  intensity,  until  at  length  the 
pup  is  guided  only  by  the  natural  effluvia  escaping  from  the  man's 
pores.  Whenever  the  dog  gets  up  to  him,  let  it  be  a  rule  that  he 
instantly  reward  the  animal  liberally  with  some  acceptable  delicacy. 

After  a  time  the  fleetest  and  most  enduring  runner  should  be 
selected,  and  the  interval  between  the  time  of  his  starting,  and 
the  moment  when  the  hound  is  laid  upon  the  scent,  should  be  by 
degrees  increased,  until,  at  length,  an  hour  and  more  will  intervene. 

The  first  lessons  should  be  given  early  in  the  morning,  when  the 
dew  is  not  quite  off  the  grass  ;  and  the  runner  should  be  instructed 
to  take  a  direction  not  likely  to  be  crossed  by  others.  Gradually  the 
hound  will  be  made  to  follow  the  scent  under  less  favourable  cir- 
cumstances, as  respects  the  state  of  the  ground  and  the  chance  of  the 
trail  being  interfered  with. 

It  will  be  obvious  that  the  example  of  an  old  well-trained  hound 
would  be  very  beneficial  to  the  pup ;  and,  if  it  can  be  so  managed,  he 
should  not  be  thrown  upon  his  own  unaided  resources,  until  he  has 
acquired  a  tolerable  notion  of  his  business. 

A  young  dog  that  works  too  fast  must  be  brought  to  pursue  at  a 
pace  regulated  by  your  signals  (end  of  iv.  of  141).  That  completes 
his  education. 

At  night  bloodhounds  are  generally  held  with  a  light  cord,  which 
restraint  appears  to  lessen  their  wish  to  give  tongue.  Of  course, 
they  are  checked  if  they  do,  that  the  poachers  may  not  be  warned  of 
the  pursuit. 

A  trained  bloodhound  will  seldom  endeavour  to  carry  on  the  scent 
he  has  brought  into  a  road,  until  he  has  tried  the  adjacent  gates, 
gaps,  and  stiles. 

Bloodhounds  not  confined  are  peaceable  and,  apparently r,  cowardly. 
They  will  rarely  attack,  unless  provoked ;  but  let  them  be  once 
roused  by  a  blow,  and  they  become  extremely  savage.  They  also 
soon  become  savage  if  chained  up,  when  they  evince  but  little 
affection  or  obedience.  Should  they,  by  accident,  get  loose,  they 
will  more  willingly  allow  a  woman  or  a  child  to  re-chain  them  than 
a  man. 

Bull-dogs  have  good  noses.  I  have  known  of  the  cross  between 
them  and  the  mastiff  being  taught  to  follow  the  scent  of  a  man 
almost  as  truly  as  a  bloodhound.  The  dog  I  now  particularly  allude 
to  was  muzzled  during  the  day  when  accompanying  the  keeper ;  and 
the  appearance  of  the  formidable-looking  animal,  and  the  knowledge 
of  his  powers,  more  effectually  prevented  egg-stealing  than  would 
the  best  exertions  of  a  dozen  watchers.  He  was  the  terror  of  all  the 
idle  boys  in  the  neighbourhood.  Every  lad  felt  assured  that,  if  once 
"  Growler  "  were  put  upon  his  footsteps,  to  a  certainty  he  would  be 
overtaken,  knocked  down,  and  detained  until  the  arrival  of  the 
keeper.  The  dog  had  been  taught  thus  : — As  a  puppy  he  was  excited 
to  romp  and  play  with  the  keeper's  children.  The  father  would  occa- 
sionally make  one  of  them  run  away,  and  then  set  the  pup  on  him. 


348  APPENDIX 

After  a  time  he  would  desire  the  child  to  hide  behind  a  tree,  which 
gradually  led  the  pup  to  seek  by  nose.  An  amicable  fight  always 
ensued  on  his  finding  the  boy  ;  and,  as  the  pup  grew  stronger,  and 
became  more  riotous  than  was  agreeable,  he  was  muzzled,  but  still 
encouraged  to  throw  down  the  child.  It  is  easy  to  conceive  how,  in 
a  dog  so  bred,  the  instincts  of  nature  eventually  led  to  his  acting  his 
part  in  this  game  more  fiercely  when  put  upon  the  footsteps  of  a 
stranger. 


INDEX. 


ACCOMPLISHMENTS    or  Refinements  : — 
Distinguishing  clog-whistle,  501. 
Dog  to  back  the  gun,  509. 

—  to  head  running  birds,  525. 

—  to  hunt  without  gun,  522. 

—  to  retreat  and  resume  point,  512. 
Regular  retrievers  to  beat,  550. 
Setter  to  retrieve,  536. 
Water-retriver  to  fetch  cripples,  553. 

Affection  an  incentive,  &c.,   167,  259. 
497,  559. 

—  gained  by  first  attentions,  167. 
Age  for  education,  15,  62,  132. 

Age  of  game,  7  n.  236  n.  338  n. 
Albania,  cock-shooting  in,  84. 
Anecdotes.    See  Instances. 
Antelope — sagacity  of  fawn,  509  n. 
Antelopes  and  cheeta,  284. 
Ants'  nests,  Guinea-chicks,  471  n. 
Arnica,  lotion  for  bruises,  566. 
Assistant  with  wild  dog,  2S2. 
Australia,  kangaroo-hunting,  469. 
Author's  writing,  cause  of,  589. 
Axioms,  274,  359. 


