254 
PRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
habit in the races ; and it is worthy of remark that the best dog 
I ever owned here was one which I imported from England 
when a small pup, and had broke in New Jersey. I never 
saw either his dam or his sire, over both which I shot in Eng¬ 
land, point a bird, and I never saw him set one. The first bird 
he ever scented was a Woodcock, on the fourth of July, and 
that he stood , with head and stem high in the air, as showily as 
I ever saw a Pointer stand. 
Nothing has ever puzzled me more completely as regards 
field sports than this fact, and I cannot figure to myself any 
reason that is at all satisfactory for the difference of habit, in 
the two countries. I have sometimes fancied that it might arise 
from soil or climate rendering the scent colder here than in 
England—for it is certain that the hotter the scent, the closer 
the dog sets —but I cannot see that this holds good by analogy, 
as I think dogs find and point their game fully as far off here 
as in Europe. 
This observation of Mr. Audubon’s has brought the matter, 
at this moment strongly to my mind, and has almost raised a 
doubt within me, whether to the Westward the Setter may not 
possibly resume his natural inclination to set rather than stand 
his game. 
In wooded regions it is to be remarked, that these birds are 
rarely if ever to be found among open groves and tall timber, 
such as are peculiarly loved by the Ruffed Grouse; they fre¬ 
quent tracts of low bushes and stunted underwood; and when 
on the wing will fly for miles rather than alight until they can 
find a clear place, such as an old road-way, or a new cutting, in 
which to settle. They generally run forward swiftly as soon as 
they strike the ground, and not unfrequently press themselves 
into thick covert, where they squat, and are compelled to lie 
hard by the difficulty which they experience in taking wing, 
from the opposition of the dense foliage. 
They are a shy bird in covert; and are of course much 
wilder to the Eastward, where they are incessantly persecuted, 
than in the Western Country. 
