CH. XT.] ALLOW HIM TO "NOSE." 183 



be relinquished, even though he be constrained to hunt 

 from morning till night. And it is clear that to make 

 an abiding, valuable impression, this lesson must be 

 inculcated on the several first occasions with unre- 

 mitting, untiring diligence. 



313. Persevere, therefore, for an hour, rather than 

 give up a wounded bird. Join in the search yourself. 

 Even if you see where it lies, do not pick it up hastily. 

 On the contrary, leave it, but mark well the spot. Keep 

 on the move. Hold your gun as if in expectation of a 

 rise. Pretend to seek for the bird in every direction, 

 even for a good half hour, if you can encourage your 

 dog to hunt so long. If, indeed, you see him flag, and 

 get wearied and dispirited, gradually bring him close, 

 but to leeward of the spot where the bird lies, in order 

 to make him " point dead," and be rewarded for all his 

 diligence by finding it himself. Let him, also, have a 

 good sniff at it and nose it (but let there be no biting 

 or mouthing), before you put it into the bag. Other- 

 wise, what return has he for the pains he has taken ? 



314. It is no conclusive argument against the practice 

 of allowing him to "nose," that many first-rate dogs 

 have never been so indulged. It is certain that they 

 would not have been worse if they had ; and many a 

 dog, that would otherwise have been extremely slack, 

 has been incited to hunt with eagerness from having 

 been so rewarded. There are dogs who, from having 

 been constantly denied all "touseling," will not even 

 give themselves the trouble of searching for any bird 

 which they have seen knocked over, much less think 

 of pointing it. They seem satisfied with this ocular 



to hunt when no bird is down ; influence at the moment when it 

 or, like the shepherd-boy's cry of should most animate to unremit- 

 " Wolf ! wolf ! " it will have little ting exertions. 



