340 EMPLOYMENT OF THE DOG IN HUNTING, ETC. 
which make it positively painful to go out with some men, who are everlast- 
ingly using the whip upon their unhappy slaves. a. 
“If the snipe-shooter wishes to keep his dogs in health and condition, free 
from coughs and colds, and always fit for work, he must not be above looking 
after them himself when their day’s work is done, instead of handing them 
over to ignorant or careless servants. Their legs and feet should be well 
washed in warm water before consigning them to the kennel, which ought to 
be comfortable and dry, and provided with a liberal allowance of straw. 
—Hewry Culive.” 
COVERT-SHOOTING. 
This kind of shooting is generally carried out by the aid of 
human beaters, who, either with or without dogs, enter the covert 
and drive the game to the shooter. Sometimes, however, the 
sportsman has a train of thoroughly broken spaniels, beagles, or 
terriers, and with these he goes quietly to work, either making 
them drive the game to him, or else keeping them at work so close 
to him, as he walks through the covert, that any game which is 
disturbed comes within shot. In either case the dogs should be 
thoroughly under command, as has been explained in the chapter 
treating of the breaking of them to the gun, and, beyond the 
remarks there introduced, there is little to be said. A practical 
acquaintance with each animal is more requisite here than in any 
other kind of shooting, because the sportsman always is being 
called upon to judge of the proximity of the dog to his game, and 
of the kind of game also by his note at the time. Hence practice 
is all important, and directions are of little avail. The shooter 
must, however, be quick in his movements in getting to his dogs 
when they give tongue in a way to lead him to expect that they 
are close upon their game, or he will get few shots; and in this 
one of the chief arts of covert-shooting consists. It is, however, 
useless to attempt any further explanation of its details. 
Whether spaniels, beagles, or terriers make the best covert dogs 
is a point which is sometimes discussed; but I think there is a 
general feeling in favour of the first, and at present the Clumber 
spaniel is certainly the fashion. He is more suited to battwes, 
which are now the only kinds of covert-shooting much in vogue, 
for the reason that pheasants will not bear disturbing many times 
in the season, and so the proprietor of a large preserve likes to 
give the greatest happiness to the greatest number of his friends 
