THE DOG. 61 



THE SPRINGER, OR COCK-DOG. 



THE animal generally used for this purpose is a small 

 land spaniel, though I have seen water spaniels an- 

 swer equally well. They will eagerly pursue either 

 hare, pheasant, partridge, or indeed any kind of 

 game; hut are chiefly used for flushing woodcocks 

 and pheasants : they are never taught to set, nor are 

 they at all adapted for an extensive range. These 

 dogs should never he used hut in thickets, woods, 

 and such-like places ; and then never suffered, if 

 possible, to go beyond gun-shot. It is asserted, that 

 they are very useful in recovering a winged pheasant ; 

 this I am willing to allow ; but, at the same time, I 

 am convinced a setter is equally so. However, we 

 will take it for granted that these dogs are useful : 

 but let me impress on the mind of those sportsmen 

 who make use of them, the necessity of training them 

 to open only when the game springs ; to whimper 

 and give mouth when they come upon the scent is 

 certainly well calculated to disturb it before the 

 sportsman is within reach, and thus cause those mor- 

 tifying disappointments, which any person fond of 

 the diversion will more easily conceive than I am 

 able to describe. 



It appears to be the nature of these animals to 

 spring all the game they find; and, as was observed 

 before, they should be kept within gun-shot. Some 

 sportsmen, where the covers are thick and extensive, 

 fasten small bells to their collars $ however, should 



