THE FIELD. SNIFE-SHOOTING. 267 



devour a fallen bird, do not run after him. You cannot 

 catch him, and will only excite him and yourself, and 

 make matters worse. Holloa at him ! rate him ! whistle 

 to him ! but keep your place, till he return from chasing, 

 or become ashamed of tearing the game — he must do so 

 at last. Then make him " drop ! " go up to him quietly, 

 put your check-cord on his collar, if he have chased, drag 

 him back to the spot whence he started, flogging him all 

 the way and rating him, and make him lie down in posi- 

 tion, and retain him there by the cord for several minutes. 

 If he have broken in from his charge and torn the bird, do 

 the same thing, leaving the fragments of the bird where 

 he left them, and then make him draw gently up to them, 

 and point them, checking him with the cord, and flogging 

 him every time he attempts to touch them. 



7th. When you buy a dog, endeavor to learn the exact 

 mode of hunting and words of command used by his 

 former owner, and as far as possible conform to them. If 

 possible, see him hunted by his old master. 



8th. Never punish a dog, unless you are certain that 

 he cannot fail to understand for what he is punished. 



9th. Never undertake to make a dog do any thing, 

 however trivial, and allow him to get the better of you, for 

 fear of losing time or losing birds. Better to lose a day, 

 and a bag full, than to let your dog discover that he is a 

 master. 



10th. Never pass a fault uncorrected. I mean by 

 rating, threatening with the whip, and making the culprit 

 pause and recognize his fault. 



11th. Punish with the whip as seldom as possible; but 



