18 THE dog; and how to break him. 



about his work. If a bird be winged, and seen 

 running before the dog, it is the best plan to fire 

 at and kill it at once ; for hunting wounded birds 

 has a natural tendency to make a dog wild. But, 

 when this is not practicable, the dog can hardly 

 be blamed if, when he sees a bird jumping up in 

 a vain attempt to fly within a few yards of his 

 nose, he rushes at it. And, if the truth be told, 

 there are few shooters who, under such circum- 

 stances, are not as eager as the dog. 



In the selection of names for pointers, or any 

 dogs used with the gun, choose words of only one 

 syllable ; and let that one be such as will allow 

 the vowel to have its most perfect intonation. 

 Bob, Don, Rock, Moll, Fan, Di, Nell, &c., are 

 good names ; and, where it is practicable, the 

 names of dogs hunted together should be as dis- 

 similar as possible in sound, in order that there 

 may be no mistake when it becomes necessary to 

 use the voice instead of the whistle. 



the pointer. 



AVell-bred pointers are to be met with in most 

 parts of the kingdom ; ^arjdng in colour, size, &c., 

 as the whim or caprice of the breeder may have dic- 

 tated. Sometimes small dogs are fashionable ; at 

 other times large ones. I must confess I am not 



