532 MODERN FARRIER. 



constantly in good humour, they will soon learn to 

 work before you. and try the ground with 'regu- 

 larity ; but flagellation, and the sowing the seeds of 

 ill habits at an early age, sliould be avoided as much 

 as possible. Various are their dispositions, as far as 

 concerns their regard to work at the first onset : 

 some are forward, and others meek ; and the howl- 

 ino-s of one under flagellation m.ay for ever cow 

 another, wliose powers it were possibly worth much 

 pains to elicit. 



Being entered, and in some measure shot to, the 

 first season, at the commencement of the next for 

 cover-shooting, they may, with some patience at 

 first, be admitted to regular work. Yet aie they 

 inexperienced, inasmuch as they are not aware of 

 the most probable haunts of game, nor do they 

 know how to manage a doubtful scent. In the 

 company of old dogs, however, they improve very 

 fiist. At three years old, they become very tolerable 

 finders ; at four, get knowing and sagacious in their 

 work ; and at five years, they are in the zenith of 

 all their properties and powers, when, taking all 

 countries, and the divers kind of work they have to 

 accomplish, and the fatigue they can endure into 

 consideration, they become the most valuable ap- 

 pendage to tlie admirers of cover-shooting. 



It would be improper to dismiss the subject with- 

 out noticing a circumstance in the treatment of this 

 sort of dog, productive of the most fatal conse- 

 quences. \\' ith many it is a common practice not 

 to enter spaniels till they are two years old, or the 

 third season from whelping ; and then, because they 

 range and hunt in cover, tliey are of a sudden, for- 

 sooth, required to understand and obey commands 

 also. Not so : the instilling this principle so as to 

 act as a constant bias on the conduct of the animal, 

 is the work of time and patience only ; the sense of 

 it must be entertained when young, increase with 

 the stature and grow with the growth. Without 



