QUAIL SHOOTING 351 



wood in the foothills we use dogs when hunting quail, 

 chiefly for flushing and retrieving, but down on the 

 plains, amid the cactus and low brush, some hunters 

 use both setters and pointers. There, when you flush 

 a covey of quail and shoot in among them or over 

 them, they will very often scatter and then hide under 

 the cactus and lie to point. It is a cruel place to work 

 a dog. The first day that I took my dog down there, 

 he filled his shoulders and breast full of cactus spines. 

 We pulled out most of them, but even then he was 

 in no condition to work for some days. 



"Over one-half of the quail hunters here do not 

 use a dog, and ninety per cent, of the other half use 

 spaniels for retrieving. The other small minority use 

 either setters or pointers. 



"When my spaniel flushes a covey, some of them 

 fly my way, so that I am very sure of a double shot, 

 and sometimes an extra double at some of the laggards. 

 Then, as the dog can outrun the birds, he keeps them 

 moving, which often gives me shots at fast-flying 

 birds. I have him so trained that I can control him 

 with my whistle; that is, bring him into heel, where 

 he will remain until I tell him to go." 



It is hardly to be doubted that if either the valley, 

 the mountain, or, in fact, GambeFs quail, were to be 

 introduced in any section where the climate was mild 

 enough, they would, if properly protected, do well and 

 increase. The beautiful valley quail readily adapts 

 itself to confinement, becomes not at all shy, and has 

 been frequently known to build its nest and lay its 



