346 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



is the taking of them with the setting dogge, for in it there is a twofold pleasure, and a 

 twofold art to be discovered, as first the pleasure and the art proceeding from the dogge, 

 and is contained in this manner of ranging, hunting, and setting, and then the pleasure and 



art in the bird hunted Being come into the fields or haunts where partridges 



doe frequent you shall there cast off your dogge, and by crying ' Hey-ret ' or ' Hey-whir,' 

 or such like words of encouragement^ according to the custome of his own nature or 

 education, give him leave to raunge or hunt, which as soone as hee beginneth to doe, you 

 shall then cease from any more words, except any fault or mistaking enforce you, and then 

 you shall use the words of correction or reprehension due for that purpose, and in all his 

 hunting and labour you shall have great and speciall heede that hee never range too farre from 

 you, but beate his ground justly and even, without casting about or flying now here and 

 now there, and skipping many places, which the heate and mettall of many good doggs will 

 make them do if they be not reprehended, and therefore when any such fault shall happen 

 you shall call him in, and with the terror of your countenance so threaten him, that he shall 



not dare all that day after to doe the like Now if in this ranging and hunting 



you chance to see your dogge to make a sudden stop, or to stand still, you shall then 

 presently make in to him (for he hath set the partridge), and as soone as you come to him 

 you shall bid him goe nearer, which if he doe you shall still say to him, ' Go nearer, go nearer,' 

 but if you find hee is unwilling to goe or creepe nearer, but either lies still, or stands 

 shaking of his taile, as who should say here they are under my nose, and with all, now and 

 then looks backe upon you, as if he would tell you how near they are, then presently you 



shall cease from further urging of him When you see how the covey lyeth, you 



shall then first charge the dogge to lye still, and then, drawing forth your net as you walke, 

 having pricked downe one end to the ground " 



Upwards of a hundred years before the date of Gervase Markham's work, Dr. Caius 

 refers in his book to the taking of birds in the net in the field, and distinctly alludes to the 

 trained setting dogs used in the sport, which he classes with the Spaniel, and notices under 

 the name of Index. 



Having thus shown that the art of training sporting dogs is not entirely due to its 

 nodern exponents, though it has naturally been reduced to a science by them, we now lay 

 before our readers the following hints from the pen of Mr. A. Fletcher, of Glenmarkic 

 Lodge, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, N.B., whose experience in breaking is both practical and 

 extensive. 



" In training Pointers and Setters care must be taken to give the puppies every chance of 

 starting them, and by careful handling and allowing them to see everything that will tend to 

 make them hardy and not gun-shy, as it is the worst thing that could befall the puppy, as 

 'he cannot have too much pluck. Many a puppy is made gun-shy by being too much kept 

 out of sight when being exercised, and not allowed his freedom to run about until five or 

 six months old, when he can see everything for himself, and by that time he will be getting 

 into trouble. But you may be sure he will be full of spirit, if he ever will have any. 



" Begin at first to lead him with a chain and collar, which he will object to most decidedly ; 

 but hold on to him, and let him pull till he is tired out, when he very likely will think 

 better of it, .and follow you. If not, let him sleep a night over it and try him next day, 

 and after a pull or two he will come pleasantly. By all means be kind to him at first. 



