68 GALLINACEOUS BIRDS GROUSE 



sportsmen usually drive in a wagon, alighting to shoot, 

 or ride about shooting, often without dismount- 

 ing, I have tried both methods many times and am 

 very fond of the saddle. When the horse, or Indian 

 pony, is used to the gun and will stand anywhere with- 

 out hitching and come when called, as a well-trained 

 pony will do, this method is perhaps the best. A drive 

 with a companion or two in a light spring- wagon, with 

 the opportunity of praising the conduct of the dogs 

 and discussing the shots at the last covey, is the usual 

 way. The dogs range far and wide, and when they 

 come to a point the wagon is driven rapidly within a 

 very short distance of them, the sportsmen take their 

 positions behind the dogs, slipping the shells in the 

 guns as they approach, and when all are ready the 

 owner of the dogs steps forward a pace or two, his 

 companion moves forward with him, there is a loud 

 whirring of wings, a rapid firing of the guns and if 

 the aim be true, four large brown birds tumble dead 

 into the stubble at the report of the four barrels. 



The driver shades his eyes with his hand and from 

 his seat in the wagon observes the flight of the sur- 

 vivors as they go whirring and sailing away like so 

 many two-pound meadow-larks, and marks them by a 

 tall weed when they settle on the prairie. 



The dog having retrieved the dead, they are placed 

 in the wagon and a short drive brings the shooters to 

 the scattered birds. Soon the setters or pointers lo- 

 cate them by the strong scent. One dog draws up 

 quickly to a point and the other backs him, or per- 

 chance they both point at once at separate birds. 

 These arise as the sportsmen move forward, present- 



