DISTINGUISHING WHISTLES. 635 



He will pull up at the faintest indication of a scent, 

 being at all times anxiously on the look-out for the 

 coveted aroraa. 



286. Not only to the idle or tired sportsman would it 

 be a great benefit to have a field thus beaten, but the 

 keenest and most indefatigable shot would experience its 

 advantages in the cold and windy weather customary in 

 November, when the tameness of partridge-shooting 

 cannot be much complained of; for the birds being 

 then ever ready to take wing, surely the best chance, by 

 fair means, of getting near them would be to intercept 

 them between the dog and yourself. 



287. Here the consideration naturally arises, whether 

 dogs could not be taught when hunting in the ordinary 

 manner with the gun in the rear 



TO HEAD RUNNING BIEDS. 



Certainly it could be done. There have been many 

 instances of old dogs spontaneously galloping off, and 

 placing themselves on the other side of the covey 

 which they had pointed as soon as they perceived that 

 it was on the run, and by good instruction you could 

 develope or rather excite, that exercise of sagacity. 



288. If dogs are taught to "hunt from leeward to 

 windward without the gun," they become habituated 

 to seeing game intercepted between themselves and 

 their masters, and then their spontaneously heading 

 running birds though undeniably evincing great intelli- 

 gence would not be very remarkable. They would 



