THE USE OF DOGS. '299 



tliom mere creatures of art, who range the fields witli 

 no other idea in their heads than the pea-whistle 

 and a sign from their master's hand, at which, 

 when raised, they will dro23 to the instant. 



These dogs so taught are really not using their 

 wits for the selection of likely ground and finding 

 game; they are hunting simply to whistle and 

 hand, and, instead of using their noses, are using 

 their eyes. 



A setter or pointer should know what he is try- 

 ing to find by his nose, and, with due obedience to 

 his master, think of nothing else but the birds that 

 are lying upon the ground. 



At times when birds are wild and running*, then 

 the perfection of the dog's sagacity comes forth in 

 the most beautiful and reasoning Avay possil^le. If 

 he winds the birds and points, and then finds 

 that they are not hjinr/ but running away, he will 

 quit his point, and taking a considerable circuit so 

 as to escape the position of being behind the game, 

 and at the same time not to put the game to wing, 

 he will get before or head them, and thus 2)ut them 

 between him and the gun, in a position in which 

 they are sure to lie, for the simple reason that they 

 don't know which way to run. The thing that I 



