UPLAND SHOOTING. 339 



reus, principally lives by the exquisite sensibility of his olfac- 

 tory organs. If the eating of flesh really have such an effect on 

 sporting dogs, it can only do so, when it has been taken in such 

 quantities as to vitiate the secretions of the body ; and in this 

 ^vay the pituitary mucous secretion of the nasal sinuses may 

 themselves become somewhat tainted. 



" A viixtnrc of animal and vegetable suhstances is therefore the 

 most proper general food for dogs, and that which best agi'ces 

 with the analogies of their nature ; but the proportions of each 

 are best determined by the exertions of the body." 



I do not, I confess, lay any stress whatever on the argument 

 drawni from the natural state of the canina;, or from the habits of 

 the fox, since it is too notorious to retjuire comment, that animals 

 in a high state of cultivation, not only acquire new wants as well 

 as new habits, but lose many of their natural qualities and in- 

 stincts. And I am thoroughly convinced, that the habitual 

 feeding of dogs on flesh has a tendency to injure their powers 

 of scenting ; and I believe the reason why it does so, is precisely 

 because it docs " vitiate the secretions of the body" generally, 

 and therefore does affect " the nasal sinuses." 



1 have observed many times, that dogs fed largely, even on 

 perfectly fresh animal food, particularly in a raw state, become 

 intolerably offensive in odor; and when this is the case it is cer- 

 tain that the secretions of the body ai-e vitiated, and probable, 

 moreover, that the health of the animal is in some sort affected 

 likewise. 



TIuU flosli is necessary to dogs, I will not, however, deny ; 

 and it is my opinion that, during the dead seasons of the year 

 wlien tliere is no field work to be done, except exercise, flesh 

 m.iy be given not only without detriment, but with advantage. 

 Raw meat tends, unquestionably, to give a dog both strength 

 and ferocity; and tlie latter is so nearly allied to endurance, 

 and wl'at is connnonly cwWed jduck, that we can scarcely encour- 

 age tlie one ([ualily, apart from the others. 



I would tlierefore feed dogs, wliile getting them into condition, 

 on tlesli — and I would not even object to raw horse-flesh for that 



