DOGS 501 
on the leeward side, so that, if there are therein any 
birds in hiding, he will catch their scent. He recog- 
nizes the likely places for birds, and, planning with 
them in mind, he conducts his range after a well-laid 
scheme, thereby economizing time and effort. On the 
other hand, the dog possessing a poor nose is quite 
likely to range here and there, hither and thither, hit 
or miss, as it may happen, working the same ground 
over repeatedly while leaving other places, perhaps the 
most likely ones for game, unnoticed. 
A fast dog, if he uses his nose properly, is the best, 
provided he can maintain his pace uniformly for a con- 
siderable time. It is obvious that such a dog can cover 
a certain area in a certain time much more thoroughly 
than a slower worker can. 
Many dogs will start at high speed, slowing down 
gradually thereafter, till they practically quit. A lot 
of stamina and pluck are required to maintain a fast 
pace while hunting during several hours in succession. 
A moderate degree of speed, uniformly sustained, is 
much to be preferred over high speed of uncertain 
duration. Some slow dogs, of surpassing cunning in 
their work, are excellent bird finders. Though a dog 
may be slow he nevertheless may take wide casts, and 
if his nose and judgment are good, combined with 
honest work to the gun, he has the essentials of a hunt- 
ing dog. 
As to methods of hunting out any game area, the 
dog, if given the opportunity, learns them best when 
left to his own devices, without interference from 
