HABITS NATURAL TO THE DOG. 273 



bits or game in a bush. Fox-hounds I have also 

 witnessed draw upon a fox in short covert, and 

 after standing a moment or two, spring into and 

 catch him in his kennel. I had once a greyhound 

 which would stand partridges almost as well as a 

 pointer, but a friend to whom I had mentioned the 

 subject doubting it, I took the dog out into a field 

 close to the house, where he found a covey of 

 birds. The dog stood them in beautiful attitude, 

 with head and tail erect, and having brought down 

 a brace right and left, I presented them to my 

 astonished companion. If two dogs meet in a 

 road, coming from opposite directions, they will 

 crouch down first, then draw upon each other, as a 

 pointer does towards his game, then crouch again, 

 or stand erect for some time before making a 

 spring. This habit is natural to all dogs and 

 other animals of a carnivorous nature. Lions, 

 tigers, cats, and foxes approach their prey in the 

 same manner. 