BACK  turned  brings  dog  away,  223. 
"  Backing"  how  taught,  350,  353. 

—  initiatory  lesson  in,  50. 

—  the  gun,  -509. 

"  Bar,"  for  wild  dog,  299. 

Bark  of  Oak— tonic  for  pheasants— end 

of  note  to  407. 

Barbuda — Creole  and  cur,  471. 
Beagles  shot  over,  80. 
Bear  at  perfumer's,  461. 
Bears  killed  in  India,  444. 
"Beat,"  a,  range  taught,  132,  133.  171, 
175—179. 

—  bad,  hard  to  cure,  283. 

—  good,  difficult,  but  invaluable, 

189. 

—  Herbert's  opinion,  232. 

—  without  gun,  522. 

—  of  five  or  six  dogs,  245—248. 

—  of  four  dogs,  244. 

—  of  three,  242,  243. 

—  of  two,  238—240. 

—  taught  following  old  dog,  191. 
Beaters  in  India,  446. 


Beckford.     Education    of  buckhound, 
558,  559. 

—  Gentlemen  hunting  hounds, 
413. 

"  Beckon,"  why  useful  signal,  37. 

—  and  "Heel,"  differ,  44. 
Beef,  heating  in  hot  climates,  569. 
Begging,  how  taught,  149. 

Bell  rang  by  dog,  417. 

Bells,  to  rope  of  beaters  in  India,  446. 

—  put  on  dogs,  63,  74,  401. 
Beltings  of  wood,  spaniels,  65. 
"  Ben,"  a  capital  retriever,  121. 
Bermuda,  militia,  200  n. 

Best  dogs  err,  concise  hints,  383. 

Bird  dead,  loss  of  discourages  dog,  31  -2. 

—  dead,  seized  and  torn  by  dog,  321. 

—  shot  on  ground,  steadies  dog,  340. 

—  shot,  search  for,  266,  307,  309,  317. 

322,  544. 

—  shot,  signal  heel,  269. 

—  winged,  shoot  on  ground,  308. 
Birds,  lie  well,  dog  winding  them,  186. 

—  lie,  induced  to,  401. 

—  old,  cunning  of,  229,  232,  236. 

—  wounded,  scent  differs,  545. 

—  wild,  intercepted,  384,  400,  525, 

533. 

—  wounded,  first  retrieved,  553. 

—  wounded,     make     off    towards 

covey,  544. 

—  wounded,  found  evening,  316. 

—  wounded,  the  search  for,  266. 

—  wounded,  observed  by  dog,  113. 
Bit  for  bloodsucker,  117. 
Black-cock  pointed  three  times,  289. 

—  dog  drawing  on  his  first,  297. 
Black  too  conspicuous  a  colour,  93. 
Blacksmith  shoeing  kicker,  60. 

Blind  man,  and  Tweed-side  spaniel,  385. 
Blinking  dead  bird,  257. 

—      from  punishment,  165,  344. 
Blinking,  initiatory  lessons  prevent,  17. 

B k,  Sir  George,  481. 

Bloodhounds,  training   of;    poachers, 

537  n.  App. 

Boar,  wild  ;  encounter  with,  468. 
Brace  of  dogs,  sufficient  if  good,  137. 
Break  in  dogs  yourself,  3,  408,  409. 
Breaker,  qualifications  required,  6. 

—  one,  better  than  two,  14. 
Breakers  in  fault,  not  dogs,  493, 

—  regular,  displeased,  588. 


350 


INDEX. 


Breakers  hunt  too  many,  191,  362. 

—       idle,  dislike  bold  dogs,  198. 
Breakers'  accomplishments,  555. 
"Breaking  fence"  prevented,  222. 
Breeding  and  breaking,  fetch  money, 
376. 

—  in  and  in,  bad,  279. 

—  superior  nose  sought,  370. 
Brougham's  story  of  fox,  of  dog,  431  n. 
Buck-hound,  Beckford's  story  of,  559. 
Bull,  strike  horns,  283  n.  App. 
Bull-dogs,  keepers,  546  n.  App. 

—  cross  with,  137. 
Bull-terrier,  keeper's,  283  n.  App. 
Buying  dogs.    See  Purchasers. 


C. 

CALLING  constantly,  injudicious,  148. 
Cantelo  on  rearing  birds,  407  n.  App. 

"Captain,"  Lord  M f  s  dog,  491. 

Cards  selected  by  "Munito,"  414,  436. 
"Care,"  signal  for,  39. 
Carrots,  for  horses,  10,  11,  33. 
"Carrying"  and  "fetching,"  differ,  153. 

—        how  taught,  96,  109. 
Cats  and  dogs  returning  home,  221. 
"  Caution,"  taught  to  fast  dogs,  197. 

—  in  excess,  287  ;  cure  for,  293 
Cautious  and  wild  dog  contrasted,  194. 

—  dog,  rarely  too  fast,  194. 
Chain  better  than  rope,  563. 
Check-cord,  53,  54,  262,  282. 

—  spike  to,  25,  281,  335. 
Cheeta  and  antelopes,  284. 

—    how  trained,  284  n. 
Child  lost,  fed  by  dog,  432. 
China  Pheasant,  cross  with,  end  of  note 

to  407,  page  343. 

