254 FUANK FORESTER S FIELD SPORTS. 



habit in tlie races ; and it is worthy of remark that tlie best dog 

 I ever owned here was one which I imported from England 

 when a small pup, and had broke in New Jersey. I never 

 saw either his dam or his sii'e, over both which I shot in Eng- 

 land, ^o/«^ a bird, and I never saw him set one. The first bird 

 he ever scented was a Woodcock, on the fourth of July, and 

 that he stood, with head and stern high in the air, as showily as 

 I ever saw a Pointer stand. 



Nothing has ever puzzled me more completely as regards 

 field sports than this fact, and I cannot figure to myself any 

 reason that is at all satisfactory for the difference of habit, in 

 the two countries. I have sometimes fancied that it might arise 

 from soil or climate rendering the scent colder here than in 

 England — for it is certain that the hotter the scent, the closer 

 the dog sets — but I cannot see that this holds good by analogy, 

 as I think dogs find and point their game fully as far off" here 

 as in Europe. 



This observation of Mr. Audubon's has brought the matter, 

 at this moment strongly to my mind, and has almost raised a 

 doubt within me, whether to the Westward the Setter may not 

 possibly resume his natural inclination to set rather than stand 

 his game. 



In wooded regions it is to be remai-ked, that these birds are 

 rarely if ever to be found among open groves and tall timber, 

 such as are peculiarly loved by the Ruffed Grouse ; they fre- 

 quent tracts of low bushes and stunted underwood ; and when 

 on the wing will fly for miles rather than alight until they can 

 find a clear place, such as an old road-way, or a new cutting, in 

 which to settle. They generally nin forward swiftly as soon as 

 they strike the ground, and not unfrequently press themselves 

 into thick covert, where they squat, and are compelled to lie 

 hard by the difficulty which they experience in taking wing, 

 fi'om the opposition of the dense foliage. 



They are a shy bird in covert ; and are of course much 

 wilder to the Eastward, where they are incessantly persecuted, 

 than in the Western Country. 



