i6 GUNS AND DOGS. 



white line running from the nose over the forehead 

 and the legs well ticked with tan or orange. Dogs of 

 medium size, rather large than too small, I like the 

 best. They should, of course, be well-formed, strong 

 and muscular. The Irish setters are dark red, the 

 Gordons black and tan. White dogs, or dogs in whose 

 coats the white predominates, are best, since they are 

 more easily seen in the woods and brush. We hear 

 much of " bench-show '* dogs and " field-dogs." The 

 dog should be handsome enough to win on the bench 

 and good enough to take into the field. Field qualities, 

 not looks, are of the first importance, however. One 

 of the best setters I ever owned, was a liver and white 

 dog, and his first owner, an excellent trainer, had mu- 

 tilated him by cutting off part of his tail and named 

 him Bob in honor of the occasion. In the field, how- 

 ever, he was a wonder, and I could not resist buying 

 him, although I liked neither his color, his tail, nor his 

 name. There are many reputable dealers and many 

 good trainers ; and some bad ones unfortunately, as 

 among horsemen. 



Dogs of good pedigree will point birds without 

 any training, and are not hard to train sufficiently to 

 make good field-dogs. First of all they should be 

 taught to come instantly to the whistle. Begin when 

 they are quite young to have them associate the sound 

 of the whistle with their liberation from the kennel, 

 and as a call to meals. I have often gone to my back- 

 door and sounded a whistle to see a lot of bright-faced 

 puppies instantly appear at the stable windows. Hav- 

 ing immediately let them out I fed them. Sometimes 

 I plaged the food ^t the other side of the house and 



