IN THE FIELD. 19 



bird, at OEce pet and praise him -without stint and talk to 

 him as to an intelligent companion. After a few seconds 

 you should p!ek up the bird in a dainty manner, and while 

 carefully smoothing out the fca hers, allow the dog to snuff 

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

 nor 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 ordeal to your satisfaction, congratulate yourself that yon 

 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 

 and place him as near as maybe in the exact position that he 

 fxjcupied when he should have pointed, and commanding 

 min to to-/w t give him to understand that you are displeased 

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

 readily find it, you will add to the f orc3 of this lesson if you 

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

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

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

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

 demoralized at the rise of the bird ard give chase, do not 

 despair, but calmly say to-7i\ and 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 short time you 

 can eradicate the fault, while the virtue will remain and 

 afford you great satisfaction in the future. When he re urns 

 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 abou f the enormity of the cffence. It is EOt advis- 

 able to shoot wh<n he starts to chasi>, as should you kill, he 

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

 good. Ntither does the sound cf the gun exercise a steady <= 

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

 not fail to keep perfectly cool yourself under all circumstances, 



