70 iHE "DOWN CHARGE." [CH. iv. 



so good a nose, that the delay would not lead to their 

 missing any wounded game, however slightly struck 

 (123) ; and the delay has this great advantage, that it 

 helps to keep the retriever under proper subjection, and 

 diminishes his anxiety to rush to every part of the line 

 where a gun may be fired, instead of remaining quietly 

 at his master's heels until signaled to take up the scent. 

 Morever, a retriever, by neglecting the " down charge," 

 sets an example to the pointers or setters who may be 

 his companions, which it is always more or less difficult 

 to prevent the dogs, if young, from following. But I 

 once shot over a retriever which I could hardly wish 

 not to have "run on shot." On a bird being hit he 

 started off with the greatest impetuosity, kept his eye 

 immoveably fixed on its flight, and possessed such speed, 

 that a winged bird scarcely touched the ground ere it 

 was pinned. He would, too, often seize a slightly 

 injured hare before it had acquired its best pace. The 

 pursuit so soon terminated, that possibly less game 

 escaped being fired at, than if the retriever had not 

 stirred until the guns were reloaded. On a miss he was 

 never allowed indeed appeared little inclined to quit 

 "heel." Of course a trainer's trouble is decreased by 

 not breaking to the " down charge/' which may induce 

 some to recommend the plan; though it is to be ob- 

 served, that this class of dogs is more easily than any 

 other perfected in it, because the breaker nearly always 

 possesses the power of treading upon or seizing the 

 checkcord the instant a bird is sprung. 



120. The nature of your shooting will much influence 

 you in deciding which of the two methods to adopt ; 

 but should you select the one which the generality of 

 good sportsmen consider to be most according to rule, 

 and to possess the greatest beauty, viz., the " down 



