INITIATORY LESSONS CONTINUED. 505 



calm day, when the least noise will make the game steal 

 away long before the gun gets within shot. But it is 

 not so in all countries. 



78. In very thick covers it is obvious, the height of 

 setters being greatly against them, that spaniels are far 

 preferable : but in light covers, and when the leaves are 

 off the trees, handy old setters if white, all the better 

 that will readily confine themselves to a restricted range, 

 and will flush their game when ordered iv. and vn. of 

 119 and 196 afford quite as much sport, if not more. 

 Setters do not, to the same degree, alarm birds; and 

 there is, also, this advantage, that they can be employed 

 on all occasions, excepting in low gorse or the closest 

 thickets, whereas spaniels, from their contracted " beat," 

 are nearly useless in the open when game is scarce. You 

 will be prepared, when first you hunt a setter in cover, 

 to sacrifice much of your sport. There must be noise : 

 for it is essential to make him at once thoroughly under- 

 stand the very different "beat" required of him, and 

 this can only be effected by constantly checking and 

 rating him, whenever he ranges beyond the prescribed 

 limits. He should hunt slowly and carefully to the right 

 and left, and never be much in advance of the guns. In 

 a short time he will comprehend matters, if you are so 

 forbearing and judicious as invariably to call him away 

 from every point made the least out of bounds. A less 

 severe test of your consistency will not suffice. The few 

 first days will either make or mar him as a cover-dog. 

 You must naturally expect that hunting him much in 



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