THE SPORTS.MAHS VADE MECLM. 35 



back and make him " down " also, checking him if he does 

 not instantly obey. Pat another now, and let him feed 

 awhile, and so on all through one day, sending one first then 

 another. They learn by this a daily lesson of obedience, and 

 also to let another dog pass them when at point. After 

 your dog is perfectly steady, take him out as before, and 

 ■when he has run off what is termed the wire edge, intro- 

 duce him to where there are birds. Set him off up wind, 

 and most probably he will spring the first bird, and chase. 

 Follow him, crying " down." This, in the first ardor of the 

 moment, he is not expected to do, but sooner or later he will. 

 You must now pull him back to where he sprung the birds. 

 By repeatedly doing this, he will chase less and less, always 

 pulhng him back to where the bird rises, crying " down." 

 Gradually, by this, he will learn to drop at the rise of the 

 bird, and ultimately to make a point ; thougli most well bred 

 dogs do this the first time. When they do so, cry '' down," 

 very slightly checking them if they do not. Great caution 

 is necessary here to prevent their blinking. It is always 

 advisable to teach all young dogs to "down " when they 

 point. When once down, they jvill lie there as long as you 

 please, and are less likely to blink, run in, chase. You 

 ought, if possible, to get before the dog when you cry 

 " down." It is less likely also to make him bhnk. 



Every dog, old or young, ought to be broken to drop when 

 a bird rises, not at the report of the gun. It renders them 

 far more steady. A young dog ought to be hunted alone 

 till he is perfectly confirmed in these points. It is a very 

 absurd idea to suppose that killing birds prevents their 



