POINTERS AND SETTERS. 261 



the dog does not stoop to make it out in that spaniel-like style 

 which occasions its adoption. Nevertheless, when it is left off, 

 the old tendency to stoop most frequently reappears, more or 

 less, and the sportsman finds that all his care has been thrown 

 away. Still I have known it cure this fault, and if it fails I 

 have no other suggestion to offer but sixpennyworth of cord or 

 "a hole in the water." If used at all, it must be kept on for 

 many days together, that is to say, while at work, and when 

 left off it should be occasionally reapplied if the dog shows the 

 slightest tendency to put his nose down, or dwell on the scent 

 where birds have been rising or have " gone away." I may 

 here remark that "false pointing" is altogether different from 

 this low hunting, though often coupled with it ; but this we 

 shall come to after describing the nature of, and mode of teach- 

 ing, that part of the pointer's education. There is a wonderful 

 faculty in some breeds of feeling a body-scent at long distances, 

 while they have no perception of the foot-scent, and this is the 

 quality which ought to be most highly prized in the pointer 

 or setter, unless he is also wanted to retrieve, in which latter 

 case such a nose will be found to be defective. But of this also 

 we shall come to a more close understanding in a future part 

 of this inquiry. In addition to the use of the " puzzle-peg," — 

 which should only be resorted to in extreme cases, and even in them 

 is, as I before remarked, of doubtful utility, — the voice should 

 be used to cheer the dog when he dwells on the scent too long, 

 or carries his nose too low. " Hold up ! " may be cried in a 

 cheering way, and the dog encouraged with the hand waved 



