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CH. ix.J DEAD BIRDS LEFT ON GROUND. 161 



without your companionship, will readily hunt morasses 

 and ravines, where you might find it difficult to accom- 

 pany him. He will feel the less free to follow his own 

 vagaries; and this consciousness of.' subjection will 

 dispose him to pay more watchful attention to your 

 signals. He will the more patiently w^it at the " down 

 charge ; " and when you are reloaded 1 ^will not be so 

 tempted to dash recklessly after the tyird. regardless 

 whether or not he raises others on the way. If he is 

 dragging a cord, you can the more easily take hold of 

 its end, in order to check him, and make him point 

 when he first winds the dead bird, and should you be 

 shooting over several dogs, by none of them being per- 

 mitted to run direct to the fallen bird, they will the 

 less unwillingly allow you to select the one who is to 

 approach close to you before " seeking dead." 



272. The opponents of this method argue, that the 

 practice may give the dog the bad habit of running 

 immediately after the " down charge " to the gun, instead 

 of recommencing to hunt ; particularly if he is shot over 

 by a first-rate performer. Granted ; but is not the 

 temptation to bolt off in search of a dead bird still 

 stronger ? To check the former evil, endeavour to make 

 the coming to " heel " an act of obedience rather than a 

 voluntary act, by never failing, as soon as you are re- 

 loaded, to give the customary signal (vra. of 141) when 

 you have killed, or the signal to "hie on'"' should you 

 have missed. 



2*73. Moreover, you will sometimes meet with a dog 

 who, when a bird has been fired at, though it be the 

 first and only one sprung of a large covey, commences 

 "seeking dead" immediately after the "down charge/' 

 apparently considering that his first duty. This sad, 

 sad fault for it frequently leads to his raising the 



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