fore to accustom Isis ham! while he H taking 
aim to follow the object. \\ hen a have runs 
in a straight line from the shooter, he should 
take his aim between the ears, otherwise he 
will run the hazard either of missing, or at 
least not of killing dead, or, as it is sometimes 
called, clean. 
A fov. iing-piece should not be fired more 
than 20 or 25 times w ithout being washed ; a 
barrel when foul neither shoots so read} , nor 
carries the shot so far, as when clean. The 
flint, pan, and hammer, should be well wiped 
after each shot ; this contributes greatly to 
make the piece go off quick, but then it 
should be done with so much expedition, that 
the barrel mav be reloaded whilst warm, tor 
the reasons before advanced. I lie flint 
should be frequently changed, without wait- 
ing ant: l it misses lire, before a new one is 
put in. h r teen or eighteen shots, therefore, 
should onlv be tired with the same flint; the j 
expence is' too trifling to he regarded, and by j 
■changing it tints often much vexation will be 
prevented. 
A gun also should never be tired with the 
prime of the preceding day ; it may happen 
that an o'<d priming will sometimes go oft 
well, but it will more frequently contract 
moisture and fuze in the firing ; then the ob- 
ject will most probably be missed, and that 
because the piece w as not fresh primed. 
{■'or the information of the young sports- 
man we shall add a few more gen. rai direc- 
tions. In warm weather he ought to seek for 
game in plains and open grounds; and in cold 
weather lie may search little hills exposed to 
the sun, along hedges, among heath, in 
stubbles, and in pa lures where there is much 
furze and fern. The morning is the best time 
of the day, before the dew Is exhaled, and 
before the game has been disturbed, ’i he 
colour of the shooter’s dress ought to be the 
same with that of the fields and trees; in 
summer it ought to be green, in winter a 
dark grey. lie ought to. hunt as much as 
possible against the wind, not only to pre- 
vent the game perceiving the approach of 
him and his dog, but also to enable the dog 
to scent the game at a greater distance. 
He should never be discouraged from 
hunting and ranging the same ground over 
and over again, especially in places covered 
with heath, brambles, high grass, or young 
coppice wood- A hare or rabbit will fre- 
quently suffer him to pass several times within 
a few yards of its 'form' without getting up. 
He should lie still more patient when he has 
marked partridges into such p'aces ; for it 
often hupp ms. that after the birds have been 
sprung many limes, they lie so dead that 
they will suffer him almost to tread upon 
them before they will rise. Pheasants, quails, 
and woodcocks, do the same. 
He ought to look carefully about him, 
never passing a bush, or tuft of grass, without 
examination ; but he ought never to strike 
them with the muzzle of his gun, for it will 
loosen his wadding. lie who patiently beats 
and ranges his ground over again, without 
being discouraged, will always kill the great- 
est quantity- of game; and 'if he is shooting 
in company, lie will find game where others 
have passed without discovering any. 
W1ku he has fired he should call in his 
dog, that he may not have the mortification 
to see game rise which he cannot shoot. 
When he lias killed a bird, instead of being 
ftlKWIXfCJ, 
anxious about. picking if up, he ought to fol- 
low the rest of the covey with his eye till he 
sees them settle. 
Three species of dogs are capable of re- 
ceiving the proper instructions and of being 
trained. These are the smooth pointer, the 
rough pointer, and the spaniel, j he smooth 
pointer is active and lively enough in his 
range, blit in general is proper only for an 
open country. 
J he greatest part of these dogs are afraid 
of water, brambles, and thickets ; but the 
spaniel and the rough pointer are easily 
taught to take the water, even in cold wea- 
ther, and to range the woods and rough 
places as well as the plain. Greater depend- 
ance may therefore be had on these two last 
species of dog than on the smooth pointer. 
T he education of a pointer may commence 
when he is only five or six months old. The 
only lessons which he can be taught at this 
time are, to fetch and carry any thing, when 
desired; to come in when Ire runs far off, 
and to go behind when lie returns ; using, in 
the one case, the words here, come in, and ! 
in the other, back, or behind. It is afoo ne- 
cessary at this period to accustom him to be 
tied up in the kennel or stable ; but he ought 
not at first to be tied too long. He should 
lie let loose in the morning, and fastened 
again in the evening. When a dog is not 
early accustomed to be chained, he disturbs 
every person in the neighbourhood by howl- 
ing. It is also of importance that the person 
who is to train him should give him his 
food. 
