602 DOG-BREAKING. 



him if you expect other birds to spring. You will thus, 

 especially in potatoes or turnips, often obtain shots at 

 birds which would have made off, had he continued to 

 hunt, and early in the season be frequently enabled to 

 bag the tail-bird of a covey. This plan will also tend to 

 make him cautious, and prevent his getting a habit of 

 blundering-up birds, and cunningly pretending not to 

 have noticed their escape. It will also make him less 

 inclined to chase hares and rabbits, or rush at a fallen 

 bird. 



228. On approaching a piece of turnips, you may 

 have heard, " Let us couple up all the dogs excepting 

 Old Don :" the veteran's experience having shown him, 

 that the only effect of his thundering through them 

 would be to scare every bird and make it rise out of 

 shot. You, on the contrary, when your pupil is well 

 confirmed in his range, and has some knowledge of his 

 distance from game, ought to wish the other dogs kept 

 to " Heel " especially when the seed has been broad- 

 cast, that by the word " Care " and the right hand 

 slightly raised you may instil into him the necessary 

 caution and so, by judicious tuition, give him the bene- 

 fit of your own experience. Most probably you would 

 be obliged to employ the checkcord,* which I presume to 

 be always at hand ready for occasional use. Or you 

 might strap your shot-belt round his throat, for it is 



* Le~st the cord should cut the turnip-tops, it might be better to 

 employ the elastic band spoken of in 56. 