Circle  wide  when  heading  dog,  265. 
Cirque  National  de  Paris,  11. 
Claws  of  dogs  pared,  566  n. 
Clothes,  dog  sleeping  on,  167  n. 
Clumber  spaniels,  75. 
Cock-shooting,  37,  84,  397. 
Cocking,  young  man's  pursuit,  72. 
Cockroaches  eaten  by  fowls,    407   n. 

App. 

Collar,  a  light  one  on  dog,  259. 
Collie  dogs,  415,  516. 
Colours  for  concealment,  93  n. 
Commands  given  in  a  low  tone,  20. 

—  understood    before    seeing 

game,  16. 
Companion,  dog  to  be  yours,  18,  383,384. 

—  initiatory  lessons  with,  49, 
51. 

Condition  attended  to,  566. 
Consistency  necessary,  6,  165,  278. 
Coolness  recommended,  278. 
Couple  to  older  dog,  29. 
Couples,  accustomed  to,  48. 
Courage  created,  135,  347. 
Cover,  pointers  in,  88. 
Covers  for  game,  65  n.  App. 
Cricket,  dogs  made  fag  at,  150. 
Cripples  first  retrieved,  553. 
Cunning  of  old  birds,  229. 


D. 

"DASH,"  a  spaniel,  described,  234. 
Dead  bird,  blinking  of,  267. 

—  lifted  by  you,  error  of,  98. 

—  loss  of,  discourages  dog,  31'2. 

—  rushing  into,  321,  374. 

—  search  for,  266,  307,  309. 

—  search  for,  with  two  dogs,  544. 

—  the  first  killed,  265. 

—  to  be  pointed,  267  ;  but  not 

by    retrieving     setter     or 
pointer,  548. 

—  torn  by  dog,  322. 
Dead,  initiatory  lesson  in,  19,  34. 
Diet  considered,  567. 

Distance,    whence   birds    are    winded, 
182,  183. 

—  between  parallels,  181. 

—  dog's  knowledge  of,  285. 
Distemper,  pups  inoculated  for,  572. 

—  salt  for,  579. 

—  vaccination  for,  573,  &c. 
Diving,  how  taught,  105. 

Dogs,  good,  cheapest  in  the  end,  137. 

—  shape,  &c.  of,  137,  187,  364,  537. 

—  shepherds',  in  France,  415. 

—  slow,  beatingmore  than  faster,  327. 

—  unknown,  fetch  small  sums,  380. 

—  wildest,  most  energetic,  53,  137. 

198. 

Dominos  played  at  by  dogs,  433,  441. 
"Down"  see  "Drop." 
"Down-charge,"  dog  pointing,  not  to, 
359. 

—  initiatory  lesson  in,  27, 

—  ingenious       argument 

against,  316  n. 

—  why  retrievers  should, 

119. 

Draughts,  the  first  to  move  wins,  158. 
"Drop,"  a  better  word  than  "Down," 
146. 

—  dog  to,  another  dropping,  49. 

—  dog  to,  game  rising,  328. 

—  initiatory  lessons  in,  23,  25,  26. 

—  unnatural,  "  Toho"  natural,  24. 
Dropper,  pointing  grouse  or  snipe,  497. 

—  by  Russian  setter,  498. 
Duck  emits  a  goodish  scent,  94. 
Duck.    Wood-duck  of  America,  511. 
Duck-shooting  in  wild  rice,  95. 
Ducks,  wounded,  first  retrieved,  553. 
Duke  of  Gordon's  dogs,  237. 

E. 

EARS  not  pulled  violently,  327. 
Education,  age  when  commence,  15. 

—  best  conducted  by  one,  14. 

—  Beckford's  opinion  of,  558. 

—  commenced  from  A,B,C,  588. 

—  expeditious,  economical,  13. 
Elephant,  critical  encounter  with,  450. 

—  skulls  of,  462. 

—  tricks  exhibited,  160. 
Energy,  wildest  dogs  have  most,   53, 

137,  198. 
Esquimaux  dogs,  and  women,  169. 

—  crossed  with  wolf,  137. 


INDEX. 


351 


Example  advantageous,  351 ;  especially 
to  spaniels,  62 ;  yours  has  influence, 
264,  374. 

Exercise  on  the  road,  566. 

F. 

FALCON  with  Greyhound.  470. 
Fastest  dogs  not  beating  most,  257. 

—    walkers  not  beating  most,  256. 
Fasting,  initiatory  lessons  given,  12. 
Fat,  enemy  to  endurance,  567. 
Fatigued,  dog  not  hunted  when,  224. 
Faults,  punishment  expected  for,  348. 
Fawn,  sagacity  of,  509  n. 
Feeding-time,  lessons  at,  30. 

—  pistol  fired,  28. 

—  the  evening,  568. 
Feet,  187  ;  attended  to,  566. 

—  and  loins  compared,  137. 

—  of  setter  better  than  pointer's,  187. 

—  Partridge's,  given  to  dog,  345. 
Fence  not  to  be  broken,  222. 
''Fence,"  or  "Ware  fence,"  initiatory 

lesson  in,  46. 
"Fetching"  and  " carrying " differ,  153. 

—  evil  of  not,  235. 

—  lessons  in,  96,  109. 
Fields,  largest  beat,  173. 
"Find,"  initiatory  lesson,  34,  35. 
"  Finder"  not  to  advance,  357. 

—  retrieves,  541. 
Fire,  dog  to  bask  before,  225. 

