INITIATORY LESSONS CONTINUED. 509 



he should be perfectly mute ; of a patient disposition, 

 though active in the pursuit of birds ; of so hardy a 

 constitution as not to mind the severest cold, therefore 

 no coddling while he is young near a fire, and possess 

 what many are deficient in, viz. a good nose : conse 

 quently a cross that will improve his nose, yet not 

 decrease his steadiness, is the great desideratum in 

 breeding. He should swim rapidly, for wild fowl 

 that are only winged, will frequently escape from the 

 quickest dog if they have plenty of sea-room and deep 

 water see also 96, 302. 



85. In the wild-nee lakes, as they are commonly 

 called, of America, a brace of highly-trained spaniels 

 will sometimes, on a windy day, afford you magnificent 

 sport. The cover is so good that, if it is not often 

 beaten, the birds will frequently get up singly, or only 

 a couple at a time. The dogs should keep swimming 

 about within gun shot, while you are slowly and silently 

 paddling, or probably poling your canoe through the 

 most likely spots. Relays of spaniels are requisite, for 

 it is fatiguing work. If, by any rare chance, you are 

 situated where you can get much of this delightful 

 shooting, and you are an enthusiast in training, it may 

 be worth your while to consider whether there would 

 not be an advantage in making the dogs perfect in the 

 " down charge," as they would then cease swimming 



from capture by the inability of their foes to distinguish them from 

 the surrounding foliage or herbage. The uniform of our rifle corps 

 is too much of one hue. 



