500 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 
would have the birds located before the dog which 
picks his way painfully and slowly along by the foot 
scent had well begun. The advantage of drawing as 
compared to roading is thus apparent, and it is of spe- 
cial advantage in field trial competition. 
Some dogs have the ability to draw or road, adapting 
their efforts to the scenting conditions, and acquitting 
themselves creditably. However, every dog which car- 
ries a high nose in the attempt to locate is not neces- 
sarily a good performer. ‘There are wide-ranging, 
high-nosed dogs which are poor finders. The only test 
by which a dog’s merit can be properly determined is 
his actual work afield. 
Ranging is a term which denotes the casts taken 
by the dog, to and fro, while beating out the ground 
in the search for birds. It may be done in many quite 
different but successful ways, or it may be done in a 
way which at once demonstrates that the dog has 
no hunting intelligence whatever so far as the needs 
of the gun are concerned. Inability, due to stupidity, 
cannot be overcome by training. Neither a foolish 
man nor a foolish dog should be expected to surpass 
his natural limitations. 
A good nose is an aid of inestimable value in sup- 
plementing industry and good judgment. It com- 
mands a great area, thus enabling its possessor to 
search out much more territory with fewer casts than 
is possible to his fellow with the poorer nose. 
The good ranger maintains constant observation 
of the wind. He skirts promising stretches of cover 
