634 Some American Sporting Dogs. 



leaves are carpeting the ground, while in the open the golden stub- 

 ble is being burned by the early frosts. Perhaps it is a buckwheat 

 or rye field where the quail, as active gleaners, still find enough of 

 the scattered grain to afford them subsistence without going to the 

 swamps for buds or skunk-cabbage seeds. Here they have been 

 feeding in the early morning, and have gone to the hedge or that 

 strip of dried grass for their noonday siesta. At the command "hie 

 on," or "hold up," your dog starts on a gallop, — up wind if possible, 

 — head up, to catch the scent which may be drifting across the stub- 

 ble-tops, his stern — as his tail is technically called — whipping his 

 sides. He crosses and recrosses the field, and presently comes to 

 where the birds have been feeding. In an instant he stops, perhaps 

 half turning to where the faint scent still lingers ; but only for an 

 instant, for the scent is cold ; but with head to the ground and stern 

 excitedly whipping his flanks, he either "roads" the birds, or, taking 

 another cast, the wind brings him the hot scent of the bevy. Half 

 crouching, he advances until his instinct and the strong scent from 

 the birds tell him he can go no closer, when he stops, with tail 

 extended stiffly, perhaps one fore- foot lifted as though ready for 

 another step, with head rigid in the direction of the birds, and a few 

 flecks of foam dotting his quivering nostrils. Look at him ! Was 

 ever a more perfect statue carved ? Take your time ; he'll stand 

 perhaps for hours if the birds do not move. Now walk up to him ; 

 touch him if you will, and still the iron-like rigidity. Now step for- 

 ward. Never let your dog flush the birds if you can help it. As 

 you pass him, the bevy rise with that sharp, quick "whir-r-r-r" 

 which so thrills the sportsman as frequently to cause him to shoot 

 too quick and wildly. Be cool. Select two of the outside birds, — 

 never shoot at the bunch, — and, covering them carefully, fire. Your 

 dog drops to the ground or the "down charge" as the birds rise, and 

 remains so until you have reloaded and ordered him first to "hold 

 up" and then to "seek dead." Give your dog time. Even if you 

 fancy you have marked the spot where the bird fell to an inch, he 

 may be many yards away. The dog knows how to look for him, 

 and will cast around until he catches the scent, and will road him 

 until the wounded bird stops, when he will point him again. 



I have said that your dog dropped when the birds rose. No young 

 dog can be considered properly broken unless he drops "to wing" 



