INITIATORY LESSONS CONTINUED. 485 



searching for the delicious effluvia with his nose carried 

 high in the air. 



38. Whenever birds can be sought for in the wind, 

 the dog should thus hunt the field and the higher he 

 carries his nose the better for, independently of the 

 far greater chance of finding them, they will allow the 

 dog to come much nearer than when he approaches 

 them by the foot : but of this more anon. 



39. Setters and Pointers naturally hunt with their 

 noses sufficiently close to the ground they want ele- 

 vating rather than depressing. Notwithstanding, you 

 will do well to show your pupil a few times out of doors 

 how to work out a scent, by dragging a piece of bread 

 unperceived by him down wind through grass, and then 

 letting him " foot" it out. Try him for a few yards at 

 first ; you can gradually increase the length of the drag. 

 You must not, however, practise this initiatory lesson 

 too frequently, lest you give him the wretched custom 

 of pottering. 



40. The word " Heel," and a backward low wave of 

 the right hand and arm to the rear the reverse of the 

 underhand cricket-bowler's swing will, after a few 

 times, bring the dog close behind you. Keep him there 

 a while and pat him, but do not otherwise reward him. 

 The object of the order was to make him instantly give 

 up hunting, and come to your heels. This signal cannot 

 be substituted for the " beckon." The one is an order 

 always obeyed with reluctance being a command to 

 leave off hunting whereas the " beckon" is merely an 



