522 DOG-BREAKING. 



instant a bird falls. This plan, like most other things, 

 has its advocates and its opponents. I confess to being 

 one of the latter, for I cannot believe that in the long 

 run it is the best way to fill the bag. I think it certain 

 that more game is lost by birds being flushed while the 

 guns are unloaded, than could be lost from the scent 

 cooling during the short period the dog remains at the 

 " down charge." Unquestionably some retrievers have 

 so good a nose, that the delay would not lead to their 

 missing any wounded game however slightly struck; 

 and the delay has this great advantage, that it helps to 

 keep the retriever under proper subjection, and dimi- 

 nishes his anxiety to rush to every part of the line where 

 a gun may be fired, instead of remaining quietly at his 

 master's heels until signalled to take up the scent. More- 

 over, a retriever by neglecting the " down charge," sets 

 an example to the pointers or setters who may be his 

 companions, which it is always more or less difficult to 

 prevent the dogs, if young, from following. But I once 

 shot over a retriever which I could hardly wish not to 

 have " run on shot." On a bird being hit he started off 

 with the greatest impetuosity, kept his eye immovably 

 fixed on its flight, and possessed such speed that a winged 

 bird scarcely touched the ground ere it was pinned. He 

 would, too, often seize a slightly injured hare before it 

 had acquired its best pace. The pursuit so soon termi- 

 nated that possibly less game escaped being fired at than 

 if the retriever had not stirred until the guns were re- 

 loaded. On a miss he was never allowed indeed ap- 



