A LIFE-TIME EXPERIENCE. 



After a life-time's experience with dogs of all kinds, in all kinds 

 of Held work, at all seasons of the year and under every possible con- 

 dition, I feel competent to claim a knowledge of dogs, birds, guns and 

 game, that will be valuable as ivell as interesting to the reader. 



I have hunted for nearly forty years, from the time when I helped 

 my father furnish game for the people crossing the plains and journey- 

 ing to the unopened West, to the present day, and whether in the Mid- 

 dle States, on the western plains, or azvay down South, the pleasure and 

 charm of the free, open air life has never been lost. 



My life has ahvays been in the Held from a youngster, and to the 

 end of my days I Iwpe to roam over hills and prairies, among the game 

 and birdsy with my dogs and gun. 



Looking back through the years on the many happy days so spent, 

 I offer to all the benefits of my life's experience, in the hope that by 

 the aid of this book they may learn to knozv the value and necessity 

 of a thorough training for the dog that is to be companion as well as 

 helper in the long days of a hunt, and appreciate any facts that will 

 help to preserve his liealth and usefulness and increase his knozvledge 

 and ability. 



All lovers of cats zvill zvelcome my advice in regard to the care and 

 training of them, and if my rules are follozved, none need to fear the 

 slight illnesses that often cause so much anxiety, nor even the more 

 serious ones, zvhile the increased intelligence of the pets will more than 

 repay the careful study of this book. 



