64 TRAINING THE HUNTING DOG 



and by experience he acquires equally wonderful 

 powers of discrimination in its use. 



Each follows the trail accurately by his powers of 

 scenting. When he has drawn near to the birds he 

 has a new problem to solve ; he must accurately deter- 

 mine the whereabouts of the birds in their conceal- 

 ment. If he cannot do so, his skill and silence in 

 reading them avail nothing. The birds have prob- 

 ably discovered that an enemy is about and have 

 sought the most convenient cover for safety. When 

 near to them he sets, stands or points, terms which 

 denote the same act ; he is in a position to spring to 

 the extent of his capabilities ; his eyes are set but are 

 nevertheless keenly alert. If he is not quite sure of 

 his distance and the location of the birds, he moves, 

 perhaps taking a better advantage of the wind and 

 ground, and points again. Satisfied at length that he 

 has made his calculations correctly, he springs from 

 his point with wonderful agility and generally with 

 admirable precision, succeeding frequently in catch- 

 ing a bird before it can get well on the wing, or 

 before it can disentangle itself from the cover in 

 which it was concealed. 



If he has erred in his calculations, or if he has not 



