GUN-SHY DOGS. 



IN my lengthened experience I never knew but one 

 dog that was coaxed out of that detestable failing, 

 " gun-shyness/' although I have known dozens and 

 dozens of attempts being made to do so, and every 

 system that reason could dictate brought to aid the 

 desired purpose. The exception that I have alluded 

 to was the case of a spaniel one of the handsomest 

 of the breed I ever saw which was given me by a 

 lady when I was in command of Rocky Island 

 detachment, Cork Harbour. This animal was not 

 only high-couraged, but a regular " out-and out 

 rowdy." He would hunt from morning to night, 

 appeared incapable of being fatigued, and never was 

 happy unless crawling through gorse or struggling 

 over or in the most dense or overgrown hedgerows. 

 His ardour I believed to be irrepressible but I found 

 my mistake. Early one autumn day I resolved to 

 pay a morning visit to Ballybrickan, and to pass the 

 afternoon hours took with me my gun and late gift. 

 Soon the spaniel had a rabbit afoot, at which I fired. 

 The dog stopped in his headlong pursuit, looked at 

 me very gravely, and came to heel. This conduct I 

 took no notice of, and shortly the spaniel appeared 

 to forget it, for when I entered some woodland he 

 went to work with renewed energy, and flushed a 

 woodcock. This bird I cut down about twenty 

 yards in his front, and directly in his view. For a 

 moment my treasure halted to look at me ; curiosity, 

 astonishment, and apprehension all seemed embodied 



