1 76 THE KEEPERS BOOK 



least, to soak the feet of the dogs in strong brine or 

 other hardening fluid, after the day's work. Plenty of 

 exercise on the 'roads before the Twelfth hardens 

 their feet. 



(8) When a dog comes to a point, there should not 

 be any " to-hoing " to it. If it has been properly taught, 

 it should " hold up " without any words from the keeper ; 

 an uplifting of the keeper's hand should be sufficient. 

 If a dog has a habit of drawing too close on the birds, 

 the keepers should come quietly to its side and hold it 

 gently back till the guns are ready, directing of course, 

 the attention of the guns to the point. If the dog be 

 too slow in drawing on the birds after the guns are ready, 

 it should be encouraged by patting it on the back or 

 even by dragging or pushing it on. 



2. Driving 



The keeper's duties in regard to grouse-driving may 

 vary from the conducting of several improvised drives 

 on a moor that is free from butts, and which is chiefly 

 " dogged " or walked or stalked, to the arrangement of 

 systematic and elaborate drives. In preparing for the 

 former little is necessary but a study of the wind, a 

 knowledge of the general flight of the birds, and the 

 selection of points which might be used as natural butts, 

 such as dyke or burn sides, rocks, or the backs of the 

 crests of braes and hillocks. In dealing with the 

 business of an elaborate drive, however, he is con- 

 cerned with a very different business and a campaign 



