104 THE DOGS OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 



CHAPTER IV. 

 RETRIEVERS. 



THE RETRIEVER PROPER THE WAVY-COATED RETRIEVER THE CTJRLY- 

 COATED BLACK RETRIEVER RETRIEVERS OTHER THAN BLACK WILDFOWL 

 RETRIEVERS THE DEERHOUND. 



S there are several purposes for which, dogs are required to retrieve, so 

 there are special breeds which fulfil those various requirements in the 

 best manner. Thus a dog may be wanted to retrieve partridges in a 

 turnip field; or he may be required to road a running grouse on the 

 moors ; or again, a winged pheasant or a broken-legged hare in covert 

 may test his nose and tender mouth. For these several purposes, what is now called 

 the retriever is the fashion of the day, and the same animal may sometimes be called 

 on to take water in order to fetch a wounded duck or widgeon, or even a wild goose 

 or swan. Lastly, the red deer, when wounded by the rifle ball, and not killed, 

 sometimes goes away at a great pace, and tries the speed, and even the stamina, of 

 the deerhound or other dog which is slipped after him. Hence it is necessary 

 under this article to describe (1st) the retriever proper, including (a) the wavy- 

 coated black, (&) the curly-coated black, (c) the retriever other than black, (d) the 

 wildfowl retriever ; and (2nd) the deerhound. 



1. THE RETRIEVER PROPER. 



Until within the last twenty years, many good sportsmen were not satisfied unless 

 their pointers and setters retrieved the game shot to them, and G-en. Hutchinson 

 still maintains that it is a good plan to teach them to do so. Fashion is, however, 

 altogether against this last-mentioned combination, partly because no southern 

 shooter can do without a retriever in walking up birds in turnips ; and, as he must 

 have such a dog for part of the year, the more practice that dog has, the better, and 

 consequently, the shooter seldom goes out without one either on the moors or 

 elsewhere. My own experience is, that with a pointer or setter of very high courage 

 it is almost impossible to keep him steady at " down charge " if he is allowed to 

 retrieve ; but, on the other hand, a slack worker will no doubt be encouraged if he 

 is permitted to go to his bird and bring it to his master. Consequently, there are 

 two sides to the argument, as I think; and before attempting to form a reliable 

 opinion, it is well to know the breed of pointers or setters which is to be worked. I 

 am, however, inclined to believe that no retriever proper possesses as good a nose as 



