J'-<>U TH.F. FIELD AND FIELD TRIALS. 125 



craft. As to methods, they vary; they are deter- 

 mined by the intelligence and idiosyncrasies of the 

 individual. 



A precocious display of pointing does not in the 

 least indicate that the puppy making it is superior to 

 his fellows, for it requires no high degree of mental 

 or physical ability to stand on a point. The act, 

 moreover, may be done foolishly and aimlessly, as 

 any other act may be done. 



The nose of the dog requires a certain degree of 

 training to become a discriminating organ of scent. 

 Skill in its use therefore comes from experience. 

 Commonly the first efforts of puppies at pointing are 

 awkward and inefficient. 



Different kinds of effort are indicated by certain 

 scents, as the body scent and the foot scent, and by 

 different degrees of intensity of the same scent. The 

 best manner of following the scent, wind and char- 

 acter of the ground considered, is also an important 

 factor. If the dog presses too closely on the birds 

 he flushes them ;*if he stops too far away from them 

 he is outside of the limits wherein he can make a 

 successful spring, and therewith a reasonably suc- 

 cessful attempt at capturing them. If he runs about 



