USE OF TERRIERS IN FERRETING, ETC. 341 
on the small number of days which his gamekeeper advises him 
that he can afford. These spaniels, however, are too heavy for 
wild woodlands or for cock-shooting, for which the light corky 
cocker must be employed. But between these two there is little 
room for the too noisy beagle or the too silent terrier, and they 
are therefore seldom used, though the last is very useful to the 
single sportsman who goes quietly poking about in search of a 
shot. 
WILDFOWL-SHOOTING. 
As far as the dog is concerned, this kind of sport requires a 
steady water-spaniel or retriever, with a good nose, and thoroughly 
accustomed to his work. In river and pond shooting, he will have 
to find as well as to retrieve the ducks or other kinds of water- 
fowl which are sought for; but in the marine variety his sole use 
is to retrieve the dead and crippled birds, which would otherwise 
be beyond the reach of the shooter. For each kind, however, the 
power of retrieving is most important, and no one would think of 
embarking in this sport without a dog thoroughly broken in this 
respect, or likely to become so. Those who wish to become expert 
in it, and have no friend or servant able to teach them the vari- 
ous details necessary for its successful prosecution, will do well 
to consult the pages of Colonel Hawker, who has written most 
minute instructions for the construction and management of punts, 
punt guns, &c., in his celebrated work on shooting. 
THE USE OF TERRIERS IN FERRETING, RATTING, ETC. 
Beyond the necessity for entering these dogs to their game, and 
breaking them from destroying the ferrets, little can be said on 
the mode of using them. Some practice is, of course, required to 
do these things well and successfully, but the oral instructions of 
a good keeper or ratcatcher are of far more value than all the 
written directions which can be given. 
