84 " ON THE WING. 



circumstances, the bird is apt to be chased by the 

 dog. It may be so if the dog is not properly trained ; 

 but this can and should be remedied. The dog should 

 be taught to drop or stand still when a cock or other 

 bird is flushed. The pointer or setter may doubtless 

 sometimes be tempted to chase the bird a few paces 

 after he is flushed ; but this tendency can be overcome 

 with care. The method here described is certainly 

 far the most desirable way to work a dog in any kind 

 of brush-shooting. I never owned a dog, or saw one, 

 that had been trained to put up his own birds after 

 making the point, but what would set as regularly, and 

 continue on the point as long, as dogs otherwise 

 trained. A setter dog which I had trained to stand 

 in this way, while pointing at once over a couple of 

 woodcock, gave a party of four of us plenty of time 

 to get our positions. Occasionally calling out to him 

 the word " steady," he waited patiently on the point 

 until we had secured good, open places'; and then, at 

 the word, he put up both birds, which one of the 

 party dropped, taking a bird with each barrel. 



The flight-birds, so called, while on their migratory 

 passage to a warmer climate, are always fat, fine- 

 looking birds, with full plumage. At this time — 

 October and November — they fly very strongly, and 

 usually at long distances, especially if started the 

 second or third time. It is better, at this season of 

 the year, to use No. 8 shot for woodcock. 



In these months, the young sportsman who has 

 heretofore thought it an easy matter to knock over a 

 woodcock will be very apt to change his opinion ; and 



