298 A UTHOR'S DOG BO SCO 



gorse covert, for they can follow a rabbit anywhere. 

 I only regret that the breed has been allowed to die 

 out. I made it a rule never to work small dogs of any 

 kind in company with setters, as to do so is sure to 

 make them range too freely. 



It is a bad plan to work hill dogs on low-ground 

 shootings, for rabbits must be shot on the latter, and 

 no dog is likely to forget ' fur ' after a few have been 

 rolled over to his point. Therefore it is advisable to 

 use steady pointers, which are not likely to be so 

 spoiled for low grounds. There are some dogs whose 

 manners are so perfect as to be proof against any 

 amount of temptation ; and I have had setters and 

 pointers which, though not permitted to retrieve when 

 young, have taught themselves to do so when three or 

 four years old. My dog Bosco was the best retriever 

 I ever owned or saw for covert-shooting. 



Once, when partridge-shooting at Killeen Castle, in 

 Ireland, we called our clogs to heel, in order to beat 

 a small wood for some pheasants. Whilst heading, a 

 hen-pheasant came high overhead, and I fired at it, 

 the bird coming down a burster, being shot in the 

 neck, but going such a pace in the high wind that it 

 appeared to fall fifty yards behind me. When we had 

 finished beating the wood I turned back to look for the 

 hen-pheasant, when, to my surprise, my dog, which 

 was still at heel, had it in his mouth ; neither shall I 

 forget the peculiarly comical and sagacious expression 

 of his face, which almost seemed to say, ' Forgive me 

 if I have done wrong, but you would never have got it 

 if it had not been for me.' I could do no other than 

 pat him, and from that day he added retrieving to his 

 other accomplishments, and was, as I have said, the 



