ricks and scratches; but it is not fair to expect
it. In a very light cover I have often shot over one belonging to a
relation of mine, which was so clever, that when I came close to her as
she was pointing, she would frequently run around to the other side of
the thicket, and then rush in to drive the game towards me. This killing
plan had in no way been taught her; she adopted it solely of her own
sagacity. Having been much hunted in cover when young, she was so fond of
it (65) as to be, comparatively speaking, quite unserviceable on the
stubbles.

FOOTNOTES:

[12] There is no gorse in America. It is a prickly shrub, severe enough,
but nothing to compare to catbriars, or even to the hollies of Southern
Jersey.--H.W.H.

[13] The only bird which we have in America, at all analogous in habit to
the pheasant, though totally different in species and appearance, is the
Ruffed Grouse, erroneously called Pheasant in the South, and Partridge in
the Eastern States. It is, however, for cock and quail shooting in covert,
that the Spaniel would be of such inestimable service to sportsmen in
North America.--H.W.H.

[14] For the benefit of those who have the good fortune, or the bad
fortune, as the case may be, of always living within the sound of Bow
bells, "Flick," be it observed, is a synonym for "Fur," thereby meaning
Hare or Rabbit.

[15] Contrary to my usual system, I preserve these anecdotes, as relating
to the Clumber Spaniels, which are so little known, and which I so much
desire to see introduced in America.--H.W.H.

[16] I leave these two anecdotes, contrary to my usual system, as we use
setters and pointers so generally in cover in America, that the idea of
their being utterly unfit for cover work seems strange. Yet such is the
opinion in England, and where they are chiefly used in the open it _does_
operate to spoil their range.--H.W.H.

WATER SPANIELS (OR WATER RETRIEVERS).

81. A young water spaniel might, with advantage, occasionally be indulged
with a duck hunt in warm weather. It would tend to make him quick in the
water, and observant. The finishing lessons might conclude with your
shooting the bird and obliging him to retrieve it. He should be made handy
to your signals--IV. to VII. and X. of 119--so as to hunt the fens and
marshes, and "seek dead" exactly where you may wish.

82. This obedience to the hand is particularly required; for when the
spaniel is swimming he is on a level with the bird,