180 THE AMERICAN HUNTING DOG 



Ans. If you will cut out the grouse from your 

 dog's list of accomplishments you will get more 

 satisfaction out of a coon hound than any other 

 dog for combined rabbit, coon and wildcat in a 

 country where such game abounds. An Airedale, 

 however, can be trained to hunt all of them, as 

 many a man in Maine has done, and, in your 

 State, he would probably make a good selection, 

 although he certainly would have to run hounds 

 for a year or so to get enough experience, or, if 

 you have the time, you might train him on coon, 

 bobcat, etc., by letting him track them and tree 

 them; also have a mix-up with them, so as to get 

 thoroughly used to this kind of a game. After 

 that there would be no trouble in his following 

 a reasonably warm scent of any of these animals, 

 although the Airedale does not make a good cold 

 trailer. 



The 22-calibre long rifle is plenty large enough 

 for bobcat, and so is a good club! 



For sights, we would recommend a combina 

 tion globe and ivory bead front sight, a folding 

 bar sight in the rear notch and a folding tang 

 peep on a tang of the rifle stock. 



