504 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 
under the eye of the shooter; out of sight, they are 
lawless. Again, some dogs which point well refuse 
to back at all. 
So far as work to the gun is concerned, the purpose 
of the back, apart from its spectacular features, is to 
guard against interference with the pointing dog. If 
a dog refuses to back he can be taught to drop instantly 
to oral command or to signal or to his bracemate’s 
point. This detracts from the spectacular beauties of 
shooting, but a good dog should not be condemned 
because of failure in this respect. 
Quartering denotes a system of beating out the 
ground in substantially parallel casts at right angles 
to the course of the shooter. This method has never 
been esteemed in this country, although it was viewed 
with favor in some sections of England. It fitted in 
usefully in English shooting, as on the English pre- 
serves the birds, in many fields, were quite as likely 
to be in one place as another; therefore, it was an 
essential that every bit of ground be searched out thor- 
oughly. In this country, there being much unpromising 
area in ratio to likely area, the really serviceable dog 
uses his brains in hunting only in the likely places. 
These conditions are ever changing. The local con- 
ditions must always be the guide of action; no arbitrary 
rule is possible. 
Before attempting to shoot game over a dog’s points 
with a serious purpose to secure enjoyable sport, it 
is better to give him a thorough schooling in the dif- 
ferent commands, and their significance, and therewith 
