THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
after the game is flushed. Only the other day I was struggling in the middle 
of a most uncompromising fence, when my dog, a flat coat, made a set; 
I had time to extricate myself, take the gun, load it, and walk back to the 
dog, which I found setting an old cock pheasant, which we had walked 
over. These dogs become very clever and useful with Jack Snipe, and they 
love the work. Most people think that using retrievers for snipe makes 
them slow, but I have not found it so, and it certainly tones down dogs 
which are inclined to gallop too fast for their noses. Occasions will 
frequently occur when it is advisable to walk a field or bit of covert out 
before picking up any of the game killed; the dog may be left behind, lying 
down, at the spot where you fired at and killed game. No noise is made, 
and there is no halt, consequently more shots are often obtained than 
would be the case if the game were hunted for at the time it was knocked 
down; then when you come to the dog, if he is of any use, he has done the 
marking and can usually pick what has fallen quickly when told to do so. 
In the nesting season these dogs are delightful companions, and speedily 
seem to realize that it is the close season, and that a sort of truce is reigning 
between themselves and winged game. I have in my mind that most charm- 
ing little bitch, Horton Rosette, who is of the greatest assistance to her owner 
during the nesting season. Very tall and thick fences are the order of the 
day in parts of Kent, and as partridges are sensible enough to nest in the 
middle of them, their nests are in consequence most difficult to find. 
Rosette is set to hunt for the nests, during the time when birds are lay- 
ing, and never passes one, standing still and wagging her tail when she 
has found one, looking round the while for her master, who tells me that 
her nose is much better than his eyes on such occasions. As retriever 
men will know, this bitch is fashionably bred by High Legh Blarney 
ex Ruby. 
Some anxiety is felt among breeders as to the future of the flat -coated 
retriever. Fresh blood is undoubtedly wanted, and experts are divided as 
to whether Labrador or setter blood is to be utilized. If the present appear- 
ance of the dog is to be retained, and I see no reason why it should be 
altered, setter blood would seem to be the more desirable, and if that is 
decided on I would strongly recommend the Irish red setter; he has 
a capital constitution, retrieves well, and will go all day; he has also the 
advantage of being extremely handsome, and I have found him tractable. 
A cross which I tried in the early eighties between a red setter dog and a 
flat- coated bitch gave good results, half the litter favouring the dam in 
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