8S SOLDIER AND SPORTSMAN 



has so many disadvantages as compared with 

 former years that it is not surprising that dis- 

 paraging remarks are made about its present 

 condition. A considerable number of fox-hunting- 

 folk seem to claim a privilege to talk always in 

 a condemnatory way on a subject of which they 

 probably know little. 



Even in the wild and mountainous countries 

 of Wales and the Scottish borders a certain 

 amount of draining has been done, probably not 

 to an extent sufficient to interfere with scent, 

 but it has had a serious effect on the rivers and 

 streams. They become flooded much more quickly 

 than in former days and subside with equal 

 rapidity ; this affects the welfare of sporting fish, 

 especially trout, disturbing the spawn before it 

 has been fertilised and thereby lessening the 

 future hatch of ova. 



Dogs in remote ages were used by man merely 

 to assist him in capturing his food. As time 

 rolled on other methods were employed. Various 

 weapons were contrived for killing game, and so it 

 came to pass that dogs became less necessary 

 for the capture of wild animals. At the present 

 time sporting dogs are bred chiefly as an ac- 

 cessory to sport, but it is of deep interest to 

 trace and follow the evolution of the species. 



"Dog" was the name given to an animal 