First  day  on  game,  good  conduct  of  dog, 

139;  of  two  dogs,  280. 
First  good  point,  264  ;  first  bird  killed, 

265. 

Flapper  shooting,  226. 
Fleas.     Saffron.     Gum  of  sloe,  165  n. 
Flesh  detrimental  to  pace,  567. 
Flogging,  how  administered,  323. 

—  reprobated,  9,  344. 

"  Flown,"  initiatory  lesson,  45 ;  real,  330. 
Food  given  cool,  568. 
"Footing"  a  scent,  43,  112,  285. 
"  Forward,"  initiatory  lesson,  36. 
Fowls,  killing  of —the  cure,  392. 

—  require  animal  food.  407  n. 
Fox  brought  back  by  dog,  478. 

—  his  sagacity,  431  n. 

—  graceful  when  hunting,  537. 
Fox-hound,  cross  gives  vigour,  137. 
Franconi's  Cirque  National  de  Paris,  11. 

G. 

GAME,  age,  &c.  7  n.  236  n.  338  n. 

—  bag,  birds  looped  on,  540. 

—  lies  close  in  hot  weather,  446. 

—  lies  too  close  in  turnips,  193. 

—  not  shown  dog  soon,  16,  171. 

—  plentiful.     Bad  rangers,  255. 

—  sprung  towards  gun,  64,  89,  284. 
Gone,"  initiatory  lesson,  45  ;  real,  330. 

Gordon,  the  Duke  of,  his  dogs,  237 
Gorse,  spaniels  to  be  habituated  to,  61. 
Greyhounds,  conditioning  of,  566. 

—  with  Falcon,  470. 
Griffin,  hints  to,  65  n.  400 — i03. 


Grouse  and  snipe  alternately  set,  497. 

—  best  to  break  dog  on,  331  n. 

—  cunning  of  old,  229. 

—  dog  for,  rated  on  snipe,  497. 

—  shot  from  stooks,  7  n. 

—  shot  with  aid  of  cart,  384. 

—  spread  while  feeding,  265. 
"  Grouse's"  portrait,  210 
Guinea-birds'  eggs.     Chicks,  471  n. 
Guinea-birds  headed,  528. 

Gun,  dog  to  "back"  the,  509. 

—  first  over  fence,  not  dog,  222. 

—  game  flushed  towards,  64,  89,  284. 

—  how  carried,  65  n. 


HAND,  bird  delivered  into,  98. 
—     rewards  taken  from,  27. 
Hare,  chase  of,  checked,  334,  335. 

—  heavy,  tempts  dog  to  drop,  116. 

—  killed  in  form,  steadies  dog,  339. 

—  scent  of,  strong,  333. 

—  shooting  of,  condemned,  331. 

—  white,  the  mountain,  338. 

—  wounded,  dog  may  pursue,  341. 
Harriers,  pointer  hunted  with,  495 
Hat-brush  brought  by  dog,  156. 
Hawker,  Colonel,  577. 

Haunt,  dog  brought  on,  306  ;  not  soon, 

Heading  birds,  284,  400,  525. 

Heading  dog  making  too  stanch,  287  • 

circle  wide,  265. 
Health  promoted  by  shooting,  409. 


Heat  beneficial  to  dogs,  571. 
Hedge,  furthest  side  hunted,  54. 
Hedge-rows  not  hunted,  175. 
"  Heel,"  signal  to,  on  killing,  269,  276. 

—      the  signal  to,  37,  44. 
Hen-harrier's  nest  found,  283  n 
Herbert's  Field  Sports  in  United  States, 

•241,  568. 

Hereditary  instincts,  128,  137  279 
Hog-hunting  with  native  dogs,  445. 
Hog,  wild,  first  encounter  with,  468. 
Hooded  crow,  283  n. 
Horned  owl,  a  decoy,  283  n 
Horse,  memory  of,  221,  n. 
Hoof  ointment,  364  n. 
Horse,  recipe  for  conditioning,  364  n. 
Horse's  and  dog's  points  similar  364. 

—  biting  cured,  283  n. 

—  leg  strapped,  60. 

—  rushing  at  his  leaps  cured,  33 
Horses,  how  taught  by  Astley,  10 

—  fed  on  firing,  28. 
Hounds,  obedience  of,  31. 

—  tuition  of,  30,  505. 
Hunting,  dog's  chief  enjoyment,  562. 

—  dog  long  taking  to,  132. 
Huntsman  for  pack  bad  rangers,  248. 

—  a  gentleman,  413. 

I. 

IMITATIVE,  dogs  are,  34,  264. 
In-and-in  breeding  injudicious,  279. 


352 


INDEX. 


Independence  imparted,  375. 

India,  444,  446,  &c. 

Indian-corn  meal,  568. 

Initiatory  lessons,  important,  12,  17,  52, 
134,  14J0 

Inoculation  for  distemper,  572  n. 

