[95] A reverend and very enthusiastic dog-breaker in Cornwall (R. R. W——t), who took to the art late in life, had an admirable dog named Niger, who practised a peculiar self-taught dodge. He had a capital nose, and when he winded birds on the other side of a hedge, he would make a circuit, and coming behind them would drive them over to his master. This was all innate talent. In no way did it result from tuition.
[96] Unless they are very young they are little prized at table; and they afford such bad sport to the gun that, notwithstanding their beauty, great pains are now taken in Norfolk and Suffolk to exterminate the breed. Their nests are sought for to be destroyed; and when the snow is on the ground, the old birds are killed in great numbers. It is observed that in proportion as they increase, so do the common partridge decrease. The stronger bird, according to the general law of nature, drives off the weaker congener. Mr. L——d, A——r’s keeper (of H——n Hall), told me he had on several occasions seen the young red-legged Frenchmen perseveringly attack and eventually kill a whole covey of the less active English squeakers. The late Marquis of Hertford has the credit (?) of having been the first to turn out a few of the strangers. This was nearly fifty years ago at Sudbourn Hall, his seat in Suffolk, whence they have spread over that county and Norfolk, and are fast invading the northern parts of Essex.
[97] This note on setters, poachers, keepers, bloodhounds, night-dogs, &c., is so long, that the printer has placed it in an Appendix. See page [344].
[98] “Increased:” the gratification of carrying being far greater than that of merely “pointing dead.”
[99] A red-legged partridge.
[100] Of course, a regular retriever is absolutely necessary when a team of spaniels is hunted, none of which are accustomed to retrieve ([78]).
[101] In deep water diving birds will of course beat the most active dog.
[102] Twice a day he should be allowed to run out, that he may not be compelled to adopt habits wholly opposed to his natural propensities. If he has acquired the disagreeable trick of howling when shut up, put a muzzle on him.
[103] Claws of dogs kept on boarded floors, or not exercised, occasionally become so long, that unless they are filed or pared down, they cause lameness. In the menagerie at the Cape of Good Hope I saw a fine tigress, the claws of whose fore-feet had grown so far beyond her power of sheathing that they had penetrated deep into the flesh, and it was under consideration how to secure her so that the operator should incur no risk while sawing off the ends. She was very tame and sociable, and would rub against the bars when she was approached by visitors to invite their caresses; but it was quite distressing to see her raising each leg alternately, really to ease it of her weight, but apparently as if soliciting relief. The blessings of chloroform were then unknown. No tiger while under its drowsy influence had ever had an injured limb amputated, as was once successfully managed at the Surrey Zoological Gardens.
[104] It will tend to your comfort and health to have your boots made waterproof, and you will not easily get a better preparation, when well rubbed into the leather, for effecting your object, than the following. It is an admirable one for rendering all kinds of leather pliable, and for preserving them in that state—and how often in the beginning of a season have you found your water-boots as hard as a board!