THE COVERT SPANIEL. 343 



to " speak " to them, and if he can be induced to give a different 

 note at each of the three varieties above-mentioned, he is all 

 the more highly prized. These dogs are better taken out first 

 into small coverts or hedgerows (provided there are not too 

 many rabbits iu the latter), as they are more under command 

 here than in large woodlands ; self-hunting should be strictly 

 discouraged, that is to say, the dog should neither be allowed 

 to hunt by himself nor for himself, but should be made to 

 understand that he is always in aid of the gun, and that he 

 must keep within shot. For this purpose spaniels must be 

 taught not to press their game till the shooter is within range, 

 which is one of the most difficult things to teach them. When 

 they are to be kept exclusively for "feather," they must be 

 stopped and rated as soon as it is discovered that they are speak- 

 ing to "fur." This requires a long time, and therefore few 

 spaniels are worth much till they have had one or two seasons' 

 practice, from which circumstance it should not occasion surprise 

 that a thoroughly broken Clumber spaniel fetches from 30 to 

 40 guineas. When they are too riotous and hunt too freely, 

 these methods of sobering them are adopted : — 1 st, to put on 

 a collar, and slip one of the fore legs into it, which compels 

 the dog to run on three only; 2ndly, to buckle a small strap, 

 or tie a piece of tape, tightly round the hind leg above the hock, 

 by which that limb is rendered useless, and the dog has to go 

 upon three also ; and, 3rdly, to put on a collar loaded with shot. 

 If either of the legs is fastened up, it must be occasionally 

 changed, especially if the strap is adopted, as it cramps the 

 muscles after a certain time, and, if persisted in too long, renders 

 the dog lame for days afterwards. On the other hand, when 

 the puppy is slack in hunting, put him on the scent of pheasants 

 as they are going off their feed, when they generally run back 



