BOB WHITE, THE GAME BIRD OE AMERICA. 
491 
MRS. BOB WHITE AND FAMILY. 
the jjrime requisites in a dog, and is as diffi- 
cult to teach a good retriever as it is essential 
to the true enjoyment of sport. 
If the dog is unsteady and apt to “ break 
shot,” do not load if you have fired only 
one barrel, for in so doing other birds may 
rise just as you have opened your gun or 
are handling a cartridge. 
After the covey has been scattered give 
your dog but little range. Keep your eye 
well on him as you approach the ground 
where you or your gillie has marked the birds. 
Be ready, if he be rash when he “ winds ” the 
birds, to chide him, in a voice just sufficient 
to be heard. Steady, there! Toko I 
Above all things, do not get excited and 
gain in voice as you lose in temper. Take it 
leisurely, be quiet and cool, if you would en- 
joy the sport and kill cleanly. By all means, 
train your dog, if possible, to hunt without 
shouting to him. A short, quick whistle should 
call his attention. Then give him the order 
he waits for by waves of the hand : forward, 
for “ on ” ; a wave to the right or left, as you 
may desire him to quarter; while the upraised 
arm, with the palm of your hand toward him, 
should bring him to “ toho.” Or, two short 
whistles may be often better for the same 
order, while one much prolonged should 
bring him “ to heel.” 
A dog that with head well up Avinds his 
birds and is stanch on a covey, that Avill 
drop to shot and retain his charge till ordered 
to retrieve, and will receive and obey your 
orders from the whistle and the motions of 
your arm and hand, is a dog indeed. Such 
dogs exist. Should you shoot over such a one, 
make a note of him as having the education 
which your next ]^uppy shall receive. You may 
never possess such a dog; but if a true sports- 
man, you will ever endeavor to have one like 
him. 
After the covey has been flushed and shot 
at and the birds have been well scattered, the 
real enjoyment in Bob White shooting begins. 
One may now have single and double shots 
over all kinds of ground and at birds taking 
every conceivable direction of flight. But 
often, the best of markers will be baffled in 
finding the birds whose flight he has carefully 
noted after the springing of the covey. 'Fhe 
following incident is typical of the experience 
of all sportsmen : A large covey was once 
flushed and shot at, three birds falling to our 
fire. My friend and I watched the other birds 
as they flew across a swale, where we sprung 
