216 FRANK SCHLEY'S PARTRIDGE AND PHEASANT SHOOTING. 



excitement of hunting, which when in the field are utterly 

 valueless for lack of proper handling. See that the dog 

 ranges well, carries his head up, shows a good nose, is un- 

 der good control, staunch on point and charge, and a ten- 

 der-mouthed retriever. All except nose, pointing and 

 retrieving can be determined at any season of the year, 

 and in any field, and where these cannot be tested, they 

 must be made the subject of a warranty. I have said the 

 dog must be tried under the gun, because in the course of 

 my experience I have seen gun-shy dogs, that taken into 

 a field or cover without a gun would work splendidly and 

 deceive the purchaser into the idea that he was getting a 

 very superior animal, but the moment the gun was taken 

 out they would either refuse to stir from heel, or run away 

 altogether. To test this all that is necessary is to fire a 

 gun over him; this will also show whether he is a steady 

 charger or a shot-breaker, the latter not conclusively but 

 presumptively, as some dogs will break shot when they see 

 the game fall, but charge steadily at all other times. Of 

 course the only absolute and positive test is actual work 

 upon game during the season, but as it is often desirable 

 to purchase a dog before the season opens, a man of expe- 

 rience can generally determine the style of the dog by such 

 a trial as I have mentioned. In the case of a tyro he had 

 better by all means get a competent friend to examine and 

 try the dog for him. 



