FIRST LESSON IN AUTUMN CONTINUED. 577 



when a pointer or setter in goodly turnips or strong 

 potatoes draws upon birds which obligingly rise one 

 after the other, white by continuing his eloquent attitude 

 he assures you that some still remain unsprung, to which 

 he is prepared to lead you if you will but attend to them 

 and him, and, instead of pot-hunting after those you have 

 killed, wait until his discriminating nose informs him that, 

 having no more strangers to introduce, he is at liberty 

 to assist you in your search. 



189. To revert, however, to the point particularly 

 under discussion, viz., whether you prefer that your dog 

 go direct to the fallen bird, or as I strongly recommend 

 that he first join you, pray be consistent, exact which 

 you will, but always exact the same, if you are anxious 

 to obtain cheerful unhesitating obedience. 



190. I have seen the advantage of the latter method 

 very strikingly exemplified in America, in parts of which 

 there is capital snipe-shooting.* In the high grass and 

 rushes on the banks of the Richelieu, many a bird have 

 I seen flushed and shot at, of which the liver and white 

 pointer, ranging at a little distance, has known nothing. 

 As he was well broken in, on hearing the report of the 

 gun, he, of course, dropped instantly. His master, when 

 he had reloaded, if the bird had fallen, used invariably 

 to say " Dead,"f in a low tone of voice, on which the 



* I reserve this anecdote on account of its interest and applica 

 bility to American readers. H. W. H. 



f In order to woik in silence, I advised xi. of 119 that the sig 

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