FOR THE FIELD AND FIELD TRIALS. 149 



The country dog, be he cur or otherwise, has some 

 neighboring dog with which he is on friendly terms, 

 and which he seeks as company for his prowling 

 expeditions through the woods and fields. In time 

 the self-hunters learn all the strategy essential to 

 success. If they approach a brush pile which gives 

 good promise of a rabbit, do they go up to it to- 

 gether? That is not their procedure after they be- 

 come educated. One advances to the pile to start 

 the rabbit, while the other, in manner similar to that 

 of the backing dog, takes a strategic position to seize 

 it when it springs from cover, or failing to do so, 

 that he may turn it to his fellow with a good chance 

 of capture. 



All the acts of dogs when hunting together have a 

 direct bearing to the common purpose, as it refers 

 directly to their own interests that is to say, the 

 capture. Their knowledge and skill thus come from 

 intelligence and experience. That the acts are some- 

 times learned very quickly proves none the less that 

 they are so derived. In no other manner could they 

 be acquired. 



Backing has a direct reference to the capture of 

 the prey, and is conclusively proven by the well- 



