IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD RETRIEVER. 241 



thorn closes the performance with a right and 

 left at two cock pheasants which fall dead at the 

 feet of his less successful companion. 



Such a scene as this, if frequently repeated, 

 must be attended with the worst consequences. 

 When a certain number of hens are to be killed 

 for the purpose of replenishing an empty larder, if 

 possible let the blow be struck by a sure hand. 

 It is astonishing how many are annually rendered 

 unproductive, or receive their death wounds from 

 persons who, although fully deserving their repu- 

 tation of being ' bad shots,' contrive to aim suffi- 

 ciently straight to send a few grains into almost 

 every bird at which they fire. Where such licence 

 is permitted nay, even encouraged how can 

 the proprietor of the manor wonder at the steri- 

 lity of his hen pheasants next year, or conscien- 

 tiously lay the blame at the door of his keeper ! 

 For my own part I never knew an honest fellow 

 of this sort who did not rejoice to see the birds 



* killed clean ;' even when the execution was 

 carried on without sufficient regard to the pro- 

 spects of the ensuing breeding season. 



But even fair sportsmen are not all 'dead 

 shots.' The best are not infallible, and, where 

 there is much shooting, a pheasant may now and 

 then not fall at once, or if it falls, may prove 



* a runner.' In such cases a good retriever is a 



M 



