648 DOG-BKEAKING. 



larities in the field may be innocuously permitted. The 

 steadiest dogs will, at times, deviate from the usual 

 routine of their business, sagaciously thinking that such 

 departure from rule must be acceptable if it tends to 

 obtain the game ; and it will be advisable to leave an 

 experienced dog to himself whenever he evinces great 

 perseverance in spontaneously following some unusual 

 plan. You may have seen an old fellow, instead of 

 cautiously " reading " and " pointing dead," rush for- 

 ward and seize an unfortunate winged bird, while it was 

 making the best use of its legs after the flight of the 

 rest of the covey some peculiarity in the scent emitted 

 having probably betrayed to the dog's practised nose 

 that the bird was injured. When your pup arrives 

 at such years of discrimination, you need not so vigo- 

 rously insist upon a patient " down charge " should you 

 see a winged cock-pheasant running into cover. Your 

 dog's habits of discipline would be, I should hope, too 

 well confirmed by his previous course of long drill for 

 such a temporary departure from rule to effect any per- 

 manent mischief; but oh ! beware of any such laxity with 

 a young pupil, however strongly you may be tempted. 

 In five minutes you may wholly undo the labor of a 

 month. On days, therefore, when you are anxious, 

 cottte qui codle^ to fill the game-bag, pray leave him 

 at home. Let him acquire any bad habit when you 

 are thus pressed for birds, and you will have more diffi- 

 culty in eradicating it than you would have in teaching 

 him almost any accomplishment. This reason made me 



