DOGS 471 



work of the spaniel fits in admirably, assuming that 

 game is present in reasonable abundance. 



The spaniel's working methods, natural and educa- 

 tional, are quite distinct from those of the pointer and 

 setter. The two latter hunt mute, and, having found 

 the birds, indicate the find by pointing them, the flusH 

 being left to the shooter's choice of time and manner. 

 The spaniel trails the birds to their place of conceal- 

 ment, and, the opportunity offering, presses them to 

 a flush without any attempt at pointing, if he acts 

 properly; hence the term "springer." 



Some spaniels whimper, babble, or give tongue mer- 

 rily while trailing; others work mute. Giving tongue 

 at all is an objectionable trait, as in upland shooting 

 man and dog should work as silently as possible. This 

 is especially important when the birds are wild and 

 seek safety in flight at the slightest alarm. Thus the 

 need of silence in upland shooting would seem to be 

 quite obvious. 



However, this is contrary to some of the traditions 

 and usages governing the use of the spaniel afield. 

 Stonehenge (J. H. Walsh), in his work "Stonehenge 

 on the Dog" (1873), ' m respect to this matter speaks 

 as follows: "A good and somewhat musical tongue 

 was, by the old school of sportsmen, considered a desid- 

 eratum, in order not only to give notice that the dog is 

 on game, but also the particular kind which he is 

 'questing/ and which many good spaniels enable their 

 masters to distinguish by a variation in their notes. 

 Formerly this was thought so important that if a 



