FOR THE FIELD AND FIELD TRIALS. 145 



They, seeing a sparrow on the ground hopping about, 

 sneak quickly toward it and then dash at full speed to 

 seize it; it flies away and they give full chase, some- 

 times giving tongue merrily. Similar rash attempts 

 result in failures. After a brief experience of this 

 kind they quickly learn that the birds can fly, and 

 that, in open pursuit of them, a capture is impossible. 

 Then they observe greater precaution and therefrom 

 approximate nearer to success. By sneaking craftily 

 on the birds, the chances of getting within a better 

 striking distance are many times increased, and by 

 making play to the pointing dog the backing dog is 

 in a strategic position to head the prey off or turn it 

 to the pointing dog. Thus the back is simply a part 

 of the team work in the attempt to capture. 



Team work, of which backing is a part, is one of 

 the first things learned by all breeds of dogs which 

 have an opportunity to hunt in company. It is anal- 

 ogous to the running cunning of the greyhound. 

 Two puppies, intent on capturing a barnyard fowl, 

 show this unmistakably. One draws up and points ; 

 the other backs. The alarmed fowl walks away; 

 the pointing puppy draws forward; the backing 

 puppy whips stealthily around to head off the fowl, 



