nel should likewise be thoroughly cleansed, and whitewashed all over with a mixture of lime and water, not omitting the benches, which should be moveable by hinges, so that no dirt whatever be allowed to accumulate underneath them.

Great care must be taken that there is always a constant supply of fresh water, with a few pieces of brimstone at the bottom of the vessel; and I must not omit to add, that there should always be an abundant supply of salt in the kennel, to be used at all times in the food. Dogs enjoy their food more with salt, and its use is essential to their health.

Although I have partially alluded to the treatment of hounds in a kennel, having had more particularly in view the arrangements necessary for the management and care of shooting dogs, I have only recommended the use of one boiler, which will suffice for at least twenty dogs; in fact, with twenty couple of harriers, I have known one boiler answer every purpose: in a large kennel of foxhounds, of course two boilers will be required, one for the preparation of meal, the other for the boiling of flesh; but the same system which I have before suggested must be adopted. The great advantage of the two boilers is, that you can better regulate the consistency of the food after it is made, by the addition of either liquid or solid, as circumstances may render advisable, and, by one being

kept hot and the other cold, can also manage that the food be exactly the proper warmth when hounds return home, which, as I have previously intimated, is important: however, a good man in the kennel, who has twenty couple of hounds to attend to, will rarely be at fault with one boiler. These matters of detail merely require method with regular and assiduous attention. A man who in any way neglects his dogs, ought immediately to be discharged.

I cannot close this chapter without again insisting upon the great importance of the strictest cleanliness being maintained in a kennel of pointers and setters: this is essential to the nicety of their noses, and as sport much depends upon this particular, every sportsman will do well to see that his kennel is kept as it should be.

THE METHOD OF TEACHING DOGS TO BRING THEIR GAME ON LAND AND FROM THE WATER, ADOPTED IN FRANCE.

No French chasseur considers his chien d'arret of any value unless he brings his game both by land and water, and every small town in

France swarms with chasseurs; hence, it may be readily imagined that several persons in each locality gain their living by instructing dogs in this particular. In several French towns where I have resided there were three or four persons who devoted their time and ingenuity, "a faire dresser les chiens à bien rapporter à terre et à l'eau." The price for this instruction, when completed, was 50 francs, or 21., besides 5 or 6 francs a month pour la nourriture. A dog can be taught to bring by land at any season of the year, but to bring from the water the summer is the only suitable time. It requires about two months to complete a dog's education in both qualifications. A good hand will break half a dozen dogs in the same period of time but not more, as he must devote two hours a day to each dog.

I have made use of the term chien d'arret, which literally means pointer, but is applied in France to all dogs that point their game: it would have been a misnomer, in our sense of the word, to have made use of the term pointer, as we understand by it a particular breed of dog, whereas the chien d'arret of France is almost a nondescript. It is true he points; but he embodies and combines every species of dog, and it is difficult to say to which breed he bears the closest resemblance and affinity,—something of the chien griffon, pointer, sheep-dog, setter, and poodle being

occasionally discernible. Some few French gentlemen chasseurs, who are particular as to their dogs, have English pointers and setters, but les bourgeois, who form the greater portion of the French sporting community, possess this mixed race of dog.

To point game is, however, in the chasseur's estimation, a secondary consideration to the fetching and carrying perfectly,-as these dogs are valuable for the winter's sport, being used for duckshooting, and, from being taught with the spike collar, never refuse water in the coldest weather.

The next virtue in the chien d'arret is speed; one, therefore, that can catch a wounded hare by chasing, however long he may be absent, is considered invaluable: hence every dog of this description is taught to chase, especially hares, and "down charge" is an unknown virtue.

On my first going to France many years since, having taken up my abode in a part of the country suitable for sporting, I was desirous of purchasing a dog or two, to commence operations. A Frenchman brought me one for trial, which he stated to be a chien d'arret de la première qualité. The dog appeared to combine the three breeds of pointer, setter, and sheep-dog, and was very long in the legs; he had been dressé for both l'arret et le rapport. We went out into the open country in quest of game, to put the dog's virtues

to the test he worked tolerably well, but I thought him rather slow, and made this remark to the owner. His reply was, "attendez un moment, Monsieur, je vous en prie, jusqu'à nous trouvons un lièvre, et vous verrez s'il peut courir ou non." We very soon found a hare, and the chien d'arret did certainly surprise me by his speed, and was soon out of sight, the Frenchman continually exclaiming, "vous voyez à present." He however returned in about ten minutes, when the Frenchman remarked that if the hare had only been a trois quart, instead of an old one, the dog would certainly have caught it and brought it back; and he appeared delighted at the opportunity which had occurred of the dog's giving proof of this valuable qualification. He was, however, rather surprised, when I told him that a pointer in England would either be shot or hung who acted in this manner. This dog, however, pointed remarkably well, and was very good at snipes, which abounded. I therefore purchased him for the sum asked, sixty francs, and found him very useful,—his chasing propensities not being very detrimental to my sport, as hares were very scarce ; and I stopped him from chasing birds by giving him a small dose of snipe shot when in flagrante delicto, and I have seldom found this remedy fail, a second dose being rarely necessary: of course care must be taken never to shoot at a dog