110 HUNTING DOGS. 



In selecting a night hunting dog I prefer 

 one that is three-quarters or at least one-half fox 

 hound. The reason is, the fox hound has a 

 good nose, also a good voice and speed. While 

 I do not condemn a dog that is bred in an^^ other 

 way, I prefer one bred as I have stated for the 

 reasons given above. 



Some prefer a dog that is part beagle, but if 

 any reader of this book has ever tried to train 

 a doo' with oood beadle blood in his veins to hunt 

 coon, he has been up against the real thing. The 

 trouble is, the beagle has it bred right in him to 

 run rabbits, and blood will tell. The only point 

 in favor of the beagle is his nose. With the ex- 

 ception of the bird dog the beagle has the finest 

 scent of the whole dog family. I know this to be 

 true by observation. A fox gives off more scent 

 than a rabbit, so does a coon and all the other 

 animals. 



During the "nesting season" birds give 

 scarcely any. This is a wise provision of Nature 

 to protect them from their enemies during this 

 important period. 



One day I saw a fine English setter almost 

 step on a grouse that was sitting on her nest. 

 He never scented her until she went whirling 

 out the ridge right in front of his nose. That 

 dog's actions told more plainly than words could 

 have done, how deeply he regretted the incident. 