When the dog has attained the age of ten 
or twelve months, he may be carried into the 
field to be regularly trained. At first be may 
be allowed to follow his own inclination, and 
to run after every animal he sees, llis in- 
discriminating eagerness will soon abate,, and 
he will pursue only partridges and hares. lie 
will soon become tired of following partridges 
in vain, and will content himself alter having 
flushed them, to follow; them with hi* eyes. 
It will be more difficult to prevent him from 
following hares. 
All young dogs are apt to rake ; that is, to 
hunt with their noses close to the ground, to 
follow birds rather by the track than by the 
wind. But partridges lie much better to dogs 
that wind them, than to those that follow 
them by the track. 'The dog that winds the 
scent approaches the birds by degrees, and 
without disturbing them; but they are im- 
mediately alarmed, when they see a dog tra- 
cing tiieir footsteps, When you perceive 
that vour dog is committing this fault, call to 
him in an angry tone, hold up; he will then 
grow uneasy and agitated, going first to the 
one side and then to the other, until the wind 
brings him the scent of the birds. A her 
finding tut game four or live times in this 
way, he v ill take the wind of himself, and 
hunt witn his nose high, if it is difficult to 
correct this fault, it will be necessary to put 
the puzzle-peg upon him. This is of very 
simple construct ion, consisting only of a piece 
of oak or deal inch-board, one foot in length, 
and an inch and a half in breadth, tapering a 
little to one end ; at the broader end are two 
holes^running longitudinally, through which 
the collar of the dog i> put, and the whole is 
buckled round his neck ; the piece of wood , 
being projected beyond his nose, is then fast- j 
ened with a piece of leather thong to his 
O0T 
under jaw, By this mean* the peg rdvan-. 
cing seven or eight inches beyond his siioufo.. 
the dog is prevented from putting uis nose- 
to the ground and raking, 
As soon as the x otmg dog knows his game*, 
you must bring him unaei complete subjec- 
tion. If he is tractable, this will be easy ; but 
if he is stubborn, it will be necessary fo use 
the trash cord, wljicii is a rope or cord of 29- 
or 25 fathoms in length fastened to his collar, 
If he refuses to come back when called upon, 
you must check him smartly with the cord, 
which will often bring him upon his haunches. 
But be sure you never call to him except 
when you are within reach of the cord. After 
repealing tins several times, he will not fail 
to come back when called; he ought then to 
be caressed, and a bit of bread should be 
given him. He ought now constantly to be 
tied up ; and never unchained, except when 
you give him iris food, and even then only 
when he has done something to deserve it. 
The next step will be to throw down a 
piece of bread on the ground, at the same 
time taking hold of the dog by the collar, 
calling to him, “ take heed,— softly.” After 
having held him in this manner’ for some 
space of time, say to him f< seize— lay hold.” 
If he is impatient to lay hold of the piece of 
bread before the signal is given, correct hint 
gently with a small whip. Repeat this lesson 
until he u takes heed” well, and no longer 
requires to be held fast to prevent him from 
laying hold of the bread. W hen he is well 
accustomed to this manege, turn the bread 
with a stick, holding it in the manner you d<> 
a fowling-piece, and having done so, cry 
seize. Never suffer the dog to eat either in 
the house or field, without having first made 
him take heed in this manner. 
Then, in order to apply this lesson to the- 
game, fry small pieces of bread in hog’s 1 u d, 
with the dung of partridge ; take these in a 
linen bag into the fields, stubbles, ploughed 
grounds, and pastures, and there put the 
pieces in sever, i different places, marking the 
spots with little cleft pickets of wood, which 
will be rendered more di tinguishabie by 
putting pieces of card in the nicks, 'l ifts 
being done, cast off the dog and conduct him 
to these places, always hunting in the w ind. 
After lie has caught the scent of the bread, 
if be approaches too near, and seems eager ta 
fail upon it, cry to him in a menacing tone, 
“ take heed and if he does not stop im- 
mediately, correct him with the whip. lie 
will soon comprehend what is required of 
him, and will stand, 
At the next lesson, take vour gun charged 
only with powder, walk gently round Urn 
piece of bread once or tw ice, and fire instead 
of crying seize. The next time of prac tising 
this lesson, walk round the bread four or live 
times, but in a greater circle than before, 
and continue to do this until the dog is con- 
quered of his impatience, and will stand 
without moving until the signal is given him. 
When he keeps his point well, and stands 
stead} in this lesson, you may carry him to 
the birds; if he runs in upon them, or barks 
when they spring up, you must correct him ; 
and if he continues to do so, you must return 
to the fried bread ; but this is seldom neces- 
sary. 
When the dog has learned by this use ©f 
the bread vo take heed, he mav be carried t@. 
the fields with the trash-cord dragging on thg 
