372 SHOOT1XG. 



or cattle, or for pointing larks, or approaching too 

 near the heels of a horse. Seek, is a direction to 

 the dog to look for a dead or wounded bird, hare, 

 or rabbit. Dead, is to make a dog relinquish his 

 hold of dead or wounded game. The dog should 

 not touch a dead bird, but should retain possession 

 of wounded game until it is taken from him ; for 

 should he suffer a bird that is only slightly wounded 

 to disengage himself from his grasp, another seek 

 becomes necessary, and the bird is either lost, or 

 despoiled of its plumage by the catching and re- 

 catching. 



The dog should fall when the gun is fired, and 

 remain down until he is told to seek, when he 

 should point the dead bird. A pointer that drops 

 to shot, becomes an excellent retriever. 



The dog should be taught to obey the eye and 

 the hand, rather than the voice. A dog that will 

 do so is invaluable, in open grounds, when birds 

 are wild ! 



Whenever speaking to a dog, whether encourag- 

 ingly or reprovingly, the sportsman should endea- 

 vour to look what he means, and the dog will under- 

 stand him. The dog will understand the look, if 

 he does not the words. The sportsman should 

 never, with a smile on his countenance, punish a 

 dog; nor commend him when he has done well, 

 but with an apparent hearty good will : the dog 

 will then take an interest in obeying him. Game- 

 keepers and dog-breakers are often odd fellows, and 

 seldom natives of the place where they follow their 