INSTANCE  OF  breaking  highly,  251,  395, 
499  .-—coolness  and  courage,  449—468  ; 
— cunning  in  grouse,  229  ;  in  pheasant, 
232,  236 ;  in  monkeys,  431  n.  ;— dog's 
Larking  at  point,  521  ;— dog's  behaving 
well  first  day,  139,  280  ;— dog's  forcing 
game  to  gun,  89  ;— dog's  pointing  after 
the  shot,  275 ; — dog's  intercepting, 
206,  527,  530 ; — dog's  manner  showing 
birds  on  the  run,  295,  530  ;  dog's 
pointing  on  his  back,  199  ;— dog's 
pointing  on  fence,  200 ; — dog's  de- 
taining with  paw,  319 ; — dog's  retreat- 
ing from  and  resuming  point,  286,  517, 
519,  520 ;  dog's  retrieving  snipe  he 
would  not  point,  318  ;  dog's  retrieving 
duck,  though  detesting  water,  320  ; — 
dog's  running  riot  from  jealousy,  343  ; 
dog's  running  riot  only  out  of  sight, 
386  ;— dog's  running  to  heel,  but  not 
blinking,  195  ; — dog's  slipping  off  and 
replacing  collar,  431  n. ; — dog's  stanch- 
ness — high  price  it  commanded,  382  ; 
—dog's  stanchness  to  excess,  point 
made  three  times,  289  jy-dog,  though 
never  retrieving,  bringing  lost  bird, 
97 ;  dog's  walking  to  mallard  from  a 
distance,  93  n.  ; — dog's  walking  from 
a  distance  to  object  he  seeks,  216  ;— 
dogs  alternately  retrieving  as  ordered, 
542  ;— dropper's  alternately  pointing 
grouse  and  snipe,  497 ;  example  being 
useful,  352  ;— good  snipe-shot  who 
always  used  a  dog,  395  ;— good  snipe- 
shot  who  never  used  a  dog,  394 ; — 
longevity  and  vigour,  226  ;— old  dog 
proving  of  great  value,  228 — New- 
foundlands finding  their  vessels  amidst 
many,  218,  219  ;  pointer's  hunting 
with  hounds  or  standing  snipe,  495 ; 
— pointer's  superior  nose,  366  ; — 
pointer  standing  at  partridge  while 
carryinghare,  546 ; — pot-hunting  ruin- 
ing dog,  373  :— prices  dogs  fetch,  137, 
237,  254,  379,  382,  500  :  retriever 
bolting  partridge  because  interfered 
with,  540  ; — retriever  losing  birds 
from  not  delivering  into  hand,  98  ; — 
retriever  killing  one  bird  to  carry  two, 
100  ; — retriever  never  disturbing  fresh 
ground,  552  ;— retriever  ranging  spon- 
taneously, 551 ;— retriever  tracking 
wounded  through  other  game,  547  ; 
retriever  running  direct  to  hidden 
object,  216;— "  reading"  well  per- 
formed by  young  dog,  290;— setter 
facing  about,  on  birds  running,  295, 
530 ;— setter's  superior  nose,  369;— 
setter's  standing  fresh  birds  while 
carrying  dead  one,  546  ; — spaniels 
pointing,  68,  551  ;— young  dogs  be- 
having well  first  day  shown  game, 
139,  280. 


Instinct  and  reason  contrasted  432. 
Instincts  hereditary',  128,  137,  279. 
Ireland.     Snipe,  Woodcock.  397,  565. 
Isle-aux-Noix,  good    conduct    of   dog. 
395. 


JESSE'S  opinion  of  dogs,  431. 


KANGAROOS,  Greyhounds,  469. 
Keeper,  advice  in  choosing,  586  n. 
Keeper,  feeding  several  dogs,  30. 

—  to  teach  accomplishments,  555. 
Keeper's  dogs  for  vermin  and  poachers, 

283  n.  App.  537  n.  588  n. 
Keepers  dislike  this  book,  588. 

—  blameable  for  bad  dogs,  4. 

—  idle,  dislike  clogs  of  energy,  193. 

—  rival,  bet  respecting,  499. 
Kennel,  dog  in,  when  not  with  you,  563. 
Kennels  in  India  and  England,  570. 
Keys,  retrievers  taught  with,  106. 

-     "Medor's,"  bringing,  418. 
Killed  outright — evil  of  thinking,  311. 
Killing  fowls  -  the  remedy,  392. 

—  sheep— cure  attempted,  387,  <fcc. 
Kitchen,  dog  not  allowed  run  of,  563. 
Knox  on  rearing  Pheasants,  407  n.  App. 


L. 

LADIES,  breaking  for  gun,  166. 

-       no  control  over  dogs,  147. 
Ladies'  Pets  pampered,  163. 
Learned  dog  in  Paris,  435  ;  St.  John's, 

561. 
Leeward,  beat  from,  201. 

—      dog's  beat  from  without  gun, 

522. 

Left  hand  signals,  "Down  charge,"  24. 
—      less  than  right,  142. 
Left  side  of  dog,  keep  on,  285. 
"  Left,"  signal  for  dog  to  go  to,  36. 
Lending  dog  injudicious,  584. 
Lesson  left  off  when  well  repeated,  96. 
Lessons,  initiatory,  reasonable,  12,  17, 

52,  134. 

_        _    walking  in  fields,  131. 
"Lifting"  a  dog,  309,  533,  546. 
Lion  bearded  in  his  den,  465. 
Liver,  hard-boiled,  116. 
Loins  and  feet  compared,  137. 
Longevity  and  vigour  in  a  setter,  226. 

Lord  M 's  setter  facing  about  on 

birds  running,  295,  530. 


MAJOR  B d's  well-broken  dogs,  250. 

Mange— mutton  instead  of  beef,  569. 
Mare  making  colts  swim,  352  n. 
Markers  used  with  spaniels,  81. 
Meat  recommended  for  dogs,  569. 
Medicine,  how  easily  given,  580. 
Memory  in  horse,  221  n. 
Militia 'regiment  treeing,  200  n. 


