As to the best kind of retriever, we have had of all kinds, and perhaps the best after "Dinah" herself, is a cross-bred between her and an Irish water spaniel. But we do not now keep cross-bred dogs, as they are no use after the first generation, though you may often get very good ones then. We now use curly and flat-coated blacks, bred from prize strains. The grooming of sporting dogs, especially of setters and retrievers is most important, and cleanliness, assisted by a good disinfectant, will be found after all the chief element in kennel management. I have not said anything about the breaking of pointers and setters, because there is nothing to add to General Hutchinson's system. Patience, kindness and perseverance will lead you to success, but the patience required is often great, for it is sometimes not till the third season that a dog is really at its best. On the other hand there is much pleasure in it and some profit, and as time goes on, it becomes much easier, for the young dogs not only inherit the capacities of their parents, but learn a great deal from them in the field, especially from their mothers. _Books._ The general topics concerning shooting have been so ably dealt with in several recent books, that it may be well to give a short list of those likely to be of service to the beginner. I would especially recommend _The Art of Shooting_, by C. Lancaster. The diagrams in this book are most valuable and practical, and there are many useful hints. The Badminton Library, _Shooting_, 2 vols. The chapters dealing with Pheasant shooting are particularly good. The Fur and Feather Series, _The Partridge_, a book as delightful to read as it is useful to study. Hutchinson on _Dog Breaking_, a book which has never been approached, much less surpassed. Daniel's _Rural Sports_, to be found in most country house libraries, a thoroughly useful and practical book from which many subsequent writers have borrowed. It deals of course with sport from an old-fashioned point of view, but is none the worse for that. Tegetmeier's _Pheasants_, a first-rate standard work, by an expert. Now let me give a few useful cautions to young shooters: Don't point your gun at anything but the game you wish to shoot. Don't risk a shot if you have doubts as to its safety. Don't fire at birds when too near. Don't try long gallery shots. It is cruel. Don't fire at your birds, but in front of them. The exceptions to this, are birds coming direct to you or going away. Don't potter in your aim, but aim and fire quickly. Don't, if you can help it, shut either eye. Don't wound. If you can't kill neatly, don't fire. Don't fire at a pheasant's tail feathers, but try to intercept his head. Don't climb over stiles with a loaded gun. Don't keep your cartridges in the gun, except when actually waiting for game. Don't talk when shooting, or if you must do so, let it be in a low voice. Don't fire at fur going directly from or to you.