212 RO UGH SHOOTING O VER DOGS 



where birds lie well, such as in grass countries, where 

 I have shot birds, after a black frost, which lay as 

 close as they could have done at the beginning of the 

 season, and in grass birds are not so apt to run as in 

 turnips and other crops. 



It is impossible to make it a hard and fast rule to 

 shoot over dogs the whole season through, nor can I 

 allow that shooting over dogs is more sporting than 

 driving ; my experience as an old sportsman forbids 

 my so admitting. There are but few places out of Ire- 

 land where pointers or setters have any chance after 

 September. If dogs are used, good Clumber-spaniels 

 and small, active retrievers are those which are of 

 most service at such times. The former dogs are 

 valuable in routing-out birds which run to the hedge- 

 rows or dry ditches, and the latter in picking up those 

 shot or wounded. Pointers and setters are useless for 

 such work, and are not by any means improved by 

 being so used. To my way of thinking half the 

 interest which attaches to shooting over dogs is lost, 

 unless they are being either trained, or employing the 

 education they have received profitably ; and the 

 training which dogs have so carefully undergone is 

 very apt to be marred by any departure from the 

 ordinary routine, and nothing is more detrimental to a 

 bold, high-ranging dog than allowing him to work in 

 hedcrerows and such like. 



Where, however, dogs are of such a description as 

 to be incapable of being so spoiled, and a long walk 

 for a light bag is not objected to, a few brace of birds 

 may be picked up on some moors, more especially 

 where the ground is undulating and rough and there 

 is good ' lie' for birds in the shape of rocks, juniper- 



