JJV THE FIELD. 49 



bud, at orce pet and praise him without stint and talk to 

 him as to an intelligent companion. After a few seconds 

 you should pxk up the bird in a dainty manner, and while 

 carefully smoothing out the fea'hers, allow the dog to snuff 

 the grateful perfume, but on no account let him mouth it, 

 ncr poke his nose among the feathers, thus teaching him 

 that the greatest care must be taken that not a feather should 

 be displaced. 



When your pup first shows sign that he has scent, do not 

 on any account speak to him nor make any sign, but allow 

 him to act his own pleasure. Should he go through the try- 

 ing ordeai to your satisfaction, congratulate yourself that you 

 are possessed of a wonder; should his earnest inclination 

 overpower his innate sense of duty and cause him to become 

 unsteady and flush the bird, you must at once call him in 

 r>nd p'ace him as near as may be in the exact position that he 

 occupied when he should have pointed, and commanding 

 mm to io-ho, give him to understand that you are displeased 

 with tne performance. If you have killed the bird, and can 

 readily find it, you will add to the fores of this lesson if you 

 oblige him to retain his position while you go and bring it 

 to him, and as you hold it a foot or two from his nose, repeat 

 your command of to-ho. This, you will find, will cause 

 him to be more careful in the future. Should he become 

 demoralized at the rise of the bird and give thase, do not 

 despair, but calmly say to-h\ ami if he disregards the com- 

 mand, let him go, and be thankful that he has ambition, con- 

 soling yourself with the knowledge that in a fchort time you 

 can eradicate the fault, while the virtue will remain and 

 afford you great satisfaction in the future. When he returns 

 you should at once replace him in the position from which he 

 broke, and make him to-ho for a short time, while you talk 

 to him about the enormity of the offence. It is not advis- 

 able to shoot when he starts to chase, as, should you kil 1 , he 

 may seize the bird and handle it too roughly for his future 

 good. Neither does the sound of the gun exercise a stead y- 

 ing influence upon his excited nerves. Above all else, do 

 not fail to keep perfectly cool yourself under all circumstances, 



