174 LETTERS TO YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



birds are sparse, or during that mysterious midday hour or 

 two when they seem unreasonably hard to locate, reserving 

 your closer hunters for the ground on which birds are more 

 plentiful or for the more killing evening hours. When birds 

 are scarce " all over," never prolong operations after five 

 o'clock, unless you are only shooting the beat once. 



Some critics may tell you that the colours red and black 

 of the Irish setter and pointer recommended are against 

 their employment. If you find either difficult to see, hunt 

 the dog in an enamelled white collar. A low-crouching 

 dog cannot be seen if covered by the ground, no matter what 

 his colour may be. A sportsman unable to see a standing 

 dog of any colour should consult an oculist. 



One of your kennel should be an accomplished " down- 

 wind " hunter. There are times when you want him badly. 

 Such a dog is born, but can scarcely be made. You will 

 learn to appreciate him soon, when you begin to realise the 

 delicacies of the game ; will admire his wary, slinking gait, 

 tail no longer gaily lashed, but depressed in apprehension 

 of flushing his game ; nose down also to catch the stale 

 foot scent which under these trying circumstances he must 

 accept as " the only intimation." Once, however, he has 

 reached the safe side, beyond the wind, what a treat it is 

 to see him slew round and announce to you more plainly 

 than by speech that he " has " the birds ! There will be 

 between the dog and yourself a most fatal situation for 

 them, pinned, as it were, and forced to lie close. Try to 

 profit by the lesson when your pursuit is of the old birds 

 whose especial haunt is the high plateau of peat-hags or the 

 Caithness " flow." Here you will require certainly the 

 wisest and probably the oldest member of your team. He 

 will teach you the game if you keep your eyes open. For 

 it is no "plain-sailing business, this cornering an old cock 

 who can traverse the hags like a hare. You must get well 

 beyond the dog, making a detour, and keep the quarry, 

 whose whereabouts you will learn to guess, between him and 

 yourself. The dog, to excel in this highly specialised work, 

 almost needs a hereditary dash of the old " cercleur "• instinct. 

 (By the way, you should procure and study a copy of Mr. 

 Arkwright's priceless monograph, " The Pointer and his 



