WILD-FOWL SHOOTING. 331 



(ortiinntely, some of tlie most eiitluisifistic aiu] ser 

 viceable clogs liave little discri'tion or forethought ; 

 and unless l;e is trained to perfect quiet, and broken 

 to G itire innnobility at the most exciting moments, 

 he m apt to interfere sadly with the sport. 



In spite of these inconveniences, however, the loss 

 of m:my of his birds— amounting, amid the dense 

 reeds of the western lakes, to nearly one-half of the 

 whole number—will satisfy the sportsman that the 

 retriever, with his devoted and wonderful sagacity, 

 to say nothhig of his delightful companionship, is a 

 most desirable acquisition. Where the sportsman 

 is forced to pursue his calling solitary and alone, so 

 far as human associates are concerned, he will find 

 the presence of his fom'-footed friend a great satis- 

 f iction, and, amid the solitary and unemployed mid- 

 day hours, a pleasant resource. 



The dog is the natural companion of the sports- 

 man—the partaker of his pleasures, the coadjutor of 

 his triumphs ; and whenever his peculiar gifts can 

 be used to advantage, it is a gratification to both to 

 call upon him. The knowledge that he will acquire 

 in time is truly marvellous. Not only does he pos- 

 sess the power of smell, but his eyesight and hear- 

 in o- far surpass those of man ; he will often discern 

 a flock long before it is visible to human eyes, and 

 his motions will warn his master of its approach. 



His training can be carried on beyond limit ; his 

 knowledge increases daily, and his devotion is un- 

 bounded^ Of all tlie race, the retriever is probably 

 the most hitelligent; as, in fact, intelligence is one 



