302 FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
If you accustomed a Newfoundland dog to this, he might, from 
his strength and vivacity, learn the trick of breaking away when 
you did not wish him. The best and most efficient kind of 
dog for this work, is a cross between a water-dog and large 
terrier; the terrier gives him nose, the water dog coolness and 
steadiness. I should say, that before you can procure one 
which, upon trial, may prove worth the great trouble of tho¬ 
roughly training, you may have to destroy half-a-dozen. You 
should begin your training when the dog is very young , and if 
you find out he is not turning out as you wish, seal his fate at 
onoe. The dog you want must be as mute as a badger, and 
cunning as a fox. He must be of a most docile and biddable 
disposition—the generality of this breed are so. They are also 
slow and heavy in their movements, and phlegmatic in their 
temper—great requisites; but when fowl are to be secured, 
you will find no want either of will or activity, on land or water.” 
Our Highland sportsman then proceeds, in allusion to the sub¬ 
ject of a wood-cut illustrating his work, which he states to be 
the best he ever saw, “ he never gives a whimper, if ever so 
keen, and obeys eveiy signal I make with my hand. He will 
watch my motions at a distance, when crawling after wild-fowl, 
ready to rush forward the moment I have fired; and never in 
one instance has he spoiled my shot. I may mention a proof 
of his sagacity. Having a couple of long shots across a pretty 
broad stream, I stopped a Mallard with each barrel, but both 
were only wounded. I sent him across for the birds; he at¬ 
tempted at first to bring them both, but one always struggled 
out of his mouth; he then laid down one, intending to bring the 
other; but whenever he attempted to cross to me, the bird left 
fluttered into the water; he immediately returned again, laid 
down the first on the shore, and recovered the other; the first 
now fluttered away, but he instantly secured it, and standing 
over them both, seemed to cogitate for a moment; then, although 
on any other occasion he never ruffles a feather, he deliberately 
killed one, brought over the other, and then returned for the 
dead bird.” 
