286 DOG SHOWING HIMSELF. [OH. xvi. 



recommended contradicts the axiom laid down in 359 ; 

 but it is there said, that nothing ought to make a dog 

 "voluntarily" leave his point. Indeed, the possession 

 of this accomplishment, so far from being productive 

 of any harm, greatly awakens a dog's intelligence, and 

 makes him perceive, more clearly than ever, that the 

 sole object for which he is taken to the field is to obtain 

 shots for the gun that accompanies him. When he is 

 pointing on your side of a thick hedge, it will make him 

 understand why you call him off; take him down wind, 

 and direct him to jump the fence : he will at once go to 

 the bird, and, on your encouraging him, force it to rise 

 on your side. 



515. You will practise this lesson, however, with great 

 caution, and not before his education is nearly completed, 

 lest he imagine that you do not wish him always to 

 remain stanch to his point. Indeed, if you are precipi- 

 tate, or injudicious, you may make him blink his game. 



516. After a little experience, he will very likely some 

 day satisfactorily prove his consciousness of your object, 

 by voluntarily coming out of thick cover to show you 

 where he is, and again going in and resuming his point. 



517. I was once shooting in Ireland with a friend (MajorL e), 



late in the season, when we saw a very young pointer do this solely 

 from his own intelligence. Unperceived by either of us he had 

 broken fence, and was out of sight. In vain we whistled and called. 

 At length we saw him on the top of a bank (in that country usually 

 miscalled " ditch ") ; but the moment he perceived that we noticed 

 him, down he jumped. We went up, and to our great satisfaction 

 found him steadily pointing a snipe. I need not say that he 

 received much praise and many caresses for the feat. 



518. I was partridge-shooting a few seasons back with an intimate 

 friend, who was anxious to give me a good day's sport, when I 

 observed him beckoning to me from a distance. He told me, when 

 I came up to him, that some birds were immediately before him. 

 I was puzzled to conceive how he could know this, for his white 

 setter was alongside of him rolling on her back. He signalled to 

 her to go forward, and sure enough she marched on, straight as an 

 arrow's flight, to a covey lying on the stubble. In answer to my 



