126 TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 



nine inches, it is merely a round stick rather thicker than a man's 

 thumb ; though some persons, instead of one of these round pro- 

 jecting sticks, prefer two, forming an angle with the dog's nose. 

 At the upper end of that part which is placed under the dog's 

 nether jaw, two longitudinal holes or slits are made, through 

 which a strap is inserted, which is buckled behind the animal's 

 ears ; while the other end of the thick part of the muzzle-peg, 

 or that which comes under the canine teeth, or fangs, is per- 

 forated with two holes, through which a leather thong is drawn, 

 and tied immediately behind the fangs just mentioned. With 

 this instrument, so fastened, the dog may be hunted without the 

 smallest injury. At the first putting on, however, he will use 

 every effort to rid himself of so disagreeable a companion, nor 

 will he hunt till he has satisfied himself of the inefficacy of his 

 utmost exertions to get free from this unpleasant restraint. At 

 length, he will become familiar with the instrument, and run with 

 it as unconcernedly as possible ; and it will make him carry his 

 head well up, as well as prevent him chopping young hares, or 

 mouthing in any way. A dog that rakes (that is, runs with 

 his nose close to the ground), and follows his game by the track, 

 will generally spring it. Whenever, therefore, a young dog is 

 seen to follow the track of a partridge (down wind in particular) 

 he should be colled to in an angry tone, hold up! he will then 

 become uneasy, going first to one side and then to the other till 

 the wind brings him the scent. If, after a short period, he 

 should persevere in keeping his nose to the ground, and in fol- 

 lowing the track, recourse must be had to the instrument which 

 I have just described. 



Grouse, partridges, or any kind of game, lie much better to 

 a doo- that winds them, than to one which approaches by the 

 track. The dog that winds the scent approaches the game by 

 degrees, and that more or less as he finds it wild or otherwise, 

 which he is enabled to discover by the scent which is emitted ; 



