COCK SHOOTING. 143 



Americans shoot cock over setters, and some of the very 

 best cock dogs I have seen, have been industrious, patient 

 old pointers and setters. For my part, I prefer retrieving 

 spaniels, they are generally more diligent and pains- 

 taking. As cock lie very close, and in the heat of the 

 day leave no foot scent, a very close hunting clog is 

 necessary, as it is also to find dead birds. As the covers are 

 very thick, the dogs are generally hunted with bells, and 

 should be trained to keep within 20 to 25 yards of their 

 master. 



The American hare is a most troublesome animal to the 

 sportsman, if he happens to have young or unsteady dogs. 

 He does not go straight away, not he ; nor does he even 

 take a tolerably large circle; no, this aggravating beast 

 apparently delights in drawing the dogs after him. He 

 waits, sitting upon his hams, till they almost touch him, 

 and then he goes round leisurely in a sort of circus canter, 

 leading the poor dogs to believe that they have only to 

 persevere a little in order to catch him up. I believe he 

 enjoys being hunted, it is the only fun he has ; the wily 

 vagabond can keep in front of a greyhound, just as easily 

 as he can of a spaniel. 



On sunny days, at the close of the season, birds are 

 sometimes found in the dead ferns at the edge of the 

 covert, they are then easily shot, but cock shooting 

 in thick cover requires considerable knack. The bird 

 gets up in a fluster, making a whistling sound caused by 

 the very rapid wing strokes. As he rises, he is impeded 

 by the bushes, and if the sportsman can get the least 

 glimpse of him, he is then an easy shot. No. 10 shot is 

 used because in the early part of the season, for one shot 



