156 PHEASANT SHOOTING, &C. 



pheasants, or any other game, where they are tolerably 

 plentiful, in covert ; and although to explore and beat 

 several hundred acres of coppice, it becomes necessary 

 to have a party with spaniels, yet, on such expeditions, 

 we rarely hear of any one getting much game to his 

 own share, except some sly old fellow, who has shirked 

 from his companions to the end of the wood, where the 

 pheasants, and particularly the cock birds, on hearing 

 the approach of a rabble, are all running, like a re- 

 treating army, and perhaps flying in his face faster than 

 he can load and fire. 



For one alone to get shots in a thick underwood, a 

 brace or two of very well-broke spaniels would, of 

 course, be the best. But were I obliged to stake a 

 considerable bet (taking one beat with another, where 

 game was plentiful), I should back, against the sports- 

 man using them, one who took out a very high-couraged 

 old pointer, that would keep near him, and would, on 

 being told, break his point to dash in, and put the 

 pheasants to flight before they could run out of shot. 

 This office may be also performed by a Newfoundland 

 dog ; but, as first getting a point would direct the 

 shooter where to place himself for afair shot, the New- 

 foundland dog would always do best kept close to his 

 heels, and only made use of to assist in this ; and par- 

 ticularly for bringing the game; as we rarely see a 

 pointer, however expert in fetching his birds, that can 

 follow and find the wounded ones half so well as the 

 real St. John's Newfoundland dog. 



It will, of course, be recollected, that the pointer kept 

 for this purpose should never be taken with regular- 

 broke dogs. He will, however, before the season for 

 pheasant shooting, be as well ivorth his keep as spaniels, 



