A FIELD DAY. 247 



breed; for many of them are, in appearance, 

 short-coated nondescripts, and required far more 

 care and trouble in the training than if some at- 

 tention had been paid to procuring dogs of purer 

 blood ; but this deficiency is amply counter- 

 balanced by the admirable way in which they are 

 managed. I well remember the first time I ever 

 had an opportunity of witnessing their perform- 

 ance. On arriving at the cover's side an im- 

 mense wood in the weald of Sussex we found 

 the head-keeper already there with the spaniels. 

 A regiment of beaters were drawn up at a little 

 distance, and at intervals in their ranks were 

 five under keepers, who subsequently assisted in 

 maintaining the line of march and preserving dis- 

 cipline. Each of them was attended by his dog, 

 who followed close at his heels, unrestrained by 

 string or leash. As we advanced through the 

 cover, any one of these, at a word from his 

 master, would instantly enact the part of a 

 spaniel, and where a thick bed of black-thorn 

 happened to intervene, which was impenetrable 

 to the beaters, he would work his way through 

 it, and flush a hare or a pheasant, but, with- 

 out attempting to pursue it, return the next 

 moment at the well-known signal to his for- 

 mer position. When a pheasant was wounded 

 and fell at a distance, the dog would endeavour 



