98 The Sporting Dog 



as fast, stanch, handy on birds, and always ready 

 for work. He admits, however, that it took two 

 seasons to train the dog, and that during the first 

 year the animal would seldom point at all. Here, 

 perhaps, lies one explanation of the Irish setter's 

 loss of favor. It is certainly true that it has not 

 the natural pointing instinct or judgment in 

 locating birds to the degree shown in pointers 

 and English setters. 



Before the country which is now the Territory 

 of Oklahoma was open to settlement, I was out 

 one day on the prairie with the late General, then 

 Captain, Woodson of the regular army, a keen 

 sportsman and an educated critic of dogs. A 

 friend had sent him a beautiful Irish setter some- 

 thing over a year old. The captain took the 

 youngster out this day to give him a trial on 

 birds. The dog started out in attractive fashion, 

 ranging fast and with high head on both sides of 

 the wagon as we drove along. Prairie chicken and 

 quail were both abundant in those days of 

 Oklahoma. In a few minutes the Irishman 

 struck a "bunch" of chicken. He did not make 

 game or hesitate, but dashed through them as if 

 they had been so many flies, and went ranging 

 along as bhthely as if nothing had happened. 

 The captain uttered a few muttered maledictions, 

 but fancied that the dog would settle down after 

 a little more running. Ten minutes later the 



