The Quail 23 



waterproof if possible, but above all they should 

 fit. A man on a long tramp is like a horse ; he 

 is only as good as his feet, and hardly too much 

 care can be exercised over the boots and socks. 

 All underwear should be of light, pure woollen 

 fabric, which will prevent chill after a wetting or 

 during a long ride. The handiest place for the 

 shells is an outside pocket, for if the coat be 

 properly made the weight of them will not inter- 

 fere with free action of the arms. Bags, belts, 

 and vest devices for carrying shells come under 

 the general head of infernal nuisances. 



And now an extremely important question, — 

 the dog ! So long as he be a free ranger, of good 

 nose, intelligent, and properly broken, he may be 

 either pointer or setter. Both are good, equally 

 good, taking the season through. By reason of 

 his coat the pointer is better for warm weather, 

 and he can travel on less water than the setter, 

 while for the same reason he seldom is so good 

 for cold, rough work, especially in thorny cover 

 or coarse grass. In actual merit, including bird 

 sense, speed, nose, and staying qualities — in fine, 

 every hunting quality — they rank about even. 

 The pointer is apt to be the better for the man 

 who can only occasionally go afield, as he 

 will keep steady on less work, while to all but 

 a pointer man, the setter is the more beautiful 

 and companionable dog. Of the merits of the 



