572 DOG-BREAKING. 



approach so near as to be able to touch it instead 

 of being made to point the instant he finds, the chances 

 are, that if hard-mouthed he will give it a crunch, if 

 tender-mouthed a fumbling of the feathers ; and either 

 proceeding satisfying him, that he will quit it, and not 

 further aid you in a search. As " pointing " is only 

 a natural pause prolonged by art to determine exactly 

 where the game is lying, preparatory to rushing forward 

 to seize, it would be unreasonable to expect him willingly 

 to make a second point at game he has not only found 

 but mouthed the evil, however, does not rest here. 

 There is such a disagreeable thing as blinking a dead bird, 

 no less than blinking a sound one. For mouthing the 

 bird you may possibly beat the dog, or for nosing it and 

 not pointing you may rate him harshly, either of which, 

 if he be not of a bold disposition, may lead, on the next 

 occasion, to his slinking oif after merely obtaining a 

 sniff. You ought, in fact, to watch as carefully for your 

 pupil's first " feathering " upon the dead bird, as you did 

 174 upon his first coming upon the covey. You see, 

 then, that your teaching him to " point dead " is absolute- 

 ly indispensable; unless, indeed, you constantly shoot 

 with a retriever. Pointing at a live bird or at a dead 

 one should only differ in this, that in the latter case the 

 dog makes a nearer point. Begin correctly, and you 

 will not have any difficulty; but you may expect the 

 greatest if you let your dog go up to one or two birds 

 and mouthe them, before you commence making him 

 point them. The following season, should you then 



