COCK SHOOTING 



87 



and, as some dry stick breaks beneath the foot, up springs your 

 game at length with a startled rattle. You toss your gun to the 

 shoulder, aim at a vanishing brown shadow among the matted 

 branches. Down comes a mist of falling debris of splintered twigs 

 and shredded foliage. Perhaps you see a few floating downy feathers, 

 and fancy you have listened to a fall of something heavier on the 

 ground. At any rate you think it worth while to call up Rex from 

 where he has dropped to shot, and you send him in to retrieve ; 

 ' Rex seek dead Rex fetch ! ' Already you have marked his 

 eager gaze fixed on the spot where you hope the bird lies dead. 

 Without any hesitation he obeys, and soon a tender downy body 



POINTER RETRIEVING NVOODCOCK. 



is transferred gingerly from his mouth to the palm of your hand. 

 You reward him with a caress and a ' Good dog ! ' and are pleased 

 to note the air of triumph and pleasure at the success of his stealthy 

 cat-like stalk, his staunch point, and the certain proof afforded of 

 the perfect nose. 



A thorough cock dog is invaluable, and is often not to be pro- 

 cured for love or money. Many shoot cock over retrieving spaniels ; 

 but the fatal objection to these otherwise intelligent dogs is that 

 they cannot be cured of their inveterate habit of chasing the common 

 little brown hare, and though keen and painstaking they are hope- 

 lessly slow. Setters are preferable on account of their toughness. 



