QUAIL SHOOTING 351 
wood in the foothills we use dogs when hunting quail, 
chiefly for flushing and retrieving, but down on the 
plains, amid the cactus and low brush, some hunters 
use both setters and pointers. There, when you flush 
a covey of quail and shoot in among them or over 
them, they will very often scatter and then hide under 
the cactus and lie to point. It is a cruel place to work 
a dog. The first day that I took my dog down there, 
he filled his shoulders and breast full of cactus spines. 
We pulled out most of them, but even then he was 
in no condition to work for some days. 
“Over one-half of the quail hunters here do not 
use a dog, and ninety per cent. of the other half use 
spaniels for retrieving. The other small minority use 
either setters or pointers. 
“When my spaniel flushes a covey, some of them 
fly my way, so that I am very sure of a double shot, 
and sometimes an extra double at some of the laggards. 
Then, as the dog can outrun the birds, he keeps them 
moving, which often gives me shots at fast-flying 
birds. I have him so trained that I can control him 
with my whistle; that is, bring him into heel, where 
he will remain until I tell him to go.” 
It is hardly to be doubted that if either the valley, 
the mountain, or, in fact, Gambel’s quail, were to be 
introduced in any section where the climate was mild 
enough, they would, if properly protected, do well and 
increase. The beautiful valley quail readily adapts 
itself to confinement, becomes not at all shy, and has 
been frequently known to build its nest and lay its 
