CH. vin.] SAGACITY OF A PHEASANT. 139 



he thought the pheasant was not far distant. After a time he began 



scratching at the long grass. K g went up, and, on putting the 



stalks aside, fancied he perceived the end of some tail feathers. 

 He thrust in his arm, and ultimately succeeded in dragging forth 

 the well-hunted bird, quite alive, out of the deep wheel-track in 

 which it had buried itself. The coarse grass had grown so closely 

 over the rut, that the bird had been able to creep in for three or four 

 yards. 



233. A more miserable appearance than the poor creature pre- 

 sented, cannot easily be conceived. Its feathers were so completely 

 sopped, and stuck so close to its body, that it looked a mere 

 skeleton ; and yet it was a noble bird, measuring three feet and an 

 inch from the tip of its bill to the extremity of its tail, and weighed 

 3 Ibs. 6 oz. 



234. As "Dash" plays so conspicuous a part in the foregoing 

 history, it appears right that a few words should be given to describe 

 him. He is a low, strong-limbed, broad-backed nearly thorough- 

 bred Sussex spaniel, with an extremely intelligent-looking head, but 



a sadly mean stern. His colour is black. K g generally hunts 



him with a bell, especially where the underwood is thick. If he is 

 sharply called to when he is on game he will slacken his pace, look 

 round for his master, and not "road" keenly until the gun ap- 

 proaches him ; he will then rush in with a bark to flush, though at 

 other times hunting mute. The intelligent animal seems, however, 



perfectly to know when the cover is too high or strong for K g 



to follow, for he then invariably runs full cry from first touching on 

 a scent. He never deceives the sportsman, for he never gives one 

 of his eloquent looks unless he is certain of being on game ; and 

 his nose is so good, and he hunts so true, that he invariably 

 "pushes " his pheasant, however much it may turn or double. 



235. He is also undeniable at "seeking dead," but unluckily 

 was not taught as a youngster to fetch. Much time is, therefore, 

 often lost in finding him after he has been sent for a winged bird ; 

 but when he is at length discovered it is sure to be with him. 



236. I was told of a farmer in Kent one of her fine yeomen, of 

 whom England has such cause to feel proud, (pity that in some other 

 counties the class is not as distinctly preserved !) who was shooting 

 with an old short-legged, strong-loined, Sussex spaniel. The dog, 

 after " reading " a pheasant along many a tortuous path, led the 

 farmer to the edge of a shallow brook, up the middle of which, far 

 away to his right, he was lucky enough to see the animal running, 

 obviously with the design of throwing out the dog. A light pair of 

 heels soon brought the sportsman within shot, and enabled him to 

 bag the heaviest and richest feathered bird he had ever seen. The 

 sharp long spurs* showed it to be at least five years of age, and its 



* There are poulterers who and the smoother the leg, the 



would pare such a spur to di- younger is the bird. Dr. Kitchener, 



minish the appearance of age. who appears not to have had much 



The shorter and blunter the spur, luck in stumbling upon well-fed 



