CHAPTEE XII. 



SHOOTING HARES. COURAGE IMPARTED. "BACKING" TAUGHT. 



331. Shooting Hares not recommended ; shooting Rabbits strongly condemned. In 

 Note, why superior Grouse-Dog better than superior Partridge-Dog. Dog brought 

 from strange country always hunts to disadvantage. 332. Put off killing Hares 

 long as possible. 333. Dogs not to quit faint Scent of Birds for strong Scent of 

 Hare. 334. Dog off after Hare ; no racing after Dog ; Puss gone down wind. 

 335. Checkcord employed. Drive in spike on "So-ho-ing" Hare. 336. Impro- 

 propriety of Firing at Dog. 337. Hares scarce, visit Rabbit-warren. 338. 

 Morning, hunt where no Hares ; evening, where plentiful. Mountain-hares. In 

 Note, how to choose, and tell age of, Hares and Rabbits. 339. Killing Hare in 

 its form. 340. Shooting Bird on ground. 341. Dog taught to pursue wounded 

 Hare. 342. Whip carried, saves punishment. Detention of Dog at crouching 

 posture, saves whip. 343. Pointer's revenge for detention from hunting. 

 344. Few cuts, but severe ones. 345. Instance of timidity cured. Range im- 

 parted by giving Dog feet of Partridge. In Note, sinews of thigh dragged out. 

 346. Punishment, not defective Nose, causes Blinking. 347. Courage imparted 

 to' timid Dogs. 348. Dogs expect punishment for faults ; vexed when Birds are 

 not fired at. 349. Instance of Pointer's not hunting keenly until punished. 

 350. What Dog to select to teach yours to "Back." 351. Example has great 

 influence. 352. Instanced in conduct of young bitch when hunted with steady 

 dog. In Note, Mare teaching Colts to swim. 353. "Backing" old Dog. 



354. "Finder" to "road" to a "rise;" his intrusive companion described. 



355. To "Back" by Eye, not Nose. 356. Encourage old Dog before rating the 

 other. 357. "Finder" not to advance, even if passed by other Dog. 358. The 

 "Backer" should "down charge." 359. Dog when pointing never to "down 

 charge ;" how taught. 360. Much required in " Dove." 



331. PROBABLY you may be in a part of the country 

 where you may wish to kill hares to your dog's point. 

 I will, therefore, speak about them, though I confess I 

 cannot do it with much enthusiasm. Ah ! my English 

 friend, what far happier autumns we should spend 

 could we but pass them in the Highlands ! Then we 

 should think little about those villanous hares (338). 

 We should direct the whole undivided faculties of our 

 dogs, to work out the haunt of the noble grouse.* As 



* A superior dog on grouse more than a superior partridge-dog be- 

 easily becomes good on partridge comes good on grouse. Grouse 



