328 EMPLOYMENT OF THE DOG IN HUNTING, ETC. 



chapter treating of the breaking of them to the gun, and, beyond 

 the remarks there introduced, there is little to be said. A prac- 

 tical acquaintance with each animal is more requisite here than 

 in any other kind of shooting, because the sportsman always is 

 being called upon to judge of the proximity of the dog to his 

 game, and of the kind of game also by his note at the time. 

 Hence practice is all important, and directions are of little avail. 

 The shooter must, however, be quick in his movements in getting 

 to his dogs when they give tongue in a wa}^ to lead him to expect 

 that they are close upon their game, or he will get few shots ; 

 and in this one of the chief arts of covert shooting consists. It 

 is, however, useless to attempt any further explanation of its 

 details. 



Whether spaniels, heagles, or terriers make the best covert dogs 

 is a point which is sometimes discussed ; but I think there is a 

 general feeling in favour of the first, and at present the Clumber 

 spaniel is certainly the fashion. He is more suited to hattnes, 

 which are now the only kinds of covert shooting much in vogue, 

 for the reason that pheasants will not bear disturbing many times 

 in the season, and so the proprietor of a large preserve likes to 

 give the greatest happiness to the greatest number of his friends 

 on the small number of days which his gamekeeper advises him 

 that he can afford. These spaniels, however, are too heavy for 

 wild woodlands, or for cock-shooting, for which the light corky 

 cocker must be employed. But between these two there is little 

 room for the too noisy beagle, or the too silent terrier, and they 

 are therefore seldom used, though the last is very useful to the 



