146 ANIMALS USED BY THE SHOOTEK. 



of Ireland dog, which is given in the annexed engraving; 

 and the South Country water spaniel, of which I have never 

 seen a well-marked specimen. Both are of a liver colour, 

 but the former has often more or less white, while in the 

 latter this is entirely absent. The northern dog is also 

 longer on the legs, with short ears, having little or no feather 

 on them, and both the legs and tail being also almost free 

 from this ornament, and covered instead with a short curly 

 coat, as is also the rest of the body. The southern dog, on 

 the contrary, has long and well-feathered ears, tail round also, 

 and pointed, never being carried above the back ; head covered 

 with a perfect top-knot, coming down over the forehead in a 

 peak. These dogs are valued very highly in Ireland, but 

 they are little known out of that country. The northern 

 Irish spaniel is, however, common enough in England and 

 Scotland. 



TEACHING TO RETRIEVE. 



The fondness for carrying is displayed by some puppies to 

 a remarkable extent, while others are altogether without it. 

 The latter will never make good retrievers, in spite of all 

 the efforts of the best breakers, but the former will only require 

 a little practice to become the most valuable assistants in 

 shooting. I am often asked, " How am I to begin to teach 

 my puppy to fetch and carry T Now, this is rather a diffi- 

 cult question to answer satisfactorily, because in itself it 

 plainly shows that there is an absence in the individual for 

 whose benefit it is asked of the special faculty to which I am 

 now drawing attention. If the puppy is likely to become 

 good in this line, he will naturally display his " fetch-and- 

 carry" propensities, and will be constantly seen with a ball 

 or a piece of stick, or perhaps a stone in his mouth, asking 

 you to throw it for him. Every one accustomed to dogs of 

 this kind must have seen this, though it is not so common 

 among animals which are not generally long in the company 

 of their masters, house-pets being particularly likely to display 

 it. There are means by which young dogs may be taught to 

 carry, but then the act of teaching is almost sure to render 

 them " hard-mouthed," an effect which spoils them entirely 

 and for ever, for no fault is more difficult to eradicate. The 



