What? Open sexism breaks out in England's August out-of-doors magazine The Field. Well, in a sort of jocose, jaunty, perhaps surrealist way. It started when their columnist IKTIS wrote an article apparently explaining, with examples, how dogs were better than women. The current (June) issue carries ripostes from three women in its correspondence columns on the theme "Why dogs are better than men." Here are some of the reasons. Dogs are better than men because dogs always listen and never look bored. Dogs never answer back. Dogs love going for walks without any purpose. Dogs don't complain when they are made to sleep downstairs because they snore. Dogs don't leave the seat up. Dogs don't drink ten pints and expect you to drive them home. Dogs don't care how large the telephone bill is. Dogs don't complain when you warm your feet on their backs. Dogs don't mind if you haven't hoovered - they hate hoovering. Dogs don't mind you commenting on their bad breath. Hairy ears are appealing on a dog. Dogs are usually happy if you get another dog. Dogs never try to buy you underwear.
The same correspondent does point to some similarities. They both hog the duvet. They both snore. They both have selective hearing. Both hate shopping. And they both gain entertainment from chasing a ball around a field aimlessly for hours on end. Another contributor to the thesis adds, as follows. Dogs only stare at you if their dinner is late. And dogs understand women. Third writer on the "women are better than dogs" line: women can cook; women don't dig holes in your new lawn. And, women are allowed in most restaurants.
All this apart, the letters pages carry more traditional Field fare, particularly on the much-debated theme as to the treatment of predators: in the air, on the ground and in rivers and lakes; cormorants and seals in salmon and trout waters, raptors, aerial and terrestrial, where ground game are concerned. And an interesting letter about a cock pheasant which lived to about nine years, surviving "some of the best shots in the land" year after year. He died after being wounded by a younger cock.