160 ANIMALS USED BY THE SHOOTER. 



enced by heat and cold, but it harbours fleas and other vermin 

 so much as to be negatived on that account. A layer of felt 

 under the tiles is a good addition, but by itself it is so liable 

 to become rotten, that it is not to be recommended. 



FEEDING. 



All shooting dogs are fed upon oatmeal more or less 

 mixed with other kinds of meal such as that of barley and 

 Indian corn. It is found that the slightly aperient nature 

 of the oat keeps the dogs in good health, and this meal 

 therefore does not heat them when kept for a time in kennel, 

 as is the case with barley-meal, or Indian corn meal, or wheat 

 flour. If they are regularly exercised, which they ought to 

 be, there is nothing better than a mixture of Indian corn 

 and oatmeal, in such proportions as to keep the dog's bowels 

 gently moved. The foreign meal is somewhat cheaper than 

 oatmeal, and on that account it is used by many people ; but 

 unless the precaution is taken to exercise the dogs, it is 

 almost sure to heat them, and produce eruptions of some 

 kind or other. Green vegetables, such as cabbages, cauli- 

 flowers, &c., or potatoes, carrots, or turnips, should be added 

 two or three times a week during the summer, dogs being 

 ready enough to eat the mixture if it is flavoured by broth 

 made either of flesh or greaves. Bones also are essential to 

 health, for unless the dog has something to gnaw, he does 

 not produce the amount of saliva which is required for his 

 digestion. With these several elements he may be kept in 

 good health, provided always that he is not exposed to in- 

 fectious diseases, and is not infested with vermin. Through- 

 out the months when shooting dogs are idle they require no 

 flesh, and their meal need only be flavoured with broth. The 

 materials generally employed for making this are greaves, 

 which being always purchaseable at the chandler's, are on 

 that account very convenient. They are the refuse mem- 

 branes left after melting fat for candles, and contain some 

 considerable nourishment of a mild nature, though from being 

 stale the smell is strong, and not very appetizing to the 

 stomach of man. The dog, however, is naturally fond of 

 high flavours, and will ravenously devour flesh when it has 



