hing, if not very attractive, at least not laborious,
is the fact that the more you impart to a dog, the more readily will he
gain further knowledge. After teaching a poodle or a terrier a few tricks,
you will be surprised to see with what increasing facility he will
acquire each successive accomplishment. It is this circumstance which, I
think, should induce you not to regard as chimerical the perfection of
which I purpose to speak by-and-by, under the head of "refinements in
breaking." Indeed I only adopt this distinction in deference to what I
cannot but consider popular prejudice; for I well know many will regard
such accomplishments as altogether superfluous. It is sad to think that an
art which might easily be made much more perfect, is allowed, almost by
universal suffrance, to stop short just at the point where excellence is
within grasp.

116. Far more dogs would be _well-broken_, if men would but keep half the
number they usually possess. _The owner of many dogs cannot shoot often
enough over them, to give them great experience._

117. I am, however, wandering from our immediate subject. Let us return to
the lecture, and consider how much knowledge your pupil will have acquired
by these preliminary instructions. We shall find that, with the exception
of a systematically confirmed range, really little remains to be learned,
save what his almost unaided instinct will tell him.

118. For it is wonderful how much you can effect by initiatory
instruction: indeed, afterwards, you will have little else to do than
teach and confirm your dog in a judicious range--his own sagacity and
increasing experience will be his principal guides--for consider how much
you will have taught him.

119. He will know--

I. That he is to pay attention to his whistle--the whistle
that you design always to use to him. I mean that, when he
hears _one_ low blast on his whistle he is to look to you
for orders, but not necessarily run towards you, unless he
is out of sight, or you continue whistling (18).

II. That "Toho," or the right arm raised nearly
perpendicularly, means that he is to stand still (19 to 21).

III. That "Drop," or the left arm raised nearly
perpendicularly, or the report of a gun, means that he is to
crouch down with his head close to the ground, between his
feet, however far off he may be ranging. Greater relaxation
in the position may be permitted after he has been