wish to run forward on seeing a bird
fall; but the plan has necessarily this evil consequence, that should the
setter, when searching for the dead bird, come across and point, _as he
ought_, any fresh game, on your telling him to fetch it--as you naturally
will--he must spring it if he attempt to obey you. Surely this would tend
more to unsteady him than the habit of lifting his dead birds as soon as
found? Your dog and you ought always to work in the greatest harmony--in
the mutual confidence of your, at all times, thoroughly understanding each
other--and you should carefully avoid the possibility of ever perplexing
him by giving him any order it is out of his power to obey, however much
he may exert himself. Moreover, if you teach your retrieving setter to
"point dead," you at once relinquish--surely unnecessarily?--all hope of
ever witnessing such a fine display of sagacity and steadiness as has just
been related in the first part of 298.

300. If you object to a setter's being taught to lift on the ground that
it will make the other dogs jealous, pray remember that the argument has
equal force against the employment of a regular retriever in their
presence.

FOOTNOTES:

[47] "Increased:" the gratification of carrying being far greater than
that of merely "pointing dead."

[48] I retain this anecdote because every one of the occurrences related
has happened to myself. The first many times in the United States; the
second once in the United States when my dog Chavee pointed a fresh
woodcock with a dead bird in his mouth, and a winged bird under his fore
paw; the last, many times in England over an old Russian setter,
Charm.--H.W.H.

REGULAR RETRIEVER TO BEAT.

301. We all have our prejudices--every Englishman has a right to many. One
of mine is to think a _regular_ retriever positively not worth his keep
for general shooting _if one of your setting dogs will retrieve well_.
However, if you shoot much in cover, I admit that a regular retriever
which can be worked in perfect silence, never refusing to come in when he
is merely signalled to, or, if out of sight, softly whistled to, is
better[49]--particularly when you employ beaters[50]--but even then he
need not be the idle rascal that one generally sees--he might be broken in
to hunt close to you, and give you the same service as a mute spaniel. I
grant this is somewhat difficult to accomplish, for it much tends to
unsteady him, but it can be effected--