100 The Dog Book 
following from the description of pheasant-shooting is noticeable for several 
things: that while his selections of setters for grouse and pointers for part- 
ridges were apparently the proper and accustomed things to do, there is a 
question of choice in pheasant-shooting and his is the pointer, and he 
takes but a single dog into the woods for this sport: 
“‘Oft undecided is the choice of dogs 
To push the pheasant from his close retreat. 
The questing spaniel some prefer, and some 
The steady pointer; while the use of both 
Is tried by others. In the earliest days 
Of the glad season to the woods they lead 
Their noisy spaniels, whose wide ranging feet 
And echoing voices rouse the startled birds, 
E’en in their deepest holds. But when the game 
More shy and cautious grows, they use alone 
The well-bred pointer. But none other dog 
Shall e’er attend my steps, or late 
Or early in the season.” 
‘One old and trusty pointer at my side attends.” 
The use of the single pointer is obvious, as the dog did not point, but 
put up the birds, like spaniels, and by having but one dog the shooter could 
be in better control of the rising birds. We will now go woodcock-shooting, 
to which the sportsman has been looking forward anxiously in expectation of 
the flight: 
“Impatient of restraint, he brooks no more 
The long delay, but to the echoing wood 
His loud-tongu’d spaniels takes, and toils, and tries 
Each ferny thicket and each miry swamp.” 
But success is not yet, the flight is not on, so he tips a rustic to give him 
early notice of the arrival of the birds. The good word arrives at evening: 
“Now let us with due care examine well 
The trusty gun; the polish’d lock explore 
Through all its parts, and with the fine-edged flint 
Fit well the bounding cock, till the bright sparks 
Descending fill the pan; precaution due. 
Next to the kennel haste, to view: 
The spotted spaniels lap their sav’ry meal. 
Thence to the couch invoking sleep 
Oblivious.” 
