248 UPLAND SHOOTIXG. 



a large bag a retriever answers every purpose. Moreover, 

 if working a setter or a pointer at all inclined to be nerv- 

 ous, the constant cautioning and chiding of such a dog, 

 if fast, would have a tendency to discourage him, and 

 make him slow. While I fully admit that the argument 

 is a good one as applied to those localities, and others where 

 snipe are so abundant, it will not apply where the birds 

 are scarce. With my snipe-dogs, I have more than once 

 beaten, in the open fields and hill-sides of Monmouth 

 County, New Jersey, both on snipe and quail, dogs 

 which had been reared there, and knew the grounds better 

 than my dogs. Again, I have done the same thing 

 in our Jersey pines, on the same game, and all because 

 my dogs had been taught both speed and caution on that 

 tricky little rascal, the Wilson's snipe. For this reason, 

 though many may disagree with me, I contend that a 

 young dog who is very good on snipe will, if taken West 

 or South, become good on grouse and quail far more 

 quickly than if introduced to those birds there without 

 the previous work on snipe here. I have no desire to 

 seem dictatorial, but write as experience has taught me, 

 and I feel sure that every old snipe-shooter, in this part of 

 the country, will bear me out in saying that it is far 

 easier to make a dog good on any other game than it is to 

 make him equally good on snipe here. 



Though the true sportsman is never inclined to over- 

 look the comfort of his dogs at any time, it is especially 

 needful to be careful of the snipe-dog. It is work par- 

 ticularly trying to the dog, as he is in mud and water the 

 whole time he is at work. Therefore, immediately on 

 coming in from your shoot, bathe him clean of all mud, 

 and then rub him with a dry, coarse cloth. See if his 

 feet be cut, or his ears torn by briers, and clean out the 

 latter with a soft, moist sponge. If any scratches or 

 thorn-wounds show, anoint them with vaseline; then feed 



