CH. xvi.] HEAD RUNNING BIRDS. 289 



523. A careful dog, thus practised, will seldom spring 

 birds, however directly he may be running down wind. 

 He will pull up at the faintest indication of a scent, 

 being at all times anxiously on the look-out for the 

 coveted aroma. 



524. Not only to the idle or tired sportsman would it 

 be a great benefit to have a field thus beaten, but the 

 keenest and most indefatigable shot would experience 

 its advantages in the cold and windy weather customary 

 in November, when the tameness of partridge-shooting 

 cannot be much complained of; for the birds being then 

 ever ready to take wing, surely the best chance, by fair 

 means, of getting near them would be to intercept them 

 between the dog and yourself. The manoeuvre much 

 resembles that recommended in 284, but in this you 

 sooner and more directly head the birds. 



525. Here the consideration naturally arises, whether 

 dogs could not be taught (when hunting in the ordinary 

 manner with the dog in rear) 



TO HEAD RUNNING BIRDS. 



Certainly it could be done. There have been many 

 instances of old dogs spontaneously galloping off, and 

 placing themselves on the other side of the covey (which 

 they had pointed) as soon as they perceived that it was 

 on the run, and by good instruction you could develop, 

 or rather excite, that exercise of sagacity. 



526. Tolfrey (formerly, I believe, of the 43rd) gives, in his 

 " Sportsman in France," so beautiful an instance of a dog's un- 

 tutored intelligence, leading him to see the advantage of thus 

 placing running birds between himself and the gun, that I will 

 transcribe it, although I have already mentioned (end of 206) 

 Grouse's very similar behaviour. 



527. " On gaining some still higher ground, the dog drew and 

 stood. She was walked up to, but to my astonishment we found 

 no birds. She was encouraged, and with great difficulty coaxed off 



U 



