500 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



would have the birds located before the dog which 

 picks his way painfully and slowly along by the foot 

 scent had well begun. The advantage of drawing as 

 compared to roading is thus apparent, and it is of spe- 

 cial advantage in field trial competition. 



Some dogs have the ability to draw or road, adapting 

 their efforts to the scenting conditions, and acquitting 

 themselves creditably. However, every dog which car- 

 ries a high nose in the attempt to locate is not neces- 

 sarily a good performer. There are wide-ranging, 

 high-nosed dogs which are poor finders. The only test 

 by which a dog's merit can be properly determined is 

 his actual work afield. 



Ranging is a term which denotes the casts taken 

 by the dog, to and fro, while beating out the ground 

 in the search for birds. It may be done in many quite 

 different but successful ways, or it may be done in a 

 way which at once demonstrates that the dog has 

 no hunting intelligence whatever so far as the needs 

 of the gun are concerned. Inability, due to stupidity, 

 cannot be overcome by training. Neither a foolish 

 man nor a foolish dog should be expected to surpass 

 his natural limitations. 



A good nose is an aid of inestimable value in sup- 

 plementing industry and good judgment. It com- 

 mands a great area, thus enabling its possessor to 

 search out much more territory with fewer casts than 

 is possible to his fellow with the poorer nose. 



The good ranger maintains constant observation 

 of the wind. He skirts promising stretches of cover 