INDEX. 


353 


Monkeys— their  fun,  431  n. 
Moors,  advantage  of,  137, 
"Munito"  selecting  cards,  414. 
Muscle  wanted,  not  flesh,  567. 
Muscovy  drake,  the  cross,  471  n. 
Musk  bull  found  by  "  Muta,"  487. 
Mute,  spaniels,  old  sportsmen  prefer,  83. 
Mutton  less  heating  than  beef,  569. 
Muzzle  dogs  that  worry  sheep,  391. 


N. 


NAMES  ending  in  "  o  " — dissimilar,  145. 
Netting  partridges,  537  n.  App. 
Newfoundland  carrying  off'  parasol,  151. 

—  swimming  to  ship,  218,  219. 

—  that  fished,  474,  475. 

—  the  true  breed,  126. 

"  Niger's"  crossing  hedge  to  drive  birds, 

533  n. 

Night-dogs,  283  n.  and  537  n.  App. 
"  No  "  better  word  than  ' '  Ware,  "47. 
Noise  spoils  sport,  7,  20,  172,  473. 
Nose  carried  high,  42,  186. 

—  condition  of,  important,  570. 

—  direction  of,  shows  birds,  284. 

—  of  .pointers  and  setters  differ,  174  n. 

—  of  timid  dogs  often  good,  135. 

—  tenderness  of,  how  judged,  365 
"Nosing"  allowed,  314. 


0. 


OATMEAL  and  Indian  corn,  568. 
Old  birds,  cunning  of,  229,  <fec. 
—        first  killed,  404,  405. 
Old  crippled  Scotch  sportsman,  411. 
Old  dog  allowed  liberties,  564. 

—  range  taught  with,  191. 

—  when  good,  value  of,  227. 
"  On"  initiatory  lesson  in,  19,  21. 
Owl  used  to  decoy  vermin,  283  n.  App. 


P. 


PAKALLELS,  distance  between,  181,  184. 
Parasol  carried  off  for  bun,  151. 
Partridges,  benefit  farmers,  407  n.  App. 

—  how  to  choose,  7  n. 

—  netted,  537  n.  App. 

—  old  killed  first,  404. 

—  red-legged,  535  n. 

—  wild,  intercepted,  284,  400. 
Patience  enjoined,  263. 

Paw  kept  on  wounded  bird  by  dog,  319. 
Pea-fowl  wants  sagacity,  509  n. 
Peg,  or  spike  on  check-cord,  281,  335. 
Perseverance  and  range  attained,  565. 

—  cures  bad  habits,  165. 

—  in  seeking,  taught,  313. 
Pheasants,  benefit  farmer,  407  n.  App. 

—  cover  for,  65  n.  App. 

—  cunning  of  old,  231,  236. 
— r       old  hens  killed  off,  404. 

—  rearing  of,  471  n.  App. 
Physic,  how  easily  given,  580. 
Pigeons  shot  to  retriever,  114. 


Pike,  voracity  of,  231  n. 
Pincushion,  retrievers  fetch,  106. 
Pistol,  horses  fed  at  discharge,  28. 
Poachers,  dogs  for  attacking,  283  n.  and 
537  n.  App. 

—  killing  birds,  7  n.  93  n. 

—  tracked     by     bloodhounds, 

537%. 
Poultry  and  game  reared,  Cantelo,  407  n. 

—  killing  birds,  7  n.  93  n. 

—  tracked     by     bloodhounds, 

537  n. 
Poultry  and  game  reared,  Cantelo,  407  n. 

"  Point  dead,"  to,  266. 
Point  left  and  resumed,  512. 

—  150  yards  from  grouse,  183. 

—  100  yards  from  partridge,  182. 

—  not  quitted  for  "down  charge," 

274,  359. 

—  the  first  good  one,  264. 

—  inclination  to,  general,  471. 

—  same,  taken  three  times,  289. 
Pointer  cross  with  Indian  dog,  448. 
Pointer's  points,  137,  187,  364,  537. 
Pointing,  .dog  not  soon,  132,  281,  306. 

—  dog  when,  not  to  down,  359. 

—  origin  of,  24. 
Polygar  dogs,  to  hunt  hog,  445. 
Pony  for  shooting,  how  broken  in,  32. 
Porcupine,  dogs  for  hunting  the,  448. 
Porteous's  whistles,  507,  &c. 
Pot-hunting  sportsmen  ruin  dogs,  373. 
Potato-fields,  avoid,  192. 
Preparatory  lessons  important,  12,  17, 

52,  134,  141. 

Price  of  dogs,  138,  237,  254,  379, 382,  500. 
Punishment  avoided  by  lessons,  17. 

—  causes  blinking,  344,  &c. 

—  decreases,  whip  carried,  342. 

—  not  shunned  by  dogs,  348,  &c. 

—  how  administered,  323. 

—  making  dog  too  stanch,  2871 

—  not    inflicted  on   suspicion; 

326. 

—  reprobated,  9,  344. 
Pups  born  in  India,  448. 

—  —     in  winter,  571. 

—  inoculated  for  distemper,  572. 

—  vaccinated  for  distemper,  573,  <fee. 
Purchasers  of  dogs,  hints  to,  146,  365, 

372. 

Ptizzle  peg,  saved  by  word  "up,"  41. 
"  Puzzling"  with  nose  to  ground,  185. 

