TRAINING SHORE SHOOTING. 113 



the Clergyman of the Parish, and afterwards becoming- a witness of this, instantly 

 and effectually warned this Publican and Sinner that, the next Duck hunt should 

 shut up his house. 



It may be observed, there is a Variety of the Water Dog-, of the full stature 

 indeed, but of the delicate kind, his flue fine, and his form and bones elegantly 

 turned. This breed, although equally naturalized to the water, it may be pre- 

 sumed, is not calculated for the severer services of fowling, but more properly for 

 domestic and social purposes. 



There is this favourable peculiarity in the sporting dog, it should seem, the 

 natural associate of man, that, with some few exceptions, he takes an equal interest 

 in the diversions of his master. This quality is most conspicuous in the Water Dog, 

 which burns with inextinguishable ardour in the pursuit, and which, merely for 

 the gratification of swimming- after, and bringing to shore, a bird that he is neither 

 destined, nor desires to taste, will risk his life in the most dangerous abysses, or 

 worry himself by repetitions of labour and fatigue, to the very verge of existence. 

 His education is, from this property, greatly facilitated. Silence and circumspec- 

 tion, as in coursing the Hare, are of the very essence of fowling, or are rather, the 

 sine queis non of that midnight and cold-blooded diversion. There is one restraint 

 which it is difficult to impose upon the Water Dog, yet sometimes a necessary one : 

 it is to prevent him from that rapid start in the direction of the game, the instant 

 of the report of the gun, which he has watched with the most tremulous anxiety. 

 This may be indulged generally, but the dog should be also taught to ' hold back,' 

 whenever the Gunner finds it expedient. Water fowl, are naturally, or in conse- 

 quence of their greater seclusion from human society, more shy and apprehensive of 

 the approach of man, than land birds ; rapidly taking wing on the least noise, 

 almost at the motion of a feather, espying- objects at a considerable distance, and in 

 all probability, being endowed with great quickness of the olfactory power. Hence 

 the absolute necessity of boundless caution. 



Wild fowl shooting in the day time, were not the difficulty of getting a shot so 

 considerable, would be a brisk and pleasant diversion. We have in former days, 

 enjoyed this on the shores of the Essex and Suffolk Rivers, in that bright sunshine 

 which now and then blesses our climate during- the most intense frosts. The air 

 then in every direction seems peopled with the flying fowl, and the water near the 

 shore absolutely blocked up with shoals of Coots. The pleasure of the sight and 

 the exercise of the pursuit, to those who can keep themselves warm, may be well 

 accepted as a make weight in the scale of profit. Of a very different description, 

 however attended with the chief of the profit, is this diversion, by night, for a 

 diversion it undoubtedly is to some, who can have no views of profit ; and we have 

 many times shuddered and fallen back, at flight time (twilight) amidst the jokes 

 and gibes of our comrades, clothed in their weather proof and fear-nought attire, 

 and their high water boots, and armed with their long Guns, stalking off towards 



