HINTS FOR AMERICAN SHOOTING. 307 



leagued boots, On one occasion, when in company with 

 a city friend, our dogs kept drawing, and occasionally 

 pointing across a stubble, both of us following close 

 behind; when we reached the opposite fence, he pro- 

 posed, in a manner that would not brook contradiction, 

 to go to some birds we had previously marked down. 

 He went, while I continued to beat the lower angle of 

 the field, which had so far been neglected ; the result 

 was that I killed eleven, while Mr. Obstinate only 

 got a wild shot as a recompense for his haste and 

 want of perseverance. 



On finding a pack, the old birds are generally the 

 first to take wing. Kill them if you can, and the 

 remainder will be easily accounted for. Without the 

 knowledge and trickery of mature years, they will 

 remain when marked down almost to be kicked from 

 beneath your dog's nose, and, in nine cases out of ten, 

 flush singly. 



No country takes more out of dogs than the prairie ; 

 therefore I should strongly recommend that two 

 brace be provided, the one couple to be hunted in 

 the forenoon, the other in the after part of the day ; 

 by changing them thus, they will be sufficiently strong 

 and fresh to do good work as long as you can walk 

 to them. 



Burning the prairies, when performed in the spring 



