CH. xiii.] DOG SPOILT. 217 



371. Few horses, however good, are fitted to hunt in all countries, 

 nor are many dogs ; and as in selecting a hunter a man ought to 

 consider the kind of work for which he is wanted, so ought he 

 when he is purchasing a dog to be influenced by the kind of country 

 in which the animal is to perform. A slow dog, however good, 

 would weary your heart out on the moors with his perpetual see- 

 saw, ladylike canter ; and a fast one, unless wonderfully careful, on 

 enclosed lands alive with game, would severely test your aelf-control 

 over tongue and, temper. 



372. If a purchaser be in search of a brace of dogs, assuredly he 

 ought not to give a large figure fot them, if they do not traverse 

 their ground separately. What is the use of two dogs if they hunt 

 together ? Both are engaged in doing what would be better done 

 by one, for there would be no undue excitement, or jealousy, or 

 withdrawal of attention. Not only ought a purchaser to see how 

 dogs quarter their ground, but, if the time of the year will permit, 

 he should even kill a bird to them, for though they may once have 

 been good, if an ignorant or careless sportsman has shot over them 

 but for a few days, they may be spoiled (end of 364). 



373. At the beginning of a partridge season, I unexpectedly 

 wanted to purchase a dog. An old gamekeeper, one on whose 

 judgment I could rely, and who, I knew, would not willingly de- 

 ceive me, saw a setter in the field that he thought would please, 

 and accordingly sent it to my kennel. I greatly liked the looks of 

 the animal. He quartered his ground well was obedient to the 

 hand carried a high and apparently tender nose pointed, backed, 

 and down-charged steadily. Unquestionably he had been well 

 broken. I thought myself in great luck, and should not have 

 hesitated to complete the purchase, but that fortunately I had an 

 opportunity of shooting a bird over him, when to my horror, he 

 rushed at it with the speed of a greyhound. As in spite of all my 

 remonstrances, shouted in the most determined manner, he repeated 

 this manoauvre whenever a bird fell, I returned him. I after- 

 wards heard he had just been shot over by a party on the moors, 

 who, no doubt, had spoiled him by their ignoble, pot-hunting pro- 

 pensities. 



374. Had I chosen to sacrifice my shooting in order 

 to reclaim him (which I must have done, had I too 

 hastily concluded the purchase), I ought to have sent 

 home the other dogs, and proceeded, but with greater 

 severity, much in the manner described in 321 and 323. 

 I ought not, however, to have gone after him when 

 first he bolted; I ought merely to have endeavoured to 

 check him with my voice, for it would have been most 

 important to set him a good example by remaining 



