102 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



form the flat-coated Retriever possibly shows more of the 

 Setter. There are, of course, Retrievers of a variety of 

 other colours, brown or liver-coloured, black and white 

 or tan, and so forth, and many of these are quite as 

 excellent for service in the field as the more typical dogs 

 first mentioned. 



Under the comprehensive title of Retriever may be 

 mentioned dogs of several different breeds, distinctly 

 wide of character, that may be taught to retrieve really 

 well. Terriers Airedales and others Sheep-dogs, 

 Poodles, and, not to put too fine a point on it, dogs of mixed 

 breed, may now and again be found bringing fowl to hand 

 from land or water with all the dash and tenderness of a 

 perfectly-trained Retriever. As a matter of fact it can 

 scarcely be said of any particular breed that it may be 

 relied upon to furnish the best all-round dog for the 

 varied requirements of the wild-fowler. As well might 

 one say that a 4- an 8- or a 12-bore gun is to be relied 

 upon equally for every kind of sport with geese, ducks, 

 or other wild-fowl. Instances are not wanting in which 

 it is shown that a greater combination of useful qualities 

 has been obtained from judicious crosses formed by 

 Spaniel, Retriever, Poodle, Terrier, and the like, than it is 

 often possible to find in any one of those breeds, however 

 perfectly and truly they may be bred and trained. 



One of the best dogs that I ever had for certain 

 purposes of wild-fowling was an Airedale Terrier. He 

 was remarkably bright and intelligent, would retrieve 

 anything from anywhere, was courageous as a lion, and 

 for hunting close-lying game or fowl out of reed, rush, 

 gorse, or briar he had few equals. His services, un- 

 fortunately, were after a time frequently requisitioned 

 for the killing of rats and other vermin, and this caused 



