212 WILD-FOWL SHOOTING. 



is of a deep black ; and many of the animals and some 

 birds that pass the winter in the arctic regions, change 

 their dress in winter from dark to grey or pure white. 



Undoubtedly with a retriever the first point is to 

 consider his protection against cold ; plunging as he 

 does at short intervals into water at a low tempera^ 

 ture, and exposed when emerging to the stUl colder 

 blasts of -iEolus, he must be rendered comfortable 

 as far as possible at the sacrifice of every other con- 

 sideration. This is attained by the thickness more 

 than the color of his coat ; and the writer has al- 

 ways fancied, whether correctly or not, that curly 

 hair is warmer than straight hair. 



The matted coat of the Newfoundland dogs — the 

 smaller breed being preferable by reason of size — is 

 extremely warm, and where its color is modified by 

 judicious crossing, is all that can be desired ; while 

 the instinctive intelligence, the devotion, faithful- 

 ness, docility, and interest in the sport, of these 

 admirable animals, fit them in an extraordinary 

 degree for wild-fowl shooting. Coming from the 

 north and accustomed to playing in the water, they 

 can, without danger, face the element in its coldest 

 state ; and whether it be to chase a stick thrown into 

 the waves by their youtliful human playmates, or 

 to recover ducks shot by their sporting owner, they 

 take naturally to all aquatic amusements. 



Nevertheless, as has been heretofore remarked, 

 although it is well to have a slight strain of the New- 

 foundland, no distinct breed is necessary to make a 

 good retriever. Our ordinary setters are sometimes 



