438 CLIMATE, ETC. 



preaching ducks by a whimper, at the same time squatting 

 to escape observation. He was equally good in the cock 

 cover and in the snipe marsh. 



Perhaps the very best breed of dogs for general Cana- 

 dian shooting is the Sussex spaniel, if you can only get 

 them. These dogs have greater endurance, pluck, and 

 teachability than the clumber. If broken to field and 

 hedge-row shooting in England they readily fall into all 

 Canadian shooting. They should hunt quite mute, ex- 

 cept when they flush a bird, or get on a hot scent. These 

 dogs make as good retrievers as any in the world. 

 Eetrieving setters are also used, they are often very good 

 on quail, snipe, and cock, but a spaniel from 35 to 45 Ibs. is 

 by far the most useful dog in Canada, and .to be a retriever 

 is a sine qua non. What English sportsmen see to admire 

 in that big, heavy-looking breed of dog, the so-called 

 " retriever," I do not know. Almost any dog can be taught 

 to retrieve, and the spaniel, from his industry in following 

 up foot scent, his perseverance, his courage, and his activity, 

 seems to me to be a breed particularly suited for retrieving 

 purposes. The Irish retriever is full of pluck, a dashing 

 water dog, very intelligent, and a capital companion, but 

 like the Irishman he is too impulsive. If he had a coat, he 

 would always be wanting some one to tread on the tail of it. 

 When game is in view he is positively irrepressible, and 

 is addicted to hunting by the eye in preference to the 

 nose. A big rough terrier is by no means the worst sort 

 of dog. 



As regards the government and political institutions of 

 Canada the pages of this little work are not a proper 

 place to discuss such matters, even were its author com- 