Q. 

QUAIL  pointed,  dog  on  fence,  200. 

—  large  in  Canada,  277. 
Qualities  expected  in  good  dog,  8. 
Quartering-ground.    See  Beat. 

R, 

RABBIT-SHOOTING,  reprobated,  331. 
with  beagles,  80. 

Rabbit-warren,  visit,  hares  scarce,  337. 
Rabbits,  choice  and  age  of,  338  n. 

AA 


354 


INDEX. 


Railway  whistles,  507. 

"Range."    See  "Beat." 

"  Rating"  dogs,  how  best  done,  188. 

Rats,  dogs  for  gun  not  to  kill,  130. 

Red-legged  partridges,  headed,  527. 

—       destroyed,  535  n. 
Red  setters,  Irish,  565. 
Refinements.    See  Accomplishments. 
Belays  desirable -not  a  pack,  248. 
Requisites  in  a  dog,  8  ;  in  a  breaker,  6. 
Retreat  from  point,  &c.  512. 
Retriever,  bit  for  one  that  mouths,  117. 

—  evil  of  assisting,  115. 

—  "footing"  scent,  lesson  in, 

112. 

—  for  water,  qualities  in,  93. 

—  made  whipper-in,  57. 

—  observes  struck  bird,  113. 

—  (regular),  useful  with  beaters, 

550. 

—  (regular),  to  "  down  charge" 

or  not?  119. 
Retrievers,  shape,  &c.  of,  125. 

—  to  beat,  550. 

—  to  fetch,  taught,  108,  &c. 

—  to  pursue  faster,  118. 

—  water,  to  fetch  cripples  first, 

553. 

—  how  bred,  126. 
Retrieving  not  taught  first  season,  538. 

—  setters  or   pointers  not  to 

"point  dead,"  548. 

—  setters,  not  pointers,  536. 
Rewards  always  given,  27,  40. 
Rheumatism  prevented  by  care,  571. 
Rice;  wild  lakes,  duck-shooting  in,  95. 
"Richelieu,"  snipe-shooting,  277. 
Rifle,  rest  for,  509  n. 

Right,  the  signal  to  go  towards,  36. 
Right-eyed,  65  n.  App. 
Right  hand,  for  "Toho"  and  "Drop," 
24. 

—  signals  more  than  left,  142. 
Road,  exercise  on,  good  for  dogs,  566. 

"  Reading, "  instance  of  fine,  290—292. 

—  by  6  dogs  alternately,  251. 

—  by  "  Finder,"  354. 
Rope  to  tie  dog,  bad,  563. 
Running  bird,  firing  at,  308. 
Rushing  in  to  "dead"  cured,  374. 
Russian  setter,  dropper  from,  498. 


SAFFRON  removing  fleas,  165  n. 

Salt  for  distemper,  579. 

Scent,  bad  in  calm  or  gale,  174. 

—  differently  recognised  by  pointers 

and  setters,  174  n. 

—  of  birds,  not  left  for  hare,  333. 

—  "footing"  a,  initiatory  lesson  in, 

43. 
Scent  of  wounded  and  un wounded  birds 

differs,  545. 
Search  "  dead,"  266  ;  with  2  dogs,  544. 

—  for  Wounded  bird,  when  to  lee- 
ward, 309  ;  when  to  windward,  307. 

Seeking  dead,  how  taught,  313. 
"Self-hunting,"  prevent,  564. 


September,  dog  taken  out  in,  171. 

—         day's  lesson  continued,  259. 
Servant  useful  in  field,  282. 
Seton  proved  useful,  123. 
Setter,  stanch — sum  paid  for,  382. 

—  to     retrieve,      536  ;      argument 
against  applies  to  retriever,  549. 

Setters  crouch  more  than  pointers,  23. 

—  Duke  of  Gordon's  breed,  237. 

—  for  cover  shooting,  87. 
Setters,  points  in,  137,  187,  364,  537. 

—  red— the  Irish  breed,  565. 
Setters'  feet  better  than  pointers',  187. 
Severity  reprobated,  9,  344. 

Sheep,  killing  of— cure,  387—390. 
Sheep-stealing.     Bloodhounds,  537  n. 
Shepherds'  dogs,  143,  163,  415. 

—  "forward"  signal^  for  water 

retrievers,  91. 

Shooting,  excellence  in,  not  necessary 
in  breaker,  5,  253. 

—  hints  to  tyros,  65  n.  App. 
Shot-belt,  nozzle  lengthened,  65  n.  App. 

—  on  spaniels  and  setters,  60,  329. 
Shot  over,  dog  to  be,  before  bought,  372. 
Showman's  dogs  in  Paris,  434,  &c. 

Shy  birds  intercepted,  284,  400,  525,  533. 

Sight,  dog  not  to  be  out  of,  386. 

Silence  enjoined,  7,  172,  473. 

Sinews  of  legs  drawn,  345  n. 

Single-handed,  shot  to,  375. 

Sloe,  gum  of,  165  n. 

Slow  dog,  associate  for  young  one,  350. 

—  dogs  hunting  more  than  faster,  257. 
Snipe,  condition  of,  236  n. 

—  grouse  dog  rated  noticing,  497. 

—  killed  off,  396. 

