THE PARTRIDGE. 109 



before the shooting season comes around ; they can be had far 

 cheaper at such times, will become familiar with their new 

 master, and learn to understand his every look and gesture. 

 Always purchase young Dogs in preference to old ones, even 

 if they should not be so well broken. Old Dogs are contrary, 

 or rather self-willed, and if they have perchance any vices, they 

 are difficult to be got rid of. Young Dogs are far more pliable, 

 and if intelligent will soon accommodate themselves to your 

 peculiar habits and modes of hunting, and, what is very im- 

 portant, will not require replacing as soon as old Dogs. You 

 should not expect the Dog to study your character alone, but 

 recollect that it is equally the duty of the master to strive to 

 understand the disposition and temper of his slave. If timid 

 and wanting in confidence, he must be cheered rather than 

 reproved; if bold and full of action, he must be restrained 

 within proper bounds; if negligent of commands and regard- 

 less of instruction, he must be flogged, and that soundly, till 

 brought to a proper appreciation of your supreme authority. 



Some Dogs, as individuals, require far more correction than 

 others; the lash, consequently, should be employed with a 

 tempered hand ; no Dog ought to be punished without he is 

 made perfectly sensible of his misconduct, and, being once fully 

 apprised of his improprieties, should never, through negligence 

 or sickly sympathy, be allowed to escape the most condign and 

 immediate chastisement. 



The fear of punishment at the hands of man, has a wonder- 

 ful influence over the actions of all animals; but over none is 

 this controlling power more forcibly exercised than in the 

 canine race. The punishment, to be sure, may oftentimes be 

 of the lightest character — an angry look, a harsh word, or a 

 single blow — still, the faithful creature feels it all, and that very 

 acutely, and by his meek submission expresses repentance, and 

 by his servile crouching acknowledges the utter helplessness of 

 his position. 



It were quite unnecessary for me to tell the sensible Sports- 

 man never to kick or strike a Dog with a heavy bludgeon; but 

 we fear lest there may be some of our readers who have not 

 properly thought over this matter, as we have occasionally 

 witnessed scenes in the field that have fairly thrilled us with 



