40 THE sportsman's vadb mecum. 



him back. If he should still return there, you ma}' presumo 

 it is a runner. Let him tiy to puzzle it out, while you keep 

 the other dog at work close to you. By this plan it is extra- 

 ordinary what few birds you will lose in a season. Always 

 hunt a brace of €ogs. More are too many ; one is just one 

 too few. It is too pot-lmnterish, too slow. You lose half 

 the beauties of the sport seeing your dogs quartering their 

 fields, crossing one another in the centre, or thereby, without 

 jealousy, backing one another's points — both dropping " to 

 shot " as if shot. You get over twice as much ground in a 

 day. This, in a thinly sprinkled game country, is something. 

 Where very plentiful, you find them all the quicker. 



With regard to the feeding of dogs, some few words are 

 necessary, and we will endeavor to point out the best way to 

 manage them properly, and with a due regard to economy. 

 Where only one or two dogs are kept, it is presumed that 

 the refuse of the house is ample for them. It will keep them 

 in good order and condition ; but where more are kept, it 

 will be necessary to look further for their supplies. We will 

 therefore treat them as one would a kennel, distinguishing 

 town from country ; for in the one what would be extremely 

 cheap, in the other would be dear. For ordinary, feeding, 

 then, in town, purchase beef heads, sheep ditto, ofial, i. e. 

 feet, bellies, &c., which clean. Chop them up and boil to rags 

 in a copper, filling up your copper as the water boils away. 

 You may add to this a little salt, cabbage, parsnips, potatoes, 

 carrots, turnips, or any other cheap vegetable. Put this 



