5$ BROADLAND SPORT 



or otherwise, and not harass constant frequenters more than 

 is absolutely necessary. The importance of this advice cannot 

 be impressed too strongly, and it is only by observation and 

 bitter experience that the gunner finds out the truth of it, and 

 the unfathomable value of having obtained the confidence of 

 his every-day attendants. 



For hardiness and endurance, especially in such a trying 

 neighbourhood as the Fen Country, there is nothing to equal 

 a good cross-bred dog. A cross between a water spaniel and 

 retriever produced the author one of the cleverest and neatest 

 little workers it was ever his good fortune to shoot over. 

 That dog, however, had its peculiarities. If you went out with 

 it after cock pheasants and it constantly flushed hens, which 

 you allowed to go away without a shot, it would put up with 

 it for a while, but if it continued it would take itself off home 

 in disgust. Again, it would never run home after work on a 

 dirty night, but insisted upon being driven; and if it was 

 refused, it trotted, with head and tail erect, to the nearest 

 farmhouse, where it would seek quarters for the night. On 

 wildfowl it was splendid, and never gave up a cripple unless 

 compelled to. You might trust it in any covert to persevere 

 for hours, once having touched the scent of a wounded bird ; 

 and to mark down two or three birds in succession, retrieving 

 each at a gallop on receiving the longed-for word of release, 

 was with it a common occurrence. Its manner was most 

 eccentric, and you could not lose it if you tried; but it 

 abominated music, which its teeth marks to this day testify 

 because in an inopportune hour it was once serenaded by the 

 author with a concertina when he thought he was safely 

 sitting in a hammock, the supporting rope unfortunately 

 giving way when least expected. 



The dogs mostly in use for decoying purposes, and pre- 

 ferred, are retrievers, both liver-coloured and black, curly and 

 wavy, with no distinct preference for one in particular, but 

 selecting a sort of happy medium between the two. 



A great deal has at different times been said about 

 artificial and natural calls for wildfowl and other shooting. 



