DOGS. 247 



nation of scent, in following a wounded pheasant 

 through a whole covert full of game, or a pinioned 

 wild fowl through a furze brake, or warren of rabbits, 

 appears almost impossible. (It may, perhaps, be 

 unnecessary to observe, that rabbits are generally 

 very plentiful, and thrive exceedingly, near the sea 

 shore. It, therefore, often happens, that wigeon, as 

 they fly, and are shot by night, fall among furze- 

 brakes, which are full of rabbits.) 



The real Newfoundland dog may be broken in to 

 any kind of shooting; and, without additional in- 

 struction, is generally under such command, that he 

 may be safely kept in, if required to be taken out 

 with pointers. For finding wounded game, of every 

 description, there is not his equal in the canine race ; 

 arid he is a sine qua -non in the general pursuit of 

 wildfowl. 



Pool was, till of late years, the best place to buy- 

 Newfoundland dogs ; either just imported, or broken 

 in : but now they are become much more scarce, 

 owing (the sailors observe) to the strictness of " those 

 the tax-gatherers." I should always recom- 

 mend buying these dogs ready broken ; as, by the 

 cruel process of half starving them, the fowlers teach 

 them almost every thing ; and, by the time they are 

 well trained, the chances are, that they have got over 

 the distemper, with which this species, in particular, 

 is sometimes carried beyond recovery. 



If you want to make a Newfoundland dog do what 

 you wish, you must encourage him, and use gentle 



