CH. XIIT.] SMALL SUMS FOR DOGS. 223 



380. In marked contrast to such high prices, are those often 

 realized at Laing's and at Wordsworth's stables, in Edinburgh, 

 where sometimes a batch of pointers and setters are sent for un- 

 reserved sale, of whose previous history and education no one can 

 tell anything, except perhaps, the party sent by the vendor, natu- 

 rally considered a prejudiced if not an interested witness. 



381. The Mr. C 1 named in 289 boasts, that he never gives 



more than half a sovereign for any dog, and that he has some of the 

 best in Scotland. He attends at Laing's and Wordsworth's, when 

 dogs are advertised for sale by auction, and buys all those that are 

 decent-looking, and fetch no higher bid than ten shillings, a fre- 

 quent occurrence where their characters are quite unknown. He 

 takes his bargains to the moors. Those that show any promise he 

 keeps for further trial ; the rest he at once shoots, leaving their 

 bodies unhonoured by any other burial than the purple heather that 

 blooms around them. 



382. A red setter brought the largest price that I ever knew paid 

 for a dog. After mid-day he came upon a covey basking in the 

 sun. His owner very knowingly told the shooting party that they 

 might go to luncheon ; that he would leave the dog, and accompany 

 them, engaging that they should find him still steadily pointing on 

 their return. The promise was faithfully redeemed by the stanch 

 setter. One of the sportsmen was so struck with the performance, 

 that he could not resist buying at a tremendous figure, and he soon 

 regained, I believe, much of the purchase-money from some in- 

 credulous acquaintance, by backing the animal to perform a similar 

 feat. It was, however, no great test of excellence. 



383. I conceive those dogs must be considered the 

 lest, which procure a persevering sportsman most shots 

 in a season, and lose him fewest winged birds.* If you 

 are anxious for your pupil to attain this superlative 

 excellence (I will repeat it, at the risk of being accused 

 of tautology), you must be at all times consistently 

 strict, but never severe. Make him, as much as you 

 can, your constant companion ; you will thereby much 

 develop his intelligence, and so render him a more 

 efficient assistant in the field, for he will understand 

 your manner better and better, and greatly increase in 

 affection as well as observation. Many men would like 

 so faithful an attendant. Teach obedience at home to 

 obtain it in the field. Consider the instantaneous "drop," 



* And if hares are shot to him, fewest wounded hares. 



