FOR THE FIELD AND FIELD TRIALS. 163 



CHAPTER XL 



RANGING. 



To THE novice the manner in which a dog seeks his 

 prey is a matter of but little consideration, for, if the 

 latter gallops out in search of birds, or even gallops 

 at all, if he will but continue galloping it would seem 

 that nothing more were necessary or requisite. It, 

 however, is far from being such a simple matter. \ 



In practice the novice will sooner or later find that 

 a dog, though he be of great range and speed, may 

 have distinctly inferior finding abilities. Good heels 

 require good brains and noses to direct them. 



The best ranger is the dog which "stays out at his 

 work," beating out the likely ground in front and on 

 both sides of the general course, and all this with 

 such method and regularity as the nature of the 

 ground best permits. His judgment should be so 

 good that he forecasts the course of the shooter in a 

 general way, or determines it by wise observation, 



