DOGS 501 



on the leeward side, so that, if there are therein any 

 birds in hiding, he will catch their scent. He recog- 

 nizes the likely places for birds, and, planning with 

 them in mind, he conducts his range after a well-laid 

 scheme, thereby economizing time and effort. On the 

 other hand, the dog possessing a poor nose is quite 

 likely to range here and there, hither and thither, hit 

 or miss, as it may happen, working the same ground 

 over repeatedly while leaving other places, perhaps the 

 most likely ones for game, unnoticed. 



A fast dog, if he uses his nose properly, is the best, 

 provided he can maintain his pace uniformly for a con- 

 siderable time. It is obvious that such a dog can cover 

 a certain area in a certain time much more thoroughly 

 than a slower worker can. 



Many dogs will start at high speed, slowing down 

 gradually thereafter, till they practically quit. A lot 

 of stamina and pluck are required to maintain a fast 

 pace while hunting during several hours in succession. 

 A moderate degree of speed, uniformly sustained, is 

 much to be preferred over high speed of uncertain 

 duration. Some slow dogs, of surpassing cunning in 

 their work, are excellent bird finders. Though a dog 

 may be slow he nevertheless may take wide casts, and 

 if his nose and judgment are good, combined with 

 honest work to the gun, he has the essentials of a hunt- 

 ing dog. 



As to methods of hunting out any game area, the 

 dog, if given the opportunity, learns them best when 

 left to his own devices, without interference from 



