CH. in.] DIFFICULT TO BREAK. 39 



you and lie be placed, as is usual, on the outside, a little 

 ahead of the keeper (one to his right, the other to his 

 left), you would much aid him in preventing the young 

 spaniels from ranging wildly, were you to turn your 

 face towards him whenever you saw any of them getting 

 too far in advance, for they will watch the guns as much 

 as they will him. They should never range further than 

 thirty yards from the gun. 



66. Among spaniels the great advantage of age and 

 experience is more apparent than in partridge-dogs. A 

 young spaniel cannot keep to a pheasant's tail like an 

 old one. He may push the bird for forty or fifty yards 

 if judiciously managed. After that he is almost sure 

 from impatience, either to lose it, or rush in and flush 

 out of shot, whereas an old cocker, who has had much 

 game shot over him, is frequently knowing enough to 

 slacken his pace, instead of increasing it, when he first 

 touches on birds, apparently quite sensible that he ought 

 to give the gun time to approach, before he presses to a 

 flush. 



67. Even good spaniels, however well bred, if they 

 have not had great experience, generally road too fast. 

 Undeniably they are difficult animals to educate, and it 

 requires much watchfulness, perseverance, and attention 

 at an early age, so to break in a team of young ones 

 that they shall keep within gun range, without your 

 being compelled to halloo or whistle to them. But 

 some few are yet more highly trained. 



68. Mr. N n, when in France, had a lively, in- 

 telligent, liver and white cocker, which would work 

 busily all day long within gun-shot ; and which pos- 

 sessed the singular accomplishment of steadily pointing- 

 all game that lay well, and of not rushing in until the 

 sportsman had come close to him. But this is a case of 



