FOR THE FIELD AND FIELD TRIALS. 1 97 



imaginary dead bird is ever an inducement to inde- 

 pendent and lawless effort. 



If the dog has been properly schooled the first sea- 

 son, he is steady to shot and wing, besides having 

 acquired an interest in working for the success of the 

 gun. In the second season, retrieving, then, may be 

 taught as a special branch, the dog having a prepara- 

 tory good schooling to steadiness in his work to the 

 gun as a finder. It requires no argument to prove 

 that it is easier and better to perfect the dog in the 

 first as a finding dog one season, and second as a re- 

 triever the ensuing season, than it is to attempt to 

 perfect him in both branches at the same time. 



Nevertheless, some dogs will exhibit all the unde- 

 sirable traits enumerated ; other dogs one or more of 

 them, while others, again, may engage in retrieving 

 with pleasing precocity. As a general proposition 

 the majority of dogs may be educated into being 

 good retrievers, while a part may be educated into ex- 

 cellent ones. 



Dogs of superior "bird sense" learn to engage in 

 all the details of field work with an intelligent com- 

 prehension of what constitutes proper effort and 

 action. 



