212 General Notes. [ February, 
But there was one thing which Don had not been taught in train- 
ing, but which he had adopted of his own notion, as the result 
his own reasoning or reflective powers. 
When a young bird gets separated from its companions, or it 
may be is the last of a covey which has escaped the fowling- 
piece, it is apt to wander a good deal, and the dog may follow its 
trail for a considerable distance. When pressed it will seek short 
cover if convenient, and there the trail is freqently lost. In such 
cases I have frequently- seen Don hunt about rapidly and irregt- 
larly for a short time, and if still unsuccessful he wouid retum 
the last point where he could detect the scent, and then cot 
mence to hunt in a circle, enlarging the circle by perhaps W0 
feet in the radius, and these were made with wonderful regularity 
till he had covered the ground for many rods around, if the wa 
of success required it, but he generally found the bird within tet 
or twelve feet of the starting-point. I once knew him to goon 
the ground a second time in the same way before he was z 
cessful, — a deo 
Invariably the bird was found to have conccaled itself in ac | 
narrow depression in the prairie. ted i 
I repeat that the dog had not been taught, but had adoptet ' 
_ voluntarily, or, it was his own invention. 
I never knew any other dog to do this, a 
Ithough a book coul 
be filled with accounts of smart things which bird dogs have be? > 
known to do.—/. D. Caton. 
can have in the vicii dpe got 
houses or grounds, as th ates f 
people affirm no hawk ue on h 
to commit depredations gh-bo¥® 
nest is the best a 
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