Snipes,  three,  lifted  in  succession,  546. 
Snipe-shooting  on  Richelieu,  277. 
Snipe-shot  who  never  used  dog,  394 ; 

who  used  one  constantly,  395. 
Spaniel  puppies,  keep  close,  59. 
Spaniels,  age  when  shown  game,  62. 

—  babbling  occasionally  best,  84. 

—  hunted  in  gorse,  61. 

—  mute,  preferred,  83. 

—  numbers  for  a  team,  74,  77. 

—  requisites  in,  70. 

—  shot-belt  on  wildest,  60. 

—  Sussex,  236. 

—  that  pointed,  68. 

—  water,  how  broken  in,  90. 
Spike-collar,  300,  &c. 

Spike  fastened  to  check-cord,  281,  335. 
Sportsmen  to  break  dogs,  3,  408,  4oy. 
Spring,  dogs  broken  in,  170. 
Springing  the  other  birds  after  pointing 

one,  373. 

Stanch — made  too,  by  heading,  287. 
St.  John's  old  woman's  dog,  559  n. 
Stoat,  range  of,  283  and  n.  App. 
Stone,  error  of  retrieving,  103. 
Summary  imparted  by  lessons,  141. 
Sussex  spaniel,  236. 
"Suwarrow,"  heading   running  birds, 

530. 

T. 

"TAFFY, "-anecdotes  of,  421—430. 


INDEX. 


355 


Tattersall's,  thirteen  pointers  at,  379. 
Temper  in   breaker  necessary,  6 ;    im- 
proved by  successfully  teaching,  409. 
Temper  hereditary,  128. 
Terrier  pointing  in  varied  attitudes,  298. 
Terriers  for  covers,  24  n. 
Tigress'  claws  running  into  feet,  566  ;<. 
Time  given  determines  education,  2. 

—  saved  by  initiatory  lessons,  52. 
Timidity  cured,  135,  345,  '347. 

"  Toho,"  first  good  one  in  field,  264. 

—  initiatory  lesson  in,  19,  21,  24. 
Traps  beat  guns  for  vermin,  283,  App. 

—  visited  by  terrier,  283  n. 
Tricks  easily  taught  after  first,  136. 

—  exhibited  with  effect,  154,  487. 

—  taught  by  ladies,  150. 
Trout,  tame,  164. 

—  trolling  for,  231  n.  588  n. 
Turning  back,  brings  dog  away,  223. 
Turnip-field  ridden  round,  401. 
Turnips  avoided,  192. 

—  lessons  in,  329. 

Tweed  spaniel,  and  blind  man,  385. 
Two  dogs,  beat  of,  238—240. 
—       steady,  first  day,  280. 


"Up,"  signal  for — initiatory  lesson,  41. 

V. 

VACCINATION  for  distemper,  573,  &c. 
Vermin,  dogs  for,  283  n.  588  n. 

—     traps.     Decoy  owl,  263  n.  App 
Vigour  and  longevity  in  setter,  226. 
Vineyards  protected  by  dogs,  415. 


Water-proof,  recipe  for  leather,  567  n. 

—  —      for  cloth,  567  n. 

Water-retriever,  how  broken,  90. 

—  observes  struck  bird,  113. 

—  qualities  required  in,  93. 
Whales,  Bermuda,  165  n. 

Whip  carried  saves  punishment,  342. 

—   to  crack  loudly,  188. 
Whistle  low,  20,  507. 

—  dissimilar  notes  on  one,  505. 

—  distinguishing,  for  each  dog,  501. 

—  inattentive  to,  how  punish,  188. 

—  initiatory  lesson  in,  19. 
Whistles,  boatswain's,  506  ;  railway,  507. 
Whistling  to  animate,  injudicious,  172  ; 

spoils  sport,  7. 
White  dogs,  arguments  for  and  against, 

187. 

White  feet,  objectionable,  187. 
White,  too  conspicuous  a  colour,  93. 
Wild  birds,  intercepted,  284,  400,  525, 

533. 

Wild  dog  contrasted  with  cautious,  194. 
Wild  dogs  turning  out  best,  198. 
Wildfowl,  wounded,  retrieved  first,  553. 

—  reconnoitred  with  glass,  92. 
Winged  bird.    See  Bird  winged. 
Winter  pups,  571. 

Wolf,  cross  with  Esquimaux  dog,  137. 
Woodcock-shooting  in  Albania,  84;  in 

America,    37;    in   Ireland,    397;   in 

Kent,  82. 
Woodcocks  attached  to  covers,  397. 

—  reflushed,  82. 

—  small,  in  Canada,  277. 
Wood-duck  of  North  America,  511. 
Wounded  bird.    See  Bird  wounded. 


W. 


WALKERS,  fastest,  not  beating  most,  256. 
"Ware,"  not  so  good  word  as  "No,"  47. 
Warmth  necessary  for  dogs,  571. 
Warren,  visit,  hares  scarce,  337  n. 
Water,  dog  taught  to  plunge  into,  104. 


YEOMEN  of  Kent,  236. 
Yorkshire  keeper's  advice,  406. 
Young  dogs  steady  first  day  on  game, 

139,  280. 
Youth,  game  followed  in,  liked,  69. 

—    occupation  followed  in,  liked,  563. 


THE  END. 


R.    CLAV,   SON,    AND  TAYLOK,    PRINTERS,   BREAD  STREET   HILL. 


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16  LIST  OF  WORKS 


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32       LIST  OF  WORKS  PUBLISHED  BY  MR.  MURRAY. 


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