196 SHOOTING HARES. [CF. xn. 



frequently lead to your mis-instructing him, by earnestly 

 enforcing " Care " at a moment when you ought to rate 

 him loudly with the command "Ware" (or "No"). 

 But to our immediate subject. 



332. Defer as long as possible the evil day of shooting 

 a hare over him, that he may not get too fond (69) of 

 such vermin I beg pardon, I mean game and when 

 you do kill one, so manage that he may not see it put 

 into the bag. On no account let him mouth it. You 

 want him to love the pursuit of feather more than of 

 fur, that he may never be taken off the faintest scent of 

 birds by coming across the taint of a hare. I therefore 

 entreat you, during his first season, if you will shoot 

 hares, to fire only at those which you are likely to kill 

 outright ; for the taint of a wounded hare is so strong 

 that it would probably diminish his zeal, and the sensi- 

 tiveness of his nose, in searching for a winged bird. 



333. The temptation is always great to quit for a 

 strong scent of hare (which any coarse-nosed dog can 

 follow), a feeble one of birds ; therefore it is a very 

 satisfactory test of good breaking to see a dog, when he 

 is drawing upon birds, in no way interrupted by a hare 

 having just crossed before him. If you aim at such 

 excellence, and it is frequently attained in the High- 

 lands, it is certain you must not shoot hares over your 

 youngster. 



334. I hope that he will not see a hare before you 

 have shot a few birds over him. The first that springs 

 up near him will test the perfection to which he has 

 attained in his initiatory lessons. Lose not a moment. 

 It is most essential to restrain instantaneously the 

 naturally strong impulse of the dog to run after four- 

 footed game. Halloo out " Drop " to the extent of your 

 voice, raise your hand, crack your whip, do all you 



