HINTS TO PURCHASERS 621 



He well knows they would; but the theatrical display 

 would not be half so magnificent. If he had truly 

 wished to give his pupils a good systematic range, 

 without a doubt he would have devoted one hour in the 

 field exclusively to each dog, rather than many hours to 

 several at once and not have associated any together in 

 the field until he had gained full command over each 

 separately. And this he would have done because it 

 would have tended to his interest, had he supposed that 

 his dog's qualifications would be investigated by judges 

 by those who would insist on seeing a dog hunted 

 singly in order to observe his method of ranging, or 

 with but one companion, before they thought of defi- 

 nitively purchasing. 



259. At the beginning of a partridge season, I unex- 

 pectedly wanted to purchase a dog. An old gamekeeper 

 one on whose judgment I could rely, and who, I knew, 

 would not willingly deceive me, saw a setter in the 

 field that he thought would please, and accordingly sent 

 it to my kennel. I greatly liked the looks of the animal. 

 He quartered his ground well was obedient to the 

 hand carried a high and apparently tender nose 

 pointed, backed, and down-charged steadily. Unques- '' 

 tionably he had been well broken. I thought myself in - 

 great luck, and should not have hesitated to complete 

 the purchase, but that fortunately I had an opportunity 

 of shooting a bird over him, when to my horror he 

 rushed at it with the speed of a greyhound. As, in spite ; 

 of all my remonstrances, shouted in the most determined 



