en. vi.] CONSTANT LOW WHISTLE INJUDICIOUS. 101 



the confident expectation of killing partridges over him, 

 especially if he be a pointer. Have his nose moist and 

 healthy. Take him out when the birds are on the feed, 

 and of an afternoon in preference to the morning, 

 (unless from an unusually dry season there be but little 

 scent,) that he may not be attracted by the taint of 

 hares or rabbits. Take him out alone, if he evince any 

 disposition to hunt, which, at the age we will presume 

 him to have attained this season, \ve must assume 

 that he will do, and with great zeal. Be much guided 

 by his temper and character. Should he possess great 

 courage and dash, you cannot begin too soon to make 

 him point. You should always check a wild dog in 

 racing after pigeons and small birds on their rising ; 

 whereas you should encourage a timid dog (one who 

 clings to "heel") in such a fruitless but exciting chase. 

 The measures to be pursued with such an animal are 

 fully detailed in 132, 133. 



172. I may as well caution you against adopting the 

 foolish practice of attempting to cheer on your dog with 

 a constant low whistle, under the mistaken idea that it 

 will animate him to increased zeal in hunting. From 

 perpetually hearing the monotonous sound, it would 

 prove as little of an incentive to exertion as a continued 

 chirrup to a horse; and yet if habituated to it, your 

 dog would greatly miss it whenever hunted by a stran- 

 ger. Not unregarded, however, would it be by the 

 birds, to whom on a calm day it would act as a very 

 salutary warning. 



173. Though you have not moors, fortunately we can 

 suppose your fields to be of a good size. Avoid all 

 which have been recently manured. Select those that 

 are large, and in which you are the least likely to find 

 birds until his spirits are somewhat sobered, and he 



