92 SHOOTING AND SALMON FISHING 



dead birds off bare grass, for which purpose a two-legged one 

 is preferable. It is quite wonderful the number of " Neros " 

 encountered each season, who run in, are shouted at, and 

 flogged, but who never by any chance retrieve a running 

 bird, yet dash helter-skelter into "corners," scattering the 

 pheasants in every direction, the while calling forth anathemas 

 of "Shoot the brute!" — which, by the way, of course, no one 

 ever does. It is little short of wonderful that men should be 

 content to take such dogs about, under the delusion that they 

 are of any use. How pleasant it is to be posted in a good 

 place in the best partridge drive of the day, and to have for a 

 neighbour a friend with a " Nero " ! The moment the first 

 shot is fired he is off at full gallop. Then what shouting, what 

 whistling, and what yelping when he comes back to be 

 thrashed ; then by the time this is over, every bird on the beat 

 is well acquainted with the position of " Nero " and his master, 

 so that wherever else they may fly, timely warning has been 

 given them not to venture that way. Thus, where one ought to 

 have had twenty or thirty pretty shots had no noise been made, 

 the drive will come to an end, while the owner of " Nero," and 

 the friends to right and left of him, will hardly have used a 

 cartridge. 



An unpleasant adventure happened to an old friend of the 

 author's, who now, alas ! has joined the great majority. Some 

 years ago he was presented with a " Nero," and the first time 

 he had the dog in the field he was " all over the place," till at 

 last our friend catching him by the ear, stooped low to give 

 power to the lash, and proceeded to try the effect of a flogging. 



At the first touch "Nero" howled loudly, and on hearing 

 his cries another retriever promptly went to the rescue of 

 his unlucky brother, and stealing up behind " Nero's " master 

 pinned him deeply in the seat of honour. Then indeed arose 

 a din — " Nero " yelping, his master swearing, the attacking 

 dog growling, while his owner shouted himself hoarse, with 

 all the party running up to beat the brute off The combined 



