Chapter 6

FIRST LESSON IN AUTUMN COMMENCED. RANGING.

124. Regular Breakers make Dogs "point" paired Birds in Spring, tends to Blinking.

125. Better not to see Game until shot over; taken out alone on a fine day in Autumn.

126. Perpetually whistling to animate Dogs, injudicious.

127. Beat largest fields, and where least likely to find Game.

128. Commence from leeward; scent bad in a calm or gale.

129 to 133. Instructions in "ranging."

134. Kept from hedge; Range greater on moors than stubble.

135. Distance between Parallels dependent on tenderness of nose.

136. If the Dog is to hunt with another, the Parallels to be farther apart.

137. No interruption when winding Birds, yet not allowed to puzzle; Nose to gain Experience.

138. Birds lie well to Dog that "winds," not "foots" them.

139. Inattentive to Whistle, made to "drop," &c.; when rating or punishing, the disregarded order or signal to be often repeated; Whip to crack loudly. The attainment of a scientific Range difficult, but of surpassing value; the best ranger must in the end find most Game.