The Dog Part 28

160. Whatever number hunted, all should look to the Gun for orders.

161. Mr. Herbert's opinion in his "Field Sports in United States."

162, 163. Beat of three Dogs.

164. Of four Dogs.

165 to 167. Of five or six Dogs.

168. Great precision impracticable, but the necessity of a system maintained; System particularly essential where Game is scarce; Dogs to be brigaded, not to be employed as a pack.

169. When each keeper hunts a brace.

170. A brigade of fine rangers worth from fifty to sixty guineas a brace.

171. Fastest walkers do not necessarily beat most country.

172. Nor do always the fastest Dogs.

173. How slow Dogs may hunt more ground than faster.

CHAPTER IX.--565

FIRST LESSON IN AUTUMN CONTINUED. "POINT" NOT RELINQUISHED FOR "DOWN CHARGE."

174. Affection makes Dog anxious to please--when he rushes in to be dragged back.

175. Rule pressed.

176. Reasons for Rule--Experience antic.i.p.ated.

177. To "stand" far off.

178. Patience enjoined--Not to part as enemies.

179. The first good point--Remain yourself stationary.

180. "Heading" Dog--Your circle to be wide. The first Bird killed.

181. Finding dead Bird, it being to leeward.

182. Pointing it--Blinking it. The cause.

183. Bird killed, the Dog to go to "heel."

184. Supposed objection.

184. Answered.

185. Temptation to run after fallen Bird greater than to run to "heel."

186. Dog pointing one Bird, and after "down charge,"

springing the others. The cause.

187. The preventive. Dog never to discontinue his point in order to "down charge." How taught.

188. Its advantages exemplified.

189. Decide whether Dog goes direct to Bird, or first to you.

190. Dog which performed well--Snipe shooting on banks of Richelieu.

191. Coolness recommended--Inconsistency deprecated.

CHAPTER X.--579.

FIRST LESSON IN AUTUMN CONTINUED. a.s.sISTANT

192. Some Dogs will not point readily. Breeding in and in, error of.

193. Dogs more inclined to point at first than afterwards.

194. Checkcord employed--spike attached to it.

195. With wild Dog a.s.sistant useful--Signals to.

196. How particularly useful with a badly-broken Dog.

197. "Heading" Dog at his point--not practised too often--Dog to acquire a knowledge of his distance from Game.

198. Constantly "Heading" Dog may make him too immovable.

199. A fault often caused by over-punishment.

200. False points caused by over-punishment--Self-confidence and experience only cures for over-caution.

201. Dog's manner shows position of Birds.

CHAPTER XI.--585.

FIRST LESSON IN AUTUMN CONCLUDED. BAR. LEG STRAP. SPIKE COLLAR.

202. Bar cure for too high spirits. A leg strapped up. Why these remedies are better than starvation and excessive work.

203. The regular Spike Collar described. French Spike Collar.