504 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



under the eye of the shooter; out of sight, they are 

 lawless. Again, some dogs which point well refuse 

 to back at all. 



So far as work to the gun is concerned, the purpose 

 of the back, apart from its spectacular features, is to 

 guard against interference with the pointing dog. If 

 a dog refuses to back he can be taught to drop instantly 

 to oral command or to signal or to his bracemate's 

 point. This detracts from the spectacular beauties of 

 shooting, but a good dog should not be condemned 

 because of failure in this respect. 



Quartering denotes a system of beating out the 

 ground in substantially parallel casts at right angles 

 to the course of the shooter. This method has never 

 been esteemed in this country, although it was viewed 

 with favor in some sections of England. It fitted in 

 usefully in English shooting, as on the English pre- 

 serves the birds, in many fields, were quite as likely 

 to be in one place as another; therefore, it was an 

 essential that every bit of ground be searched out thor- 

 oughly. In this country, there being much unpromising 

 area in ratio to likely area, the really serviceable dog 

 uses his brains in hunting only in the likely places. 

 These conditions are ever changing. The local con- 

 ditions must always be the guide of action ; no arbitrary 

 rule is possible. 



Before attempting to shoot game over a dog's points 

 with a serious purpose to secure enjoyable sport, it 

 is better to give him a thorough schooling in the dif- 

 ferent commands, and their significance, and therewith 



