156 BLINKING DEAD. 



sit down ; smooth the feathers of the bird ; let him. 

 perceive that you attach much value to it ; and after a 

 while loop it on the game bag, allowing him all the 

 time to see what you are doing. After that, make much 

 of him for full five minutes : indeed with some dogs it 

 would be advisable to give a palatable reward, but be 

 not invariably very prodigal of these allurements ; you 

 may have a pupil whose attention they might engross 

 more than they ought. Then walk about a little time 

 with him at your heels. All this delay and caressing 

 will serve to show him that the first tragedy is con- 

 cluded, and has been satisfactorily performed. You may 

 now hie him on to hunt for more birds. 



267. Pray mind what is said about making your 

 youngster point the dead bird staunchly, the moment 

 you perceive that he first scents it. Should he be 

 allowed to approach so near as to be able to touch it 

 (instead of being made to point the instant he finds), 

 the chances are, that, if hard-mouthed he will give it a 

 crunch, if tender-mouthed a fumbling of the feathers ; 

 and either proceeding satisfying him, that he will quit 

 it, and not further aid you in a search. As " pointing " 

 is only a natural pause (prolonged by art) to determine 

 exactly where the game is lying, preparatory to rushing 

 forward to seize, it would be unreasonable to expect him 

 willingly to make a second point at game he has not 

 only found but mouthed : the evil, however, does not 

 rest here. There is such a disagreeable thing as blinking 

 a dead bird, no less than blinking a sound one. Tor 

 mouthing the bird you may possibly beat the dog, or for 

 nosing it and not pointing you may rate him harshly, 

 either of which, if he be not of a bold disposition, may 

 lead, on the next occasion, to his slinking off after 

 merely obtaining a sniff. You ought, in fact, to watch 



